Radio România Internațional

Tag: OSCE

  • January 17, 2017 UPDATE

    January 17, 2017 UPDATE

    ROMANIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday signed the degree to put General Florian Coldea on reserve status, the First Deputy Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service. Previously a special commission of the Romanian Intelligence Service announced that the analysis of the activity carried out by the first deputy-director Florian Coldea revealed no elements that would constitute violations of laws or regulations in force. Following an investigation the executive board of the Romanian Intelligence Office decided to put the first deputy director back in office. However, Coldea asked to be released from office and placed at the disposal of the institution, invoking reasons that have to do with military dignity and honour. Florian Coldea was suspended last week following accusations made by the former deputy Sebastian Ghita, who is wanted in several corruption investigations.


    IMF — A delegation of the International Monetary Fund led by mission chief for Romania Reza Baqir will visit Bucharest this week for their first meeting with Social-Democrat Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu and the members of the new Government. According to an IMF press release, IMF experts will also hold meetings with the leadership of the National Bank, the Ministry of Finance as well as the other ministers with economic competences. Talks will most likely focus on the draft budget for 2017. Romania currently has no ongoing agreement with the IMF, but can hold annual consultations with Fund representatives as per IMF regulations.



    CEREMONY — Romania’s Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea on Friday will attend the official swearing in of US President Donald Trump. Dragnea said he was invited by the vice-president of the swearing-in committee. The presidency has released a statement saying that no foreign delegation has been officially invited to the ceremony. Representing Romania will be Romanian Ambassador to Washington George Cristian Maior.



    OSCE — State Secretary with the Romanian Foreign Ministry George Ciamba on Wednesday will be chairing the Romanian Presidency of the Security Cooperation Forum as part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna. According to a Foreign Ministry press release, Romania takes over the Forum at a time when the organization’s values are being reconsidered with a view to managing new global security challenges, also providing the opportunity of highlighting Romania’s role as a mature and responsible member state, aware of the opportunities deriving from its geographical location. Alongside the Permanent Council, the Security Cooperation Forum is one of the OSCE’s two decision-making bodies. Set up in 1992, the Forum convenes on a weekly basis and offers a platform for assessment and debate of security issues and for multilateral cooperation with a view to boosting stability and security in OSCE countries.



    MOLDOVA — Moldovan President pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon said he wants to renegotiate the association and free trade agreements concluded with the EU in 2014 after the upcoming legislative elections. The announcement was made on Tuesday in Moscow after Dodon met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. This was Dodon’s first official visit as president of the Republic of Moldova. Igor Dodon said he wants to restore the Strategic Partnership between Moldova and Russia. Meanwhile in Chisinau, the Liberals have announced they would launch procedures to have Dodon suspended, accusing him of violating the Constitution. The Liberals reprimand Dodon for his close relations with pro-Russian Trandniester separatists.



    BREXIT –British Prime-Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said she would submit to the vote of the two chambers of Parliament in London the final agreement on Britain leaving the European Union. The British official has again argued in favour of a clear-cut separation from Brussels, saying that after Brexit the UK will no longer be part of the European single market. Seven months after Britain’s historic ‘leave’ vote, Theresa May has promised to start the exit procedures by the end of March. Negotiations with Brussels will last two years. (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • 09.12.2016 (mise à jour)

    09.12.2016 (mise à jour)

    Elections — Samedi est une journée de réflexion pour l’électorat roumain, avant le scrutin parlementaire du 11 décembre. Un nombre de 6.500 candidats briguent 466 mandats de sénateurs et députés. Les autorités affirment avoir pris des mesures pour que le vote se déroule dans les meilleures conditions : un système informatique va signaler à la police toute tentative de vote multiple ; le dépouillement des urnes sera vidéo-surveillé; les procès-verbaux en format électronique seront publiés automatiquement. Les Roumains vivant à l’étranger auront accès à un nombre accru de sections de vote et pourront aussi opter, pour la première fois, pour le vote par correspondance. Vendredi, le président Klaus Iohannis a appelé, à nouveau, les Roumains à voter dimanche, car l’absentéisme, a-t-il dit, n’est jamais une solution.



    OSCE — Le ministre roumain des AE, Lazar Comanescu, a participé à Hambourg, en Allemagne, à la 23e réunion ministérielle de l’Organisation pour la Sécurité et la Coopération en Europe (OSCE), où il a exprimé le soutien ferme de Bucarest pour le rôle assumé par l’organisation dans le contexte de la crise en Ukraine, pays voisin de la Roumanie, et dans les efforts de trouver une solution aux conflits prolongés. Vendredi, dernier jour de la réunion, les Etats membres de l’OSCE ont convenu de la nécessité que les parties impliquées dans le conflit dans l’est de l’Ukraine tiennent les engagements assumés afin de mettre un terme à la violence dans cette région.



    Terroriste — La Cour d’appel Bucarest a décidé, ce vendredi, de placer en détention provisoire, pour 30 jours, Luigi Boicea, un jeune homme de 18 ans de Craiova, ville du sud du pays, que les procureurs du parquet antiterroriste de Roumanie ont interpellé jeudi soir, sous l’accusation de propagande islamiste et de préparation en vue de commettre des actes terroristes. Luigi Boicea avait attiré l’attention des autorités l’année dernière lorsqu’il était encore mineur. Il avait alors été placé sous contrôle judiciaire, mais il en a ignoré systématiquement les interdictions, continuant à consulter des sites Internet de l’organisation terroriste Etat Islamique, à suivre des cours en ligne de fabrication de bombes et d’utilisation des armes à feu, donnés par les djihadistes, et à diffuser sur Internet des enregistrements audio et vidéo de décapitations, d’exécutions par fusillade, et autres. Les procureurs affirment que Luigi Boicea avait essayé d’entrer en contact avec différents leaders ou représentants du groupe terroriste, pour obtenir du soutien en vue de commettre un attentat.



    Météo — Samedi, le froid fléchira en Roumanie, où les températures dépasseront les normales de saison, sous un ciel indécis. Le thermomètre affichera entre moins 6 et 4°, au lever du jour, et entre 2 et 12° en milieu de journée.

  • 09.12.2016

    09.12.2016

    Elections — Dernier jour de campagne électorale, ce vendredi, en Roumanie, avant le scrutin parlementaire prévu le dimanche 11 décembre. Dans ce contexte, le président roumain Klaus Iohannis a exhorté une fois de plus la population à se présenter aux urnes : «l’absentéisme ne représente jamais une solution », a affirmé le chef de l’Etat. Selon la législation, la campagne électorale doit s’achever le samedi, 10 décembre à 7 heures du matin. Pour ce qui est de l’audiovisuel, la campagne électorale finit ce vendredi, 9 décembre. Quelque de 6500 personnes briguent les 466 fauteuils d’élus parlementaires, dont 136 mandats de sénateurs et 330 de députés.



