March 13, 2017 UPDATE

PM Grindeanu gave explanations in Parliament about two emergency decrees/ High Court of Cassation and Justice postpones verdict in Bute Gala case/ Romanian women abused in Italian farms

Newsroom, 13.03.2017, 19:41

PM’s Hour — The Romanian PM Sorin Grindeanu on Monday explained to Romania’s deputies why his cabinet issued emergency decrees no. 6 and no. 9 which eliminate the budgetary spending caps for public authorities and suspend sanctions for exceeding the approved limits. Grindeanu responded to the accusations brought by the opposition Liberal Party that harshly criticized the two decrees and asked for their urgent cancellation. According to the Liberals through these orders huge sums of money could be channeled towards the Social Democratic Party’s clientele and fundamental articles in the fiscal responsibility law are canceled. The PM asked parliamentarians to set aside political interests and work together for the well being of citizens. He underlined that Romania had to develop given that more than 60% of rural households have outdoor toilets and people have poor access to education and healthcare services. Both emergency decrees have been passed by the Senate and will next reach the Chamber of Deputies, which acts as a decision maker in this case.

Corruption Verdict – The magistrates of the High Court of Cassation and Justice postponed for the 28th of March a verdict in a case known as the Bute Gala involving the former development minister Elena Udrea and seven other persons. They are accused of bribe taking, abuse of office and attempt to use false documents and statements to obtain European funds illegally. In essence, prosecutors accuse the defendants of illegal use of public funds to finance a sports event organized by a private company and signing a contract with this company to purchase services although the law did not allow it. Previously, prosecutors requested that Elena Udrea be given close to maximum sentence in prison, given that she played the biggest role in the perpetration of the incriminated deeds. The National Anticorruption Directorate also requested that the former economy minister Ion Ariton be given a prison sentence. The former minister and MP Elena Udrea is the subject of several other criminal investigations.

Detention Conditions — Romania’s Senate on Monday voted a number of amendments to the Law on the execution of sentences and other custodial measures. The amendments stipulate, among other things, that a detention space smaller than 4 square meters per person should be deemed inappropriate, and the detainees being held in such conditions should receive a reduction of their sentence of 3 days per month. The draft law was supported by all parliamentary parties. The opposition National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union say they voted for the amendments, but consider that, in order to solve the situation of Romanian penitentiaries, the authorities should build new prisons and take alternative measures such as house arrest and the introduction of bracelets. The bill will be sent to the Chamber of Deputies, a decision-maker in this case.

Migrant Workers Abuse – The Romanian Embassy in Rome and the Consulate in Catania have taken the first steps in their relation with the Italian authorities regarding the situation disclosed by The Observer regarding the Romanian women abused at the work place in Italy, the Romanian Foreign Ministry pointed out. The Romanian consul in Catania will meet with the prefect in Ragusa (Sicily) during the week. The statements of the Romanian Foreign Ministry come after on Sunday the British weekly The Observer published an investigation according to which as many as 7,500 Romanian women farm workers in the Sicilian province of Ragusa, in Italy, are victims of abuse, including threats and sexual assault, which are perpetrated with almost total impunity. The authors of the article spoke to ten Romanian women working on farms in Ragusa who described their exploitation and sexual abuse as routine occurrences. They say they are forced to work 12 hours a day in extreme heat, with no water and without pay and to live in degrading and unsanitary conditions in isolated outbuildings. They are often subject to physical violence, threatened at gunpoint and blackmailed with threats to their children and family.

Supreme Council of National Defense — Romania’s Supreme Council of National Defense will meet on March 21, the Presidential Administration has announced. The talks will focus on Romania’s mandate at the NATO summit in Brussels to be held on May 24 and 25 and on issues related to equipping the armed forces. The participants will assess the activity of the institutions operating in the security field in 2016 and their targets for 2017. The meeting will also tackle other issues of interest to national security. At the previous meeting of January 31, the Supreme Council approved the budgets of the institutions operating in the national security domain included in the state budget bill for 2017.

Foreign Affairs — The Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, on Monday discussed with ambassadors from countries in the Asia-Pacific region accredited to Bucharest. Talks focused on extending and diversifying bilateral cooperation in such fields as energy, IT and communications, agriculture and farming and food industry. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, minister Meleşcanu highlighted the importance the Romanian government grants to promoting Romania’s relations with the countries in that area, namely China, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam.

Diplomatic Dispute — EU and NATO officials have made an appeal for calm and have asked Turkey to refrain from exaggerated declarations and actions in its disputes with the Netherlands and Germany, which could fuel the escalation of the existing tension. Appeals come against the backdrop of souring diplomatic relations, over the past days, between Ankara and several European capitals that denied access to certain Turkish officials who intended to participate in meetings meant to support the Turkish expatriates in Europe to vote in a referendum on the modification of the Constitution. The referendum is scheduled for April and the amendments to the constitution would grant enhanced powers to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Previously Germany, Austria and Switzerland had refused to approve of pro-Erdogan meetings. The Turkish minister for European affairs Omer Celik said Monday that, in the current context, Ankara should reanalyze segments of the agreement on immigration concluded with the EU. (translation by L. Simion)