June 18, 2019 UPDATE
No-confidence motion dismissed in Parliament; US Attorney General William Barr received by President Iohannis
Newsroom, 18.06.2019, 20:01
NO-CONFIDENCE The no-confidence motion against the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats was dismissed on Tuesday in the Parliament of Romania. Although apparently having more support than in the previous 2 attempts at removing Viorica Dăncilăs Cabinet, the Opposition failed to get the required 233 votes. According to the text of the motion, Romania immediately needs a government with a pro-European stand and focusing on the countrys development priorities, namely education, healthcare, public investments and attracting European funds. The signatories, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, Peoples Movement Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, said Viorica Dăncilăs Cabinet must be dismissed over the repeated attempts at issuing emergency orders in the field of the judiciary and the poor handling of the EP elections. PM Dăncilă, who is also the interim president of the Social Democratic Party, had asked the Social Democrat MPs to attend the meeting, but to abstain from voting.
VISIT While on a visit in Romania, the US Attorney General William Barr was received on Tuesday by President Klaus Iohannis. The head of state appreciated the substance and dynamics of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the USA, which has grown stronger over the past few years, and reiterated Bucharests commitment to strengthening it at all levels, from politics to defence and security and from judicial cooperation to the rule of law. In turn, the US official voiced his appreciation for the Strategic Partnership with Romania, which is the USAs most reliable partner in the region. Also on Tuesday, William Barr discussed with PM Viorica Dăncilă. During the meeting, Viorica Dăncilă requested the Attorney Generals support for including Romania in the Visa Waver programme, an aspect of particular importance to the Romanian authorities. PM Dăncilă also stated that Romania is committed to carrying on the Strategic Partnership with the US in the field of international judicial cooperation in criminal matters and to strengthening this cooperation through constant dialogue and a positive approach.
COUNCIL The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis takes part on Thursday and Friday in a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, the Presidency announced on Tuesday. The agenda will mainly include aspects related to the appointment of the new EU institution leaders, the endorsement of the EU Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024, the new multi-annual financial framework, as well as the latest developments related to Brexit. On Friday Klaus Iohannis will also take part in a Euro Summit in an extended format. According to the Romanian Presidency, at the end of the 6 months that Romania held the rotating presidency of the EU Council, Iohannis will present the progress made in implementing the goals set by the European Council.
BSEC The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu took part on Tuesday in the opening session of the high-level conference on cooperation between the EU and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation. The event was organised jointly by the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU and the Bulgarian presidency of the BSEC, with support from the European Commission. In his address, Teodor Meleşcanu expressed Romanias constant and firm commitment to stimulating regional cooperation in the Black Sea region, as an integral part of Romanias strategic profile. He also reiterated the importance attached by Romania to strengthening the cooperation between the 2 international organisations, so as to help better use the opportunities offered by the EU policies, initiatives and programmes towards the sustainable development of the Black Sea region.
FOOTBALL Several Romanian football clubs found out their opponents for the first preliminary round of the European cups, following Tuesdays draw of lots in Nyon, Switzerland. The Romanian champions CFR Cluj are to play against FC Astana of Kazakhstan, in the Champions League. The first leg will be played in Kazakhstan on July 9th or 10th, and the return leg a week later in Cluj-Napoca. In Europa League, FCSB will take on Moldovas Milsami Orhei, with the first leg scheduled in Romania on July 11th and the second one in Moldova on July 18th. CSU Craiova takes on the Azeri team FK Sabail, also on July 11th, away from home, while the Romanian Cup winners FC Viitorul Constanta will go straight into the second round of the same competition.
(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)