    Terroriste — Les procureurs du parquet antiterroriste de Roumanie ont interpellé jeudi soir, à Craiova, ville du sud du pays, un jeune homme qu’ils accusent de faire de la propagande islamiste et de s’être instruit pour commettre des actes terroristes. Luigi Boicea, 18 ans, avait attiré l’attention des procureurs l’année dernière lorsqu’il était encore mineur. Il avait alors été placé sous contrôle judiciaire, mais il en a transgressé systématiquement les interdictions : il a continué à consulter des sites Internet de l’organisation terroriste Etat Islamique, il a suivi des cours en ligne de fabrication de bombes et d’utilisation d’armes à feu déroulés par les djihadistes et a posté sur Internet des enregistrements des enregistrements audio et vidéo de décapitations, exécutions par fusillade, etc. Selon les procureurs, Luigi Boicea a essayé d’entrer en contact avec différents leaders ou représentants du groupe terroriste, pour obtenir du soutien en vue d’un attentat. Il a été emmené aujourd’hui devant la Cour d’Appel de Bucarest, les procureurs demandant son placement en détention provisoire.



    OSCE — Le ministre roumain des Affaires étrangères, Lazar Comanescu, a exprimé le soutien ferme de Bucarest pour le rôle assumé par l’Organisation pour la Sécurité et la Coopération en Europe (OSCE) dans le contexte de la crise en Ukraine, pays voisin de la Roumanie et pour les efforts de trouver une solution aux conflits prolongés. Lazar Comanescu participe à Hambourg, en Allemagne, à la 23e réunion ministérielle de l’OSCE. L’occasion pour le ministre roumain de réitérer la nécessité de restaurer le respect des principes fondamentaux sur lesquels repose la sécurité européenne et des engagements assumés par les Etats membres de l’Organisation. En marge de la réunion de Hambourg, le chef de la diplomatie roumaine s’est entretenu avec son homologue moldave Andrei Galbur, l’assurant du soutien de Bucarest dans les efforts de Chisinau de réformer le pays et de continuer son parcours européen.



    UE — Ce vendredi c’est le 25e anniversaire de la création du Traité de Maastricht qui jetait les fondements de l’UE. Un événement marqué dans la ville néerlandaise homonyme par une conférence réunissant les présidents de la Commission et du Parlement européen – Jean Claude Juncker et respectivement Martin Schultz — ainsi que l’ancien président du Conseil Européen – Herman van Rompuy. Rappelons-le, le 9 décembre 1991, les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement des 12 pays membres de la Communauté économique européenne, dont le président français François Mitterrand et le chancelier allemand Helmut Kohl, donnaient leur accord pour la que la Communauté soit transformée en Union Européenne. Signé en 1992, l’accord est entré en vigueur une année plus tard.

  • December 9, 2016 UPDATE

    December 9, 2016 UPDATE

    MAASTRICHT — December 9th marked the anniversary of 25 years since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, which set the basis for the European Union. The moment was marked on Friday in the Dutch city of Maastricht by a special conference, attended by the presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament Jean Claude Juncker and Martin Schultz respectively, as well as by the former president of the European Council Herman van Rompuy. In a speech delivered on this occasion, the European Commission President, Jean Claude Junker, said: “We cannot explain the European Union, the European project, simply by going back to history. That is important, but if we want to convince younger people that the European Union is a must today and in the years to come, we have to explain European history in a perspective. Those who do think that time has come to deconstruct, to put Europe in pieces, to subdivide us in national divisions, are totally wrong. We will not exist as single nations without the European Union,” Junker said. On December 9, 1991, the heads of state and government of the 12 countries that made up the then community bloc, among whom the French Francois Mitterrand and the German Helmuth Kohl, agreed with turning the European Economic Community into the European Union. The agreement was signed in 1992 and came into force one year later.




    ROMANIAN ELECTIONS — Romanians will go to the polls on Sunday, to elect their parliament members. Over 6,500 people are running for the 466 seats in the Romanian Parliament, 136 senators and 330 deputies. Authorities say that all measures have been taken for the smooth running of the elections. Thus, a computerised monitoring system will automatically signal any multiple voting attempt. The vote counting will be recorded on camera. Romanians in the Diaspora can cast their vote at one of the polling stations abroad. Also, the postal voting has been introduced as of this year. The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, on Friday urged Romanians to go to the polls on Sunday to vote in the parliamentary elections. He said that absenteeism was never a solution.




    TERRORISM – The Bucharest Court of Appeal on Friday ruled that Luigi Boicea from Craiova, southern Romania, be taken into custody for 30 days. The young man is accused of Islamist propaganda and for having learned how to commit terrorist attacks. Boicea, aged 18, has visited Islamic State websites, has taken online courses held by jihadists in order to learn how to make bombs and posted videos with people being executed. Prosecutors say that the young man has been trying to contact ISIS leaders to get their support in committing terrorist attacks.




    OSCE — The Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazăr Comănescu, who on Thursday and Friday attended in Hamburg, Germany, the 23rd OSCE ministerial meeting, expressed Bucharest’s firm support for the role assumed by the the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the context of the Ukrainian crisis and of the efforts to solve prolonged conflicts. On Friday, the OSCE member countries agreed on the need for all parties involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine to fulfil their pledge in order to put an end to violence.




    IMPEACHMENT – The South Korean President, Park Geun-Hye, was dismissed by her Government. The dismissal motion was initiated on Thursday by the South Korean MP’s and received the approval of 234 lawmakers from a total of 300 members of the National Assembly. The motion suspends Park Geun-Hye’s authority as the president of South Korea. In the motion, Park is accused of violating the Constitution and a number of other offenses ranging from failure to protect people, to corruption and abuse of power. The document was submitted to vote in the National Assembly on Friday morning.




    FOOTBALL — Romania’s football champions, Astra Giurgiu, ended in a goalless draw the match held on Thursday evening on home ground against the Italian eleven AS Rome, in their last match of the Europa League groups and have thus qualified for the first time to the round of 32 of the Europa League finals. With 8 points accumulated Astra ended on 2nd place in the group after the Italians. In the same competition, Romania’s vice-champions Steaua Bucharest was defeated 1-2 in an away match against the Spanish team Villareal. With only 6 points the Steaua Bucharest footballers ended on last place of the group and had to leave the competition.



    (Translated by Elena Enache)



  • 08.12.2016

    08.12.2016

    OSCE
    –     Le ministre roumain des Affaires Etrangères, Lazar Comanescu participe ces
    jeudi et vendredi à Hambourg, à la 13e réunion du Conseil ministériel de l’Organisation
    pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe. C’est le principal événement
    annuel qui réunit les chefs des diplomaties et des hauts dignitaires de 57
    pays, aux côtés de représentants des pays partenaires de l’OSCE. Selon le
    ministère roumain des AE, le Conseil de Hambourg se déroule dans un contexte
    politique complexe marqué par des défis important à l’adresse de la sécurité et
    de la stabilité régionales, par le manque de progrès dans la résolution des
    conflits, par l’intensification des menaces terroristes dans l’espace de l’OSCE
    et par l’aggravation de la crise des réfugiés ». Les participants
    analyseront et adopteront aussi des décisions et des déclarations, sur des
    thèmes d’actualité spécifique aux trois dimensions de l’organisation :
    politique-militaire, économique et d’environnement. La réunion ministérielle de
    Hambourg marque également la fin de la présidence allemande de l’OSCE. En 2017,
    c’est l’Autriche qui assumera la présidence tournante de l’organisation.

