June 15, 2017 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

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România Internațional, 15.06.2017, 20:03

CRISIS – The National Executive Council of the Social Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition in Romania, decided on Thursday to file a motion of non-confidence against its own Cabinet. Also, the Council decided that Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, who refused to resign, will be excluded from the party. The Senate Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, which is the other member of the ruling coalition, has blamed the Prime Minister for lack of efficiency in implementing the governing programme, an accusation that Grindeanu has rejected. Romanias President Klaus Iohannis has called on the coalition to urgently come to a settlement in the present political crisis in order to avoid destabilizing the country.

COOPERATION – “The UK underscores the firm commitment to Romania in the context of Russias continued aggression”, the British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said in Bucharest on Thursday at a meeting with his Romanian counterpart Gabriel Les. The British official also stated that London remains involved in the security actions carried out in Europe, even if it decided to leave the Union. In turn, Gabriel Les stated that the Romanian – British strategic partnership has been advancing at an excellent pace, also stressing that the British commitment is a major contribution in the context of NATO insurance measures, as well as a pillar for strengthening NATOs defense and deterrence posture. On Wednesday, the two officials paid a visit to the air base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, in south-eastern Romania, where they met with pilots and technical staff servicing the four Typhoon fighter jets of the British Air Forces, which came to Romania to carry out air policing missions.

VISIT – Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has met with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin, where he stated that cooperation with Germany was essential for Romania. Melescanu emphasized the vital role that the German minority has in the architecture of the relationship between the two countries, and the efforts made to help preserve the identity of ethnic Germans in Romania. Talks centered also on the fact that Germany is Romanias most important trade partner, as well as one of its most important investors.

AID – On Thursday, the EU green-lighted a 100 million Euro aid to the Republic of Moldova, the former Soviet country with a predominantly Romanian speaking population. In exchange for this aid, the EU calls for more reforms to be developed and implemented by the Chisinau authorities. The EU wants measures in the financial sector and in the management of public finances, as well as guarantees regarding the observance of the rule of law, human rights, the independence of the judiciary and pluralism. The aid consists of 60 million Euro worth of loans at favourable interest rates and a non-reimbursable aid of 40 million Euros. In early 2015, the EU had suspended its aid to the Republic of Moldova, after discovering huge frauds in the countrys banking system. The prejudice estimated then stood at one billion dollars, the equivalent of 15% of the GDP.

INVESTIGATION – The British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday requested a public investigation into the fire that on Tuesday night destroyed a residential high-rise in west London. According to a provisional toll, at least 17 people died in the fire, and dozens were wounded. Some of them are now in a critical condition. Emergency services have stated that it might take weeks for the search operations to be completed.

ROAMING – On June 15th, the EU and the European Economic Area, which includes Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein, adopted new rules, known as Roam Like at Home, which remove roaming charges for mobile telephony. Subscribers traveling between countries within this area are now charged the same fees as in their country of origin.

BUSINESS – The Start Up Nation program came into effect in Romania on Thursday. Potential beneficiaries can register their business projects on-line for 30 days. It has been allocated about 378 million Euro from domestic and European funds. The maximum amount that can benefit individual applicants is about 45,000 Euro. The main aim of the program is to stimulate the creation of SMEs, improving the efficacy of start-up companies and their access to financing. This year, the Start Up Nation program is estimated to create 10,000 new businesses, which would in turn create at least 10,000 new jobs.