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Tag: Romanian PM Viorica Dancila

The Romanian PM in Brussels

Romanias priority as president of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2019 is the cohesion policy, and negotiations are set to continue at a fast pace to have the related legislative package adopted on time. This is the message the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila conveyed at the plenary meeting of the European Committee of the Regions hosted by Brussels on Wednesday. According to the Romanian official, the start of the future operational programs will allow the benefits of the cohesion policy to show in peoples daily lives, in the lives of the cities and regions of Europe. At the same time, the EU should prove that it has the capacity to make progress in strengthening the European policies and obtaining concrete results for the citizens.

PM Viorica Dancila: “Strengthening social cohesion requires economic convergence at European level. We therefore need a fully functional single market, free competition and transparent and fair rules as well as active mobility in all of its dimensions.”

According to the Romanian PM, in the run up to the European elections, the EU should come up with the adequate measures to counterbalance the euro-skeptical and populist discourse, by promoting a more democratic Union, which should be closer to its citizens. PM Dancila also added that education and culture represented the key to Europes future both from European citizens individual perspectives and with regard to consolidating the European project. Local and regional authorities and communities can play an important role in this regard. At the helm of the Council of the EU, Romania will have to deal with several major issues such as Brexit, the negotiations over the Multiannual Financial Framework, migration, EU enlargement and security.

Also in Brussels, on Tuesday, the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila gave assurances that the rule of law in Romania was being observed and that Romanias priorities were the fight against corruption and upholding citizens rights.

PM Viorica Dancila: “The rule of law is being observed in Romania and I can guarantee that the anti-corruption fight, the rule of law, as well as the rights of the citizens will be my main priority. All the accusations that the Romanian government fails to accomplish its mission are unsubstantiated.”

As to Romanias Schengen accession, PM Dancila pointed out that Bucharest had already met the criteria for accession in 2011, but Romanias joining the agreement is being delayed for political reasons.

PM Viorica Dancila: “Romania has met all the requirements, just like all the members of the Schengen Area. I think its high time for a political decision to take Romania into the Schengen Area”.

During her visit to Brussels, PM Dancila had talks with several European officials about the future of Europe.

7 February 2019
Romania and the EU-NATO Cooperation

Romania remains a trustworthy partner of NATO
and will continue to fulfill its obligations within the Alliance, the Romanian
PM Viorica Dancila said after a meeting with the NATO Secretary General Jens
Stoltenberg. The two officials met on Wednesday in Brussels on the occasion of
Romania’s taking over the presidency of the Council of the EU. PM Dancila
presented the NATO official with Romania’s priorities at the helm of the
Council, focusing on cohesion and cooperation among member states in the face of
new security challenges and ensuring a more important role of the EU at world
level.

Romania firmly supports a strong Alliance and the consolidation of the
trans-Atlantic relationship, which is vital for Euro-Atlantic security, Dancila
said. She added that Romania wants the EU to improve its capacity to face
security challenges, but as a partner of NATO. We are faced with many common threats,
such as hybrid attacks, including in the cyber field and the use of disinformation
and fake news to create tension and mistrust. We must face them together, the
Romanian PM said.

The two officials also approached the issue of security
in the region, in particular the developments in the Black Sea area, but also defense
on the eastern flank. Viorica Dancila:

I have conveyed the Romanian
Government’s support for the important progress made by NATO in adjusting to
the new realities. I have pointed out that security in the Black Sea area is part
of the Euro-Atlantic security and that the Alliance needs a strategic approach
in this region.

In turn, the NATO Secretary General, Jens
Stoltenberg, talked about Romania’s crucial role in the Black Sea area and appreciated
Romania’s contribution in the field of security. Moreover, he hailed the
country’s decision to spend 2% of the GDP on defense. The partnership has been important to both NATO and Romania. This year
is the 15th anniversary of Romania joining our Alliance. Your membership has been important for NATO
and for Romania. You contribute to our shared security in many different ways
and your contributions are making us all stronger and safer Stoltenberg said.

The NATO Secretary General also talked
about the Romanian military’s participation in NATO international missions. NATO and the EU are already working more closely than ever, in areas
including military mobility, cyber and hybrid threats, and maritime security.
And I welcome your plans for further strengthening NATO-EU cooperation during
Romania’s presidency, Jens Stoltenberg also said.

