Tag: Romania-France

  • July 13, 2020 UPDATE

    July 13, 2020 UPDATE

    Coronavirus Romania. Covid-19 infections near 33,000 in Romania since the beginning of the pandemic. Almost 21,700 people
    have recovered, some 235 are in intensive care, and the death toll has passed
    1,900. More than 5,100 cases have been confirmed among the Romanians living
    abroad, as well as 122 fatalities.

    Coronavirus
    world.
    The director general
    of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that
    too many countries are headed in the wrong direction and that the
    novel coronavirus remain public enemy number one. He said the situation can
    only become worse unless basic measures are taken to control it and that there
    will be no return to the old normal for the foreseeable future. Global coronavirus infections near 13 million
    confirmed cases, with and almost 600,000 deaths. The situation continues to
    deteriorate in the United States, Latin America, India and Russia.




    Restrictions.
    Lithuania has banned the access of Romanian travellers to due to the rising number of
    Covid-19 infections in Romania. The authorities in Vilnius are assessing the
    decision on a weekly basis. Lithuania isn’t the only European country imposing
    restrictions to Romanian citizens. Greece is also asking tourists to produce a
    negative Covid test taken in the past 72 hours when entering the Greek border,
    while Austria requires Covid-19 tests not older than 4 days. Other European
    countries like Finland, Malta, Slovakia, Estonia, Ireland, the Netherlands,
    Slovenia and Hungary ask travellers to isolate or quarantine. 20 European
    countries have imposed restrictions for travellers coming from Romania.

    Law. The Senate’s legal committee on Monday resumed debates on the law
    regulating quarantine and isolation. No new date was set for a final vote in
    the Senate, which is the decision-making body in this case. Talks focused on
    the specific provisions referring to the restriction of rights and liberties in
    case of a high epidemiological risk. The bill was initiated by the government
    after the Constitutional Court ruled that isolation at home, quarantine and
    hospitalisation cannot be imposed based on ministerial order as was the case so
    far, even when the persons in question are infected with the novel coronavirus.
    The Constitutional court said the restrictive measures must be based on a law
    that clearly regulates them. On Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies passed the
    bill in a much amended form. Postponing a debate on the bill in the Senate
    means a dramatic increase in the risk of infection, said prime minister Ludovic
    Orban, adding that the law is indispensable. On Sunday evening, hundreds of
    people protested against the quarantine and isolation law in front of the
    government building.




    Partnership. Prime minister Ludovic
    Orban on Monday stated his government’s openness towards consolidating the
    French-Romanian strategic partnership. On the eve of France’s national day on
    the 14th of July, he attended a roundtable by video conference held
    by the French Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Romania. The
    prime minister hailed the active contribution of French companies in various
    sectors in Romania. The French ambassador to Bucharest Michele Ramis said
    Romania is a dynamic EU market and that the relationship between the two
    countries is exceptional, almost fraternal.




    Fencing. The International
    Fencing Federation has designated Romania’s Ana Maria Popescu winner of the
    2020 World Cup in women’s epee as early as this month as many competitions
    could not be held because of the Covid pandemic. The Romanian fencer is
    followed in the ranking by Brazil’s Nathalie Moellhausen and China’s Sun Yiwen.
    Ana Maria Popescu has already won this title three times, in 2008, 2009 and
    2013. With this fourth win, she becomes the fencer with most titles in the
    history of the World Cup in epee, ahead of France’s Laura Flessel and Hungary’s Emese
    Szasz-Kovacs, each with three world titles to their names. (CM)



  • July 12, 2019 UPDATE

    July 12, 2019 UPDATE

    ROMANIA -
    FRANCE RELATIONS – Romania is a key partner of France in the
    region, French Ambassador to Bucharest Michele Ramis said on Friday at the
    reception celebrating the National Day of France. Michele Ramis congratulated
    Romanian authorities for their successful presidency of the Council of the EU.
    The French official recalled that in 2019 bilateral relations were marked by
    the Romania – France culture season, which comes to an end on Sunday. The series
    of events were a success, especially with the young generations, with over 800
    events held in 160 cities across France and Romania, Ambassador Ramis went on
    to say. Michele Ramis also referred to the over 2,300 French businesses
    operating in Romania, which make up for some 120,000 jobs. The National Day of
    France was also celebrated in Iasi, Brasov, Cluj and Timisoara.

