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May 18, 2018 UPDATE

Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Sighet receives European Heritage Label

Newsroom, 18.05.2018, 19:54

SIGHET MEMORIAL — The Memorial to the Victims of Communism in the town of Sighet (in the north) received the European Heritage Label, thus becoming the first institution in Romania with this status. 20 years ago the Council of Europe put the Memorial in Sighet on the list of main sites for preserving Europe’s memory, alongside the Auschwitz Memorial in Poland and the Normandy Peace Memorial in France. The prison in Sighet that had turned into ruin was transformed by means of civil society projects into a museum to honour the memory of the victims of Communism.

DECISION – The European Commission on Friday started the process of renewing a sanctions-blocking measure to protect European businesses in Iran, after the United States pulled out of the Iran nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. The EUs blocking statute bans any EU company from complying with U.S. sanctions and does not recognize any court rulings that enforce American penalties. This EU regulation was adopted in 1996 but has never been formally implemented.

VISIT –Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday received in Bucharest the prime minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic. President Iohannis highlighted the important role played by the Romanian community in Croatia and the Croatian minority in Romania in the consolidation of the relationship between the two countries. The Romanian head of state also highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of linguistic minorities and communities in the two countries. In his turn, the Croatian official hailed the way in which the Croatian minority in Romania is being treated, offering as example the fact that it is represented in the Bucharest Parliament. Andrej Plenkovic also met with his Romanian counterpart Viorica Dancila with whom he signed a statement of intent on the consolidation of bilateral cooperation in the defense and security fields.

EUROPOL – With the support of Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre three individuals suspected of facilitating large-scale irregular migrant smuggling to Germany have been arrested in Romania, Serbia and the United Kingdom on European arrest warrants in a covert strike on 8 May, Europol has announced. Law enforcement has noted an increasing number of such incidents involving attempts to hide migrants in lorries through border crossing points. This year alone, EU Member States have already reported to Europol 23 such incidents involving over 400 smuggled migrants.

MUSEUM NIGHT— In Romania, Museum Night is taking place on May 19. Participating in the event are more than 180 museums and partner organizations from Bucharest and other cities of Romania. This year’s event also includes projects meant to offer a ‘more friendly’ interaction between museums and visitors, that provide digital museum routes which can be explored for free. The European Museum Night has reached its 14th edition. It was initiated by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.

CHISINAU – The European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu said in Chisinau that the EU wanted to remain a strong partner committed to supporting the development of the Republic of Moldova. She made this statement fresh from a meeting with the Moldovan PM Pavel Filip. Commissioner Cretu pointed out that it was important for the Republic of Moldova to focus on the implementation of reforms in key sectors such as economic development, the business environment, energy and justice. In turn, PM Filip reiterated that the Moldovan government’s objective was the country’s European integration. On Saturday, Corina Cretu is paying a visit to Ungheni that was chosen as one of the European Villages of 2018 where citizens can find information about the EU support granted to the Republic of Moldova, especially through projects with European funding aimed at developing their regions.

EUROSTAT — In Romania in the first 3 months of 2018 exports have grown up to 16.9 billion Euros while imports went up to 19.7 billion — show preliminary estimates of Eurostat. Thus, Romania’s trade balance deficit stood at 2.8 billion Euros as compared to 2.3 billion Euros in the same period of last year. In another move, Romania is among the EU states with the lowest percentage of the GDP allotted to defense in 2016. According to Eurostat, in 2016 the 28 EU members allotted almost 1.3% of the GDP to defense. As of 2017 Romania has started to allot 2% of the GDP to defense, under its NATO membership obligations.

ROYAL WEDDING — Prince Harry of Britain, the nephew of Queen Elisabeth II and his fiancée, American actress Meghan Markle, are getting married on Saturday. The couple’s May 19 wedding at St. Georges Chapel will be a public affair, with TV cameras allowed inside the wedding ceremony and more than 2,000 members of the public invited to watch the carriage procession outside, after the wedding. St Georges Chapel, completed in 1528, is set in the lower ward of Windsor Castle – one of the most famous and iconic landmarks of the British royal family. Following the ceremony, a reception will take place in St Georges Hall within Windsor Castle. In the evening there will also be a private reception for the couple and close friends and family. (Translated by Elena Enache)