25 January 2019
December 22, 2018 UPDATE

SUMMIT – The Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila spoke in Belgrade, at the Romania – Serbia – Bulgaria – Greece summit, about the countrys priorities during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, focusing on the cohesion policy. “During the presidency of Romania, starting January 2019, we must respond to many challenges, perhaps unique challenges for the EU, and I am convinced that together we will be able to draw a future that is closer to citizens”, the Romanian official stated. Also, the Romanian Prime Minister highlighted the support given to the European integration of the Western Balkans. The four prime-ministers discussed in Belgrade cooperation in fields such as energy, infrastructure, tourism and sport.

ORDINANCE – The Romanian Government, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, adopted in Fridays session an emergency ordinance on the fiscal measures recently announced by the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. The measures are contested by the countrys president, Klaus Iohannis, by banks and big energy and communications companies. The Social Democratic Party, the senior partner in the coalition, says though that the measures will boost Romanian economy. The measures adopted under the emergency ordinance include, among other things, capping the price of gas and electricity for the next three years for domestic consumers and lowering commission to private pension funds from 2.5% to 1%. Another measure concerns taxation of financial-banking institutions according to the evolution of ROBOR, the reference indicator used by banks in lending, which, at least in the past year, has fluctuated to the detriment of both companies and natural persons. Also, the Romanian Government has approved the setting up of an investment and development fund, which will provide funding for local community and university development projects, with a budget of approximately 10 billion Euros. As of January 1st, all employees will receive two minimum wages per year in the form of food allowance.

STOCK EXCHANGE – The Financial Supervisory Authority has announced the commencement of an analysis of the transactions carried out at the Bucharest Stock Exchange on Wednesday, as there are suspicions of abuse. If the investigation concludes the law was broken, the Authority will take measures that will be made public. On Wednesday, the Bucharest Stock Exchange registered a record low. The biggest losses were registered by the shares of banks and energy companies. The plunge occurred after the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici had announced a number of measures, which in the meantime have already been adopted by means of an emergency ordinance.

1989 REVOLUTION – Events commemorating the heroes of the December 1989 anti-Communist Revolution were held on Saturday in Bucharest and other cities across Romania. 29 years ago, protesters laid siege to the headquarters of the Communist Party, and dictator Ceausescu fled Bucharest on board a helicopter. In the capital, commemoration events started at the monument in the Revolution Square and continued at the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, the Romanian Television and the Telephone Palace. The participants included revolutionaries, relatives of those who died, people who were in the army in 1989 and were called to defend the public institutions from what officials back then termed as terrorists. All orthodox churches in the country and abroad held a commemoration mass to honour the heroes who sacrificed themselves in December 1989. More than 1000 people died and some 3,400 were wounded in the shootings in Romania, the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the regime was toppled violently and the communist rulers were executed.

MARCH – On Saturday, more than one thousand people gathered in Victoria Square in Bucharest for a manifestation announced in the social media as 22 December – Our Revolution. The crowed marched towards the University Square and the Revolution Square. According to the organizers, the main goal of the event was to commemorate the victims of the 1989 Revolution. “They believed in freedom at a time when Romania was going trough the darkest of times” said the organizers.

UNEMPLOYMENT – In November, the unemployment rate in Romania stood at 3.3%, lower than in the previous month and under the value registered in November 2017. According to the National Employment Agency, the total number of unemployed individuals, in late November, was 289,000 people, of whom 57,000 were receiving unemployment benefits. Most of the unemployed were aged 40 to 49.

EUROBAROMETER – 52% of the Romanians have a positive image about the EU, as compared to 43% , which is the European average. According to a Eurobarometer survey, the number of Romanians who have a positive image about the EU is on the rise and above the European average. Half of the Romanians trust the EU and believe that their voice counts in the EU, 56% of the Romanians have a positive view of the situation of the European economy, and 48% of Romanians are optimistic about the labour market situation. The survey also shows that most Europeans believe, for the first time, that their voice matters in the EU. Moreover, 20 years since the introduction of the single currency, support for the economic and monetary union and the Euro remains at a record high, with three quarters of the respondents in the Eurozone in favour of the single currency. On the other hand, immigration remains the main concern at EU level. It is mentioned twice more often than terrorism.

