A round-up of the main stories in Romania today.
Summit. Romania's president Klaus Iohannis is today attending an informal meeting of the European Council and the EU-Western Balkans summit held in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. According to a statement from the president's office, the European Council is to discuss issues related to the digital, research and innovation areas, as well as the US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. The EU-Western Balkans on Thursday will look at topics such as connectivity, security and migration. President Iohannis is expected to stress the importance of the projects carried out in the fields of connectivity, infrastructure, energy and digital networks, which can improve the convergence between the European Union and the Western Balkans, the presidential statement also reads.
EU. The minister delegate for European affairs Victor Negrescu is today presenting Parliament's specialist committees with a first draft of Romania's priorities during its EU presidency. On Tuesday, Negrescu travelled to Germany to present his German and French counterparts the state of Bucharest's preparations for taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council in 2019. He also reiterated Romania's wish to contribute to the relaunch of the European project and said his country was ready to form part of what he called the Union's "hard core".
Economy. The government will soon adopt new measures to stimulate major investments in the Romanian economy, prime minister Viorica Dancila said today. She explained that her cabinet was seeking foreign investments of 1 billion euros this year. On Tuesday, deputy prime minister Viorel Stefan said Romania's 4.2% economic growth rate in the first quarter of the year was the 5th highest in the European Union and double the community average. Stefan said the government wished investments to represent the main engine for development. Direct foreign investment has grown compared with the same period in 2016 by 1.38 billion euros, while the pension fund deficit dropped to around a half. Also, more money will go to the state budget, which will allow for the financing of investments and better public services, Viorel Stefal also said.
Heroes. 13 foreign delegations and several hundred military from six countries will today be arriving in Buzau, south-eastern Romania, to honour the memory of the heroes in one of the biggest cemeteries in Europe. Buried in the Buzau cemetery are people who fought in the War of Independence of 1877, the Second Balkan War of 1913 and the two World Wars, people killed during the anti-communist revolution of December 1989 and Romanian military who died in theatres of operation in Afghanistan. The festivities held tomorrow will be attended by military from Romania, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova and Italy, as well as politicians and ambassadors, as well as ordinary people.
Meeting. The speaker of the Romanian Senate Calin Popescu Tariceanu today attends a meeting of Parliament speakers from the Black Sea Economic Cooperation member states in Istanbul. The event is hosted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly. The participants include the speakers of Parliaments and the heads of national delegations from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Protest. Trade unions in the Romanian defence industry today picketed the government's headquarters to protest against the problems faced by companies and employees in this sector. On Tuesday, around 100 employees protested for two hours outside the government building, calling on prime minister Viorica Dancila to take measures to relaunch the sector. The Romanian defence industry faces closure due to the lack of expert staff and money for investment, one of the organisers of the protest told Agerpress news agency.
Auction. A bronze sculpture made by the Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi in 1932 and representing a stylised portrait of Nancy Cunard, a prominent figure of the Paris artistic avant-garde of the day, sold for 71 million dollars at an auction held by Christie's in New York. This is the highest amount paid for a work by Brancusi according to The New York Times. In 2017, one of his bronzes from 1913, Sleeping Muse, sold for 57.4 million dollars. Constantin Brancusi, who was born in Romania but who lived and worked in Paris for most of his adult life, is considered one most innovative and influential sculptors of the 20th century. In July, the Museum of Modern Art in New York will open an exhibition dedicated to Brancusi featuring 11 works from its collection.
Rugby. Romania's rugby side has been disqualified from the 2019 World Cup to be hosted by Japan, World Rugby has announced. The international body has explained that Romania, Spain and Belgium fielded ineligible players in qualifying. The Rugby Federation in Bucharest says it will appeal the decision, claiming it had submitted to World Rugby all documents required for a player from Tonga to be eligible for the national side.
Tennis. Romanian and world no. 1 Simona Halep today defeated Japan's Naomi Osaka in two sets in the second round of the Rome tennis tournament.
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