April 5, 2017 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 05.04.2017, 20:11

VISIT – Romania is a profoundly pro-Europe state, and a supporter of the project aimed at relaunching the EU, said Romanias president Klaus Iohannis during the meeting he held on Wednesday in Bucharest with the President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert. In turn, the German official said that the EU was the best response to globalisation, and the idea promoted by some politicians that sovereign competences would be regained by weakening the EU was an illusion. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Presidential Administration, the two officials also approached bilateral cooperation, the future of the EU and the refugee issue. The Bundestag President voiced his support for the continuation of the fight against corruption and strengthening the rule of law, as well as his appreciation for the Romanian citizens civic and pro-European spirit.

JUSTICE – The Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader announced on Wednesday that the bill aimed to harmonize the provisions of the Criminal Codes with the rulings issued by the Constitutional Court will be open for public debate and then submitted to Parliament to undergo the appropriate legislative procedures. He underlined that the bill does not establish a minimum cap for the damage caused in a case of abuse of office. Partially decriminalising the offence of abuse of office, by introducing a ceiling of 45,000 Euro, under which such acts would have not been considered criminal offences, was one of the amendments introduced by Toaders predecessor Florin Iordache in the controversial emergency decree number 13, adopted in January. The emergency decree, which was later repealed, caused the largest street protests in post-communist Romania.

CORRUPTION – The former head of the National Health Insurance Agency Lucian Duta is subject to judicial restrictions pending trial, in a case in which he is accused of bribe taking. According to anti-corruption prosecutors, he reportedly took some 8 million Euros in bribe, in several instalments, from representatives of various companies. In exchange for the money, Duta allegedly signed several contracts related to the single IT system and the implementation of the health card. The former head of the Health Insurance Agency in Romania has 10 days to pay a 1 million Euro bail. Otherwise, a more severe measure might be enforced.

EU – Romania and France share their vision of the future of the EU, with focus on unity and cohesion and a better cooperation between the 27 member states, the Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall has stated. On Wednesday, she concluded her two day visit to Paris, where she held talks with the French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir and the Chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the French Senate Jean Bizet. The officials approached issues such as the future of the EU, Brexit and the Schengen area. Also, the agenda of talks included the preparation for Romanias taking over the presidency of the EU council in the first half of 2019.

NORTH KOREA – On Wednesday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reacted to the news that North Korea had launched another medium-range ballistic missile, terming it a violation of the UN Security Councils resolutions. The Romanian Foreign Ministry also stressed the fact that such repeated actions were major threats to world peace and security and made an appeal to the Pyongyang authorities to fully observe the international regulations in force and to avoid actions that might destabilize the situation in the peninsula and in the world. In the past years, North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and in 2016 it launched some 20 ballistic missiles. The international community is concerned that Pyongyang might actually work on building an inter-continental ballistic missile.

BREXIT – The European Parliament (EP) on Wednesday endorsed, by a large majority, a resolution establishing priorities in the negotiations over the UKs exiting the Union. According to the Radio Romania correspondent, the resolution benefits from the support of the big political parties in the EP. The main provision of the resolution is ensuring a fair treatment of all the EU citizens in Great Britain, while at the same time protecting the rights of the British who live in EU countries. Also, the resolution provides that, by the time Brexit becomes official, the UK should observe the four European fundamental freedoms: the free movement of goods, people, services and capital. The EP plays a major role with regard to the Brexit issue, especially through the vote on the final agreement.

AWARD – The Culture Palace in Blaj, central Romania, is the recipient of the 2017 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage, in the Conservation category. In the Dedicated Service category, the award went to Zoltan Kallos, an ethnologist with a research career spanning more than 70 years and focusing on the Hungarian, Romanian, Saxon and Rroma communities in Transylvania. The prize, known as Europa Nostra, is the highest distinction awarded in Europe in this field. The 29 winners from 18 countries are recognized for their outstanding contribution in the fields of conservation, research, dedicated services and education, training and awareness. The jury was made up of independent experts and examined some 200 applications submitted by organizations and natural persons from 39 European countries.

ICE HOCKEY – On Thursday, Romanias national mens ice hockey team will take on Iceland, in the third match of the World Championship, Second Division, underway in the Romanian city of Galati, in eastern Romania. In the first two matches, Romania defeated Belgium 9-1 and Serbia 4-1. The Romanian teams goal is to come in first in the group, as this would secure its promotion to the next stage. These are the first matches played under the training of the new coach of the Romanian team, the Canadian Martin Lacroix.

HANDBALL – The Romanian Cristina Neagu, playing for Buducnost Podgorita, designated the worlds best handball player in 2016 and four players with the CSM Bucharest handball club, namely Majda Mehmedovic, Isabelle Gullden, Anastasia Lobaci and Carmen Martin, have been nominated to be part of the Champion Leagues All-Star Team. This year, the European Handball Federation has nominated 50 players and trainers from 18 countries and 12 clubs that have played in the Champions League in the current season. The voting will be held online, between April 5th – May 2nd. The membership of the All-Star team will be announced at the final tournament in Budapest, due on May 6th -7th.