WAR
IN UKRAINE – Romania’s
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, hailed the adoption of a
resolution in the UN General Assembly, condemning Russia’s illegal annexation
of Ukrainian territories. 143 UN members voted in favor, including Romania.
Meanwhile, Russia today launched new attacks on Ukraine. Drone strikes targeted
critical infrastructure in Kyiv, while the city of Mykolaiv was hit by
shelling, authorities say. In recent weeks Ukraine has been the target of air
strikes carried out by Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Teheran denies having
delivered such drones to Russia while Moscow refused to comment. The Kremlin
has also intensified its attacks on civilian objectives in response to the explosion
on the Kerch bridge, which Moscow claims is the work of Ukrainian intelligence.
Described as war crimes by a number of Western countries, the shelling
continues despite significant losses sustained by the Russian army. Bombing
focused particularly on residential areas and civilian infrastructure
objectives, damaging 30% of the country’s energy infrastructure. In Brussels,
over 50 countries promised to provide fresh military assistance to Ukraine,
including air defense systems.
REFUGEES – The number of Ukrainian
refugees coming to Romania from Western Europe is on the rise, the
International Organization for Migration reports. Lower living costs and
proximity to Ukraine are some of the reasons, the report also states. According
to the Romanian Border Police, some 70,000 people entered Romania on Wednesday,
of whom 9,000 were Ukrainian nationals, accounting for a 15% increase compared
to the previous day. Starting February 10, over 2.5 million Ukrainians have
entered Romania.
VISIT – Dubravka Šuica, EU vice-president
for Democracy and Demography, is paying a three-day official visit to Romania.
Today, the European official will hold talks with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă
on follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Summit for
Democracy, skills and labor force mobility, demographic changes, children’s
rights and gender equality. According to a press release published by the
European Commission’s Office in Bucharest, Dubravka Šuica will also meet
Daniela Gîtman, Secretary of State within the Romanian Foreign Ministry,
Gabriela Firea, Minister of Family, Youth and Gender Equality, Nicușor Dan,
Bucharest Mayor General, as well as members of the mixed Parliament committees
for European affairs. The EU official will also visit the Ominis complex for
integrated social services addressing vulnerable categories, including
Ukrainian refugees.
DEFENSE – Fourteen NATO members and
partner states, including Romania, signed a joint letter for the purchase of
Arrow 3 and Patriot air defense systems as part of a European Skyshield
Initiative (ESSI) in a ceremony hosted by the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on
the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministers meeting. Germany’s Chancellor, Olaf
Scholz, announced the project at the end of August, saying that a common
European air defense system would be more effective if individual member states
would build up their own air defenses, which would entail higher costs and more
efforts to implement. According to a Defense Ministry release, today’s meeting
is attended by Romania’s Defense Minister, Vasile Dîncu, and will focus on the decisions
adopted at the NATO Summit in Madrid and the organization of the next summit.
NATO officials will also tackle the Alliance’s nuclear deterrence posture and
specific topics in the nuclear field in connection to the current security
context, marked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
SCHENGEN – In principle, the
Netherlands does not oppose Romania’s Schengen accession, the Dutch Prime
Minister Mark Rutte said on Wednesday during a visit to Brașov, central
Romania. The Dutch official pointed out, however, that any discussion on this
matter will factor in Romania’s fulfillment of all accession criteria.
President Klaus Iohannis expressed confidence Romania will join the travel-free
area, whereas Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă in turn said that Schengen accession
will spell numerous benefits for Romania’s economy.
JUSTICE LAWS – Parliament’s committee
in charge of debating the justice laws is today analyzing the law regulating
the status of prosecutors and judges. On Wednesday, the Committee debated over
half of the bill’s articles, adopting a number of technical amendments. Once
the debates are completed, the Committee will vote separate reports for each of
the three laws in the bill package. Once the reports are compiled, the draft
justice laws will be submitted to the Senate for debate and approval. (VP)
