November 13, 2013
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Ştefan Stoica, 13.11.2013, 12:01
Romanian president Traian Basescu said that in addition to the national measures for fighting youth unemployment, it was essential that a European political sign be sent in terms of youth mobility support so that youths might benefit from training and employment opportunities. President Basescu, who on Tuesday had attended the EU youth employment summit in Paris, said that Romania advocated the importance of scrapping the existing barriers in the workers’ mobility and the prevention of messages fuelling unjustified fears regarding their free movement in the EU.
The Romanian government is today looking into the 2014 budget; the draft law is going to be passed on Thursday. The debates are based on the proposals made on macroeconomic pointers for next year, that is a 2.2% economic growth, a 2.2% inflation rate and investment standing at 6% of the GDP. Also today, the ruling Social-Liberal Union is discussing the final draft law on decentralization, for which the government is going to take responsibility, which involves Parliament’s vote of confidence.
Pupils and students are today protesting again against the way the rulers handle the education issue. Students demand the increase of basic funding for universities, of the social scholarship fund, as well as investment in the career counseling and orientation centers. They also demand the allocation of 6% of the GDP for education as from 2014. The pupils’ claims include the increase of child benefits, adequate facilities in schools, full discount of the commuters’ transport expenses and the revision of school curricula and textbooks.
According to data made public by Eurostat today, Romania ranked second in the EU in terms of industrial growth in September. In September 2013, as compared to August, industrial production went down in 12 member states and went up in 13 member countries. The biggest increases were reported in Ireland — 2.9% – , Romania — 2.4% – , Hungary and Poland and the most significant decreases were reported in Portugal, Luxembourg, Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said he had cancelled the plans of building 20,000 settler homes in the West Bank, FP reports. He explained there was no need for prices to be paid internationally for a process that is not highly important. The Israeli plans of building 20,000 settler homes in the West Bank have stirred Washington’s concern and sharp criticism from the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. He warned that the construction plans would prompt him to declare the peace process over if Israel went ahead. In July, Mahmoud Abbas pledged to suspend any Palestinian application for joining international organizations, including tribunals likely to monitor Israel, throughout the nine months of peace talks.
Saudi Arabia has officially announced the UNO that it will not take up its seat on the Security Council it was for the first time given last month, leaving it vacant possibly to Jordan. Saudi Arabia’s decision has been triggered by the Council’s failure to take action to stop the civil war in Syria. Riad has also denounced the Security Council’s failure to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Another election will have to be organized in the UN General Assembly to enable another country to take over the seat which Saudi Arabia should have held for two years as from January 1st. The Council, which has 15 members, annually renews five of its 10 non-permanent seats.
The Ukrainian Parliament is trying to pass a draft law allowing former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko to go abroad for health care. In 2011, Yulia Tymoshenko in opposition was sentenced to seven years in jail for abuse of power related to the conclusion of a contract in the field of gas with Russia, considered to disadvantage Ukraine. The Tymoshenko case, regarded in Europe as an example of selective justice, has sparked a serious crisis in the relations between Ukraine and the EU. Her release is demanded by the EU before the conclusion of an association agreement at the forthcoming European summit in Vilnius.
19-year old Romanian high school student Ionut Budisteanu, who has invented a low-cost self-driving car, ranks 9th of 16 most influential teenagers in the world in 2013 in the Time review. The chart includes young people famous for their achievements in various areas, from literature, science, activism and fashion to sport and entertainment. First comes 17-year old vocalist Lorde of New Zealand. The Time says that Ionut Budisteanu won the first prize worth 75,000 dollars at a science and engineering fair for high school students in Arizona, the USA, for his low-cost self-driving car design.