TRAVEL – Over the past few days, traffic at the Romanian border crossing points has intensified, as many Romanians who have settled or are working abroad are coming back to the country for the winter holidays. Also, many Romanians have planned a holiday abroad in the coming period. The General Border Police Inspectorate has reminded citizens that, by accessing the on-line application Average waiting times at border crossing points open to international traffic, they can visualize all border crossing points and the traffic situation, differentiated in various colours. The Romania Police too have announced that more than 8,500 police officers from public order and safety structures will be on duty across the country in the coming period. In another move, the Romanian Railway Company has increased the number of trains leaving from Bucharest to the big cities and mountain resorts in the country, until January 6th, 2019.

22 December 2018
October 2, 2018 UPDATE

BUCHAREST – According to
President Klaus Iohannis, Romania supports a close cooperation between the EU
and Great Britain after Brexit and Bucharest is interested in an agreement on
foreign security. Also with regard to Brexit, the president has stated that
Romania firmly supports the importance of negotiating an ambitions regulation
framework regarding citizens’ mobility, by observing the principles of
reciprocity and non-discrimination. The statements were made during the meeting
in Bucharest with the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Barnier stated in
turn that Romania, as holder of the presidency of the EU Council in the first
half of 2019, will play a major role in ensuring the necessary institutional
framework that would ensure an ordered withdrawal of the UK and also the smooth
running of negotiations on the future relations between the EU and the UK. Also
on Tuesday, Barnier met with the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, who
stated that Romania was interested in having all Romanian citizens residing in
Great Britain continue to live, work and study as before.

BREXIT – British PM
Theresa May announced on Tuesday new regulations for migration in the UK, to
come into effect after Brexit, favoring qualified workers. Details will be
provided in a speech to be held on Wednesday at the Conservative Party congress
in Birmingham. According to the new regulations, people who want to settle in
Great Britain will have to have a minimum level of income in order to guarantee
they would not take jobs away from British citizens. Student visas are not
subject to those regulations. EU citizens are right now free to move to the UK,
which will no longer be the case after Brexit, planned to come into effect in
2020.

RULE OF LAW – Romanian PM
Viorica Dancila and Justice Minister Tudorel Toader will attend in Strasbourg on
Wednesday the debates in the European Parliament regarding the rule of law in
Romania. On Monday, the Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament
was the venue for debates between Euro MPs of various political parties and the
First Vice-President of the EC Frans Timmermans. The latter said that the changes made by
the authorities in Bucharest in terms of the judiciary worried not only
Romanians, many of whom took to the streets to protest, but the entire EU.
Frans Timmermans said that if the EC concluded that European common rules were
violated, it would not hesitate to bring the Romanian Government to court.

VAT – The European
Commission will support Romania in combating VAT fraud, given that the country registers
a 36% collection deficit, said on Tuesday the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen
Teodorovici. The statement was made after the meeting Teodorovici had in
Luxembourg with Pierre Moscovici, the European Commissioner for Economic and
Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs. At the meeting, Teodorovici assured
the EU official that the Romanian presidency of the EU Council will promote the
solving of VAT-related cases, with focus on the reform of VAT quotas. In
another move, Commissioner Moscovici accepted the invitation extended by
Teodorovici to pay a visit to Romania in November.

MOTION – On Tuesday, the
Romanian Senate rejected the simple motion filed by the opposition National
Liberal Party and Save Romania Union against the Transport Minister Lucian
Sova. The signatories accused him of mismanagement of the country’s roads and
railroads. A similar vote will be held in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday,
this time against the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. According to the Liberals,
Teaodorovici must answer for the failure of the fiscal and taxation strategy.

APPOINTMENT – On Tuesday,
Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis signed the decree appointing the Minister of
European Funds, Rovana Plumb, as interim Minister of Education. The holder of
the office, Valentin Popa, announced his resignation last week, after a meeting
with the leader of the Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea. That was the
second resignation in the cabinet headed by Viorica Dancila, after the one of the Research
Minister Nicolae Burnete.

NOBEL – The US scientist
Arthur Ashkin has won the Nobel Prize for physics, alongside Gerard Mourou of
France and Donna Strickland of Canada, for research into laser physics, which
the Swedish Royal Academy of Science deemed revolutionary. This year’s Nobel
Prize season opened on Monday with the announcement for the Nobel Prize in
medicine. US researcher James P. Allison and Japanese researcher Tasuku Honjo
were granted the prize for new cancer therapies. On Wednesday, the prize for
chemistry will be announced, while on Friday the Nobel Peace Prize will be
awarded. The prize for literature will not be awarded in 2018, for the first
time after almost 70 years.

