Radio România Internațional

Tag: transporters’ protests

  • January 10, 2019 UPDATE

    January 10, 2019 UPDATE

    EU – Thursday saw the official
    launch of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 12
    years since Romania joined the EU, our country takes on a major role at EU
    level, namely to contribute to consolidating a more cohesive, stronger and more
    powerful Europe, President Klaus Iohannis said in his opening address. Romania
    will carry out its presidency with dignity, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said
    in turn, adding that she wants a more united, robust and solidary Europe at the
    end of Romania’s term in office. In turn, President of the European Council,
    Donald Tusk, underlined that Romania will act in the spirit of the proverb Man
    consecrates the land. Whether its policy will be a good example to follow or a
    severe warning depends entirely on Romania, President Tusk said. The EU
    official called on Romanians to defend the underlying principles of political
    civilization, liberty, integrity, defending truth in public life, the rule of
    law and the Constitution. Romania is taking over the presidency of the Council
    of the European Union at a crucial moment, European Commission President
    Jean-Claude Juncker said. He added that the EU wouldn’t be complete without
    Romania, and that Romania belongs in the Schengen Area. I’m counting on the
    energy and unity of the whole Romanian nation to be able to decide what to do
    and what we can do in the coming months, Juncker concluded. The launch was
    marked by a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum given by the EU orchestra. The
    program included the Romanian Rhapsody I by George Enescu and Beethoven’s
    Symphony No. 9 ‘Ode to Joy’ which became the Anthem of the EU in 1985. On the
    other hand, several hundred people gathered in front of the Athenaeum for an
    anti-government rally under the slogan We want Europe, not dictatorship!,
    staged by several civic organizations. Protesters chanted pro-European and
    anti-Government slogans. On Friday,
    Jean-Claude Juncker will meet with President Klaus Iohannis and with the PM
    Viorica Dancila as well as with the speakers of Parliament’s two chambers. The
    European officials will also have talks with the Romanian ministers who, for 6
    months, will chair both in Bucharest and Brussels, working meetings with their
    counterparts from the EU member states.




    Visit -
    The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu met with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz who was on a visit to
    Bucharest. The two reviewed the stage of accomplishment of the common objectives
    set at bilateral, regional, European and multilateral level and set the
    landmarks of the Romanian – Polish cooperation on short and medium term. Talking
    about Romania’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, Teodor
    Melescanu stated that Bucharest will focus on promoting cohesion as a common
    European value, on overcoming division among member states and on identifying
    ways to consolidate the role of the EU. In another development, the Romanian Foreign
    Minister offered to his Polish counterpart a digital copy of 294 archived files
    covering the period 1918-1947 to mark a century of diplomatic relations between
    Romania and Poland.




    Protests – Transporters from Romania and
    other Eastern European states on Thursday protested in front of the European
    Parliament against the change of legislation in the field, in the context in
    which the MEPs from the Committee on Transport are voting on the new
    regulations. Protesters claim that the proposals included in the mobility
    package were made against the backdrop of surging protectionism of western
    European states and that the transporters in eastern and southeastern Europe
    will be affected by the measures. They believe the measures will lead to
    significantly higher operation costs and restrictions on the international road
    transportation within the community space. One of the measures forbids the
    period of weekly rest to happen in the truck cab. Another measure is related to
    the obligation of drivers to return home at least once every 4 weeks. Measures
    also refer to the obligation to equip all international transport vehicles with
    an intelligent tachograph by the end of 2024.




    Tennis -
    Romanian tennis player Simona
    Halep, WTA no. 1, has been seeded first in the Australian Open, the first Grand
    Slam tournament of the year, where last year she reached the finals. Halep on
    Tuesday will play Kaia Kanepi of Estonia (70 WTA). On Monday, on the first day
    of the tournament Irina Begu (76 WTA) will play Andrea Petkovic of Germany (61
    WTA), Monica Niculescu (88 WTA) will play Amanda Anisimova of the US (87 WTA)
    while Sorana Cirstea (84 WTA) will play Rebbeca Peterson (62 WTA). On Tuesday,
    Mihaela Buzarnescu (25 WTA) will play Venus Williams of the US (37 WTA) while
    Ana Bogdan (81 WTA) will go up against a player from the qualifying phase.


    (Translated by L. Simion & V. Palcu)

  • January 10, 2019 UPDATE

    January 10, 2019 UPDATE

    EU – Thursday saw the official
    launch of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 12
    years since Romania joined the EU, our country takes on a major role at EU
    level, namely to contribute to consolidating a more cohesive, stronger and more
    powerful Europe, President Klaus Iohannis said in his opening address. Romania
    will carry out its presidency with dignity, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said
    in turn, adding that she wants a more united, robust and solidary Europe at the
    end of Romania’s term in office. In turn, President of the European Council,
    Donald Tusk, underlined that Romania will act in the spirit of the proverb Man
    consecrates the land. Whether its policy will be a good example to follow or a
    severe warning depends entirely on Romania, President Tusk said. The EU
    official called on Romanians to defend the underlying principles of political
    civilization, liberty, integrity, defending truth in public life, the rule of
    law and the Constitution. Romania is taking over the presidency of the Council
    of the European Union at a crucial moment, European Commission President
    Jean-Claude Juncker said. He added that the EU wouldn’t be complete without
    Romania, and that Romania belongs in the Schengen Area. I’m counting on the
    energy and unity of the whole Romanian nation to be able to decide what to do
    and what we can do in the coming months, Juncker concluded. The launch was
    marked by a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum given by the EU orchestra. The
    program included the Romanian Rhapsody I by George Enescu and Beethoven’s
    Symphony No. 9 ‘Ode to Joy’ which became the Anthem of the EU in 1985. On the
    other hand, several hundred people gathered in front of the Athenaeum for an
    anti-government rally under the slogan We want Europe, not dictatorship!,
    staged by several civic organizations. Protesters chanted pro-European and
    anti-Government slogans. On Friday,
    Jean-Claude Juncker will meet with President Klaus Iohannis and with the PM
    Viorica Dancila as well as with the speakers of Parliament’s two chambers. The
    European officials will also have talks with the Romanian ministers who, for 6
    months, will chair both in Bucharest and Brussels, working meetings with their
    counterparts from the EU member states.




    Visit -
    The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu met with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz who was on a visit to
    Bucharest. The two reviewed the stage of accomplishment of the common objectives
    set at bilateral, regional, European and multilateral level and set the
    landmarks of the Romanian – Polish cooperation on short and medium term. Talking
    about Romania’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, Teodor
    Melescanu stated that Bucharest will focus on promoting cohesion as a common
    European value, on overcoming division among member states and on identifying
    ways to consolidate the role of the EU. In another development, the Romanian Foreign
    Minister offered to his Polish counterpart a digital copy of 294 archived files
    covering the period 1918-1947 to mark a century of diplomatic relations between
    Romania and Poland.




    Protests – Transporters from Romania and
    other Eastern European states on Thursday protested in front of the European
    Parliament against the change of legislation in the field, in the context in
    which the MEPs from the Committee on Transport are voting on the new
    regulations. Protesters claim that the proposals included in the mobility
    package were made against the backdrop of surging protectionism of western
    European states and that the transporters in eastern and southeastern Europe
    will be affected by the measures. They believe the measures will lead to
    significantly higher operation costs and restrictions on the international road
    transportation within the community space. One of the measures forbids the
    period of weekly rest to happen in the truck cab. Another measure is related to
    the obligation of drivers to return home at least once every 4 weeks. Measures
    also refer to the obligation to equip all international transport vehicles with
    an intelligent tachograph by the end of 2024.




    Tennis -
    Romanian tennis player Simona
    Halep, WTA no. 1, has been seeded first in the Australian Open, the first Grand
    Slam tournament of the year, where last year she reached the finals. Halep on
    Tuesday will play Kaia Kanepi of Estonia (70 WTA). On Monday, on the first day
    of the tournament Irina Begu (76 WTA) will play Andrea Petkovic of Germany (61
    WTA), Monica Niculescu (88 WTA) will play Amanda Anisimova of the US (87 WTA)
    while Sorana Cirstea (84 WTA) will play Rebbeca Peterson (62 WTA). On Tuesday,
    Mihaela Buzarnescu (25 WTA) will play Venus Williams of the US (37 WTA) while
    Ana Bogdan (81 WTA) will go up against a player from the qualifying phase.


    (Translated by L. Simion & V. Palcu)

  • April 25, 2017 UPDATE

    April 25, 2017 UPDATE

    Prison conditions — Detention conditions in Romanian prisons do not observe the European Convention on Human Rights, being indicative of structural dysfunction. Therefore, general measures should be adopted by the state, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday. The European court said Romania had six months to come up with a precise timetable for the introduction of measures meant to solve prison overcrowding and improper detention conditions. By this pilot decision, the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, has fined Romania some 17,850 Euros, but it does not impose any such measure as pardoning or easing the criminal policy.



    Business meeting — The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, said Tuesday that Romania’s worthy position in Europe should and could be gained through achievements, credibility and vision. The president participated in the event entitled “Romania’s President in dialogue with the business environment” held by Romania’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. President Iohannis said that Romania’s development should not be regarded as separate from the current European context, which needs to be reasserted. Romania needs to make a serious and profound choice, in the sense of focusing on competitiveness and entrepreneurial spirit through the education system, President Iohannis also added.



    Brexit inter-ministerial council — Romania will remain a friend and ally of Great Britain, irrespective of the UK’s place, outside or inside the EU, said Tuesday the Romanian PM Sorin Grindeanu. He made this statement at the first meeting of the inter-ministerial council for Brexit, in the context in which, at the weekend, the European Council will pass the guidelines for the European Commission’s mandate at the future negotiations with Great Britain. According to the Romanian PM, the government’s priority is for Brexit to have as small an impact as possible on the Romanian citizens in the UK.



    Transporters’ protest — Romanian transporters will stage protest movements in front of the Government building in Bucharest on Wednesday and Thursday. They deplore the absence of clear legislation meant to sanction the unauthorized activity in the field. Transporters call for outlawing the online technological platforms which provide unauthorised taxi services, outlawing all online platforms which provide undeclared, unauthorised and non-fiscalised passenger transportation services and of all companies which carry out regular transportation activities along routes for which they have not tendered. The transporters say these legal measures are stipulated in the legislation of all European states, which protect their licensed transporters.



    Court ruling Dragnea — The magistrates of the Romanian High Court of Cassation and Justice decided that on May 23 they would start hearings of defendants in the case in which the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the main party in the governing coalition, the Social Democratic Party, is charged with instigation to abuse in office. According to the prosecutors of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Dragnea, in his capacity of president of the Teleorman county council (in the south) intervened for maintaining the jobs and pays of two women who allegedly worked for the Social Assistance and Child Protection General Directorate of Teleorman county, while they were actually employed by the local organization of the Social Democratic Party. In another development, Dragnea’s two-year suspended sentence which he received in the “Referendum’ case is valid. On Monday, the High Court of Cassation and Justice rejected Liviu Dragnea’s request to cancel the sentence, the court’s ruling being definitive. Rights, ECHR, has fined Romania some 17,850 Euros, but it does not impose any such measure as pardoning or easing the criminal policy.



    Luxembourg — The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Funds, Rovana Plumb, on Tuesday participated in Luxembourg in the meeting of the General Affairs (Cohesion) Council. On the occasion, the Romanian official said the results of the cohesion policy should become more visible for Romania, through a large-scale information campaign. According to Minister Plumb, for Romania, the cohesion policy represents the most important investment policy, which generates economic growth, regional and local development. She also added that it was important for each citizen to be informed on the way in which European funds were invested in local communities.



    Drills — Constanta (in the southeast of Romania) is hosting Romanian-British naval drills. The frigate King Ferdinand and the British destroyer HMS Daring on Tuesday held joint drills meant to counteract air attacks and to achieve refueling maneuvers. The British ship will dock at the passenger terminal of the port of Constanta for two days. During this period, the commander of the British ship will meet with the Romanian Fleet Command representatives and with local authorities in Constanta, while the Romanian and British marines will participate in joint military drills aimed at developing specific procedures for the missions of inspection and control of the ships suspected of illegal activities at sea. For the first time, two young officers with the Romanian Navy will board the British destroyer for one week, to participate, as watch officers, in the missions the ship will undertake in the Black and Mediterranean Seas. (news translated by L. Simion)