April 20, 2015 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Corina Cristea, 20.04.2015, 12:15
Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Monday held a new round of talks with parliamentary parties. The main topics on the agenda were the reform of the election law and the fight against corruption. Social Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the Social Democrats wanted mayors to be elected from the first round of voting and the elections in the Diaspora to be staged by the Standing Election Authority, with the Romanian citizens abroad having to put their names on the electors’ lists 6 months prior to the elections. In their turn, the Liberals in opposition are supporting postal voting and a change in the financing of political parties. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, on the other hand, wants to set the percentage threshold in local elections at 3%, as well as strict regulations for postal voting. The Conservative Party, said they supported the reform in the fields discussed with the head of state. The talks ended in a meeting of President Iohannis with the representatives of the national minorities’ parliamentary group. After the consultations President Iohannis said they agreed that by mid-May Parliament should pass the law on local elections and the financiang of parties and election campaigns.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday it was the European Unions moral duty to tackle the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and the bloc could call an emergency summit of leaders later this week. The statement was made after a meeting of the EU foreign ministers, following Sunday’s shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea. Only 28 out of 700 people were saved. This is reportedly the largest disaster in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the Italian press, which notes that since the beginning of 2015 some 900 migrants have been killed in shipwrecks of this kind. Shortly after Mogherini’s statements a new tragedy occurred in the Aegean Sea, where a ship carrying 300 migrants sank.
A 5-day military drill named ‘Tornado’ started on Monday in Estonia, involving Estonian military and US paratroopers. The objective is to simulate warfare tactics and to increase the level of training. This is the last training phase ahead of a series of wide-ranging military maneouvers scheduled to take place in Estonia between May 4 and 15, involving some 13,000 military. Two important NATO military drills are also taking part in Romania. The Wind Spring 2015 operation involving 2,200 military and war gear from Romania, the US, the UK and the Republic of Moldova is ongoing in the southeast until April 30. Meanwhile in Campia Turzii, northwestern Romania, joint military drills are taking place, with the participation of 350 US military and some 300 Romanian military. The drills are meant to express NATO’s support for countries in its eastern flank, especially amidst growing security tensions in the region.
Monday was the International Day of the Free Press, celebrated ever since 1991 on April 20 at the initiative of Reporters without Borders. According to the last press freedom ranking, made public in February, Romania ranks 52nd in a ranking of 180 countries. Ranking in top three positions are Finland, Norway and Denmark, while Syria, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea have the least free press. Reporters without Borders is this year celebrating 26 years of activity. The organisations champions press freedom and freedom of expression worldwide.
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu attended on Monday the meeting of the Group of Friends of Georgia, held in Luxembourg on the sideline of the Foreign Affairs Council. The Romanian official expressed Romania’s full support for Georgia’s efforts to join the EU and NATO. Bogdan Aurescu highlighted the importance of political consensus with respect to continuing the line of reforms and has praised the progress in implementing Georgia’s commitments in its relations with the EU and NATO. As regards the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit, due to take place in Riga in May, Minister Aurescu pointed out that its conclusions should reflect both the commitment of partner states to move closer to the EU, as well as the EU’s commitment to support their aspirations.
Romania qualified to the Fed Cup World Group on Monday after beating Canada this weekend, overall score 3-2. Next year Romania will be competing in the Fred Cup quarterfinals, an accomplishment last managed in 1992. Romania will be playing along world superpowers such as Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, Russia and Germany.