    Plagiat – Le Conseil national d’attestation des titres, des diplômes et des
    certifications universitaires, (CNATDCU) de Roumanie a décidé que la chef de la
    Direction nationale anticorruption, Laura Codruta Kovesi n’avait pas plagié dans
    sa thèse de doctorat. Rappelons-le, à la mi-novembre, la Commission d’Ethique
    de l’Université d’ouest de Timisoara avait annoncé que 564 lignes de la thèse
    doctorale signée par Laura Codruta Kovesi étaient similaires à d’autres
    sources. Pour ce qui est de la saisine visant le plagiat, les spécialistes du
    domaine ont affirmé qu’elle était partiellement fondée. Par contre, la
    procureur en chef de la Direction nationale anticorruption a annoncé qu’elle
    n’avait pas plagié. Le nom de la chef du Parquet roumain anticorruption
    s’ajoute à une longue liste d’hommes politiques et de dignitaires accusés
    d’avoir plagié leurs thèses académiques.


    JAI –
    Le Conseil Justice et Affaires Intérieures de l’UE se réunit ces jeudi et
    vendredi à Bruxelles pour évoquer la lutte antifraude, la stratégie visant le
    marché numérique, la réforme du système européen d’asile et la lutte contre le
    terrorisme. La précédente réunion du Conseil JAI a eu lieu le 18 novembre 2016
    et elle a visé entre autres le système européen d’informations et
    d’autorisation visant les voyages. A l’époque, la Commission européenne avait
    présenté une proposition qui permettrait des contrôles anticipées et même le
    refus de l’entrée sur le territoire de l’UE des voyageurs exemptés de
    l’obligation de détenir un visa valable. Les ministres de l’Intérieur et de la
    Justice ont demandé aux experts de démarrer l’examen de la proposition
    affirmant qu’elle était un instrument adéquat censé renforcer la politique
    européenne de sécurité et de gestion des frontières.

    UE – Les Roumains âgés de 17 à 30 ans peuvent s’inscrire dans le Corps européen de solidarité, lancé mercredi au niveau de l’ensemble de l’UE. Celui-ci offre aux jeunes la possibilité de participer en tant que bénévoles à différents projets ou de trouver un emploi dans l’espace communautaire. Ceux qui choisissent de faire du bénévolat, recevront de l’hébergement, des repas, des frais de transport et d’argent de poche, alors que les jeunes embauchés par le biais du Corps européen de solidarité bénéficieront d’un contrat d’emploi et d’un salaire conformément à la législation locale. Les jeunes Roumains pourront participer aussi à une série de projets censés promouvoir la solidarité et contribuer à la solution des situations difficiles sur le territoire de l’UE. Les participants au programme s’impliqueront dans des domaines telles l’enseignement, la santé, l’intégration sociale, ainsi que l’intégration des migrants et des réfugiés. Le président de la Commission européenne Jean Claude Juncker souhaiterait que ce corps soit formé de plus de 100 mille jeunes européens à l’horizon 2020.

    Foot – Le club de foot champion de Roumanie, Astra Giurgiu doit rencontrer aujourd’hui à domicile les Italiens de l’AS Rome, dans son dernier match de la phase des poules de la Ligue Europa. Grâce à ses 7 points, Astra occupe la deuxième place du groupe, après l’AS Rome, qui s’est déjà qualifié dans la phase supérieure de la compétition. Le club roumain est suivi par l’Austria Vienne et par Viktoria Plzen. Dans la même compétition, les vice-champions de Roumanie Steaua Bucarest rencontrent les espagnols de Villareal. Ce groupe est mené par l’Osmanlispor de Turquie, avec 7 points, suivi par Villareal, FC Zurich et Steaua Bucarest avec 6 points. L’unique critère qui sépare actuellement ces trois clubs c’est le nombre de buts inscrits. Sachez que les deux premiers clubs de chaque groupe accèdent à la phase supérieure de la Ligue Europa.

    Handball – La sélection nationale de handball féminin de Roumanie a vaincu mercredi la Russie, championne olympiques en titre sur le score de 22 à 17, dans son deuxième match de son groupe D du Championnat d’Europe, accueilli par la Suède. Les Roumaines qui avaient perdu le premier match contre la redoutable équipe de Norvège sur le score de 21 à 23, rencontreront vendredi la sélection de la Croatie dans le cadre d’un match décisif pour l’accès aux groupes principaux de la compétition.

  • 8 December 2016, UPDATE

    8 December 2016, UPDATE

    EU. The EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Council meets in Brussels for
    talks over ways of combating EU budget frauds, a strategy for the single
    digital market, the reform of the common European asylum system and the fight
    against terrorism. The previous Council meeting was held on November 18th
    and discussed, among others, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. At the time, the European
    Commission presented a proposal that would allow advance checks and even deny
    entry to visa-exempt travellers. EU justice and interior ministers have asked
    experts to start examining the Commission’s proposal, which they believe will
    help strengthen the EU’s security and border control policy.

    Plagiarism. Romania’s National Council for the Validation of University Titles, Diplomas and Certificates on Thursday dismissed allegations that the head of the
    National Anti-corruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi plagiarised in her
    doctoral thesis. The Council established there were no serious irregularities
    about her thesis and proposed that Kovesi should maintain her doctoral title.
    The allegation of plagiarism was made by a non-governmental organisation. In
    mid-November, the Ethics Committee of Timisoara’s West University said 564
    lines of Kovesi’s doctoral thesis were similar with other sources. Experts say
    the notification regarding plagiarism in this case is partly justified and
    grounded. Kovesi is one of many public figures in Romania, including
    politicians and senior officials, to be accused of plagiarism.




    OSCE. The Romanian Foreign
    Minister Lazar Comanescu is attending the 13th OSCE Ministerial
    Council Meeting in Hamburg. This is the main annual event bringing together
    foreign ministers and high-ranking officials from the 57 participating countries and representatives of OSCE
    partners. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, the Hamburg meeting is
    taking place amidst a complex political environment characterised by major
    challenges to regional security and stability, the lack of progress in settling
    prolonged conflicts, the intensification of terrorist threats in the OSCE area
    and the deterioration of the refugee crisis. The participants are addressing
    three key areas: political and military, economic and environmental and
    humanitarian. The meeting in Hamburg marks the end of the German presidency of
    the OSCE, which will be taken over by Austria in 2017.




    Communism. The Institute for the Investigation of
    Communist Crimes and the Memory of Romanian Exile will be able to organise
    museum, remembrance and exhibition activities in Romania and abroad, following
    a decision by the technocratic government in Bucharest on Thursday. The
    government said the Institute would manage national databases regarding the
    history of communism in Romania, monuments and memorial sites, anti-communist
    fighters and the victims of communism. The communist system collapsed in
    Romania in December 1989.




    Italy. Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella begins talks to form a new
    government following the resignation of prime minister Matteo Renzi. According
    to France Presse news agency, the options are maintaining a Democrat government
    until 2018 when parliamentary elections are due or calling early elections, as
    requested by the opposition. Opinion polls indicate that the populist and
    anti-European Five Star Movement party has a chance to become the largest party
    in Parliament. Radio Romania’s correspondent in Italy tells us that mainstream
    political parties are trying to block the populists’ access to power, including
    by changing electoral rules. Matteo Renzi has resigned after the Italian voters
    rejected in a referendum his proposal to reform the constitution.






