Radio România Internațional

Tag: Roberta Metsola

  • Ursula von der Leyen, re-elected

    Ursula von der Leyen, re-elected

    The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has been confirmed at the helm of the European Commission for the next 5 years, after she was voted, on Thursday’s first session of the new European Parliament since the June election. The support for von der Leyen was even greater compared to her first term, although right-wing and left-wing opposition forces have consolidated their presence in the community bloc. Her candidacy was dealt a major blow, analysts say, after an EU Court of Justice ruled, a day before the election, that Ursula von der Leyen had not been transparent enough with the public about pandemic contracts for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines. However, everything turned out well at the end of intense negotiations that took place until the very morning of the voting day, according to some political sources. Ursula von der Leyen received 401 votes although she needed half plus one of the total of 720. In her speech in Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen pleaded for a strong Europe and promised to make industry and defense her priorities. The president of the European Commission reconfirmed the continuation of support for Ukraine in all forms and condemned the actions of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that could have weakened the Union, after his recent visit to Moscow, in the context in which Hungary holds the EU Council presidency.

     

     

     

    According to the EPP, Ursula von der Leyen’s party of origin, the pro-European, pro-Ukraine and pro-rule of law majority in the European Parliament reflects the reality of European society. Ursula von der Leyen’s agenda targets both right-wing and left-wing policies, managing to respond to most of the citizens’ requests. The Social Democrats, the second largest group in Parliament, supported von der Leyen after her program included social and agricultural policies. Renew, the third-largest group in the coalition, gave von the Leyen less votes than before. Romanian MEPs however voted to support Ursula von der Leyen’s second term in office. Although they are not part of the coalition, part of the Greens voted in favor of Ursula von der Leyen. Just in like with the Social-Democrats, the Greens were promised the Commission would focus on environmental policies and the plan for affordable housing. The vote and hearings on EU Commissioners are scheduled to follow. Governments of EU Members will each have to present two candidates (one woman and one man) for the positions of European commissioners, von der Leyen said. The final vote on the structure of the Commission could be slated for September.

     

     

     

    The only incident of first day was the aggressive intervention of Romanian MEP Diana Şoşoacă, who was twice expelled from the hall for interrupting the session. The incident was criticized by all parliamentary groups, including the radical or extremist ones, and condemned by the Romanian MEPs because it mars the image of Romania at international level. Listed as a pro-Russian politician and leader of the populist SOS Romania party, the former Senator returned to her antics in the Romanian Parliament. In Brussels, however, failure to observe the rules is subject to immediate sanctions. (VP)

  • March 26, 2024 UPDATE

    March 26, 2024 UPDATE

    VOTE The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest on Tuesday turned down the simple motion tabled by the opposition USR and Force of the Right against the Social-Democratic Minister of Agriculture Florin Barbu. At the yesterday’s debates, the opposition criticized the way in which the minister handled the farmers’ protests at the beginning of the year but also the fact that he positively evoked the name of Romania’s former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. At the same time, the initiators said that Minister Barbu defied the Romanians who are paying higher prices at the market and in shops on a daily basis, whereas he is only promoting the interests of his party. In turn, Barbu said the motion contained many falsehoods through which the signatories want to spark off confusion and irritation in order to get political capital in this election year.

     

    DAY The Romanian Cultural Institute and its representations abroad are staging a series of cultural events marking 106 years since the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, which are celebrated on Wednesday. A painting exhibition is to be launched at Romania’s Art Museum, which puts on display 100 works by artists from the Republic of Moldova while the National Theatre in Bucharest is staging three shows, involving actors from the two countries. The capital of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, will be seeing a classical music concert given by the National Chamber Orchestra including Romanian compositions and works by foreign composers.

     

    RESOLUTION The presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, of the European Council, Charles Michel, and of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, have welcomed a United Nations resolution calling for the first time for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The UN Security Council adopted the resolution with 14 votes in favour and with the United States’ abstaining, demanding an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, which ends on 9th April, and leading to a lasting ceasefire. The resolution also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas. The war in Gaza, which began five months ago, has so far killed over 32,000 people and injured more than 74,600, with most of the population of Gaza facing an imminent threat of starvation, according to Palestinian sources quoted by EFE. In response to the United States’ decision to abstain, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled an Israeli visit to the US. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Israel, Netanyahu’s decision is yet more proof of the worsening of Israeli-US relations.

     

    FINANCE Romania is still facing vulnerabilities relating to its external and fiscal accounts, the European Commission warned in an in-depth review of six member states published on Monday. According to the report, “the large current account, large government deficits and high inflation rate, which are all above pre-pandemic levels, make the economy potentially vulnerable to shocks”. So far, Romania has not had difficulties in covering its financing needs owing to its solid economy, medium-term growth and low debt levels. The report also notes that Romania’s hard currency reserves seem “broadly adequate”, covering almost five months of imports and more than 100% of short-term external debt at the end of 2023.

    (bill)