November 18, 2024

A roundup of local and world news

Newsroom, 18.11.2024, 13:55

VISIT The fall of the Berlin Wall 35 years ago encouraged Romanians in their fight for freedom, and the removal of the Iron Curtain made it possible for Romania to rejoin the family of European democracies, President Klaus Iohannis said in Germany. While on a visit to that country, the Romanian head of state Sunday addressed the federal Parliament, in a ceremony occasioned by the Day of Commemoration of the Victims of War and Dictatorship. In Germany, president Iohannis had talks with the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier about security and the support that Romania and Germany will continue to give to Ukraine, while during the consultations with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Romania’s full Schengen accession was also tackled. The Romanian official thanked Germany for its active support and constructive approach, emphasised that Romania fulfills its role as guarantor of security at the EU’s external border – a fact acknowledged by its European partners – and added that Romania’s full Schengen accession will strengthen this area. The agenda of the visit also included meetings with the head of the Bundestag, Barbel Bas, and with the president of the opposition Christian-Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz.

EU PM Marcel Ciolacu is in Brussels today, accompanied by a government delegation that includes the foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu, and the defence minister Angel Tîlvăr. The working visit also includes the first meeting of a Romanian official with the new NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte. Talks will focus on the security of Romania and the Black Sea region, on strengthening the eastern flank of the Alliance and on the war started by Russia in Ukraine. Marcel Ciolacu will also have meetings with EU officials, including with the president elect of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. The topic of Romania’s full Schengen accession will also be approached. The Austrian interior minister, Gerhard Karner, has recently hinted that Austria could withdraw its veto on the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria after the improvement of border protection, and the Romanian PM said that there are good chances for this goal to be reached by the end of the year. A decision is expected at the JHA Council in December, but the actual lifting of border controls could take place a few months later.

AGRICULTURE EU agriculture ministers convene in Brussels today for a meeting of the EU’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council. One of the main topics is the situation in the EU market, especially as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The participants will discuss the state of the agricultural market and of basic agrifood products. The Ukrainian minister for agrarian policy and food Vitalii Koval will join the meeting to provide an update on Ukraine’s farming sector. Romania is represented by Violeta Muşat, a state secretary with the ministry of agriculture and rural development.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu takes part today in a Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels. The agenda includes Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the developments in Georgia, the EU-USA relations following the US presidential elections, the situation in the Middle East and the security situation in the Horn of Africa. The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, will propose a freeze on the political dialogue with Israel in the context of the war in Gaza Strip, DPA reports, after ”a year of unheeded pleas by the Israeli authorities regarding respect for international law in the Gaza war”, Borrell wrote ahead of the meeting. On the sidelines of the FAC meeting, an informal working breakfast with Moldova’s foreign minister Mihai Popşoi will also be organised, at the initiative of Romania and Lithuania.

FOOTBALL Tonight, in Bucharest, the Romanian national football team takes on Cyprus, in Group C2 of the UEFA Nations League, with over 40,000 fans expected to attend. Romania leads the group with 4 wins in 4 games, and is waiting for a UEFA verdict related to Friday’s match against Kosovo. The match in Bucharest between Romania and Kosovo was suspended after the guests left the field during extra time in the second half, when they heard pro-Serbia chants from the home fans, and refused to resume it. The Kosovo Football Federation denounced the ”unacceptable and unsafe atmosphere” of the match in Romania, and argued that its players left the pitch because of ”persistent racist and anti-Kosovo chants by Romanian fans.” The Romanian Football Federation, for its part, issued a statement dismissing Kosovo’s allegations as unfounded, and said the guest players’ withdrawal shortly before the final whistle was unjustified. (AMP)