HEALTHCARE – The month of
October is dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. Organizations all
across the world are encouraging education and research regarding this danger. The
Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea has stated that almost 9,000 cases of
breast cancer are diagnosed annually in the country, of which 3,000 fatal.
According to the minister, many of them could be prevented through regular
check-ups.

2 October 2018
September 27, 2018 UPDATE

Resignation. The Romanian Education Minister Valentin Popa announced his resignation on Thursday, after a meeting with the leader of the Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea and against talks about a potential government reshuffle. Also on Thursday, Valentin Popa stated that Romania and the Romanian language are not negotiable and all children in Romania must know Romanian, for them to be able to live and work in the country. A few days earlier, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania had announced it suspended cooperation with the governing coalition until the issue of the Romanian language taught in primary schools with teaching in minority languages was resolved. This is the second resignation in the Cabinet headed by Viorica Dancila, after that of the Research Minister Nicolae Burnete.

Ordinance. The Romanian Government on Thursday adopted an emergency ordinance that changes the legislation regarding insolvency. The new provisions are aimed at putting an end to some abusive practices and at providing equal chances for business development. Currently, more than 6,000 companies, with some 65,000 employees, are insolvent, the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici said at the end of the meeting. Also on Thursday, the Government took several measures to support certain categories of the population exposed to poverty and social exclusion and decided that Romanian language in primary minority schools will be taught by the teachers of the respective classes.

UN. A Romanian delegation headed by the countrys president Klaus Iohannis is attending the 73rd UN General Assembly session. Romania will promote an open approach to migration based on identifying consensual solutions among EU member states during its presidency of the EU Council in the first six months of next year, president Klaus Iohannis said during a meeting in New York with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. At the UN, Iohannis pleaded for Romania to be elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in the 2020-2021 period. In his address before the UN General Assembly, he said Romania would be a responsible partner in promoting the UNs common agenda. He also said that Romania, as a holder of the EU Council presidency, would consolidate the Unions partnership with the United Nations.

Rule of law. The Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament announced on Thursday that the vote on the resolution regarding the observance of the rule of law in Romania was postponed until the November plenary session. The vote should have taken place in the second plenary session in October, when the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is invited to give a speech on the future of Europe. Next week, in Strasbourg, the meeting will only include a debate on the situation in Romania, with the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila attending. PM Dancila already held talks with leaders of the main parliamentary groups in the European Parliament in Brussels early this week.

Investigation. Colonel Ionut Catalin Sindile, the interim head of the Romanian Gendarmerie, appeared before the General Prosecutors Office on Thursday in connection to the intervention of the riot police during the antigovernment protest on August 10th in Bucharest. He is under criminal investigation, alongside other gendarmerie officials, for complicity to abuse of office and complicity to abusive behaviour. Military prosecutors have opened a criminal case into the brutal way in which the gendarmes acted on August 10th. The General Prosecutors Office says 770 criminal complaints have been filed against the reaction of the security forces, who used tear gas and water canons to disperse the crowds. The protest was treated as a potential risk to public order and the security forces intervention was legal, said the interior minister Carmen Dan.

African swine fever. The Romanian agriculture minister Petre Daea has held talks in Brussels about the compensations to be granted to Romania by the European Commission for the African swine fever epidemic. According to official data, the Romanian state has awarded compensations to more than 4,000 of the 6,000 cases approved, amounting to around 15 million Euros. Since the outbreak of the virus, some 900 hotbeds have been reported in a number of counties. On the other hand, the simple motion filed by the National Liberal Party against Petre Daea was rejected on Wednesday by the Chamber of Deputies. The Liberals criticised the way in which the situation was handled, while the agriculture minister said the Romanian authorities have taken the standard measures established at European level.

Appointment. The Superior Council of Magistracy has postponed for the 8th of October an interview with prosecutor Adina Florea, who was proposed by the justice minister Tudorel Toader to take over the leadership of the National Anticorruption Directorate. The Councils opinion, which is advisory, will be submitted to the minister. Later, the proposal will be sent to president Klaus Iohannis. In her application, Adina Florea said that, apart from good things, the activity of the anticorruption prosecutors also contained considerable deviations from the rule of law. Adina Florea, who formerly worked with the Prosecutors Office of the Court of Appeal in Constanta, has been proposed as head of the National Anticorruption Directorate after a second selection round. The post had become vacant in July, when Laura Codruta Kovesi was sacked by president Klaus Iohannis in keeping with a Constitutional Court ruling.