    Handball. The Romanian women’s
    handball side on Wednesday night secured a
    22-17 win against Olympic champions Russia in their second D group match at the
    European Championship underway in Sweden. Romania, who lost their first game
    21-23 to defending European and World champions Norway, will be taking on
    Croatia on Friday in a match that will decide their qualification for the main
    round. Romania have a Spanish coach, Ambros Martin, who last month replaced the
    German coach Tomas Ryde, who was at the helm when Romania won the bronze medal
    at last year’s World Championship in Denmark.

  • December 8, 2016

    December 8, 2016

    DECISION The National Council for the
    Validation of University Titles, Diplomas and Certificates in Romania has today
    decided that the head of the country’s National Anti-corruption Directorate,
    Laura Codruta Kovesi isn’t guilty of plagiarism in her doctoral thesis. Council
    members decided there are no severe irregularities in Kovesi’s thesis and
    proposed that she keep her doctoral title. The plagiarism notification has been
    filed by an NGO. In mid-November, the Committee for Ethics with the
    Timisoara-based West University announced that 564 rows in Kovesi’s doctoral
    thesis were similar with other texts. Experts said the notification was partly
    grounded and justified. A series of public personalities in Romania, including
    politicians and high officials, have lately been involved in plagiarism
    scandals.








    HANDBALL The women’s
    national handball side of Romania on Wednesday night
    secured a 22-17 win against Olympic champions Russia in their second D group
    match of the European championship underway in Sweden. The Romanians, who lost
    their first game 21-23 to defending European and World champions Norway, will
    be taking on Croatia on Friday in a decisive game for qualifying for the main
    group phase. We recall that Romania is being coached by Spanish selector Ambros
    Martin who replaced Tomas Ryde, under whose guidance our handballers won bronze
    at the World Championship held in Denmark last year.








    OSCE Today and tomorrow
    the Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu will be attending the 13th
    OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Hamburg. This is the main annual event
    bringing together heads of diplomacy and high officials from the 57 participant
    countries as well as representatives of OSCE partners. According to Foreign
    Ministry sources, the Hamburg Council is taking place against the background of
    a complex political environment characterized by major challenges to regional
    security and stability, the lack of progress in settling prolonged conflicts,
    intensifying terror threats in the OSCE area and the refugee crisis.
    Participants will be tackling and making decisions on topical issues on three
    key dimensions: political-military, economy & environment as well as human.
    The ministerial meeting in Hamburg marks the end of the German presidency of
    the OSCE, which will be taken over by Austria.






    COUNCIL The EU’s Justice
    and Home Affairs Council is to convene In Brussels on Thursday and Friday for
    talks over ways of combating EU budget frauds, a strategy for the single
    digital market the reform of the common European asylum and counter-terrorism
    fight. The latest JHA session took place on November 18th 2016 and
    had high on the agenda the European information system and travel permits.
    Justice and Interior Ministers have called on experts to start examining the
    Commission’s proposal, which they consider a proper instrument aimed at
    strengthening the EU’s security policy and border control.



  • International Conference supports proper functioning of public media

    International Conference supports proper functioning of public media

    Delegates from almost 20 countries came together in Prague last week to discuss the need to ensure independence and sustainability of public service media (PSM) in the face of numerous challenges.



    Public service broadcasters, MPs, regulators, diplomats, academics and experts from a range of organisations including the Council of Europe, Venice Commission, OSCE and the European Federation of Journalists, met for two days of debate on how to ensure PSM is allowed to operate and develop, independent of political control.



    Speaking at the conference EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said: “Public service media is a mirror of society, democracy and its democratic institutions.” It is the duty of PSM to make sure wider society understands the role and impact that PSM plays in all aspects of life from the cultural to the technological and economic.



    Participants adopted three statements on the worrying situation regarding media freedom in Turkey and the situation of PSM funding in Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They appeal to Romanian authorities to ensure stable and adequate funding for PSM in Romania, independent from political interference. This will enable PSM to fulfil their important democratic role in society and support the reform processes in public service television.



    The participants at the Prague conference adopted a set of conclusions and recommendations on the way forward that will be widely shared with multiple stakeholders, including at the European Commission’s annual colloquium on Media Pluralism and Democracy this week. The Polish delegates abstained on the document.



    According to the set of conclusions and recommendations, independent and financially-stable Public Service Media (PSM) are indispensable for upholding democracy and democratic values, promoting social cohesion and tolerance and reaching out to everyone at the national and regional levels.



    In spite of adopted and ratified international documents and domestic legislation, there is political interference with the independence of PSM, as well as insufficient funding to allow them to fulfill their mission.



    Governments and parliaments should respect and protect the independence of PSM and ensure that they are provided with sustainable funding.



    Constitutional and legislative safeguards for freedom of expression, including media freedom and especially for sustainable funding and the independence of PSM should be strengthened. Laws on PSM should be adopted or revised only after broad public discussions involving PSM and all relevant stakeholders, thus protecting PSM from urgent ad hoc and “omnibus” legislation.



    Discussions about the funding of PSM should always be considered in the context of PSM’s remit to society. Politically balanced and transparent, merit-based procedures should be in place for appointing members of supervisory bodies. In cases where parliaments nominate members of the supervisory bodies, the decision should be made with a qualified majority. Once appointed, members of supervisory bodies should perform their tasks in an independent manner and they should not be perceived as representatives of the Parliament or any political force. Members of PSM supervisory boards should have a definitive mandate, which should not be allowed to be discontinued following changes in political powers.



    SM reports to the parliament should not be used as tools for political pressure or threats of dismissal.



    In order to avoid undue weakening of the role and funding of PSM with a view to favouring interests of politicians linked with private broadcasters, transparency of ownership of all media should be guaranteed. Incompatibility rules should be put in place to avoid a conflict of interest for office-holders who are in charge of determining or implementing media policies, in particular as regards ownership or control of private media companies.



    Governments, parliaments and national human rights institutions are encouraged to regularly review the state of freedom of expression in their countries and raise awareness of the fact that public service cannot be reduced to financial profit. A broad dialogue between representatives of parliaments, PSM and multiple stakeholders is important and should be strengthened in order to improve legislation and its practical implementation.



    PSM institutions should elaborate appropriate strategies with clear vision and mission following broad discussions with citizens and reflecting the new media environment. PSM should adopt and enforce editorial guidelines and ethical codes across all platforms on which they disseminate their content. Development of PSM self-regulatory mechanisms will strengthen PSM’s responsiveness, accountability to the citizens and increase the trust of the audience.



    Fulfilment of PSM’s remit should be particularly strengthened during election campaigns, enabling adequate representation of all political opinions.



    PSM should adapt to reflect the diversity and pluralism of European societies, with particular regard to the integration of minorities and other vulnerable groups. PSM institutions should become one of the main drivers of open and informed discussions on such matters.



    Effective regulation must ensure that PSM comply with their content obligations in terms of social inclusion and cohesion, representation of diversity and promotion of a culture of tolerance. Diversity is not only a matter of representation in the media. There should also be diversity in the supervisory board and management of PSM.



