March 29, 2017 UPDATE

Prince Charles of Great Britain is currently on an official visit to Romania/ The UK involved article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, to leave the community block

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Leyla Cheamil, 29.03.2017, 20:42

PRINCE CHARLES – Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday received, in Bucharest, Prince Charles of Great Britain, whom he awarded the “Star of Romania National Order in Rank of Grand Cross, in token of appreciation for his activity in Romania and for promoting the countrys image abroad. The two discussed ways to develop and deepen the bilateral Strategic Partnership, also in the field of security, the evolution of relations after the launch of Brexit talks, laying emphasis on the situation of the Romanian community in Great Britain, as well as about the charity work conducted by Prince Charles. The British Crown Prince laid a wreath of flowers at the Unknown Soldier Memorial in Bucharest on Wednesday, the first day of his official visit to Romania. Although Prince Charles has frequently visited Romania in recent years, this is Prince Charles second official visit to this country. In 2016, Prince Charles set up his own foundation in Romania, whose goal is to protect the national heritage and support this countrys sustainable development. The owner of several properties in Transylvania, the Prince is passionate about Saxon medieval architecture in central Romania, fortresses, churches and houses built by the German settlers in Transylvania in the Middle Ages.

BREXIT TALKS – British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday confirmed in the British Parliament that the UK invoked article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which starts negotiations for the countrys leaving the EU. The British ambassador to the EU, Tim Barrow, on Wednesday personally handed over to the European Council President, Donald Tusk, a letter of notification regarding the start of Brexit talks. This notification opens up a two-year period of negotiation to establish the way in which Great Britain can leave the community block and to structure the future relations between London and the EU. Donald Tusk announced that on Friday he would come up with a proposal which will include the main guidelines for the negotiation process. He also said the team holding the negotiations will do everything possible to reduce the costs of Brexit for European citizens and firms as well as for the member states.

ROMANIAN-BRITISH RELATIONS – To Romania, the United Kingdom is an essential partner and it will remain so, says PM Sorin Grindeanu, given assurances, in a communiqué, that the Romanian Government will get actively involved in the effort to protect the rights and interests of the Romanian citizens in Great Britain, after the Romanian government took note of the official launch of Brexit talks. According to estimates by the Romanian authorities, over 250,000 Romanians are currently living in the UK. In turn, Romanian foreign minister Teodor Melescanu said in an interview on Radio Romania that Bucharest is currently preparing a plan and an update to the partnership with London, based on which to develop bilateral relations after Brexit.

LEGAL SYSTEM – At the moment, it is not appropriate to start the mechanism of revoking Romanias Prosecutor General and the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. The statement has been made by justice minister, Tudorel Toader, which analyzed the activity of Romanias Prosecutor General, Augustin Lazar, and of the Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, for two weeks. He initiated this evaluation after the Constitutional Court noticed that the National Anti-Corruption Directorate overstepped its authority in case of the investigation into the way in which the government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats promoted the controversial emergency decree which partially decriminalized the abuse of office. The justice minister has said the National Anti-Corruption Directorate overstepped its authority and put pressure on the Government. Tudorel Toader added that the National Anti-Corruption Directorate can function only in full compliance with principles of the rule of law. (Translated by D. Vijeu)