Industrial action. The Sanitary Solidarity Federation is to begin consultations with trade union members about a programme of wide-scale protests going all the way to a general strike, given that the government has not signed the collective employment agreement for the sector, the Federation has announced. Healthcare trade unions have a list of ten demands, including the awarding of the salary increases corresponding to 2019 beginning in January for all categories of employees who have not benefited from an increase in the basic salary. They also demand taxing the food benefit in the same way as meal vouchers.

27 September 2018
The Romanian PM has talks with EU officials

While on her first formal visit to Brussels since taking office as PM of Romania, the former MEP Viorica Dancila talked with EU officials about Romanias forthcoming presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019, about financial prospects, as well as the countrys Schengen accession. Romania clearly belongs in the Schengen area, the president of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker told a joint press conference with the Romanian PM, adding that at present there are no reasons for Romania not to be a member of this area. He also expressed his belief that the Government of Romania would make all efforts to ensure the functioning of the judicial system.

According to Jean Claude Juncker, the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Romania and Bulgaria should be over by the end of the current Commissions term in office. In turn, PM Viorica Dancila said the Mechanism should be ended even sooner, namely before Romania takes over the EU Council presidency:

“We hope that Romanias Schengen accession will take place during Mr. Junckers presidency. Romania meets all the criteria set by the Commission in this respect, and it also meets all the criteria for the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism to be closed, because it is not normal for Romania to take over the Council presidency while under a penalty.”

Strengthening high-level cooperation with the EU institutions was the main goal of this visit, said PM Viorica Dancila, who also had meetings with the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani. The latter called on the Romanian official to carry on the fight against corruption and efforts to strenghen the rule of law. Here is the Romanian PM once again:

“I believe good cooperation benefits both Europe, and Romania. I will address the European Parliament, and talk about the future of Europe, in which Romania must be actively involved, considering its capacity as future holder of the rotating presidency and given the challenges Europe is facing.”

The delays in EU funds absorption were also approached by the Prime Minister in her meeting with the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu. The EU official once again warned Bucharest officials that they must step up and simplify the procedures involved in spending European money. (translated by Ana Maria Popescu)

22 February 2018
February 21, 2018 UPDATE

BRUSSELS – Romania’s place is
clearly in the Schengen area, said in Brussels on Wednesday the European
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, in a joint press conference with the
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila. The EC President also said that the
Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, by means of which the Commission
monitors the Romanian justice system, must be lifted. Also, Juncker said that,
in the first half of 2019, when it will
be holding the presidency of the EU Council, Romania will be faced with a huge
responsibility. In turn, the Romanian Prime Minister said that the CVM should
be lifted, because it’s not normal for Romania to take over the presidency of
the EU Council while still under sanction. Romania will make all possible efforts
to ensure a fair and transparent cooperation with the European institutions,
the Prime Minister also said. On Tuesday, Viorica Dancila, on her first formal
visit abroad as Prime Minister of Romania, held talks with the President of the
European Parliament Antonio Tajani and the European Council President Donald
Tusk.

MOTION – The simple motion
filed by the opposition National Liberal Party against the Labour Minister Lia
Olguta Vasilescu was rejected by the Romanian Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday.
157 deputies voted against, 96 for and 16 abstained. The Liberal Party accuses
the ruling coalition of disturbing the fiscal and social systems and of
creating gaps between the private and the public sectors. According to the
initiators of the no-confidence motion, shifting the obligation to pay social
security contributions from employers to employees has led to a drop in the
salaries of more than two million people. At the debate held in the Chamber of
Deputies, minister Olguta Vasilescu said that salaries cannot drop if employers
do the right thing, as provided by law.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT – Romania’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday
rejected as inadmissible the complaints submitted by the Save Romania Union
regarding the revision in Parliament of the justice laws. The opposition Save
Romania Union had filed several claims of unconstitutionality against the Law
on the organization and functioning of the Superior Council of Magistracy, the Law on the status of judges and
prosecutors and the Law regarding judicial organization. According to the Save
Romania Union, the three laws, as endorsed by parliament, undermine the
independence of the Romanian magistrates. The political power in Bucharest, however, argues that the revision of
the justice laws was necessary, given that they had not been revised in over ten
years. On the other hand, the political opposition, part of civil society and
the magistrates’ professional organizations are against the changes, saying
they only serve the vested interests of some politicians and business people.

