Radio România Internațional

Tag: PM Pavel Filip

  • European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    The Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Thursday signed
    the documents for a financial aid package worth €100 million, of which €40
    million non-reimbursable funding. Moldova is expected to receive the funds by
    the end of the year and must invest it in four development programs. The
    documents underlying the financial deal will be submitted to the Moldovan
    Parliament for approval.

    Meanwhile, Chisinau authorities are making efforts to
    fulfill all requirements for disbursing the first installment of the loan.
    According to Radio Chisinau, several MEPs and Moldovan politicians had insisted
    the financial aid be postponed after Parliament had changed the election
    system, despite being advised against it by the Venice Commission.

    On the
    sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, the European Council President
    Donald Tusk and Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip discussed the
    implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the European Union and
    the developments in Moldova. Tusk highlighted the fact that the Republic of
    Moldova is one of the most important members of the Eastern Partnership,
    commending Moldovans’ confidence in the EU.

    In turn, Filip reiterated his
    country’s efforts to join the community bloc, which is transparent in recent
    surveys, showing an increased support from Moldovan citizens for their
    country’s EU accession. Pavel Filip reassured Tusk that his Government’s list
    of priorities includes securing the independence of the judiciary, continuing
    efforts to investigate bank fraud and hold the people involved accountable, as
    well as implementing the new election law in line with the recommendations of
    the Venice Commission.

    In another development, Moldova’s Justice Minister
    Vladimir Ceboratri has stated in Bucharest that his country relies on Romania’s
    support for its EU accession. Western leaders have voiced concern over the
    level of corruption in Chisinau, which in 2014 led the mysterious disappearance
    of $1 billion, the equivalent of 15% of its GDP, by means of a massive bank
    fraud.

    For fear they might see their funds sucked into a black hole, the EU,
    the IMF and the World Bank have temporarily suspended their financial
    assistance to Chisinau. At the time
    Romania was the only country that gave €150 million to Moldova on loan over a
    four and a half years period, at a preferential interest rate of 1.45%. (Translated by Vlad Palcu)

  • European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    The Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Thursday signed
    the documents for a financial aid package worth €100 million, of which €40
    million non-reimbursable funding. Moldova is expected to receive the funds by
    the end of the year and must invest it in four development programs. The
    documents underlying the financial deal will be submitted to the Moldovan
    Parliament for approval.

    Meanwhile, Chisinau authorities are making efforts to
    fulfill all requirements for disbursing the first installment of the loan.
    According to Radio Chisinau, several MEPs and Moldovan politicians had insisted
    the financial aid be postponed after Parliament had changed the election
    system, despite being advised against it by the Venice Commission.

    On the
    sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, the European Council President
    Donald Tusk and Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip discussed the
    implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the European Union and
    the developments in Moldova. Tusk highlighted the fact that the Republic of
    Moldova is one of the most important members of the Eastern Partnership,
    commending Moldovans’ confidence in the EU.

    In turn, Filip reiterated his
    country’s efforts to join the community bloc, which is transparent in recent
    surveys, showing an increased support from Moldovan citizens for their
    country’s EU accession. Pavel Filip reassured Tusk that his Government’s list
    of priorities includes securing the independence of the judiciary, continuing
    efforts to investigate bank fraud and hold the people involved accountable, as
    well as implementing the new election law in line with the recommendations of
    the Venice Commission.

    In another development, Moldova’s Justice Minister
    Vladimir Ceboratri has stated in Bucharest that his country relies on Romania’s
    support for its EU accession. Western leaders have voiced concern over the
    level of corruption in Chisinau, which in 2014 led the mysterious disappearance
    of $1 billion, the equivalent of 15% of its GDP, by means of a massive bank
    fraud.

    For fear they might see their funds sucked into a black hole, the EU,
    the IMF and the World Bank have temporarily suspended their financial
    assistance to Chisinau. At the time
    Romania was the only country that gave €150 million to Moldova on loan over a
    four and a half years period, at a preferential interest rate of 1.45%. (Translated by Vlad Palcu)

  • January 25, 2016 UPDATE

    January 25, 2016 UPDATE

    European Union countries have asked the blocs executive to prepare for the extension of temporary border controls in the Schengen area for up to two years, Dutch Migration Minister Klaas Dijkhoff said on Monday. “Currently, the temporary border measures can be aken only for a limited period of six months. But the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers, which compelled member states to take these measures nationally, have not decreased yet,” Dijkhoff, who chaired the EU ministerial meeting in Amsterdam, told a news conference. Romania was represented at the meeting by its Home Affairs Minister Petre Toba.




