January 15, 2014 UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and internaitonal news.
Roxana Vasile, 15.01.2014, 19:24
FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY-Romania should take a stronger stand, before the whole world, on the irreversibility of its foreign and security policy, President Traian Basescu said on Wednesday, at the meeting with the ambassadors accredited to Bucharest. Basescu also underlined that the Romanian state guarantees stability, democracy and a low level of risk for its citizens, being determined to go on the same path it has embarked on, being committed to strengthening the Strategic Partnership with the USA, the role played by NATO in the region and to enhancing its EU integration. Making specific reference to the measures required following the lifting of labour market restrictions and the prerequisites for Romania’s Schengen accession, President Basescu warned that “Romanian citizens became victims of nationalistic stances” in some of EU member states, also emphasizing that Romanian citizens are being discriminated against across Europe.
DISTINCTION-President Traian Basescu on Wednesday awarded the Spanish ambassador to Romania Estanislao de Grandes Pascual, in token of appreciation for the way in which Romanian citizens are treated and regarded in Spain, an exceptional thing in the current European context. According to President Basescu, the Spanish ambassador whose term in office comes to an end, has been very efficient in convincing Spanish firms that Romania is a place where they can safely invest their money. In turn, Estanislao de Grandes Pascual has underlined that the Romanians living in Spain have integrated very well into society and have contributed to his country’s welfare. Official data show Romanians make up the largest foreign community in Spain.
CRIMINAL CODE– Romania’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled that the amendments brought by the Chamber of Deputies to the Criminal Code last month were unconstitutional. Thus, the Constitutional Court answered the notifications filed by the High Court of Cassation and Justice and by the main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party. The High Court of Cassation and Justice ruled that the amendments ran counter to the rule of law in Romania. The Liberal Democratic Party has contested the fact that the head of state, the MPs and those with liberal professions no longer fall into the public servants category, which means they will no longer be subject to criminal investigation and charges will no longer be pressed against them for acts of corruption, such as abuse of office, bribe-taking or peddling in influence. Romania’s President Traian Basescu, the country’s main legal bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, the Higher Council of the Magistracy, the National Integrity Agency as well as some of the western embassies in Bucharest have had a strong reaction to the amendments’ being adopted. Subsequently, the centre-left ruling coalition, the Social-Liberal Union, announced they would like to have yet another discussion on the Criminal Code.
MEETING- President Traian Basescu and the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, are due to meet in Brussels on Thursday, at the request of the Romanian head of state. The announcement has been made by the Romanian Presidential Administration. the agenda of the talks cover Romania’s priorities within the European Union in 2014, among which The Republic of Moldova’s association with the EU, Romania’s Schengen accession and the development of the Southern Corridor meant to supply the European market with natural gas.
NATIONAL CULTURE DAY– On January the 15th, Romanians celebrated the birthday of their national poet, Mihai Eminescu, and the National Culture Day. Landmarks of national culture were also celebrated on this day, that is notable names in literature, music, theatre, film, sculpture, painting and architecture. The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation broadcast a series of special cultural programs, aired by Radio Romania Culture and Radio Romania Music. Many other events were staged both in Romania and abroad, with artistic and cultural personalities attending.
ECONOMY-The World Bank has slightly revised Romania’s economic growth forecast for 2014, from 2.2 % to 2.5 %. A report issued by the Global Economic Prospects on Wednesday shows Romania’s economic growth rate stood at 2.5 % in 2013. For 2015, the World Bank forecasts an economic growth rate in Romania of 2.7 %, on a par with the forecast growth for 2016. Romania’s budget deficit in 2014 is set to reach 1.8 %. In another development, the World Bank raised the world-level economic growth in 2014, to 3.2 %, thanks to the growth of the most developed economies.
CAIRO– Egyptians were called to the poll on Wednesday, the second day of the referendum for the new Constitution. The new test will consolidate the responsibilities of the army, the police and of the judges. It will replace the old Constitution adopted during the mandate of former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. On Tuesday, nine people lost their lives and hundreds others were arrested during the clashes between the police and the supporters of Morsi, who has launched an appeal to boycott the referendum. Mohammed Morsi, the first civil president and the only one elected by democratic vote in Egypt has been removed from power by the army in July 2013. He is currently in prison, being accused of treason, and hundreds of leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood organisation that he is a member of, have been arrested or killed.
