June 20, 2019

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis attends the meeting of the European Council in Brussels; Romania is one of the most important partners for the United States in fighting transnational crime, according to US Attorney General William Barr

Mihai Pelin, 20.06.2019, 14:22

BRUSSELS – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis attends the meeting of the European Council in Brussels. Points on the agenda are aimed mainly at appointments for leadership positions in European Institutions for the new institutional cycle in adopting the EU strategy agenda for the years between 2019 and 2024, the future multi-annual budget of the Union, as well as climate change and foreign relations. European leaders are also set to discuss the latest changes in the Brexit process. On Friday, President Klaus Iohannis will attend the EURO+ summit in expanded format. At the end of the six months in which Romania held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, the head of state will make a presentation of results obtained in implementing aims set by the European Council.

WASHINGTON- Romania is one of the most important partners for the United States in fighting transnational crime, according to US Attorney General William Barr, who said that the partnership has deep roots in a commitment to democratic values and the rule of law. This posting on the State Department website comes after a visit made this week by Mr. Barr to Bucharest. According to him, the visit he made to Bucharest provided an opportunity to reaffirm the fact that the rule of law is durable and that people and institutions have to be governed by just, transparent, and equally applied laws. At the same time, he said he hoped that Romania would not give up its fight against corruption. In Bucharest, the Attorney General was received by President Klaus Iohannis, and held talks with PM Viorica Dancila and Minister of Justice Ana Birchall.

MIDDLE EAST – Palestinian PM Mohammad Shtayyeh thanked Romania for its decision to not move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which he deemed a wrong move, sending the wrong message. At the end of May, PM Viorica Danciula said that such a move would be the prerogative of President Klaus Iohannis. In October 2018, the Romanian Foreign Ministry sent the government an analysis on the consequences of such a change. The idea was first raised by former Social Democratic leader Liviu Dragnea, who is now serving time in prison for corruption.

FOOTBALL – Romanias youth football team is preparing its Friday game against England as part of the Under 21 European Championship, which is taking place in Italy and San Marino. The Romanian team started off on the right foot on Tuesday, crushing Croatia 4-1. France defeated England 2-1. Romania is at its second such presence in a final tournament, after the 1998 championship in Bucharest. The finals are scheduled for June 30.

WASHINGTON — The United States Senate Foreign Policy Committee holds today a confirmation hearing for Adrian Zuckerman, nominated for the position of US ambassador to Romania. This hearing is the last stage for the procedure to replace the present ambassador, Hans Klemm, who is at the end of his term. Adrian Zuckerman, a lawyer of Romanian descent, was nominated by President Donald Trump.

ADMINISTRATION — A new administration code of laws will be debated today in the government meeting in Bucharest. The agenda includes for the first time an emergency executive order regulating ride sharing solutions like Uber, Bolt, and Clever. Ministers will also be analyzing a draft law on a cooperation with the Republic of Moldova for fighting corruption, as well as a draft resolution for cooperation between the two countries in tourism.