May 22, 2014 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.

Valentin Țigău, 22.05.2014, 12:05

NO CONFIDENCE MOTION — The National Liberal Party on Thursday filed a no confidence motion against the Government. The vote will be held on Monday. The main accusations targeting the government refer to the failure to implement tax breaks for reinvested profits and to lower social security contributions by 5%. Minister Delegate for Budget Liviu Voinea gave assurances that these contributions will be slashed starting July 1.

ELECTIONS — European Parliament elections kicked off on Thursday in the Netherlands and Great Britain. This year, the ballot faces the threat of Euro-phobic parties gaining ground in some of the Union’s most important countries, according to the France Presse. Almost 13 million Dutch people are to elect 26 Euro deputies, while in the UK around 46 million people are summoned to the polls to cast their votes on the distribution of the country’s 73 seats for the European Parliament. In the days to come, around 400 million people are to go to the polls in the European Union’s 28 countries, to vote for 751 Euro deputies, for a five-year term in office. Romania has 32 Euro-parliamentarian seats, while the ballot is to be held on Sunday, May 25th.

SUPPORT – The EU will disburse some 120 million euros to agriculture and rural development in the 2014 — 2020 period to Moldova, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Romanian Dacian Ciolos said in Chisinau on Thursday. The EU official said the financial aid will support Moldova’s competitiveness in the field of agriculture after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement with the EU scheduled on June 27. Dacian Ciolos and EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom are on a two-day visit to Moldova, where they met with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca. The Moldovan official said that like Romania and Bulgaria, Moldova might also benefit from EU’s expertise in combating corruption in the judiciary. Commissioner Malmstrom said that following the reforms implemented on the short-term, Moldova has become the first country in the Eastern Partnership to benefit from a liberalized visa regime, but highlighted the need to carry on the reform of the judiciary and to combat corruption, which might also attract more foreign investment.

UKRAINE — Russia’s military forces deployed on the Ukrainian border are growing, despite the recent movement of troops reported by NATO, which was indicative of a potential “withdrawal”, supreme commander of NATO’s forces in Europe US general Phillip Breedlove said on Thursday. Previously NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmusen said the Alliance was closely monitory Russian troops on the Ukrainian border. Rasmussen expressed hope this would be the first step in the process of full and genuine withdrawal of all Russian troops. In another development, the leaders of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Lugansk in Eastern Ukraine have declared a state of war, mobilizing all separatist troops against Ukrainian special forces as of Thursday. Clashes between separatist militias and troops loyal to the Ukrainian Government have killed hundreds and wounded many others. We recall that Lugansk and Donetsk have proclaimed their independence from Ukraine following the controversial referendums of May 11, unrecognised by Kiev and Western powers. Ukrainian interim president Oleksandr Turchinov has announced the country has entered the final phase of counter-terrorist special ops in eastern Ukraine, whose objective is to ensure the peaceful unfolding of the presidential elections of May 25.

VISIT — Romania’s president Traian Basescu on Thursday met with Stratfor analysis agency chief George Friedman. On the sideline of the event the two exchanged views regarding the new geopolitical context generated by the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian federation. Talks also focused on the potential negative developments in the Black Sea region. Friedman underscored the growing role Romania has been playing in the new context. Also on Thursday, George Friedman met with Romanian Intelligence Service chief George Cristian Maior. Talks focused on developing the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership, the dynamics of the regional security context and energy security at European and NATO level. Friedman’s visit to Romania is part of his tour of countries in the Black Sea region.

BILATERAL RELATIONS — Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean has expressed Romania’s firm commitment to consolidating the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Hungary, highlighting the importance of bilateral relations at both regional and European level. On Thursday, Minister Corlatean met in Bucharest with the new Hungarian Ambassador in Romania Zakonyi Botond. The Hungarian official said good relations between the two countries are an important opportunity for the new Government in Budapest. Romania is one of Hungary’s main economic partners. In 2013 two-way trade stood at 7 billion euros.

WARNING — The Romanian Foreign Ministry on Thursday issued a travel alert for Thailand, where the head of the military on Thursday took control of the Government following a military coup. The Foreign Ministry recommends Romanian citizens in Thailand to consult specialty websites and the website of the Romanian Foreign Ministry for regular updates. Moreover, they are advised to contact the Romanian embassy in Bangkok to register their presence in the region.

AWARD — A Romanian project from Sighisoara — Tarnava Mare was awarded a prize in the first edition of the Natura 2000 competition. The awards were handed out by EU Commissioner for Environment Janez Potocnik, alongside other four projects from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Spain, a European Commission press release made public on Thursday reads. The prizes come in recognition of excellence in the field of site management, highlighting the value of networking for local communities and economies. The Romanian project won the social and economic benefits award, designated as an excellent example of how Natura 2000 can generate economic growth and ensure sustainable subsistance in the rural areas. Under the project, some 2,300 families of farmers in central Romania have 2.5 million euros in annual income. Natura 2000 is a network made up of over 27,000 protected sites covering 18% of the EU’s surface and 4% of its maritime areas, safeguarding and fostering Europe’s natural assets.

FLOOD ALERT — A flood alert has been issued for several areas in southeastern Romania. Specialists estimate the recent floods in the Western Balkans will cause a rise in the Danube’s water levels. The level continues to rise and several naval traffic restrictions and speed limits have been imposed to prevent waves and lower pressure on banks.

VETOED RESOLUTION — Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a decision of the UN Security Council to adopt a project spearheaded by France referring the crimes of rebel troops in Syria to the International Criminal Court of Law. This is the fourth time the two countries resort to their veto right to block UN resolutions targeting Syria. Since March 2011 Syria has seen a bloody military conflict between forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad and rebel troops. Some 160,000 people have been killed in the clashes.