17 June, 2016
Romanian foreign minister visits Moldova, EIB grants loan for environment
Newsroom, 17.06.2016, 11:59
MOLDOVA — Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu and French foreign ministry undersecretary Harlem Desir, while on a visit to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, were received by head of state Nicolae Timofti and PM Pavel Filip. Comanescu issued a strong message of support for Moldovas aspiration to join the EU. He urged officials there to keep up the pace of reform, especially in the judiciary and public administration, stabilizing the economic situation, the fight against corruption, as well as improving foreign investment and the business sector. Stay tuned for more after the news.
EIB — The European Investment Bank granted Romania a 300 million Euro loan in support of environmental projects as part of the large infrastructure operational program over 2014-2020, according to the Ministry of Finance. The head of the ministry, Anca Dragu, said that this loan would partially cover the states contribution to projects in water safety, waste disposal, protecting and recovering ecosystems, as well as adapting to climate change. The vice-president of the bank, Cristian Popa, specified that the loan would allow the co-financing of projects worth a total of 4.5 billion Euro.
SINOD — Eastern rite churches meet today in Crete for a grand sinod of the Orthodox faith, which has not happened since the 1054 schism between Rome and Constantinople. The event has been in preparation for over 50 years. Church leaders, meeting until June 26, plan to adopt a number of documents on relations within the Orthodox area and between Orthodoxy and other Christians, as well as non-Christians. The Romanian Orthodox Church is represented by a delegation led by Patriarch Daniel. Four churches are not attending, those of Bulgaria, Antioch, Georgia and Russia, accounting for 250 million faithful. They do not agree with the fact that the Patriarchy of Constantinople, which called the sinod, did not take into account their proposals.
WEATHER — The west and north west of Romania are under a code yellow alert until Saturday morning for weather instability and high temperatures, with thunderstorms and strong winds and hail. A second warning for bad weather has been issued for Saturday and Sunday for the south west, center and north east. Temperatures today are very high, with maximums between 35 and 37 degrees, with a high heat index that can reach in places the critical threshold of 80. The noon reading in Bucharest was 31 degrees.
COMMISSIONER — European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu is on an official visit to Romania and Bulgaria. Today shell be attending in Ruse, close to the Romanian border, in a conference on the European financing of tourism in the Danube area, for a number of projects running between 2007-2013. Also today, the commissioner will be going to Giurgiu, right across the border in Romania, to visit the European project for emergency situations in the Danube area. Corina Cretu is accompanied by Romanian minister for regional development Vasile Dancu.
FOOTBALL – Today Italy takes on Sweden; the Czechs are pitted against Croatia, while Spain is up against Turkey at the European Football championships currently underway in France. On Thursday, England outperformed the Wales two-one, Northern Ireland secured a two-nil win against Ukraine, while Germany held Poland to a nil-all draw. Sunday will see decisive games in group A, with Romania taking on Albania and France playing Switzerland. A win against Albania would secure Romania four points and the qualification for the eighth finals.
