June 29, 2016 UPDATE

The EU is the only option to maintain the Romanian citizens prosperity, safety and security, says President Klaus Iohannis/ Bucharest vehemently condemns the terror attack in Istanbul

Bogdan Matei, 29.06.2016, 12:20

EUROPEAN COUNCIL– It is essential to understand that the EU is the only option to maintain the Romanian citizens prosperity, safety and security, President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday, fresh from the European Council meeting in Brussels. He said the EU leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining the Unions cohesion. According to Radio Romanias correspondent to Brussels, Iohannis also added that, during the negotiations with Great Britain, Bucharest will take action in the interest of the Romanian citizens. Actually, British PM, David Cameron, assured President Iohannis that the Romanian citizens will be allowed to stay and work in the United Kingdom and expressed regret over the xenophobic incidents which occurred in the wake of the Brexit referendum. President Iohannis also said that during talks on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada, (CETA), he reiterated the importance of waiving mandatory Canadian visas for Romanian nationals.

ISTANBUL ATTACK– The spokesperson for the Romanian Government, Liviu Iolu, said on Wednesday that the available information shows there are no Romanians among the victims of the Istanbul terror attack. He said the Romanian Government vehemently condemns the terror attack and added that PM Dacian Ciolos has sent a message of condolences to his Turkish counterpart, Binali Yildirim. Earlier, both the Romanian Foreign Ministry and President Klaus Iohannis firmly condemned the triple suicide attack at the Istanbul airport, which left over 41 dead and more than 200 wounded and gave assurances that Romania would remain a staunch and reliable partner in the international anti-terror fight.

CORRUPTION– Former Romanian agriculture minister, Stelian Fuia, on Wednesday received a final three-year jail sentence for abuse of office. The accusations levelled against him by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, were related to a series of actions he committed in his capacity as the director of an agricultural research institute near Bucharest, before taking over the agriculture portfolio in 2012, for only three months. In turn, the former president of the Constanta County Council, Nicusor Constantinescu, was given a five-year prison sentence for abuse of office. Also on Wednesday, the anti-corruption prosecutors sent to court MP Sebastian Ghita, imposing on him bail conditions and legal restrictions pending trial. He is accused of having committed eight crimes, among which bribe giving, buying influence, money laundering and blackmail. In the same case, people, who were holding leading positions in the Prosecutors Office and the Police at the time of the crimes, were also sent to court.

FINANCIAL– Romanias budget deficit in the past five months has reached 0.1% of the GDP, standing at roughly 172 million euros, while the National Fiscal Administration Agency has cashed in sums higher by 3% than envisaged by the Romanian Finance Minister Anca Dragu. According to Dragu, public investment has increased by 25% as compared to the same period last year, while additional spending has been reported whipped up by a 5% pension rise, doubled child benefits, accrued wages and related expenses. In another development, the government has adopted a series of fiscal facilities for the field of research and development and decided to cut down the VAT for services in agriculture from 20% to 9%; measures expected to have a major budget impact.

EXCHANGE RATES– Here are the exchange rates set by the National Bank of Romania on Wednesday: 1 Euro stands at 4.5220 lei, 1 US dollar is being traded for 4.0871 lei, 1 Swiss franc stands at 4.1656 lei, 1 pound sterling is being traded for 5.4693 lei and 1Moldovan leu stands at 0.2053 lei. (Translated by D. Vijeu and D. Bilt)