    While promoting and protecting the culture of freedom of expression, PSM should abide by the restrictions on hate speech deriving from national legislation, in line with the European Convention on Human Rights, case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and other international legal instruments. A wide range of tools should be developed to combat hate speech on PSM: not only restriction, but also prevention (measures to avoid the broadcasting of hate speech) and explanation (measures to put hate speech in context and demonstrate its noxiousness).



    International Law and policy standards should broaden the definition of PSM’s remit to incorporate the production and dissemination of new forms of content, particularly regarding non-linear and other services provided through digital platforms.



    PSM institutions need to reach segments of the audience that do not consume traditional media, giving them access to public-value PSM content as well. The availability of PSM content requires clear and applicable rules to ensure its prominence on all platforms and interfaces. Traditional must-carry and must-offer rules need to be revisited and adapted to the reality of the current digital space.



    PSM institutions should use big data and algorithms in an ethical way, promoting access to, and consumption of, high-quality PSM content in the digital environment, while respecting citizens’ rights.



    Parliaments should ensure the institutional independence and financial sustainability of regulatory authorities. Neutrality rules need to be in place in order to guarantee that PSM content is carried and offered in a non-discriminatory manner through the main communication networks, services and applications and is accessible from a variety of devices.



    PSM can use transfrontier distribution platforms and promote PSM national content to a global audience.



    The implementation of relevant Council of Europe instruments should be strengthened, in particular Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation No. R (96) 10 on the guarantee of the independence of public service broadcasting; Recommendation CM/Rec (2007) 3 on the remit of PSM in the information society and Recommendations (97) 20 and (97) 21 on “hate speech” and on the promotion of a culture of tolerance, respectively. The implementation of the latter two recommendations, in particular, could be enhanced by the elaboration of a compilation of the various guidelines and best practices adopted by media, public bodies, regulators and other stakeholders.



    The elaboration of new instruments should be envisaged in the light of new developments and the new media environment and existing or emerging gaps.



    The case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe’s assessment and annual reports, in particular the Secretary General’s annual reports and the Commissioner for Human Rights’ reports on violations of freedom of expression, should be used as effective tools by journalists and civil society to draw attention to failures to ensure independence and/or sustainable funding for PSM.



    Existing international bodies, such as the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, should be fully used and reinforced when needed, and the establishment of a specialized body to supervise the implementation of the media legislation should be envisaged.



    Civil society, in particular media-related NGOs, should continue to play an important role in scrutinizing freedom of expression in order to ensure the proper functioning and accountability of PSM.


    Further professional education of PSM personnel is needed to ensure that reporting,


    including on how to deal with hate speech, discrimination and stereotypes, is of a high professional standard.



    Special safeguards for the protection and security of journalists should be ensured by


    national authorities in line with international standards. PSM should adopt in-house guidelines for the deployment of journalists on difficult assignments. PSM should provide journalists with requisite training in all matters of safety and digital security.


    Increased cooperation between PSM and exchange of content would promote excellence and a culture of tolerance.



    Where public service radio and television are separate entities they should support and promote each other and the value that they offer to society.



    The EBU should further develop its own principles on the independence of PSM. PSM peer-to-peer review processes and other assessment procedures need to develop a holistic approach and consider not only the content that PSM provides, but also its impact, the context, and the diversity of interests present in the society.

  • Public Service Media and Democracy

    Public Service Media and Democracy

    The European Broadcasting Union, the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), the Czech Parliament and Czech TV are organizing an international conference on Public Service Media (PSM) and Democracy in Prague on 10th & 11th November. Hosted by the Czech Parliament, the event brings together MPs from Central and Eastern Europe, regulators and PSM managers from across the region. The European Parliament, the OSCE and the European Federation of Journalists are also supporting the event.



    The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz has sent a video message to the conference.






    The conference discusses the role of Parliaments in protecting the media; the impact of PSM on society; governance; how broadcasters deal with hate speech and the long term independence and sustainability of PSM in the region.

  • 01.09.2016

    01.09.2016

    Diplomatie – Ce jeudi 1er septembre c’est la Journée de la diplomatie roumaine. L’événement est marqué aussi dans le cadre de la réunion annuelle de la diplomatie roumaine, dont les travaux prennent fin qui aujourd’hui. Les débats de ce dernier jour portent sur la diaspora. Le président Klaus Iohannis s’est entretenu mercredi avec les ambassadeurs, les consuls généraux et les directeurs des instituts culturels de Roumanie à travers le monde. L’occasion pour le chef de l’Etat roumain de présenter les priorités du pays en matière de politique étrangère.

    OSCE – Le chef de la diplomatie roumaine, Lazăr Comănescu, participera vendredi à Potsdam, en Allemagne, à la réunion des ministres des Affaires étrangères des Etats membres de l’OSCE. Organisée par l’Allemagne, présidente en exercice de l’organisation en 2016, la réunion se propose de débattre sur des thèmes d’actualité tels le conflit dans l’Ouest de l’Ukraine, la lutte contre le terrorisme et le phénomène migratoire. Le ministre roumain des Affaires étrangères insistera sur la nécessité d’impulser l’action de l’OSCE visant à régler les longs conflits et à identifier une solution politique au conflit en Transnistrie, dans le respect de la souveraineté et de l’intégrité de la République de Moldova.

    Parlement – Le Parlement de la Roumanie se réunit ce jeudi, pour la deuxième session ordinaire de l’année et la dernière de la législature 2012 – 2016. Selon les leaders des principales formations politiques, la liste des priorités comporte des projets relevant de plusieurs domaines: social – économique, médical ou éducationnel. Parmi les sujets qui attendent d’être débattus on retrouve la baisse de 5% des contributions sociales, la loi réglementant la profession d’avocat, le projet législatif permettant de fumer dans les espaces clos ou encore le projet de loi portant sur la prévention dans le domaine de la santé.

    Séisme – Les autorités italiennes examinent la situation des bâtiments qui se sont effondrés lors du séisme qui a fait quelque 300 morts, dont 11 Roumains. Nombre de ces immeubles avaient subi des travaux récents de consolidation ou de rénovation impliquant des coûts considérables. La région italienne où se trouve la localité d’Amatrice, fortement touchée par le tremblement de terre, avait été frappée par une autre secousse dévastatrice en 2009. La Roumanie observera le vendredi 2 septembre une journée de deuil national à la mémoire des victimes du tremblement de terre en Italie et en signe de solidarité avec le peuple italien.

    Eglise – 2.500 personnes de toutes les éparchies orthodoxes roumaines, ainsi que les représentants de certaines églises orthodoxes sœurs, participent à la réunion de la jeunesse orthodoxe du monde entier, accueillie du 1er au 4 septembre par Bucarest. La rencontre est ciblée sur le rôle et l’importance de la jeunesse pour l’église. Selon les organisateurs, y seront abordés des thèmes tels la promotion des valeurs de la famille et l’importance de l’idée de bénévolat, dans les conditions où le Patriarcat de Roumanie compte près de 800 établissements sociaux déroulant des programmes caritatifs. La plupart des participants à cette réunion proviennent de Roumanie. Les jeunes venus de l’étranger sont issus de la diaspora roumaine vivant en Espagne, au Portugal, en Italie, en France, en Allemagne, en Autriche, en Suède, en Finlande, aux Etats-Unis, et en Australie. Y sont également représentées les églises orthodoxes sœurs de Grèce et d’Egypte, ainsi que les Patriarcats de Jérusalem et d’Antioche, de Pologne, de Géorgie, de Serbie, de Hongrie et de Chypre.