    PRESIDENCY – The Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest on Friday
    hosted a gala concert, marking the end of the Romanian Presidency of the
    Council of the EU. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila presented the main results of
    Romania’s term in office. Romania fought for a Europe for all, one that
    promotes unity in diversity and where hatred and discrimination have no place,
    Prime Minister Dancila said. Romania’s record at the helm of the Council of the
    EU includes the completion of 90 legislative files and the adoption of 84
    conclusions of the Council, on topics of common interest. Some 2,500 events and
    meetings have been organized, of which 300 in Romania. The Romanian official
    pointed out the Romanian presidency achieved its set goals and was appreciated
    by all European partners.






    EU – Former
    Social-Democrat MEP Ioan Mircea Pascu, proposed by the Government for the
    position of interim Commissioner for Regional Policy, was designated a member
    of the Commission, although he will not be holding any portfolio. The same will
    go for Estonia’s candidate, Kadri Simson. The decision was taken by European
    Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, considering the short duration of the
    two candidates’ term in office. On October 31, the new European Commission is
    expected to take office. Under the regulation, Juncker interviewed the two
    candidates on Thursday and assessed their skills. Ioan Mircea Pascu and Kadri
    Simson will also appear on Wednesday before the European Parliament committee
    chairmen, while Parliament will vote on their appointment on Thursday in
    Strasbourg. Aged 70, Ioan Mircea Pascu is due to take over the regional policy
    portfolio from Corina Cretu, who has won an MEP seat in the new Parliament on
    behalf of the Pro Romania Party. Ioan Mircea Pascu has been an MEP since 2007,
    the year of Romania’s EU accession.






    ENVIRONMENT – Losing
    biodiversity is one of the global issues facing all societies today, said the
    Romanian Minister of the Environment, the Deputy Prime Minister Gratiela
    Gavrilescu, at the first informal meeting of environment ministers organized
    under the Finish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Gratiela Gavrilescu has
    recalled that during the Romanian Presidency, which ended on June 30th this
    year, biodiversity was a priority, and efforts were made to push forward
    negotiations on the LIFE Programme post 2020, as well as to find common points
    in the preparation for the post – 2020 Global Framework. The EU’s long-term
    strategy with regard to climate change was a major objective for Bucharest, the
    Romanian minister has stated, adding that the EU must keep acting, both
    internally and externally, and support actions in the field by means of a large
    number of cooperation instruments, including financial.






    GOLDEN STAG – 12 artists from ten countries will compete
    for the Grand Trophy of the Golden Stag Music Festival in Brasov, central
    Romania, which starts on August 22nd. The finalists are Tamara of Georgia,
    Ralfs Eilands of Latvia, Veronica Liberati of Italy, Florin Raduta of Romania,
    Anna Odobescu of the Republic of Moldova, Alfie Arcuri of Australia, Renate of
    Romania, Cynthia Verazie of Cyprus, Eliza G of Italy, Syuzanna Melqonyan of
    Armenia, Monika Marija of Lithuania and Sara de Blue of Austria. Carrying on a
    50 year long tradition, besides their own pieces, the competitors will also
    perform a song in Romanian. The first edition of the festival was held in 1968.
    In time, it became the largest international music festival organized in
    Romania and has enjoyed performances by famous artists such as Diana Ross, Amalia Rodrigues, Julio Iglesias, Dalida, Sheryl Crow, Tom
    Jones, Juliette Greco, Vaya con Dios, Coolio, Christina Aguilera, Cliff
    Richard, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Martin, Kelly Family, Patricia Kaas, Gilbert
    Becaud, Josephine Baker, Toto Cutugno, Enrico Macias, Boy George, James Brown,
    Ray Charles, UB 40, Scorpions or Pink.






    TENNIS – Romanian
    tennis player Simona Halep, no.7 in the WTA rankings, and the American Serena
    Williams, no. 10 WTA, on Saturday are playing the final of the Wimbledon
    tournament, the third Grand Slam of the year. On Thursday, in the semifinals,
    Halep defeated the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (8WTA) 6-1, 6-3, and Williams beat
    the Czech Barbora Strycova (54 WTA), 6-1, 6-2. This is the first time that
    Halep has qualified to the Wimbledon final, and the fifth grand slam final on
    her record sheet. She is the second Romanian to play the Wimbledon final, after
    Ilie Nastase, in the men’s singles, who lost the finals back in 1972 and 1976.




    (Translated by M.
    Ignatescu & V. Palcu)