MOLDOVA – Romania’s President
Klaus Iohannis received on Wednesday in Bucharest the Deputy Prime Minister for
European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Iurie Leanca. On the occasion,
the Romanian president stressed the fact that a European road is the only way
for the future Republic of Moldova. Among other things, the two officials
talked about Moldova’s getting connected to the European energy system, through
Romania. On Tuesday, Leanca also held talks with the Romanian Foreign Minister
Teodor Melescanu and the Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor
Negrescu.

PROTEST – On Wednesday,
education trade unionists took to the streets and picketed the headquarters of
the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, protesting against the recent fiscal and
budgetary measures because of which, they say, thousands of employees on medical leave will lose important
amounts from their incomes. Also, they called for a renegotiation of the salary
law, whose provisions have led to situations in which certain public employees
are being discriminated against. They also want a revision of the pension law,
so that the teaching staff can retire three years before the standard age.
Similar protest actions are scheduled for Thursday.

FLU – 45 people have died from flu this winter,
according to a report presented on Wednesday by the National Center of
Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control. The number of infected people
exceeds 500. Most of them live in the capital and in the counties of Constanta,
Olt, Brasov and Iasi. Authorities recommend vaccination, and the Ministry of
Health has announced that there are still some 80,000 shots available. So far,
920,000 people have been vaccinated against the flu. According to the Health
Minister Sorina Pintea, at the moment we cannot speak of a flu epidemic in
Romania.

21 February 2018
February 18, 2018 UPDATE

Visit– Romanias Prime Minister Viorica Dancila travels to Brussels next week for her first foreign visit. She will have talks with European leaders, including the European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, the European Council President Donald Tusk, the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu. Dancila has recently stated that her immediate plans include boosting foreign policy actions and strengthening economic relations with the partner states.

Motion – On Monday, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies will debate the simple motion filed by the opposition National Liberal Party against the Labour Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu. The Liberals criticize the drop in salaries for several categories of employees, following the application of the unitary salary law and shifting the obligation to pay social security contributions from employers to employees. In response, the Labour Minister has stated that the simple no-confidence motion is an opportunity to present an activity report. The vote was scheduled for Wednesday.

Canada– As of December 1st 2017, citizens of Romania no longer need a visa to travel to Canada. The decision has triggered a surge in asylum requests, which called for a meeting between the Canadian Federal Government and the Romanian diplomats posted in Ottawa, according to the Canadian site La Presse. According to the Immigration Ministry, since December 1st 2017, 232 Romanians have filed for asylum in Canada, as compared to 120 in 2016. According to the Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic and Program Policy for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Paul MacKinnon, it is not clear yet whether this is going to be a trend, or just a temporary circumstance, related to the decision to lift visas for Romanians. The parties have agreed to maintain the programme, but, if asylum claims exceed a certain limit over a period of 12 months, then compulsory visas might be reintroduced, the Canadian official has stated. The changes brought to the Canadian immigration policy were associated with the completion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Canada and the EU last year.

Eco farming – Romania and Poland have registered a decrease in terms of bio farming, although the two countries are among the 10 countries in the region with the largest organic farming areas. The conclusion was presented in a study drawn up by the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, on 23 countries in Eastern Europe. The report also highlights the fact that, in the region, the ecological sector has been developing at a lower pace than in other parts of the world, and it focuses more on exporting raw materials rather than on processing own-brand products.

Berlin Film Festival – Romanian productions are screened in almost every important section of the 68th edition of the Berlin Film Festival, which got under way on the 15th of February and comes to an end on the 25th. Touch Me Not, Adina Pintilies feature film debut, runs in the Competition section. A winner of the Golden Bear in 2013 with Childs Pose, the Romanian director Calin Peter Netzer is this year part of the jury. Last year, Dana Bunescu won the Silver Bear for the editing in Calin Peter Netzers Ana, mon amour. Ioana Uricarius Lemonade has been selected in the Panorama section, which rewards artistic vision and the courage to be different. Corneliu Porumboius documentary Infinite Football will be screened in the non-competitive sidebar Forum. Two more Romanian productions are being shown in the Generation Kplus competition for children and young people. Also, the Romanian actress and director Alina Grigore, screen writer Ioan Antoci and film critic Flavia Dima have been selected for the Berlinale Talents, a section devoted to young cinematographers.

