July 26, 2019 UPDATE

Romanian eyes European commissioner post in the field of transport, energy or environment

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Newsroom, 26.07.2019, 20:00

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Romania targets a European commissioner post in the field of transports, energy or environment, PM Viorica Dăncilă said on Friday. Bucharest will make 2 nominations, a man and a woman, in line with the equal opportunity principle promoted by the EU. The Prime Minister added that she had discussed the matter with President Klaus Iohannis as well. On July 16, the European Parliament elected the former German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen as president of the Commission, replacing Jean-Claude Juncker. The 28 Member States must next nominate their candidates for the commissioner posts. The hearings will be held by the specialised committees in Parliament between September 30 and October 8. Parliament will then take a vote on the commissioners, most likely between October 21 and 24.

SANCTIONS The Romanian Foreign Ministry Friday responded to recent accusations from neighbouring Serbia, which claimed that Bucharest seized a shipment of military vehicles coming from Russia on the Danube. According to the Romanian authorities, Bucharest only implemented the sanctions ordered by the European Union against Russia. Moreover, under the Romanian law, transit permits for the transport of military products can only be issued to a Romanian carrier. This is in keeping with the decision of the Council of the EU on restrictions against Russia following its destabilising intervention in Ukraine, the Romanian diplomacy also says.

BORDER The number of Romanian and foreign citizens registered at the Vama Veche checkpoint in the south-east of Romania has hit an all-time record, with over 730,000 people crossing the border there in the first half of the year, the Coast Guard reports. Compared to the first half of 2018, the number of people transiting the Vama Veche checkpoint is almost 40% higher. Border police officers say there is an increase at present in the number of foreign and Romanian tourists crossing the Romanian-Bulgarian border, and in order to reduce waiting time the Coast Guard has increased the personnel and is making full use of the infrastructure. In Constanta County there are 5 road border crossing points to Bulgaria, with a total of 9 inbound and 10 outbound lanes.

MEDAL President Klaus Iohannis Friday signed a decree awarding the National Order of the Star of Romania to tennis player Simona Halep. According to the Presidency, the head of state awarded this medal in “recognition and appreciation for winning the Wimbledon tennis tournament, for the exceptional athletic performances achieved throughout her career, for her position among the best players in the world and also for the talent, devotion, professionalism and dedication in the service of affirming Romanian sports at world level and of making tennis popular among Romanian youth. The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday. No 4 WTA, Simona Halep (27) was the leader of womens world tennis standings twice, between 2017 and 2019. She held this position for 64 weeks, being the 10th longest holder of the world tennis circuit leadership in history.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)