    The European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) has been opened in Amsterdam within the current organisational structure of Europol – the European Union law enforcement agency. The centre will improve information sharing among national police forces whose performance is under scrutiny after the jihadist attacks in Paris in November. “Our ambition is for the European Counter Terrorism Centre to become a central information hub in the fight against terrorism in the EU, providing analysis for ongoing investigations and contributing to a coordinated reaction in the event of major terrorist attacks,” said Europol’s Director Rob Wainwright. According to Wainwright, alongside counter-terrorism coordination, the centre will also monitor the way in which Islamic State (IS) and other extremist groups are abusing the Internet and social media, in particular for their propaganda and recruitment purposes.




    Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations envoy for Syria has announced that peace talks are scheduled to start on January 29 and might take around 6 months. UN talks on Syria will begin later this week, despite the continuing failure to agree who will represent the rebels fighting to overthrow Bashar al-Assad and a lack of agreement on other key issues, the organisation has announced. Staffan de Mistura also said on Monday that the names of the people invited at the peace talks will be made public on Tuesday.




    The Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced that Ukrainian authorities signalled a swine flu outbreak in the country, a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1. Ukrainian officials have introduced a number of urgent measures to prevent the spreading of the virus, such as temporarily closing schools and banning some public gatherings. The Romanian Foreign Ministry strongly recommends Romanian citizens to avoid travelling to Ukraine in the upcoming period. H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis. Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu – fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and chills.




    The Romanian Anti-Corruption Directorate has requested approval from the Senate for the prosecution of former Minister of the Interior, Gabriel Oprea, for abuse of office. He is suspected of illegally using the resources of the ministry when travelling on ministry business. He is also accused of illegally signing a protocol by which the same illegal benefits were granted to the general prosecutor with the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The Anti-Corruption Directorate started the investigation after a motorcycle police escort to the minister lost his life on duty in his official column. The lack of reaction after the incident and the lack of justification for that assignment sparked public outrage.




    The new PM of the Republic of Moldova, Pavel Filip, is paying a visit to Romania on Tuesday, invited by Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos. The two will be discussing joint projects and the reform agenda that Chisinau has committed to under the Association Agreement with the EU. This is the first official visit of the new Moldovan Prime Minister, while the situation in Chisinau is volatile. Over 20,000 protesters, pro-Russian political forces and representatives of civil society took to the streets on Sunday in Chisinau, condemning endemic corruption.



    (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • January 24, 2016 UPDATE

    January 24, 2016 UPDATE

    Around 40 thousand people protested on Sunday in Moldova’s capital Chisinau demanding the resignation of the countrys leaders and new parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Pavel Filip’s government, which is committed to joining the EU, came to power on Wednesday. There have been almost daily rallies since the new government took office, with protesters breaking into parliament on Wednesday. With a population of 3.5 million, Moldova is often regarded as the site of confrontation between Russia and the EU, especially after Chisinau signed the EU association agreement in 2014, which infuriated Moscow, France Press reports. Moldova is one of Europes poorest countries and has been locked in political turmoil since the disappearance, in 2014, of some 1 billion dollars from the banking system. Romanians form 78% of the country’s population, while the Russian and Ukrainian minorities account for around 14%. Chisinau has recently announced that Pavel Filip will pay his first official visit as prime minister to Bucharest, on January 26, to hold talks with his counterpart Dacian Ciolos.




    Romanian Home Affairs Minister Petre Toba is attending on Monday in Amsterdam an informal meeting of the justice and home affairs ministers organised by the Dutch presidency of the EU. Migration and EU’s internal security are high on the meeting’s agenda. In case of serious and persistent threats over Schangen’s external borders the European Commission can propose the suspension of the Schengen Treaty and the reintroduction of border checks for a period of up to two years. Over 1 million refugees have entered the community area in the last twelve months alone, which caused disputes among member states. Germany, Austria, Sweden and Denmark have already introduced, over the past few months, temporary checks within the Scghengen area.




    Romanians celebrated 157 years since the Union of the Romanian Principalities. Taking part in the celebrations held in the northeastern Romanian city of Iasi were President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos. On this occasion, President Iohannis called on the political class to do its best to meet the citizens’ expectations and restore people’s confidence in Romanian politicians. On the 24th of January, 1859, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, who had been elected ruler of Moldavia a week earlier, was unanimously elected sovereign of Wallachia and proclaimed ruler of the United Principalities. Three years later, on January 24, 1862, the union was recognized internationally and the state received the name of Romania. Cuza’s reforms laid the institutional foundation of modern Romania. In 1918, the establishment of the nation state was completed by the union with Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania, the historical provinces with predominantly Romanian speaking population. However, Romania lost Bessarabia and Bukovina after WW2.




