March 14, 2018

European Commission representatives start today their evaluation mission as part of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification in justice; Dozens of localities in the center, south, and east of Romania have flooded in the last few days

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Ştefan Stoica, 14.03.2018, 14:08

BUCHAREST — European Commission representatives start on Wednesday their evaluation mission as part of the Mechanism of Cooperation and Verification, scheduling meetings with members of the judiciary, Parliament and the government. Their mission ends on March 16. The Ministry of Justice says that talks will focus on proposed changes to the Romanian judicial system, including the Penal Code and the Penal Procedural Code, as well as the Civil Code, along with analyzing the strategy to develop the judicial system. The Mechanism of Cooperation and Verification was invoked in January 2007, when Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in order to help the two countries overcome their drawbacks in the justice system and in terms of corruption. The authorities in Bucharest would like the Mechanism to be lifted in 2019.

JUSTICE — The special committee for the laws of justice in the Bucharest Parliament resumes activity today, starting debates on proposed changes to legislation on the status of prosecutors and judges, the laws regulating judicial organization, and the law regulating the Higher Council of Magistracy, following a negative ruling on the changes issued by the Constitutional Court. The commission is slated to bring a number of changes to the Penal Code and Penal Procedural Code. The situation the Romanian justice system was the main topic for discussion in talks held in Bucharest early in March with the authorities by European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. The controversy regarding proposed justice reform in Romania brought to the streets thousands of protesters in Romania and abroad, who demanded the judicial system preserve its independence.

WEATHER- The weather in Romania is warmer than usual for this time of the year, with occasionally overcast skies and showers and mild winds. Maximum temperatures are between 9 and 19 degrees Celsius. The noon reading in Bucharest was 12 degrees. Dozens of localities in the center, south, and east of Romania were struck by floods over the last few days.

DEFENSE — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor presents on Wednesday the conclusions of the Bucharest 9 Initiative meeting, hosted for three days by Bucharest. Attending were the defense ministers from Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary, as well as representatives of NATO and of the US Department of Defense. They discussed cooperation for consolidating the eastern flank of NATO, ahead of the July allied summit held in Brussels.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis star Simona Halep, leading the standings worldwide, qualified on Tuesday to the quarter finals of the Indian Wells WTA competition, with 8 million dollars in prize money, after she defeated Qiang Wang of China 7-5, 6-1. She will be facing against Croatian player Petra Martic, 51st seeded. Halep won the Indian Wells tournament in 2015.

MOURNING — People across the world and the scientific and academic community mourn British visionary scientist Stephen Hawking, who passed away at the age of 76. Born on January 8, 1942, Stephen William Hawking has been compared to Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton. His research attempted to align relativity theory with quantum theory, in an attempt to explain the creation of the universe and its inner workings. Hawking was diagnosed with a degenerative disease at the age of 21.

SPY — British PM Theresa May chairs on Wednesday a meeting of the national security council in order to analyze the response from Russia to the ultimatum issued on Monday to Moscow to provide explanations within 24 hours regarding the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. As part of her speech on Monday, Theresa May said that it was very likely that Russia was behind the nerve agent attempt on the life of Skripal and his daughter. The Kremlin stated on Wednesday that Russia would not admit unfounded accusations and ultimatums.