    Film – Le 73e festival du film international de Venise a été ouvert par la projection de la comédie musicale La La Land du réalisateur américain Damien Chazelle. Première nuit (First Night), dont le scénario et la réalisation portent la signature du Roumain Andrei Tănase, est en lice pour le trophée du meilleur court-métrage dans la section Orizzonti, consacrée aux films innovants et qui prêtent une attention particulière à la découverte de jeunes talents. Andrei Tănase est l’auteur de plusieurs courts-métrages sélectionnés et primés lors des différents festivals. Parmi eux, Vacances à la campagne (2015), Claude et les carpes (2013), Kings of the Castle ( 2010), Mc Russia (2008), Love Forever (2006), Myriapode (2004). La Mostra de Venise, le plus vieux festival du film international, s’achèvera le 10 septembre.

    Tennis – La joueuse de tennis roumaine Simona Halep (5e WTA) doit rencontrer ce jeudi la Tchèque Lucie Safarova (44 WTA), au deuxième tour de l’US Open, dernier tournoi de Grand Chelem de l’année. Dans cette même étape de la compétition américaine, la Roumaine Monica Niculescu (58 WTA) a eu raison de sa compatriote, Ana Bogdan (116e WTA), sur le score de 6-0, 6-1. Niculescu s’est donc qualifiée pour le troisième tour, où elle aura pour adversaire la gagnante du match entre la Russe Svetlana Kuzneţova (11e WTA) et la Danoise Caroline Wozniacki (74e WTA). En double messieurs, le duo formé du Roumain Horia Tecau et du Néerlandais Jean-Julien Rojer s’est qualifié pour le deuxième tour, après la victoire contre la paire Florian Mayer (Allemagne)/ Julien Knowle (Autriche).

    Météo – Il fait beau et le ciel est plutôt dégagé sur la plupart du territoire. Les températures maximales iront de 23 à 30 degrés. Il faisait 25 degrés à midi dans la capitale.

  • Le flash – 06.07.2016

    Le flash – 06.07.2016

    Conflit d’intérêts – La Cour Constitutionnelle de Roumanie se penche ce mercredi sur la saisine formulée au sujet de la loi portant sur la dépénalisation du conflit d’intérêts dans le cas des sénateurs et députés qui ont fait embaucher des membres de leurs familles dans le cadre de leurs bureaux parlementaires avant 2013. Une centaine de parlementaires signent cette saisine affirmant que la loi pourrait engendrer un conflit juridique de nature constitutionnelle entre le Législatif et la Haute Cour de Cassation et de Justice, vu qu’elle introduit une nouvelle interprétation du conflit d’intérêts. Ils dénoncent également le fait que la loi serait appliquée de manière rétroactive, ce qui contrevient à la Constitution. La loi en question a été votée avec une majorité écrasante il y a deux semaines au plénum réuni du Parlement de Bucarest. Et c’est toujours aujourd’hui que la Cour Constitutionnelle de Roumanie doit débattre de la saisine par laquelle le chef de l’Etat, Klaus Iohannis, conteste la loi selon laquelle les élus locaux visés par des peines de prison avec sursis ne perdent pas leur mandat. De l’avis du président roumain, cette loi ne respecte pas les repères de l’Etat de droit et porte atteinte à la lutte contre la corruption.

    Remaniement – Le premier ministre roumain, Dacian Ciolos, a opéré mardi le plus ample remaniement de son équipe depuis l’installation de son cabinet de technocrates. Les titulaires des Transports, Dan Costescu, de l’Education, Adrian Curaj, des Communications, Marius Bostan, ainsi que le ministre délégué pour la relation avec les Roumains de la diaspora, Dan Stoenescu, ont été remerciés. On connaît déjà leurs successeurs. Le gouvernement entre ainsi dans une nouvelle étape, celle des résultats, a affirmé le premier ministre, Dacian Ciolos. Détails, dans le commentaire de la rédaction, après les infos.

    Visas – Bucarest et Sofia ont fait savoir qu’ils n’allaient pas ratifier l’accord commercial entre l’UE et le Canada avant que les responsables d’Ottawa ne réglementent le régime des visas pour les ressortissants roumains et bulgares. Les officiels roumains ont qualifié de discriminatoire le traitement en matière de visas appliqué par le Canada aux habitants de leurs pays. Pour sa part, le président de la Commission Européenne, Jean Claude Junker, avait déclaré qu’après 5 ans de négociations, le document devait être ratifié en octobre prochain. L’Exécutif communautaire a assuré la Roumanie et la Bulgarie, les seuls Etats membres de l’Union dont les ressortissants ont toujours besoin d’un visa pour voyager au Canada, qu’il allait déployer les efforts nécessaires pour remédier à la situation. Bruxelles estime toutefois que Bucarest et Sofia de devraient pas lier la dispute sur les visas à l’accord commercial entre l’UE et le Canada.

    OSCE – Le député Victor Paul Dobre, membre de la délégation du Parlement de la Roumanie à l’Assemblée parlementaire de l’Organisation pour la Sécurité et la Coopération en Europe (OSCE), a été élu vice-président de cette structure, lors de la 25e session annuelle tenue à Tbilissi, en Géorgie, du 1er au 5 juillet. Créée en avril 1991, l’Assemblée parlementaire de l’OSCE compte 323 membres des 57 parlements nationaux des Etats membres de l’organisation. Le Parlement de la Roumanie participe à cette Assemblée depuis sa création et dispose d’une délégation permanente formée de 7 parlementaires.

    Exercice – Des scaphandriers d’Azerbaïdjan, de Bulgarie, de Géorgie, de Roumanie, de Turquie, d’Ukraine et des Etats-Unis participent à jusqu’à samedi à un exercice multinational dans les eaux territoriales de la Roumanie. Arrivé à sa 6e édition, l’exercice comporte 3 sections : celle des immersions pour exercer les procédures de recherche, neutralisation et destruction des engins explosifs subaquatiques improvisés, la section de lutte contre les mines marines et la section des immersions en grande profondeur. En même temps, un autre exercice sous l’égide de l’OTAN se déroule jusqu’à jeudi à Targu Mures, dans le centre de la Roumanie. Les manœuvres réunissent des équipes internationales de 17 pays et visent la simulation informatisée d’une situation d’urgence de grande ampleur.

    OTAN -
    Préparatifs intenses à Varsovie, en Pologne, pour le sommet de l’OTAN qui
    accueillera à partir de vendredi plus de 2200 participants. A part les membres
    de l’Alliance, y participeront également les leaders de l’UE, ainsi que ceux
    des pays associés ou partenaires, dont la Géorgie, l’Ukraine et
    l’Afghanistan. Selon le secrétaire général de l’OTAN, Jens Stoltenberg,
    ce sommet sera l’occasion de prendre des décisions clé afin de renforcer les
    capacités de défense et de dissuasion. De même, une brigade roumaine sera
    transformée en une force multinationale, alors que des bataillons
    multinationaux seront déployés dans les Pays Baltes et en Pologne.

