November 13, UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news.
Leyla Cheamil, 13.11.2013, 13:12
DRAFT BUDGET– Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Wednesday held talks with the members of his cabinet about the sums of money allocated to each domain in the 2014 draft budget. Larger funds will go to the Defence, Administration, Environment, Agriculture, Education and Transport Ministries, respectively, as well as to the Presidency, Parliament, the Constitutional Court and the Romanian Intelligence Service. The ministries which will see the most significant cuts will be the Health Ministry, the Culture Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The 2014 draft budget is to be adopted by the government on Thursday, in a special session.
INDUSTRIAL GROWTH-According to data made public by Eurostat on Wednesday, 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.
PROTESTS-Thousands of students protested on Wednesday in Bucharest and other university centres across Romania to draw attention to underfinancing in the educational system. They demand the allocation of 6% of the GDP for education, as is stipulated in the Pact for education, in the context in which this year’s financing stands at some 3%. Students also demands an increase in the basic financing of universities, for them not to raise taxes, and a 30% increase in the subsidy for accommodation and food. Trade unions of the teaching teaching staff backed the protesters. The minister delegate for higher education, Mihnea Costoiu has assured students that the institution he runs makes all efforts to improve their situation and to ensure access to a high quality educational process, within the limits imposed by the budgetary constraints Romania is currently facing.
YOUTH MOBILITY SUPPORT-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.
TYMOSHENKO-The Ukrainian authorities should take decisive action in the case of former prime minister Iulia Tymoshenko, Peter Stano, the spokesperson for the EU Commissioner for Enragement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fule said on Wednesday. In 2011, Iulia Tymoshenko was sentenced to 7 year imprisonment for abuse of office, regarding the signing of a contract in the gas field with Russia, a contract considered to be disadvantageous to the Ukrainian state. Parliament in Kiev ended its special session on Wednesday without submitting for voting the draft law meant to solve Iulia Tymoshenko’s case. Regarded in Europe as an example of selective justice, this case has caused a severe crisis in the relations between Ukraine and the EU.
MIDDLE EAST-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.
UNO– 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.
SUCCESSFUL ROMANIAN TEENAGER-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.
