August 25, 2017 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.

Newsroom, 25.08.2017, 19:38

JUDICIARY REFORM – The European Commission has asked the Government of Romania to provide more details regarding the suggested reform of the judiciary, and has expressed concerns that this may be a step back in the fight against corruption. The European Commission requested further explanations from Bucharest and mentioned that the irreversibility of Romania’s progress in curbing corruption over the past 10 years is vital. The ruling Social Democratic Party called for calm and reiterated that the endorsement of the new legislation is a lengthy process, requiring approvals from many institutions, and that its coalition partner, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, believes the changes will strengthen the rule of law. The National Liberal Party in opposition accuses the ruling coalition of trying to make the judiciary subordinated to the executive power. President Klaus Iohannis described the proposed changes of the justice system laws, announced on Wednesday by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, as an attack against the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption. In turn, the National Anti-Corruption Agency criticises the changes announced by the Justice Ministry, and announces a general assembly meeting in a week’s time, in order to express the institution’s views on these changes.

CORRUPTION — Chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi on Friday called for the Senate to be notified with a view to starting criminal investigations against the Minister for Liaison with Parliament, Viorel Ilie. According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Ilie is suspected of using or granting unauthorized people access to classified information during his term in office. Last month the Ministry for Liaison with Parliament organized a public vacancy-filling contest which the Directorate believes to have been rigged, favoring certain candidates over others in filling vacancies within the Ministry.

MIGRATION — Illegal migration at Romania’s western border has surged recently, says the Regional Border Police Inspectorate. The Timisoara police found more than 100 migrants, including 42 children, in a local boarding house. Out of the total number, 82 are Iraqis, and most of the others are African refugees. The majority are coming from Serbia and trying to cross into Hungary, so as to go further into western Europe. Another group of 12 migrants, of whom 7 underage children, were apprehended while trying to cross from Hungary. Apart from the increase in the number of migrants trying to get into the Schengen area, the number of people smugglers identified and arrested by the Romanian border police.

TALKS — A new round of trilateral talks Romania-Poland-Turkey took place on Friday in Warsaw. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, talks focused on the Euro-Atlantic and international security agenda, with a focus on NATO priorities ahead of the upcoming summit. Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu outlined the latest developments in the Black Sea region and underlined the importance of fully implementing the decisions on consolidating NATO’s position in the region, as part of efforts to strengthen deterrence and defense on the Alliance’s eastern flank. Additionally Minister Melescanu called on active support for NATO’s eastern partners — Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. Friday’s round of the talks was the fourth observing this format. The previous round of talks took place in Ankara in August 2016.

EPIDEMIC — The number of deaths caused by measles in Romania has reached 33, the National Centre for Infectious Disease Monitoring and Control, subordinated to the National Public Health Institute, has announced. The latest victim was a 10-month Iraqi girl, who came into Romania through Timis County, in the west, in early July. Romania is struggling with the most severe measles epidemic of the past few years. More than 8,000 cases have been reported so far. The large number of cases and deaths made the World health Organisation include Romania on a list of 5 countries that account for a combined 80% of the total number of measles cases in the world. The Government of Romania has recently passed a bill that makes children vaccination mandatory.

MILITARY — Constanta County in south-eastern Romania, is hosting several multinational naval and air exercises. The Romanian Navy and the American destroyer USS PORTER are taking part in a joint exercise at the Black Sea, aimed at enhancing the interoperability of the participating vessels. The military drills will end on August 28th. The USS PORTER, which arrived in the port of Constanta on Tuesday, is in Romania for the 4th time. Meanwhile, 4 CF-188 Hornet aircraft of the Canadian Air Forces will conduct air policing missions together with Romanian Air Force planes, as part of NATO’s plan to strengthen the Alliance’s eastern flank.

FOOTBALL — Romanian vice-champions FCSB has been drawn in Europa League Group C alongside Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic, Hapoel Beer Sheva of Israel and FC Lugano of Switzerland. On Wednesday, FCSB lost 1-5 in the return leg of the playoffs for the Champions League group phase to Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. The return leg ended in a blank draw. On Thursday, champions Viitorul Constanta lost nil-4 the return leg of the playoffs for the Europa League group phase to Red Bull Salzburg of Austria. Red Bull had won 3-1 against Viitorul in the first leg. (Translated by V. Palcu)