September 12, 2018

Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis,is today receiving in Bucharest the Dutch PM, Mark Rutte/ The Romanian deputies have today rejected the simple motion tabled by the National Liberal Party, in opposition, against the Social-Democratic Interior Minister

Roxana Vasile, 12.09.2018, 13:47

VISIT — Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, is today receiving in Bucharest the Dutch PM Mark Rutte. According to the Presidential Administration, the talks will cover issues on the European agenda and the stage of bilateral relations. Romania’s holding the presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2019, the EU’s future Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, ways to tackle migration and Brexit are also some of the focal points of the talks. Mark Rutte will also have a meeting with PM Viorica Dăncilă. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Government, the Netherlands is the largest investor in Romania, and the emerging Romanian community in that country has a significant contribution to the Dutch economy and society.

MOTION — The Romanian deputies have today rejected the simple motion “The Social Democratic Party’s batons, a slap in the face of Romanian democracy”, tabled by the National Liberal Party, in opposition, against the Social-Democratic Interior Minister, Carmen Dan. During Tuesday’s debates, the line minister claimed the gendarme intervention at the anti-governmental meeting of August 10 in Bucharest was legal and she gave assurances that all those proven guilty of committing violence will be brought to justice. The Opposition is however saying the gendarmes used banned intervention practices against the protesters, who were –most of them- peaceful.

BREXIT — The European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, has today delivered his last State of the Union speech before the European Parliament. As the UK’s withdrawal from the EU is scheduled for March 2019, Jean-Claude Juncker has said the British government should understand that those leaving the community bloc will no longer enjoy the same privileged status as a EU member state. In another move, the European official has proposed a new economic partnership between the Union and the African continent and the significant strengthening of the Frontex European agency by 2020. Jean-Claude Juncker has also announced that the Commission will come up with proposals to strengthen the European currency against the dollar, by the end of the year. France Presse recalls that Jean-Claude Juncker’s term in office, which will come to a close on October 31, 2019, started when the Greek crisis was at its peak, as a result of the world economic and financial crisis.

HUNGARY — A report which is criticising the rule of law in Hungary and calls for the suspension of Budapest’s rights to vote in the EU Council is today voted upon in the European Parliament. The debates on the report were held on Tuesday, in the presence of the Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, who accused the European Parliament of trying to blackmail Budapest as regards its policies on migration. The report quotes the concerns expressed by the UN and Council of Europe rapporteurs about an increasing number of accusations denouncing the border police authorities’ abuse against asylum seekers and migrants. The document also brings into the focus of attention restrictions on the freedom of the press and concerns about the electoral system.

CATALONIA — Approximately half a million Catalans on Tuesday took part in a rally in Barcelona, in favour of Catalonia’s independence from Spain, on the occasion of Catalonia’s Day. The secessionists called for the recognition of the referendum which was declared illegal last year and for the release from prison of those who organised it and declared the independence of the region. The Catalan leader Quim Torra encouraged, as early as a week ago, the massive mobilisation of separatists. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Madrid, the current government led by Pedro Sanchez, has launched the idea of holding a public consultation on Catalonia’s greater autonomy, but not for its independence and he reactivated the bilateral cooperation commissions between Madrid and Barcelona.

MEDAL — A Romanian military, Victor Bogdan Bila, has been awarded by the US Army following his participation in the exercise “Saber Guardian”, carried out in 2017, the Romanian Defense Ministry has announced. The ceremony was held in the north-western city of Cluj-Napoca, at the headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division Gemina. Lieutenant Victor Bogdan Bila was awarded “The Army Achievement Medal”, in token of recognition for his involvement and support for the US troops.

FLIGHTS— The Irish low-cost airliner Ryanair is today cancelling 150 of the 400 flights from and to Germany, because of a strike by pilots and flight attendants, who demand higher salaries and better working conditions. The management of the company deems the action ungrounded. In August, Ryanair faced the severest protest movement in its 33 year history, which affected some 55,000 passengers and led to the cancellation of some 400 flights. The strike was started by pilots in Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden and Belgium. Ryanair, the biggest low-cost airliner in Europe, given the number of passengers is operating flights on 21 routes in Romania.