EU anniversary. The EU heads of state and government on Saturday signed a solemn declaration renewing their European commitments against
the backdrop of UK’s leaving the Union. They came together in Rome to celebrate
the 60th anniversary of the signing of the treaty that established
the European Economic Community, which later became the European Union. In a
press conference held in Rome, president Iohannis said maintaining the unity of
the 27 member states is and must remain the principal concern, because unity
offers better prospects than a fragmented Union. He also said that the
declaration is positive and balanced, in agreement with the position promoted
by Romania with respect to the Union’s future. In another development, Klaus
Iohannis said he invited Pope Frances to visit Bucharest in 2018. On Friday,
the pontiff received, at the Vatican, all EU leaders attending the summit.
Protests. Some two thousand police employees
protested on Saturday in front of the interior ministry and government
headquarters, on the anniversary of Romanian Police Day. They are unhappy with
their salaries compared with those of other public sector employees. They
demand, among others, bigger pay and the calculation of their benefits based on
the increased wage. Their representatives had talks with the labour, interior
and finance ministers.
Immigrants.
More than 40 immigrants were caught trying to enter Romania illegally from
Serbia. They come from Syria, Iraq and Pakistan and were planning to reach
countries in western Europe. The group was found near the border crossing
points in Moravita and Oravita, in the south-west. The Romanian authorities
have started an investigation for charges of illegally crossing state borders.
Football World Cup. Romania face Denmark on
Sunday night in Cluj Napoca in a Group E match as part of the qualifiers for
Football World Cup hosted by Russia next year. Other Group E fixtures will see
Armenia play Kazakhstan and Montenegro play Poland. After a categorical 5-nil
win against Armenia, a 1-all draw at home against Montenegro, and another,
goalless draw, against Kazakhstan in an away match, as well as a painful nil-3
defeat by Poland at home, Romania now rank 4th in their group with
only 5 points.
Tennis. Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, no. 65 in the world,
faces the Danish player
Caroline Wozniacki, world no. 14, in the third round of the tennis tournament
in Miami, worth 6.8 million dollars in prize money. Also in the third round,
two other Romanian players, namely world no. 5 Simona Halep and Patricia
Maria Tig will play on Sunday afternoon against the Estonian player Anett Kontaveit and
the American Venus Williams, respectively. Irina Begu, also from Romania,
failed to reach the third round, being defeated by Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena.