Radio România Internațional

Tag: visit

  • October 13, 2018 UPDATE

    October 13, 2018 UPDATE

    Rome – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is paying a 4-day official visit to Italy, the first visit by a Romanian head of state in the past 45 years. According to a communiqué of the Presidential Administration he is to meet his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, the PM Giuseppe Conte, and the speakers of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati and Roberto Fico. His agenda also includes meetings with the representatives of some religious denominations and of the Romanian community, which is the most numerous community from outside Romania, numbering around 1.5 million people. The visit takes place in the context of the celebration of the Great Union centennial and of 10 years since the relation between Romania and Italy reached the level of Consolidated Strategic Partnership.



    Elections — The Ministry for Romanians Abroad has hailed the involvement of the Romanian citizens in Sunday’s local elections in Belgium. Through their presence on the Belgian political scene, these Romanian citizens honor their country of origin, writes the aforementioned ministry in a communiqué. 46 Romanians are running on the lists of several parties from Belgium, for local councilor positions in several cities including the capital Brussels. According to a communiqué of the Ministry for Romanians Abroad as many as 40 thousand Romanians are living n Brussels and more than 70 thousand across Belgium.



    Kuala Lumpur — The Romanian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is following with priority the situation of the 3 Romanians imprisoned in Malaysia — the Romanian Foreign Ministry officials announced on Saturday. They have been detained for drug trafficking. Two of them have received a definitive death sentence while the trial of the third one is still under way. At present the Malaysian law provides for the death penalty by hanging for crimes such as murder, kidnapping, possession of firearms and drug trafficking. Recently the government in Kuala Lumpur has agreed to abolish the death penalty, and an amendment in this regard is to be submitted to the vote of Parliament on Monday. The Romanian Foreign Ministry recalls that in Romania a citizen’s right to life is inalienable.



    Marathon — Bucharest is hosting this weekend the International Marathon, a competition that has been organized for 11 years to promote a healthy and active lifestyle in Bucharest. The races for children and teenagers have been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will see the classical race of about 42 km, followed by a semi-marathon and a relay race. This year’s edition of the Bucharest International Marathon has gathered around 19 thousand people from more than 70 countries.



    Football — Romania’s national football team is playing Sunday in Bucharest against the Serbian eleven, in a match counting for Group 4 of League C of the newly-created Nations League competition. Last month in Belgrade the two teams drew the match 2-all. In the group’s standings Serbia is the leader with 7 points being followed by Romania with 5 points, Montenegro with 4 points and Lithuania with 0 points. On Friday evening Romania’s Under-21 team defeated the team of Wales on home ground 2-0 in Cluj (northwest), in the last but one match of Group 8 of the preliminaries of the 2019 European Championship. In their last match of the group, on Tuesday, the Romanian team will take on, also on home ground, in Ploiesti, south, the team of Lichtenstein. Romania leads the group and needs an equal score in the last match to be able to qualify again, after 20 years, to a final Under-21 tournament. (news translated and updated by Lacramioara Simion)


  • The Week in Review, October 1-6, 2018

    The Week in Review, October 1-6, 2018

    Debate in the European Parliament on the rule of law in Romania


    The rule of law in Romania has been discussed in the European Parliament this week, with focus on the recent changes brought to the justice laws by the ruling coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila too was invited to Strasbourg for talks. The European Commission has been following with concern the latest developments in Romania, said the First Vice-President of the Commission Frans Timmermans at the start of the debate. He said that the country had taken steps backwards as regards the reform of the judiciary and the fight against corruption, speaking of the controversial changes brought by the left wing ruling coalition in Romania to the justice laws and the sacking of the head of the Anticorruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi, although the directorates activity had brought about a positive evaluation in the latest CVM report. In reply, Viorica Dancila said that a viable justice system must be built first for the citizens, and not for magistrates, politicians and institutions. She also said she did not come to Strasbourg to account, but out of respect and appreciation for the European forum, and called for a similar attitude towards Romania, just like the other member states.



    Viorica Dancila: “This mechanism has failed to meet the aim it was created for and I officially request for us to be told who drew up the CVM reports, who provided the data and failed to mention, out of negligence or in bad faith, these realities which are unconceivable in the European Union.



    Viorica Dancila also defended the Romanian Gendarmerie, accused of acting disproportionately at the anti-Government protest on August 10th in Bucharest. In her opinion, the gendarmes intervened just as other similar structures from other European countries have done. We recall that following the gendarmes brutal intervention, 770 criminal complaints have been filed by people who suffered during the protest, and several gendarmerie chiefs are being prosecuted. The debates in Strasbourg have triggered different reactions from the Romanian EMPs, who have criticized Frans Timmermans for his opinion or blamed one another or the current government. In Bucharest too, the stands taken by representatives of the various parliamentary parties have been different. The leaders of the ruling coalition hailed the prime-ministers speech, while the opposition National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union believe that Viorica Dancila presented a parallel reality.



    The EU chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, on a visit to Romania


    The European Unions chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, had a meeting in Bucharest with key Romanian political leaders. They looked at the current stage of the Unions negotiations with London, and at the next steps to be taken in Britains withdrawal from the European bloc. President Klaus Iohannis has underlined that preserving the unity of the 27 member states in the Brexit talks is extremely important. In turn, Michel Barnier emphasized that Romania, as the holder of the rotating presidency of the EU Council, will play a key role in the negotiations on the future relations between the EU and the UK. In turn, the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila underlined that Romania pays special heed to the Brexit file, given that a large Romanian community is living in the UK. Dancila also said that Romania will closely monitor the implementation of the exit agreement, so that all the Romanian citizens residing in the UK may continue to live, work and study in the same terms as they have done so far. Romanians make up the second largest foreign minority in the UK, after the Polish one.



    A former tourism minister and a former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Romania (DIICOT) have been detained in Costa Rica


    The Romanian police have confirmed that the former tourism minister Elena Udrea and the former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), Alina Bica, have been detained in Costa Rica. They have been placed under pre-trial arrest for two months. The two women have applied for asylum in Costa Rica. Udrea and Bica were under investigation, surveillance and monitoring by the Costa Rican authorities, as they were wanted internationally by Interpol, following the sentences they had received in Romania. For a long time seen as the most influential character in the former president Traian Basescus entourage, Udrea received from the High Court of Cassation and Justice a final 6-year prison sentence for bribe taking and abuse of office. The same court sentenced Bica to 4 years in prison, in a case in which she was accused of aiding and abetting a criminal.



    Referendum to revise the Constitution


    Some 19 million Romanian voters are called to the polls on Saturday and Sunday to vote in a referendum on redefining family in the Romanian Constitution, to say whether they agree to see the definition in the Constitution, which currently reads “the consented marriage between spouses, changed into “the consented marriage between a man and a woman. The draft has been voted in Parliament. Over 18,600 polling stations are set up at national level. 378 other polling stations have been opened for the Romanians living abroad. More than half of them have been set up at the diplomatic missions, consular offices and cultural institutes abroad, and the rest of them in other locations. Most polling stations have been opened in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the US, Great Britain, France and Germany. For the referendum to be valid, at least 30% of the voters registered on permanent electoral lists must take part, and at least 25% of the votes must be valid.


    (translated by: Mihaela Ignatescu, Diana Vijeu)

  • September 28, 2018

    September 28, 2018

    CCR — Same sex couple relationships are included in the ‘private life’ and ‘family life’ categories, argue the judges of Romania’s Constitutional Court in the reasoning behind their ruling, which admits the notification of a Romanian-American couple related to an article of the Civil Code regarding the non-recognition of same-sex marriages. According to the Constitutional Court, people of the same sex who form stable couples have the right to express their personality as part of their relationship and to benefit from a legal and juridical recognition of corresponding rights and obligations. The Constitutional Court also adds that Romania does not offer any form of official and juridical recognition of same sex couple relationships, a situation also found in only 5 other EU member states, namely Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. The Constitutional Court made these clarifications in full campaign for the referendum of October 6 and 7 when Romanians are called to vote if they agree with redefining the concept of family in the Constitution as being based on the marriage between a man and a woman and not between spouses as it is stipulated at present. The revision bill is based on a citizens’ initiative and it was denounced as discriminatory by the associations defending human rights and sexual minority rights.



    Inflation — The annual inflation rate in the Euro zone increased in September 2018 from 2% to 2.1%, shows a preliminary survey published on Friday by Eurostat. In September, the most significant price hikes in the Euro zone were reported in the energy field, where an annual increase of 9.5% was reported, being followed by price rises for foodstuffs, alcohol and cigarettes by 2.7% and for services by 1,3% annually. In August, Eurostat informed that Romania reported the highest annual inflation rate among EU states, for the 7th consecutive month, with an increase in consumption prices of 4.7%, after reporting an annual inflation rate of 4.3% in July. The National Bank of Romania revised downwards the inflation forecast for the end of 2018 from 3.6% to 3.5%.



    Berlin — On an official visit to Germany, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is going to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The latter said that the visit did not represent a normalization of relations between the two countries but that it could be a first step towards this goal. Relations between Germany and Turkey have deteriorated against the backdrop of criticism over Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian regime, as Erdogan has recently acquired further powers following the modification of the Constitution. Erdogan was also criticized for the repression following the failed coup of 2016 which also affected German citizens whom Berlin considered political detainees. The Turkish president said he would discuss, among other things, the expansion of economic relations with Germany, which comes, according to analysts, against the backdrop of the financial crisis Turkey is currently facing.



    New York — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday had bilateral meetings in New York on the sidelines of the UN summit. During the talks with Moldova’s PM Pavel Filip, the president reconfirmed Romania’s commitment to supporting Moldova’s European aspirations. In turn, Pavel Filip thanked the Romanian President for the support granted by Bucharest and gave assurances that the Moldovan authorities were determined to carry on the process of rapprochement to the EU. President Klaus Iohannis also had talks with the Georgian PM about the consolidation and diversification of trade relations. Klaus Iohannis pleaded at the UN summit for Romania to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2020-2021. In his speech before the UN General Assembly Klaus Iohannis said Romania would be a responsible partner in promoting the common UN agenda. He added that Romania, as future president of the EU Council, would strengthen the UN’s partnership with the EU.



    Washington — The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu hosted in New York, on the sidelines of the 73rd summit of the UN General Assembly the meeting entitled “Climate change and security’ with his counterparts from the African French-speaking countries. They tackled aspects related to the way in which climate change affects the living conditions of the populations in the Saharan and sub-Saharan area and poses risks in terms of internal and regional security. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • Dutch Prime Minister travels to Bucharest

    Dutch Prime Minister travels to Bucharest

    On an official visit to Romania, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was received by president Klaus Iohannis. The latter said Romanias ties with the Netherlands have an important economic component, as well as a social one, and recalled that this country is the biggest foreign investor in Romania. He also emphasised the role of the Romanian community in the Netherlands, which now numbers 30,000 members. Talks also focused on migration, Brexit and Romanias presidency of the EU Council in the first part of next year.



    As expected, Romanias accession to the Schengen area was the main topic, given that the Netherlands and other European countries have constantly opposed this process. The Dutch prime minister said his country has always tied Romanias entry into the free movement area to the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. This is an issue that the European Commission will also look into, and as soon as it does so, we will see what the next steps are, the Dutch official also said.



    The Romanian president underlined Romanias support for a more efficient management of the EU borders and reiterated his countrys wish to join the Schengen area as soon as possible.



    Klaus Iohannis: “The Schengen area has been created through an agreement that also provides for the steps to be taken and the conditions to be fulfilled. These matters have been extensively debated on many occasions.



    The European Commission, Iohannis went on to say, supports Romanias accession endeavour. Romanias entry into the Schengen area was also discussed during talks by Mark Rutte with his counterpart in Bucharest, Viorica Dancila. The latter recalled that Romania fulfils the technical requirements for accession and called for confidence in the governments capacity to respect its commitments.



    Viorica Dancila: “The fact that Romania fulfils the technical requirements for accession to the Schengen area, something the European Commission has confirmed, has prompted me to call on the Dutch Prime Minister to support Romania in achieving this goal. I strongly believe that Romania deserves to be in the passport-free movement area and that we should not tie the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism to the Schengen requirements.



    The Dutch Prime Minister said the talks with his Romanian counterpart also tackled bilateral relations, which, in his opinion, are very strong, given that trade exchanges between Romania and the Netherlands have increased recently to account for more than 5 billion euros.


    (translated by: Cristina Mateescu)

  • September 12, 2018 UPDATE

    September 12, 2018 UPDATE

    VISIT – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, Wednesday received in Bucharest the Dutch PM Mark Rutte. On this occasion Iohannis said Romanias relation with the Netherlands has an important economic component, but a social component as well, considering that roughly 30,000 Romanians live in that country. The Romanian President discussed with the Dutch official about the future of the EU and said that, although the 2 countries do not share the same opinion on some topics, both Romania and the Netherlands are working to strengthen the community bloc. Romanias Schengen accession, migration, Brexit and Romanias presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019 were also on the agenda of the talks.




    REFERENDUM – The Constitutional Court of Romania announced on Wednesday that on September 17th it would discuss a bill to revise the Constitution by introducing a provision that redefines “family as being based on the marriage of a man and a woman. The Senate of Romania, which is the decision-making body in this respect, Tuesday approved a bill on this topic. The president of the Social Democratic Party in power, Liviu Dragnea, who is also the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, has recently announced that the so-called “family referendum will take place on October 7th. Several NGOs, collectively known as the “Coalition for family, have gathered some 3 million signatures for the organisation of this referendum, which is designed to ensure that same-sex marriage cannot be legalised.




    AGRICULTURE – The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan will be on a visit to Romania on Thursday and Friday, the European Commission Representation in Romania announced on Wednesday. The European official will have talks with PM Viorica Dăncilă and with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Petre Daea. Commissioner Hogan will also have meetings with farmer associations and will have a dialogue with the citizens of Cluj, entitled A modern budget for a stronger Union.



    DIPLOMACY – Morocco appreciates Romanias regional and international role and supports its candidacy in the Security Council, the Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita said in Bucharest on Wednesday. After a meeting with his Romanian counterpart Teodor Meleşcanu, the Moroccan official also pointed out that Bucharest would make a very useful contribution to maintaining peace and stability in regions close to Morocco, Africa and the Near East. In turn, Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu reiterated Romanias support for Morocco during its rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of next year. The talks also tackled bilateral relations, given that Morocco is a major economic partner for Romania in Africa and the Arab world.





    EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – The European Parliament, convened in Strasbourg, Wednesday criticised the erosion of democracy in Hungary and called on the European Commission to launch the disciplinary procedure known as Article 7. The MEPs endorsed a report comprising a list of concerns related to Hungarys crackdowns on migrants, the media, academic institutions, as well as to corruption and the independence of the judiciary. During Tuesdays debates in the EP plenary session, the Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said the report used double standards, was an abuse of power and its endorsement was in breach of the EU treaties. Should Article 7 be triggered, Hungary is facing sanctions going as far as suspending the countrys voting rights in the EU Council.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • July 27, 2018 UPDATE

    July 27, 2018 UPDATE

    VISIT — Romanian PM Viorica Dancila who is on an official tour of the West Balkans, visited Skopje on Friday, where she met with her Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev. Dancila reconfirmed Bucharest’s strong commitment to supporting Macedonia in its bid to join the EU and NATO. Dancila also discussed with Zoran Zaev about the Macedonian citizens in Romania and about the Aromanians in Macedonia. She also said she was confident that there are excellent opportunities for cooperation in the field of agriculture.




    JUSTICE – The Justice Ministry in Bucharest announced on Friday that it would resume the procedure for proposing a candidate for head prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA). The selection of candidates will start on August 6th and it will last one month, with the interviews to be held at the beginning of September. A conclusion will be presented on September 6, the Justice Ministry announced. The Ministry announced that all four candidacies submitted for the position of chief prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Directorate were rejected and that the procedure would be resumed. The four candidates were interviewed on Thursday by line minister Tudorel Toader. The four are Florentina Mirică, head prosecutor for the anti-corruption service of the DNA, Cristian Lazăr — head prosecutor with the criminal investigation section, Marius Iacob, deputy head prosecutor, and Elena Grecu, head prosecutor with the central section of the DNA. The position became vacant when former chief prosecutor Laura Codruţa Kovesi was dismissed by presidential decree on 9 July, compelled by a Constitutional Court ruling.




    BUDGET – The general consolidated budget deficit in Romania in the first semester of this year reached 3.2 billion Euro, 1.61% of the GDP, according to the Finance Ministry. In the first half of the year, revenues were almost 13% higher, but expenditure rose more sharply, by almost 19% more than the same period of 2017.




    BIAS — Baneasa Airport in Bucharest is hosting on Saturday the Bucharest International Air Show & General Aviation Exhibition, the biggest air show in Romania. Over one hundred pilots and parachutists from 13 countries will attend, with 150 civil and military aircraft. Poland will be attending for the first time, alongside pilots from Greece, Hungary, the US, Spain, Italy, Turkey and Germany.




    ELECTION — The Chisinau Parliament decided on Friday that the next parliamentary elections in Moldova to be held on February 24th, 2019. The mandate of the current Parliament expires on November 30, and elections must be held three months after this date at the latest, that is end-February 2019, in keeping with the Moldovan law. Experts say the next election will be based on the mixed election system passed in 2017 against the Venice Commission’s recommendations.




    EXTRADITION – Serbia rejected the Romanian Justice Ministry’s request for the extradition of former Romanian MP Sebastian Ghita. The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Belgrade has decided that Ghita is eligible for being granted asylum in Serbia. Being investigated in a number of criminal cases, Sebastian Ghita fled Romania in December 2016. After an international arrest warrant was issued, Ghita was detained, in April 2017, in Belgrade, after presenting a fake passport. In May, Serbia’s Supreme Court approved his release on bail.




    REPATRIATION — The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has announced it finalized the procedure to repatriate from Syria, via Turkey, a group of seven people, six Romanian citizens, five of them minors, and a Syrian citizen, a member of the same family. The Ministry reiterates its firm calls on Romanian citizens to leave Syria. Since the beginning of evacuations from Syria, in 2011, over 750 Romanian citizens and their families were brought back to the country.




    FIRE — In Greece, the number of victims of the fires close to Athens has reached 87, but the toll could be higher, since a number of people are still reported missing. The authorities, accused of having intervened too slowly, said that there are strong indications that the fires may be the result of criminal acts. In Bucharest, the Foreign Ministry announced that there is no information regarding Romanian citizens being among the victims. We recall that Romania sent two airplanes in support of the authorities in Greece: one fire fighting aircraft, and a C-130 Hercules for logistical support.

  • June 14, 2018 UPDATE

    June 14, 2018 UPDATE

    PRIME MINISTER – The Prime Minister of Romania, Viorica Dăncilă, is on an official 3-day visit to Lithuania and Estonia. On Thursday in Vilnius the Romanian official and her Lithuanian counterpart, Saulius Skvernelis, discussed bilateral trade and means to identify new fields for cooperation, such as IT, energy and agriculture. The parties have also tackled European topics of mutual interest, such as supporting the Eastern Partnership and the future of the Union. Dancilas visit to Estonia will be the first by a Romanian prime minister since diplomatic relations with this Baltic state were reinstated in 1991.




    FORUM – In its capacity as presidency holder, Romania is hosting the ministerial conference of the Salzburg Forum, an informal platform of Central and East-European countries promoting security cooperation. Taking part in the conference are officials from the 9 member countries, of whom 6 interior ministers, including the Romanian Interior Minister Carmen Dan, and the Europol chief Catherine De Bolle. The Salzburg Forum was launched in 2000 and comprises Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Since 2007, the Republic of Moldova and countries from the Group of Friends (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) have also been invited to attend its sessions.




    FINANCIAL – Private-sector credit risks are rising, reads a Report on financial stability made public on Thursday by the National Bank of Romania. The document also mentions other risks, such as the deteriorating investor confidence in emerging economies such as Romania, strains on macroeconomic balances and the rising real estate prices. On the other hand, the report also says that last year total household debt rose, and so did consumer loans granted by banks and non-banking financial institutions. The central bank officials presented the document at a time when the year on year inflation rate reached a 5-year high of 5.4% in May, the exchange rate for the national currency revolves around 4.66 lei for the euro, deficits deepen and the public debt is growing.




    JUDICIARY – The High Court of Cassation and Justice Thursday dismissed the charges against the former Social Democrat deputy Sebastian Ghiţă, in a case in which he was tried jointly with former police and prosecutor office chiefs. The ruling is not final. The Court also cancelled a pre-trial arrest warrant, ordered the lifting of a freeze on Ghitas assets and the return of the roughly 11.5 million euro bail. The other defendants in the same case were also aquitted, on grounds that the alleged acts were not criminal offences or had not taken place. Sebastian Ghiţă is in Serbia. He fled the country in December 2016 and is subject to several criminal proceedings in Romania.




    UKRAINE – The Romanian Education Minister, Valentin Popa, and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, Thursday had a telephone conversation on the Education Law of neighbouring Ukraine. The two agreed that the law, which bans tuition in ethnic minority languages after primary school, is “unacceptable insofar as it takes away rights previously secured by ethnic minorities. The Education Ministry explained that the Ukrainian authorities had signed no agreement with the Romanian community in that country with respect to this law. The 2 officials have agreed to carry on consultations regarding the measures to be taken in this respect. Nearly half a million ethnic Romanians currently live in Ukraine.




    FOOTBALL – The 21st edition of the World Football Championship kicked off in Russia on Thursday. It is the first edition of the championship hosted by a former communist bloc country. Proving their mettle in the final tournament are 32 national teams, while 11 cities across Russia make the venues for the scheduled fixtures. In the opening game, Russia defeated Saudi Arabia, 5-0. According to the correspondent of Radio Romanias News and Current Affairs Channel in Moscow, Russia has invested tens of billions of dollars in the championships infrastructure, as well as a significant amount of political capital, hoping the event would bolster Russias image around the world. We recall Romanias national team has failed to make it to the current edition of the World Cup. The World Championship held in France in 1998 was the last edition the national squad took part in.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • May 29, 2018 UPDATE

    May 29, 2018 UPDATE

    Prince Charles – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will have talks Wednesday in Bucharest with Prince Charles, the heir to the British Throne, the presidential administration announced. Last year Prince Charles visited Romania on several occasions both on private and official visits. In 2017 Klaus Iohannis decorated Prince Charles with the Order of the Star of Romania in Rank of Grand Cross in sign of appreciation for his activity in Romania and for promoting Romania’s image in the world. For 20 years the Prince of Wales has come to Romania on an almost annual basis. He holds in Romania several properties and a charity that encourages the preservation of the heritage, agriculture and Romania’s sustainable development.



    Cohesion funds — Romania has been allotted cohesion funds worth 27 billion Euros in the future European draft budget for the period 2021-2027, according to the proposals published Tuesday by the European Commission. The Commission proposed the modernization of the cohesion policy within the future EU multi-annual budget that will have a total amount of funds of 373 billion Euros. The European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu said that the European body would focus on several key sectors such as innovation, support for small enterprises, infrastructure, Internet access, education and urban areas. According to a EC communiqué the GDP per capita will continue to be the main criterion for the allocation of funds, but they will also take into consideration such criteria as youth unemployment, a low education level, climate changes as well as entry of migrants. The cohesion policy is the EU’s main investment policy.



    Bookfest — Over 150 publishers are participating in the 13th edition of Bookfest International Book Fair to take place in Bucharest between May 30 and June 3. This year the US is a guest of honor. According to organizers, the US’ participation in this year’s fair as a guest of honor will take place under the motto ‘Celebrating the South’ and brings to Romania American authors from various domains. For 5 days the visitors of Bookfest will have the opportunity to participate in hundreds of events among which book launches and film screenings. Readers will be able to choose from more than one million books and discounts will be up to 80% of the original price. The Casa Radio Publishers will present more than 140 titles, audio books, books with CD, illustrated or comic books.



    Brussels — Workers temporarily dispatched to an EU member state have to receive a salary equal to that of a local worker for the same job undertaken in the same conditions, according to the new norms passed Tuesday by the European Parliament. The new directive amends and reforms another European directive adopted in 1996. The purpose of the reform is to guarantee good protection for the dispatched workers and equality between the local companies and those that dispatch workers. The maximum dispatching period was set at 12 months with a possible 6-month extension, after which the rules of the labor market in the host country will apply. After the coming into force of the directive, member states have two years to transpose the norms in their national legislation.



    Motion — The opposition National Liberal Party on Tuesday filed a simple motion against the finance minister Eugen Teodorovici entitled “The fiscal mess caused by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats confiscates your pension money.” The leader of the Liberal MPs, Raluca Turcan, has said that the way in which the minister is managing the finances sector jeopardizes Romanians’ future pensions and affects Romania’s credibility at external level.



    Romania – Japan Cooperation – The Ministry for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship started the procedures for the organization of an economic mission in Bucharest, in November, in partnership with JETRO — Japan External Trade Organization, as part of the efforts to internationalize Romanian companies and attract foreign investments. The Romanian minister for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship Stefan Radu Oprea headed an official delegation on a working visit to Japan between May 23 and 25. He had meetings with Yoji Muto, a secretary of state with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and with the members of the Japan-Romania friendship group in Japan’s National Diet. Japan External Trade Organization is a government organization from Japan whose aim is to promote trade and investments between Japan and the countries of the world. On the sidelines of this visit, two forums were held under the motto “Business Bridge Romania-Japan”. Representatives from 200 Japanese companies took part in these forums, the main topic being the attraction of Japanese investments.(news updated and translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • May 28, 2018

    May 28, 2018

    BLACK SEA – The security situation in the Wider Black Sea Region is currently defined by volatility and marked by a potential for conflict, trends which are likely to continue in the short and medium run, the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis believes. In a message conveyed on Monday at the opening of the 2018 edition of an event entitled ‘Security in the Black Sea Region: common challenges, sustainable future, the Romanian President also emphasised that in this complex and dynamic context the use of all international communication means is all the more important. Romania reiterates its goals of stabilising the region through dialogue and the peaceful resolution of divergences, the Presidents message also reads. Taking part in this years edition are representatives of regional, European and Euro-Atlantic decision-makers, academics and civil society leaders from 16 countries. the Programme is an alternative platform for communication and cooperation between diplomatic bodies, the academic environment and the security authorities in the Black Sea region. The 2018 edition, held between May 28 and 31, focuses on “Shaping the future of the Black Sea region: game-changers and predictors.




    FOREIGN AFFAIRS – The head of the Romanian diplomacy, Teodor Meleşcanu, takes part in Brussels today in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The agenda includes, among other things, the situation in Venezuela, Iran and Congo. The recent developments in Gaza Strip will also be discussed during an informal working lunch. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Austrian and the Bulgarian foreign ministers will host an informal breakfast with their Macedonian counterpart as the guest of honour.




    DEFENCE – The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihai Fifor, is as of Monday on a 3-day official visit to France, at the invitation of his counterpart, Florence Parly. According to a news release issued by the Romanian Defence Ministry, the 2 will discuss, among other things, the security situation at the Black Sea and the development prospects of the bilateral relations in the field of defence, including in the area of military equipment. The Romanian official will also have a meeting with President Emmanuel Macrons diplomatic adviser, Philippe Etienne, the former Ambassador of France to Romania. The agenda also includes visits to the companies MBDA and Airbus Helicopter, the Defence Ministry release reads.




    AWARDS – Bucharest is hosting tonight the 46th Awards Gala of the Romanian Filmmakers Association. More than 500 guests are expected to take part in the event. According to the organisers, the films “Fixeur by Adrian Sitaru, “Anna, mon amour by Cătălin Peter Netzer and “One step behind the seraphims, by Daniel Sandu have been nominated for the Great Prize and the Romanian Filmmakers Association Trophy. “Anna, mon amour also competes for the Jurys Special Prize, alongside “Perfectly Healthy directed by Anca Damian and Breaking News, by Iulia Rugină. The Awards Gala of the Romanian Filmmakers Association celebrates and supports the values of the film industry by awarding those who have excelled in the field, have represented Romania in international competitions and have made a notable contribution to the film industry.




    STATISTICS – One in 5 Romanians (19,7%) aged between 20 and 64 was residing in another EU member state in 2017, which makes Romania the top EU country in terms of labour mobility, data made public by the Eurostat on Monday show. Next come Lithuania (15%), Croatia (14%), and Portugal (13.9%). Eurostat data also indicate that in 2017 compared to 2007, the share of Romanians who live in other EU countries rose by 12.3%, the highest increase reported in the EU. At the opposite pole, only 1% of Germanys citizens aged between 20 and 64 live in other member states. Germany is followed by the UK, Sweden and France.




    TENNIS – The Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru (160 WTA) continues today the match against the American Christina McHale (no 85 in the world), at the French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. The match is resumed after being suspended yesterday at 1-1. Also today, another Romanian player, Mihaela Buzărnescu (no 32 WTA), plays the first round against the American Vania King (1276 WTA). Four other Romanians are playing in this years Roland Garros. World no 1 and first seeded in the tournament, Simona Halep, takes on Alison Riske (USA, 105 WTA). Halep has so far lost 2 Roland Garros finals. Irina Begu (41 WTA) takes on the Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (no 78), Sorana Cîrstea (45 WTA) faces the Australian Daria Gavrilova (no 24), and Ana Bogdan (no 65 WTA) plays against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (no 90). In the mens competition, the only Romanian player, Marius Copil (95 ATP), faces today the Italian Marco Cecchinato (72 ATP).


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • May 20, 2018

    May 20, 2018

    Regional policy – The European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu will pay a 2 — day visit to Romania as of Monday to discuss sustainable urban development. On Monday Commissioner Cretu will participate alongside PM Viorica Dancila and the minister for European funds Rovana Plumb in a conference devoted to urban investments hosted by Bacau, in the east. Commissioner Cretu will also visit the astronomic observatory in Bacau that benefited from European funds. On Tuesday Corina Cretu and minister Plumb will participate in a dialogue with the citizens at the Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau. In a communiqué issued ahead of her visit to Romania, Commissioner Cretu said that more than one billion Euros would be invested in urban development in Romania.



    Chisinau — Sunday will see the first round of the early elections for the city halls of Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, and Balti, the second largest city of Moldova, in the north. The seats became vacant after the mayors elected in June 2015, pro-European Liberal Dorin Chirtoaca in Chisinau and pro-Russian populist Renato Usatii from Balti stepped down following criminal prosecution in cases that both labeled as investigations on political command. The early elections are considered a test ahead of the parliamentary elections to be held in autumn. Analysts quoted by Radio Romania’s correspondents to Chisinau say that the vote also has a geopolitical importance, as the situation between the pro-European and the pro-Russian supporters will be clarified. One third of Moldova’s population lives in Chisinau, producing half of the country’s GDP.



    Cannes — The Japanese film director Hirokazu Kore-eda won the Palme d’Or trophy of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for his movie Shoplifters. The film has been described as an Oliver Twist of modern times, a story about misfits and crooks. On Saturday American Spike Lee received the Grand Prize for BlacKkKlansman, a pamphlet movie in which the director from Brooklyn denounces racism and far right extremism. The Jury’s prize went to Lebanese Nadine Labaki for the movie Capharnaum, which tells the story of Zain, a 12-year old street child who is fighting with his parents who refuse to send him to school and beat him. The best actress award went to Samal Esljamova, from Kazakhstan for the role of Ayka, while the best actor award was won by Italian Marcello Fonte for his role in Dogman.



    Tennis — World’s no. 1 player, Romanian Simona Halep will take on today the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (4 WTA) in the final of the Rome tournament, which has total prizes worth 2.7 million Euros. Last year the final was won by the Ukrainian player. On Saturday, in the semifinals, Halep defeated the Russian Maria Sharapova while Elina Svitolina eliminated Estonian Anett Kontaveit. The winner of the Rome tournament will receive 507 thousand Euros and 900 WTA points. The defeated player will receive about 253 thousand Euros and 585 WTA points.



    Justice — Several hundred Romanian magistrates on Saturday protested before the Palace of Justice in Bucharest against the modification of the criminal codes, of the justice laws and against the authorities’ refusal to take into consideration GRECO’s critical report and to wait for the specialist opinion of the Venice Commission. The magistrates adopted a resolution in which they call on the Romanian President, the speakers of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies to urgently consult the Venice Commission in relation to certain aspects regarding the modification of Romania’s criminal codes. They also call for the immediate suspension of debates in the special parliamentary committee until the Venice Commission gives its opinion. The magistrates also called on the justice minister to abstain from actions meant to intimidate the prosecutors and which affect the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)



  • April 26, 2018 UPDATE

    April 26, 2018 UPDATE

    ISRAEL – While on an official visit to Israel, a Romanian delegation made up of PM Viorica Dăncilă, Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu, and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Liviu Dragnea, was received on Thursday by President Reuven Rivlin. The Romanian officials said that strengthening cooperation with Israel was a priority, particularly considering the 70-year long tradition of diplomatic relations. The agenda of talks also included the appointment of a Romanian ambassador to Israel, given that the post has been vacant for almost one and a half years, the relocation of the Romanian Embassy to Jerusalem and regional topics like the situation in Syria and the Iranian nuclear file. On Wednesday, PM Viorica Dăncilă and her counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the excellent level of bilateral relations. The Romanian prime minister voiced her satisfaction with the interest shown by the Israeli side in a proposed partnership that would generate joint projects in the field of new technologies. The participants also discussed means of cooperation in the military, strategic and cyber security fields. Also on Wednesday, the Romanian Prime Minister visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre, and had a meeting with the leader of the left-wing Opposition in the Israeli Parliament, Isaac Herzog.





    JUDICIARY – The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis Thursday referred a regulation on the organisation of the Official Journal to the Constitutional Court. The President argues that the public company that runs the Official Journal of Romania cannot be subordinated to the Chamber of Deputies as long as the law stipulates no powers for the Chamber in this respect. Meanwhile, also on Thursday the High Court of Cassation and Justice decided to refer to the Constitutional Court a bill on alternatives to imprisonment, under which sentences below 5 years in prison may be switched to house arrest or to weekend detention in special centres. The Chamber of Deputies endorsed this bill on Wednesday.




    PROTESTS – Deputy PM Viorel Ştefan Thursday promised the Romanian trade unions in the public healthcare sector that on May 2 he would come up with a solution to address the income losses in the sector. The unionists, who staged a rally in Bucharest on Thursday, announced they would not give up their protests. Several categories of healthcare staff claim their net wages have dropped since the implementation of the new tax and salary regulations, and they demand the scrapping of the current 30% cap on bonuses. The rally in Bucharest will be followed by a token strike on May 7, while May 11 is the announced start date of an all-out strike in the healthcare and social assistance sector.




    EPP – Ludovic Orban, president of the National Liberal Party, in opposition in Romania, announced that the European Peoples Party (EPP), the political family to which his party is also affiliated, will have a common candidate for president of the European Commission. Orban discussed the topic in Brussels with the EPP president, Joseph Daul. The candidate, Orban added, will be elected in the EPP congress due in November in Helsinki. Orban also said that he had discussed with the EPP leaders the details of a common strategy to ensure job stability at European level, a strategy that also targets the Romanians who will work in the UK after Brexit.





    TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, no 1 in the world, will take on CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) in Fridays quarter-finals of the WTA tournament in Stuttgart, which has 816,000 US dollars in total prize money. Halep previously defeated the Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova (18 WTA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. In last years edition of the Stuttgart tournament, Halep was defeated in the semi-finals.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • European Commission’s First Vice President on Romania’s justice system

    European Commission’s First Vice President on Romania’s justice system

    The First Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, travelled to Bucharest on Thursday to have talks with all decision makers in the justice system, to do away with any doubts as to the accuracy of the information that Brussels has received on this matter.



    Timmermans discussed with President Klaus Iohannis, with the speakers of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, with PM Viorica Dancila, with representatives of the justice system and members of the parliamentary committee in charge of modifying the justice laws. The European official’s visit took place in the context of the assessments that the European Commission makes as regards the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification in the field of justice and the fight against corruption, and shortly after Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader initiated the procedure of revoking the chief-prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi. Romania has made considerable progress in terms of the independence of the justice system, and must not back away, Frans Timmermans said at the end of his visit to Bucharest.



    According to him, in the past 20 years Romania has achieved so many things regarding the independence of justice and it is like running a marathon and it is on the last hundred meters. His message for Romania is to keep running, and not go in the wrong direction. Regarding the CVM, the EU’s ambition is to be able to say that in 2019 they will be able to stop it, but this ambition cannot be achieved if the outstanding recommendations from the EC are not finalised. The most important thing is that everyone involved should work together, not against each other, said the European official.



    According to the European official, the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification can be lifted provided that the conditions are met. Talking about the possible dismissal of the anti corruption chief prosecutor, Codruta Kovesi, Timmermans said that if there are accusations against magistrates, then it is up to other magistrates to deal with them, as this is not a politician’s job. This has to do with the separation of powers in a state and this is how it’s done in the rest of the world, Timmermans has explained.



    He has also said that there is no connection between the CVM and Article 7 as there is no systemic threat to the rule of law, as is the case in Poland. In his turn, President Klaus Iohannis has said that the justice system is completely independent and works effectively, adding that in the past few years democracy has been significantly consolidated in Romania, and the Romanian society’s civic spirit is ever more active, which proves that it has matured.

  • March 1, 2018 UPDATE

    March 1, 2018 UPDATE

    Visit — The situation of the Romanian justice system was the central topic of discussions the First Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans held on Thursday in Bucharest with the Romanian officials: President Klaus Iohannis, PM Viorica Dancila, the speakers of Parliament’s two chambers, Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Liviu Dragnea, the leaders of the ruling coalition, as well as with the members of the parliamentary committee in charge of modifying the justice laws. Mr. Timmermans also had meetings with representatives of the justice system. Fresh from these talks the European official had a press conference in which he said that contact with the Romanian authorities would be intensified on the issue of the judiciary. He praised the progress Romania reported in this field after EU accession in 2007. Mr. Timmermans also underlined that the EC’s ambition was to be able to stop the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification for Romania by 2019, given that Romania will take over the presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019.



    Weather — Code yellow and code orange alerts for cold weather have been issued for the whole of Romania until Friday evening. The skies will be overcast and light snowfalls are expected in all of the country’s regions. Minimum temperatures will drop to minus 24 degrees C while the highs will not exceed plus 2 degrees C. Schools remained closed for the entire week in the capital Bucharest and several counties in the southeast. Several national and county roads in the south and east of the territory are still closed. Because of the strong winds, the Black Sea ports remained closed. Trains have reported delays, many have been cancelled and airports are operating in winter conditions. According to the authorities, problems related to electric power and natural gas supply have been dealt with.



    Brexit — The EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Thursday said that London’s stand regarding the future relations with the community bloc leaves room for a free trade agreement between the two sides. According to Barnier, the only possible model remains that of a free trade agreement, as recently happened with Canada, Japan and South Korea. He added that Great Britain would remain a member of the European Customs Union but it would have to accept more responsibilities, among which border controls with the EU. Barnier said that the success of Brexit negotiations entailed accelerated talks, only 13 months ahead of the official date for Brexit.



    Tennis — The pair made up of Romanian Horia Tecău and Dutch Jean Julien Rojer on Thursday qualified to the semifinals of the Dubai tournament with prizes up for grabs worth more than 2.6 million dollars. They defeated 6-4, 6-4 the pair Marcin Matkowski (Poland)/ Uisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (Pakistan). For a place in the final, Tecău and Rojer, 2nd seeded and title holders, will be up against the pair Ivan Dodig (Croatia) / Rajeev Ram (the US) on Friday. (news translated and updated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • February 20, 2018

    February 20, 2018

    VISIT – The PM of Romania, Viorica Dăncilă, is on her first official visit to Brussels in this capacity. The Romanian official will have meetings with the president of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, with the head of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani and with the European Commissioner for regional policy, Corina Creţu. Strengthening the relations between Bucharest and Brussels is essential, PM Dăncilă says, both in the context of Romania taking over the presidency of the EU Council in 2019, and for Romanias involvement in the most important projects on the European agenda. She also pleads for active involvement in talks regarding the economic future of the Union.




    DEFENCE – The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihai Fifor, says the state will get involved in extending the military base in Mihail Kogălniceanu, in the south-east of the country, and announced talks in this respect had already been held with the American partners. He added he would like a permanent American presence in that unit. Over the past few years, thousands of Romanian and American troops have taken part in joint military exercises in Mihail Kogălniceanu, some of them also attended by troops from other NATO countries. The same base hosted last year air policing missions, with British, Canadian and Romanian aircraft taking part. Meanwhile, the Senate Monday endorsed a bill on the procurement of HIMARS multiple rocket launchers for the Romanian Army. Under the document, the Romanian Government is awarding to the US Government contracts for the procurement of 3 systems of 18 launchers each, amounting to a total 1.5 billion euro. The bill is to be forwarded to the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this respect.




    TRIAL – The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest has today started trying the case concerning the June 1990 miners riots, in which the ex-president Ion Iliescu and former PM Petre Roman are charged with crimes against humanity. Prosecutors argue that the authorities have planned the violent attacks against peaceful protesters gathered at the University Square in Bucharest in June 1990. Governmental agencies were illegally involved in the crackdown, prosecutors claim, alongside coal miners and other workers from various parts of the country. Four people died and nearly 1,400 were wounded.




    FLU – Another 2 people died from the flu in Romania, with the death toll reaching 39, and more than 500 cases this season, reported the authorities have announced. Most of the flu patients are in Bucharest, and in the counties of Constanta (south-east), Olt (south), Braşov (centre) and Iaşi (north-east). The authorities recommend vaccination, and the Healthcare Ministry announced that around 80,000 shots were still available. So far over 920,000 people have received flu vaccines. The Healthcare Minister, Sorina Pintea, says Romania is not facing a flu epidemic at present.




    DIPLOMACY – The Romanian minister delegate for European affairs, Victor Negrescu, had a meeting in Bucharest on Monday with the Republic of Moldovas deputy PM in charge of European integration, Iurie Leancă. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the two officials reviewed the key elements of Moldovas European agenda, particularly in terms of implementing the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the EU. Victor Negrescu emphasised that the strategic objective of the Bucharest-Chisinau relations is the EU accession of Moldova. He also stressed the importance of stepping up the reform and modernisation process, to the benefit of all Moldovan citizens.




    HANDBALL – AHC Potaissa from Turda, north-western Romania will take on the Norwegians Fyllingen Bergen in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, according to Tuesdays draw in Vienna. The Romanians will play the first leg on home ground, on March 24 or 25, and the second leg in Norway a week later. If they move on to the semi-finals, Potaissa will have to face the winner of the matches pitting SKIF Krasnodar (Russia) against IBV Vestmannaeyjar (Iceland). Last season Potaissa lost the Challenge Cup to the Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • November 6, 2017 UPDATE

    November 6, 2017 UPDATE

    PROTESTS – Tens of thousands took to the streets on Sunday night in Bucharest and other major Romanian cities, protesting the plans of the ruling coalition to amend the tax code and the laws on the judiciary. The bills modifying the legal framework for the judiciary, drafted by the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader and currently under debate in Parliament, stipulate among other things the transfer of judicial inspection powers from the Higher Council of Magistrates to the Justice Ministry. The bills also exclude the head of state from the procedure to appoint the chief prosecutors. Meanwhile, the Government postponed to Wednesday a special meeting, originally scheduled on Monday, in which several fiscal measures were to be adopted, including the transfer of social security payments from employers to employees, the introduction of a so-called employment insurance contribution covering medical leaves and unemployment costs, and a reduction of income taxes from 16 to 10%. Also on Monday, the Senate dismissed a simple motion tabled by the Opposition against the Finance Minister Ionuţ Mişa. The Opposition, trade unions and employer associations say the measures proposed by Misa would severely affect the private sector. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis says a substantial postponement of changes in fiscal legislation is necessary, and added that their implementation as of January 1, 2018 would be ill-timed.




    DIPLOMACY – While on a 2-day visit to Montenegro, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu had a meeting on Monday with his counterpart Srdan Darmanovic. Melescanu reiterated Romanias firm support for Montenegros European accession efforts. The two officials also reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including employment and social security, science and technology, tourism, energy and the environment. The visit is part of Romanias efforts to increase its presence in the Western Balkans, one of Romanias foreign policy priorities, ahead of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019.




    EXHIBITION – The Ambassador of Japan to Bucharest, Kisaburo Ishii, took part in the opening of an exhibition on “Meiji-era Stamps, organised by the Stamp Cabinet of the Romanian Academy Library as part of the “Japanese Culture Month in Romania, and hosted by the Theodor Pallady Hall of the Romanian Academy Library. The exhibition will close on November 12.




    MOLDOVA – Should early elections be held in the Republic of Moldova, only 3 parties would make the parliamentary threshold: the Socialists Party, the Action and Solidarity Party and the Democratic Party, according to an opinion poll released on Monday by the Public Opinion Fund organisation. The Socialists would get 50% of the votes. The poll also reveals low public confidence rates for the Parliament and Government. Eighty per cent of the respondents are unhappy with the current state of affairs in the Republic of Moldova. According to the poll, only one-fifth of the people would support their country joining NATO or uniting with Romania.




    FOOTBALL – Romanias national football team has convened for friendly matches against Turkey and the Netherlands, scheduled to take place in Cluj-Napoca on November 9 and in Bucharest on November 14, respectively. Manager Cosmin Contra invited 30 players, including 17 Romanian footballers playing for foreign clubs. This is the start of Romanias preparations for the Euro 2020 qualifiers. The Turkish national team is coached by the Romanian Mircea Lucescu.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)