18 February 2018
February 18, 2018

Visit – Romanias Prime Minister Viorica Dancila travels to Brussels next week for her first foreign visit. She will have talks with European leaders, including the European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, the European Council President Donald Tusk, the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu. Dancila has recently stated that her immediate plans include boosting foreign policy actions and economic relations with the partner states.

Visas – As of December 1st 2017, citizens of Romania no longer need a visa to travel to Canada. The decision has triggered a surge in asylum requests, which called for a meeting between the Federal Government and the Romanian diplomats posted in Ottawa, according to the Canadian site La Presse. According to the Immigration Ministry, since December 1st 2017, 232 Romanians have filed for asylum in Canada, as compared to 120 claims in 2016. According to the Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic and Program Policy for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Paul MacKinnon, it is not clear yet whether this is going to be a trend, or just a temporary circumstance, relating to the decision to lift visas for Romanians. The parties have agreed to maintain the programme, but, if asylum claims exceed a certain limit over a period of 12 months, then compulsory visas might be reintroduced, the Canadian official has stated. The changes brought to the Canadian immigration policy were associated with the completion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Canada and the EU last year.

Security Conference – The Munich Security Conference has come to an end. The forum brought together officials who talked about the role of the EU in terms of international security and its relations with the US and Russia. On Saturday, the last day of the event, the British Prime Minister Theresa May said that she did not want Brexit to be the end of the cooperation between Great Britain and the EU in fields such as defense and security, and suggested a security cooperation treaty to be concluded with the European partners, next year at the latest. In turn, the EC President Jean Claude Juncker gave assurances that Europeans were not at war with Great Britain and would not give up the security bridge connecting them for ages. The Defense Minister Mihai Fifor represented Romania at the conference. During the working lunch with his German counterpart Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, the Romanian official stressed the importance of bilateral and regional cooperation, especially with regard to military intelligence and defense industry.

Berlin Film Festival – Romanian productions are screened in almost every important section of the 68th edition of the Berlin Film Festival, which got under way on the 15th of February and comes to an end on the 25th. Touch Me Not, Adina Pintilies feature film debut, runs in the Competition section. A winner of the Golden Bear in 2013 with Childs Pose, the Romanian director Calin Peter Netzer is this year part of the jury. Last year, Dana Bunescu won the Silver Bear for the editing in Calin Peter Netzers Ana, mon amour. Ioana Uricarius Lemonade has been selected in the Panorama section, which rewards artistic vision and the courage to be different. Corneliu Porumboius documentary Infinite Football will be screened in the non-competitive sidebar Forum. Two more Romanian productions are being shown in the Generation Kplus competition for children and young people. Also, the Romanian actress and director Alina Grigore, screen writer Ioan Antoci and film critic Flavia Dima have been selected for the Berlinale Talents, a section devoted to young cinematographers.

Rugby – Romanias rugby team (The Oaks) is today playing against the Spanish Los Leones in Madrid, in a decisive match in terms of qualification for the 2019 World Cups European Group. Romanias record in the past 60 years has been impressive, with 33 victories, as compared to Spains only 2. The Oaks rank 15th in the World Rugby Rankings, and Leones 19th.

18 February 2018
February 1, 2018 UPDATE

PARLIAMENT – A new parliamentary session started in Romania on Thursday. The Social Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition, intends to adopt the law on the establishment of the Sovereign Fund for Development and Investment, the Administrative Code and the Pensions Law, while its partners, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, will focus on the countrys economic development. The rightwing opposition has announced that, in the current parliamentary session, they intend to block all the ruling powers initiatives to amend the justice laws.