    The US and Turkey are prepared to seek a military solution against so-called Islamic State if a political agreement in Syria proves impossible, US Vice-President Joe Biden has said. The latest round of Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Monday in Geneva, but they are being held up by disagreements over representation and the agenda. Syrian armed rebel groups have said they held the Syrian government and Russia responsible for any failure of peace talks while the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations unless Damascus took steps including a halt to Russian air strikes. At the request of Damascus, Moscow has been taking part in the military campaign in Syria for several months now, and, although it claims its main target is Islamic State, Russia has been accused of bombarding positions of the moderate rebels supported by monarchies in the Gulf area, Turkey and the Western powers.




    Washington and New York have been paralysed by Storm Jonas, also dubbed “Snowzilla” which dumped near-record amounts of snow along the eastern coast of the United States. New York City was buried in 68 cm of snow, a record level after 1869. In Washington, federal institutions were closed and all public transport was suspended. Several thousand flights were cancelled because of the storm. A state of emergency has been declared in 11 states, the American media reports.




    Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 2 in the world, is to have an operation on her nose and will skip next weeks Fed Cup match against the Czech Republic and tournaments in Dubai and Doha. “The last six weeks have been extremely difficult for me, as I’ve been dealing with infections in my stomach, nose and ear. Under doctors advice, I will undergo surgery to fix the on-going problem,” she said in a post on her Facebook page. The Romanian tennis player had an illness-plagued start to the year, which ended with a first-round exit from the Australian Open. ​



    (Translated by Elena Enache)





  • January 24, 2016

    January 24, 2016

    Romanians celebrate 157 years since the Union of the Romanian Principalities. Taking part in the celebrations held in the northeastern Romanian city of Iasi are President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos. On this occasion, President Iohannis called on the political class to do its best to meet the citizens’ expectations and restore people’s confidence in Romanian politicians. On the 24th of January, 1859, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, who had been elected ruler of Moldavia a week earlier, was unanimously elected sovereign of Wallachia and proclaimed ruler of the United Principalities. Three years later, on January 24, 1862, the union was recognized internationally and the state received the name of Romania. Cuza’s reforms laid the institutional foundation of modern Romania. In 1918, the establishment of the nation state was completed by the union with Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania, the historical provinces with predominantly Romanian speaking population. However, Romania lost Bessarabia and Bukovina after WW2.




    The US and Turkey are prepared to seek a military solution against so-called Islamic State if a political agreement in Syria proves impossible, US Vice-President Joe Biden has said. The latest round of Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Monday in Geneva, but they are being held up by disagreements over representation and the agenda. Syrian armed rebel groups have said they held the Syrian government and Russia responsible for any failure of peace talks while the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations unless Damascus took steps including a halt to Russian air strikes. At the request of Damascus, Moscow has been taking part in the military campaign in Syria for several months now, and, although it claims its main target is Islamic State, Russia has been accused of bombarding positions of the moderate rebels supported by monarchies in the Gulf area, Turkey and the Western powers.




    The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Pavel Filip, will pay a visit to Bucharest on January 26, to meet with his Romanian counterpart Dacian Ciolos, the Chisinau Government announced. The two officials will discuss about the actions to be taken by the two governments in order to boost the implementation of the initiatives and projects previously agreed on by Chisinau and Bucharest. Also tackled will be the agenda of reforms set under the Moldova EU Association Agreement. This is Pavel Filip’s first official visit as prime minister, against the background of protests against the new government in the capital Chisinau. Unhappy with their politicians’ corruption and lack of efficiency, thousands of protesters took Parliament by storm right after the new government had been sworn in, asking for early elections.




    Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 2 in the world, is to have an operation on her nose and will skip next weeks Fed Cup match against the Czech Republic and tournaments in Dubai and Doha,. “The last six weeks have been extremely difficult for me, as I’ve been dealing with infections in my stomach, nose and ear. Under doctors advice, I will undergo surgery to fix the on-going problem,” she said in a post on her Facebook page. The Romanian tennis player had an illness-plagued start to the year, which ended with a first-round exit from the Australian Open.




    Romania continues to be under a yellow code alert for frost except for 5 counties in the west and northwest. The lowest temperatures will range from minus 20 degree C to minus 15 degrees C. On isolated areas temperatures will drop down to minus 28 degrees C. As of Sunday snowfalls are present in the west, north and northwest of the country. Maximum, temperatures will stand at minus 2 degrees C.



    (Translated by Elena Enache)