  • July 6, 2016 UPDATE

    July 6, 2016 UPDATE

    RULING – Romanias Constitutional Court has unanimously endorsed the notification sent by President Klaus Iohannis on the unconstitutional character of a law. According to this law, mayors and local county councillors indicted for corruption deeds, and who got suspended prison sentences, can further be maintained in their public positions. Iohannis challenged this law at the Constitutional Court, on grounds of hindering the fight against corruption. Also on Wednesday, the Court decided to postpone until September 13th issuing a ruling on the bill challenged by almost 100 parliament members. The bill, passed two weeks ago, stipulates that MPs who had hired their relatives at their parliamentary cabinets before August 21, 2013, can no longer be accused of conflict of interests. The MPs who are now challenging this bill say it could create a legal conflict of constitutional nature between Parliament and the High Court of Cassation and Justice, as it introduces a new interpretation of the conflict of interests. Moreover, the signatories to the bill also say that the law applies retroactively, which runs counter to a principle established by the Constitution.



    RESHUFFLE – The new ministers nominated by Romanias technocratic PM, Dacian Ciolos, following the cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday, will be sworn in on Thursday, a communiqué issued by the Presidential Administration reads. The ministers who have been replaced are transport minister, Dan Costescu, education minister, Adrian Curaj, the minister delegate for the relation with the Romanian diaspora, Dan Stoenescu, and communications minister, Marius Bostan. The names of their successors have already been made public. This is the most extensive government reshuffle made by PM Dacian Ciolos since he took office, in November 2015.



    VISAS – The Canadian migration minister will have talks with members of the European Commission next week on mutual visa exemption. The meeting is held in the context in which Romania and Bulgaria might vote against the EU-Canada Agreement, in response to the Canadian governments refusal to lift visas for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens. The EU intends to endorse the document in October.



    NATO SUMMIT – Polands capital, Warsaw, is preparing to receive over 2,200 participants in the NATO Summit that starts on Friday. Alongside NATO members, European Union officials and leaders of Georgia, Ukraine and Afghanistan are also expected to attend the summit. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said the Alliances leaders will be making key decisions for the consolidation of NATOs defence and deterrence capabilities. Also, a Romanian brigade will be turned into a multinational force. Moreover, multinational battalions will be dispatched to the three Baltic states and Poland.



    HUNGARIAN BORDER SECURITY – The Hungarian authorities have stopped over 1,000 people from illegally crossing the border into Hungary as of Tuesday, when the new border security regulations were enforced, on an 8 km wide strip, on the countrys southern frontier. The measures have been criticised by the UNHCR for violating the immigrants rights. Also on Tuesday, Budapest announced that Hungary will organise, on October 2, a referendum on the European plan regarding the refugee distribution quota across the EU.



    THE OSCE – Victor Paul Dobre, a member of the Romanian Parliaments delegation at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been elected vice-president of this organisation, at its 25th annual meeting held in Tbilisi, Georgia, between July 1 and 5. The OSCE addresses a wide range of security-related issues, including arms control, security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratisation, counter-terrorism as well as economic and environmental matters. It is made up of 57 participating states that span the globe, encompassing three continents – North America, Europe and Asia – and more than a billion people. Romanias Parliament has been part of the OSCEs Parliamentary Assembly since its establishment, in 1991, with a standing delegation made up of seven MPs.



    DRILLS- Divers from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the US, Turkey and Ukraine are taking part, until Saturday, in a multinational exercise in Romanias territorial waters. This joint exercise, currently at its 6th edition consists in finding, neutralising and destroying underwater-improvised explosives devices and naval mines. We remind you that also these days the town of Targu-Mures, in central Romania, is playing host to a NATO exercise, enjoying the participation of 17 teams from such countries as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Serbia, Sweden, the US, Switzerland and Turkey. The exercise was organized by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre jointly with Romania, and is a computer simulation of an large-scale disaster situation, resulting in multiple victims and the evacuation of thousands of people.


    (Translated by D. Vijeu and E. Enache)

  • Jurnal românesc – 14.01.2016

    Jurnal românesc – 14.01.2016

    Ministerul de Externe a anunţat că, până acum, 16 copii din şapte
    familii de români au fost preluaţi de autorităţile norvegiene. Din aceste
    cazuri, cinci s-au soluţionat cu repatrierea a opt minori şi revenirea a doi
    copii în familia unor cetăţeni români rezidenţi în Norvegia. Anunţul survine
    după ce, miercuri, ambasadorul român la Oslo, Viorel Davidoiu, a avut discuţii
    la ministerul norvegian de Externe, unde a subliniat că preluarea in custodia autorităţilor
    din Norvegia a celor cinci copii din familie mixtă Ruth şi Marius Bodnariu este
    un caz social cu foarte mare impact emoţional şi mediatic şi a propus o
    cooperare politică în gestionarea acestuia. Tot miercuri, ambasada Norvegiei la
    Bucureşti a afirmat că un ordin de plasament este emis numai atunci când
    copilul a fost supus unei neglijenţe grave, maltratarii sau abuzului. O
    delegaţie comună a Camerei Deputaţilor şi Senatului de la Bucureşti va face,
    săptămâna viitoare, o vizită oficială la Oslo pentru a discuta cu
    reprezentanţii Parlamentului Norvegiei despre legislaţia referitoare la
    protecţia copilului, pornind de la cazul familiei Bodnariu.


    România va exercita si în 2016 preşedinţia Comitetului de
    Securitate al Organizaţiei pentru Securitate şi Cooperare în Europa (OSCE).
    Ministerul de Externe a informat că, la invitaţia Germaniei, care exercită
    preşedinţia în exerciţiu a OSCE, Bucureştiul va gestiona, în intervalul 1
    ianuarie – 31 decembrie 2016, această funcţie prin reprezentantul său permanent
    pe lângă organizaţiile internaţionale de la Viena, ambasadorul Cristian
    Istrate, asistat de o echipă alcătuită din diplomaţi români. În exercitarea
    mandatului, România va continua să urmărească promovarea unor abordări
    pragmatice, integrate, multidimensionale ale OSCE în combaterea ameninţărilor
    transnaţionale, cu accent pe combaterea terorismului şi extremismului violent,
    consolidarea securităţii cibernetice, combaterea criminalităţii transnaţionale
    organizate şi gestionarea provocărilor de securitate asociate fenomenului
    migraţiei ilegale.




    România a reuşit să folosească integral, în 2015, fondurile
    europene alocate prin Fondul de Dezvoltare Regională şi Fondul de Coeziune – a
    declarat, miercuri, comisarul european pentru Politica Regională, Corina Creţu.
    La întâlnirea de la Bruxelles cu ministrul fondurilor europene, Aura Răducu,
    d-na Creţu s-a declarat mulţumită că Bucureştiul a reuşit să evite, anul
    trecut, dezangajarea sumei de un miliard de euro, pe care a avut-o la
    dispoziţie prin cel doua fonduri. Potrivit corespondentei Radio România la
    Bruxelles, oficialul european a solicitat autorităţilor să acorde atenţiei
    începerii la timp a implementării noii perioade de programare, 2014-2020.




