June 1, 2016

Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos attends the meeting of the SEECP heads of state and government, hosted by Bulgaria/ Trade unions in education are staging a protest march in Bucharest

Newsroom, 01.06.2016, 12:01

SEECP – Romanian prime minister, Dacian Ciolos, is today participating in neighbouring Bulgaria in a meeting of the SEECP heads of state and government. The meeting of the South East European Cooperation Process, SEECP, is held in Sofia, which is holding the rotating presidency of the organisation and has a special significance, as it marks the 20th anniversary of this regional cooperation body, made up of 12 countries. The focal points on the agenda of the meeting are the latest developments at regional level and the European perspective of the West Balkan countries. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Romanian prime minister is due to meet his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borissov.

PROTEST MARCH – Trade unions in education are today participating in Bucharest in a march of protest against the pay scheme in the Romanian education sector. The organisers say they estimate some 15 thousand will take part in the protest, among which pupils and their parents. The protesters are demanding that 6% of the GDP be allocated to education, as is actually stipulated in the national education law. The unionists say that such a budget will allow for increasing grants for pupils and students, for reimbursing shuttle expenses and for properly equipping schools. The decision to take to the streets was made by the trade unionists after Mondays negotiations with the government ended with no results.

SECURITY ALERT – The European Football Championship due between June 10 and July 10 in France might be a target of attacks by Islamist militants, the US warns. It is estimated that over one million football fans will attend the Championships, and according to the US Department of State, they might be considered targets by terrorists. A state of emergency has already been instated in France, in the wake of last years attacks in Paris, claimed by Islamists. The string of attacks hit Stade de France, the Bataclan concert hall, bars and restaurants. The toll stood at 130 dead and scores of injured. In March, 32 people died in Belgium, in two suicide bombings which targeted the Brussels airport and a metro station.

RESCUE MISSIONS – Over 1,700 people have been rescued from drowning in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas by ships belonging to the Romanian Border Police since the start of 2016, the General Border Police Inspectorate has announced. Representatives of the aforementioned institution say that late last week, the Romanian ship “Stefan cel Mare was detached to the Aegean Sea. For a month and a half, during Operation “Poseidon Rapid Intervention, the Romanian border policemen are participating in surveillance, control, rescue and search missions, on the EUs external borders, alongside the other EU member states. This is the second international mission carried out by the “Stefan cel Mare ship. The first one ended in April in Italy, where for three months, Romanian border policemen rescued 990 people from drowning in the Mediterranean.

BOOKFEST– The best known titles of the moment, proposed by over 200 publishing houses are featured in Bucharest, between June 1 and 5, during the 11th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair. This years honorary guest is Israel, which participates in the fair under the motto, “Never Stop Dreaming. With an offer of no less than 30 events, Israel invites the Romanian public to meet prominent names of contemporary Israeli literature, among whom Zeruya Shalev, Fania Oz-Salzberger, Meir Shalev and Dror Mishani.

TIFF– Workshops and meetings with professionals in the field are held concurrently with film screenings, special events and concerts at the Transylvania International Film Festival in Cluj Napoca, western Romania. Until June 5, debut films, thrillers and love stories from the far corners of the world try to impress the jury of the festival. The 12 films which are running for the Transylvania Trophy come from 16 countries in Europe and Australia, and-as a première- from the Republic of Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation. The only Romanian film in the TIFF 2016 competition is “Dogs by budding director Bogdan Mirica, who grabbed the critics prize in Cannes. The prize will be offered by the world famous actress Sophia Loren, in the gala closing the festival.

(Translated by Diana Vijeu)