GOVERNMENT – One of the Governments priorities is the development and extension of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US in several fields, including the protection and promotion of human rights and the fight against human trafficking, said the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila in a message she conveyed at a debate on human trafficking organized by the US Embassy in Bucharest. Also, the Interior Minister Carmen Dan stated that Romania takes part in all the efforts made by EUROPOL, INTERPOL, EUROJUST, FRONTEX and SELEC to fight cross-border crime and curb the negative effects of human and children trafficking, the fight against human trafficking being one of the Interior Ministrys priorities. The event brought together magistrates and officials representing authorities specialized in fighting human trafficking from the US, Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

POLAND – On Thursday, the Romanian Foreign Minister Tedor Melescanu had a meeting in Bucharest with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz. The Romanian minister stated that a potential vote on suspending Polands EU voting rights would not benefit anybody. He stressed that Poland had not called on Romania to take a stand against suspension. In turn, Czaputowicz stated that his country had signals from other countries in the region that they would not favour the activation of article 7 of the EU Treaty. As a first in the EU history, the European Commission has decided to trigger article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty against Poland, saying there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in that country, after the Polish Parliament adopted two laws under which the countrys judiciary is now under the political control of the ruling majority.

MOLDOVA – The Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila had a phone conversation on Thursday with her Moldovan counterpart Pavel Filip, focusing on the strategic partnership between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The two officials agreed that joint projects must continue. Dancila reiterated Romanias firm commitment to supporting the Republic of Moldovas European path and its efforts to implement reforms for the benefit of its citizens. In turn, Filip said that the Chisinau Government would remain a reliable partner to the Bucharest authorities.

EBRD – Romania must adopt a different economic model, if it wants to avoid a crisis triggered by the current boom, based on consumption, the Regional Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Matteo Patrone has stated. After stimulating growth by reducing taxes and increasing salaries in the public sector, the Bucharest Government should take a more sustainable path, Patrone has also said. In his opinion, Bucharest officials can do that by increasing investment in infrastructure and improving the rate of absorption of European funds.

EU COUNCIL PRESIDENCY – The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu has officially launched the presentation site of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019. The interactive portal can be accessed at www.romania2019.eu and includes information about the EU Council Presidency, preparations for the mandate, a forum of ideas and opportunities for volunteers. According to minister Negrescu, the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council is designed so as to ensure transparency and focus on the citizens.

(translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)

1 February 2018
How to attract more European funds

The EU
Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu has met in Bucharest with PM
Viorica Dăncilă. The focal points on the agenda of talks have been the
absorption of European funds and the inclusion of the Jiu Valley (centre-west)
into a special program developed by the European Commission, to eradicate
poverty in that region.

An action plan
to step up the absorption of EU funds will be developed by the Bucharest
authorities, with support from the European Commission’s Directorate General
for Regional and Urban Policy. The announcement was made by the EU Commissioner
for Regional Policy Corina Creţu after a first meeting with the new PM Viorica
Dăncilă. Romania should step up the absorption of European funds as
otherwise it runs the risk of loosing the European money, Corina Creţu has
stated. She has said that delays have been registered in such fields as
regional development, transports and the construction of regional hospitals.

Corina Creţu: I have full
confidence that the new government will take into consideration these issues
that have been left pending, will take action very fast and come up with the
best solutions to accelerate their implementation. Practically, we have agreed
together to create an action plan and to receive proposals, by February 23, in
order to accelerate the accession of European funds.

Prime Minister
Viorica Dăncilă has said she will lay special emphasis on the accession of
European funds for transports and the construction of regional hospitals. She
has stressed that she requested from ministries an updated report on the
accession of European funds.

Viorica Dăncilă: I have
called on the minister for European Affairs to make a report on all European
directives which have not been implemented or on the stage of their
implementation. I have also said that each ministry should have an updated
report on the stage of absorption, because I consider it is very important for
Romania to have a good relation between its Government and the European
Commission.

Viorica Dăncilă
and Corina Creţu have also agreed that the Jiu Valley should be included into a
special program developed by the EC, in an effort to eradicate poverty from
that region.

Corina Creţu: I have
invited Romania to submit an application and use European funds to give a boost
to one of the poorest areas in Romania, namely the Jiu Valley. I think that
being part of this pilot project is an important initiative and Romania should
play a key role, considering its experience in the field.

In turn, Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă has said that
the problems in the Jiu Valley are a priority. Viorica Dăncilă:

The Jiu
Valley is a priority so it should be included into this pilot program. I am
confident that we can take huge steps forward for Romania, and I’m referring to
the Government, the European Parliament, and particularly to the European
Commission, in which we place our great hopes.

Once one of the most important mining regions in Romania, the Jiu Valley
has become one of the most underprivileged areas in the country. Romania’s
mining output has plummeted since 1990, many mines and pits have been closed
down, and consequently many miners have been made redundant.

(translated by Diana Vijeu)

31 January 2018