    Preşedintele Republicii Moldova, Nicolae Timofti, a semnat
    un decret privind decorarea preşedintelui României, Klaus Iohannis, cu Ordinul
    Republicii, cea mai înaltă distincţie statului vecin. Potrivit preşedinţiei de
    la Chişinău, distincţia i-a fost acordată lui Iohannis ‘în semn de profundă
    gratitudine pentru contribuţia sa deosebită la dezvoltarea şi consolidarea
    relaţiilor de prietenie şi colaborare dintre România şi Republica Moldova,
    precum şi pentru susţinerea constantă a eforturilor de integrare europeană ale
    Republicii Moldova.’ Anterior, Timofti l-a decorat, cu ‘Ordinul Ştefan cel
    Mare’, şi pe fostul preşedinte al României, Traian Băsescu, pentru ceea ce a
    numit contribuţia sa deosebită la promovarea stabilităţii, securităţii şi
    democraţiei în regiune şi pentru sprijinul constant acordat Republicii Moldova
    în procesul de formare a cadrelor din domeniile apărării, securităţii şi
    ordinii publice.

  • 04.12.2015

    04.12.2015

    OSCE – Le ministre roumain des Affaires Etrangères, Lazar Comanescu, a participé jeudi à Belgrade à la 22e réunion du Conseil ministériel de l’Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe. Dans son discours, il a notamment évoqué la re-confirmation de l’appui accordé à l’Ukraine, aux actions de l’OSCE dans le dossier de la Transnistrie – territoire sécessionniste pro-russe, situé dans l’est de la République de Moldova, ainsi qu’au rôle de l’organisation dans la lutte contre le terrorisme. En marge de cette réunion, Lazar Comanescu et son homologue de la République de Moldova, Natalia Gherman ont évoqué la situation politique à Chisinau et l’Accord d’association que l’UE déroule avec cette république ex- soviétique.

    Justice – La Haute Cour de Cassation et de Justice de Bucarest doit juger aujourd’hui la demande de la Direction nationale anti-corruption de placer le sénateur Dan Sova en détention provisoire pour 30 jours. Jeudi M Sova a été arrêté juste après le vote positif donné par ses collègues sénateurs à la demande des procureurs. Dan Sova est accusé de trafic d’influence, dans un dossier concernant un contrat s’assistance juridique conclu avec une entreprise énergétique d’Etat. Selon la Direction nationale anti-corruption, entre 2011 et 2014, il a reçu 100 mille euro en échange de son intervention auprès du directeur général de la compagnie pour que celui-ci signe un contrat avec un certain cabinet d’avocats. L’ex-premier ministre social-démocrate Victor Ponta est poursuivi dans un autre dossier aux côtés de Dan Sova.

    Infections – Le ministère de la Santé étudie la situation des infections nosocomiales, après les récentes déclarations faites par la direction d’un hôpital de Bucarest spécialisé dans le traitement des brûlures. Les directeurs de l’établissement ont admis que trois des blessés graves dans l’incendie qui avait ravagé le club Colectiv de la Capitale ce 30 octobre avaient décédés à cause de ces infections nosocomiales. Au total 60 personnes ont perdu la vie dans cette tragédie. Le porte-parole de l’Exécutif, Dan Suciu, a affirmé qu’à l’avenir un nouveau hôpital spécialisé dans le traitement des grands brûlés pourrait être construit au cas où les autorités disposeraient des ressources nécessaires.

    PIB – Le Produit intérieur brut de la Roumanie a progressé de 3,7% pendant les 9 premiers mois de cette année par rapport à la même période de l’année 2014, selon les chiffres de l’Institut national des statistiques. A la progression du PIB ont contribué tous les secteurs de l’économie, à l’exception de l’agriculture, de la sylviculture et de la pêche. Par ailleurs, les exportations nettes ont connu une baisse de 1%. Du point de vue de l’utilisation du PIB, les dépenses de consommation finale des ménages, en progression, ont contribué de 3,5% à la hausse du PIB. La Commission européenne a également révisé à la hausse, cet automne, ses estimations de croissance économique de la Roumanie. Celle-ci devrait poursuivre sa tendance ascendante cette année et en 2016. Estimée à 3,5% et respectivement à 4,1%, elle sera soutenue par les mesures dallègement fiscal qui stimulent la demande interne.

  • December 4, 2015

    December 4, 2015

    The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, held talks on Friday in Bucharest with the director of the IMF’s European Department, Poul Mathias Thomsen, about Romania’s positive economic prospects and some of the latest developments at European level. During the talks, they highlighted the need for the Romanian authorities to carry on with the economic reforms in a context of fiscal- budgetary and financial predictability and reiterated the importance of consolidating the trust of domestic companies and foreign partners in the Government’s policies. As of 2009 up to the present, Romania has concluded three consecutive loan agreements with the IMF and the EU. The latest agreement, which expired in September 2013, was worth 2 billion euros, and the Bucharest authorities have not accessed the funds. The purpose of the precautionary-type agreement was to protect the Romanian economy from possible shocks from the financial markets.



    Romania’s GDP rose by 3.7% in the first 9 months of 2015 as compared to the same period of 2014, show data provided by the National Institute of Statistics. All economic branches have contributed to the economic growth reported, except for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. In terms of GDP usage, the expenses for final consumption of households, whose volume has increased, have contributed by 3.5% to the GDP growth. The European Commission has improved its autumn estimates related to Romania’s economic growth, which will be accelerated this year and in 2016, being expected to reach 3.5% and 4.1% respectively. Economic growth is supported by the fiscal relaxation measures that stimulate internal demand.



    The Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazar Comanescu, participated on Thursday in Belgrade in the 22nd meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council. In his speech, the Romanian official has mainly reiterated the support granted to Ukraine, the need for the OSCE to get more involved in the resolution of the Transdniester issue, and the role of the organization in fighting terrorism. On the sidelines of the meeting, minister Comanescu and his Moldovan counterpart, Natalia Gherman, discussed the political situation in Chisinau and Moldova’s Association Agreement concluded with the EU.



    The German Parliament on Friday decided to provide military support to fight the jihadist movement, the Islamic State in Syria. The vote follows the appeal launched by France in the wake of last month’s attacks in Paris. Following Friday’s decision, Tornado planes, a frigate and 1,200 soldiers will be sent to the region. The German troops will not engage in combat actions, though. Great Britain also responded to France’s appeal, launching on Thursday the first strikes on some Islamic State targets in Syria. The extremist Jihadists have conquered extensive areas in Syria and Iraq where they set up a caliphate in June 2014. At present, the US, France, Jordan and Great Britain are hitting targets of the Islamists in Syria. On the other hand, in late September, Russia launched air strikes in Syria, claiming that they targeted only positions of the terrorist network. However, the US and NATO accuse Moscow of also attacking positions of the insurgents who are backed by the West.



    The European interior ministers are discussing Friday in Brussels a proposal regarding the extension by 2 years of internal border control measures within the Schengen Area. In order to cope with the immigrants’ crisis, several Schengen states have reintroduced in the past months border control measures, but the measures are temporary and cannot be applied for more than six months, France Press reports. High on the agenda of European ministers is also a common passenger name record, a draft law asked by France following the attacks that took place on Paris 3 weeks ago, that killed 130 people and that were claimed by the Islamic State terrorist network. On Thursday the European justice ministers analyzed the phenomenon of radicalization on the Internet and the recruitment of foreign fighters by means of social networks.