September 4, 2017 UPDATE

Mihai Tudose held the Prime Ministers Hour in the Chamber of Deputies for the first time

Newsroom, 04.09.2017, 19:36

PM’S HOUR – The head of the left-of-centre government of Romania, Mihai Tudose, held the Prime Ministers Hour in the Chamber of Deputies for the first time since taking office. The 5.6% economic growth rate reported in Romania is the best indicator for the state of the economy, Tudose said on this occasion. He also announced that the 2018 state budget bill would be sent to Parliament in November. The National Liberal Party, which had requested the PM to answer questions in Parliament, argues, among other things, that Romania has the deepest budget deficit in recent years, that revenues to the state budget are some 1.1 billion euro below forecasts and that the trade deficit widened by 30%.

PARTNERSHIP – The Senate Speaker Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu announced on Monday that at his initiative the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament would adopt a political declaration on September 12, to mark 20 years since Romania and the USA signed their bilateral strategic partnership. He added that the draft had been sent to the floor groups. Just days ago, the Ambassador of Romania to the USA, George Maior, said relations between Washington and Bucharest are at the highest level of implementation of the bilateral strategic partnership, in all its aspects, from defence and security to economy and culture. Nonetheless, Ambassador Maior said Romania seeks strengthened cooperation with Washington in the field of defence, and mentioned in this context that the Romanian Defence Minister, Adrian Ţuţuianu, would have a meeting with his American counterpart James Mattis on September 19.

ENESCU FESTIVAL – The George Enescu International Festival, one of the most prestigious music events in Europe, continues in Bucharest. For 3 weeks, 80 concerts and other events will bring more than 3,000 of the best international artists to Bucharest and 7 other major Romanian cities. Radio Romania is the only media institution in the country to broadcast the concerts live, on its channels Radio Romania Music and Radio Romania Culture. First organised in 1958, 3 years after the famed Romanian composer had died, the George Enescu Festival was discontinued in 1971 by the communist regime, and was resumed in 1989. It has been held every 2 years ever since.

EXERCISE – Between September 4 and 22, more than 100 Romanian troops are taking part in the 4th edition of Vigorous Warrior, a NATO medical exercise held this year in Lehnin, Germany, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Taking part in this exercise organised by the NATO Excellence Centre for Military Medicine are around 900 military from 27 NATO member and partner states.

TURKEY – The actions of the Turkish authorities make it impossible for that country to join the European Union, the European Commission said on Monday, after the German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the halt of accession talks. Also on Monday, Turkeys Minister for European Affairs, Omer Celik, said that any talk of breaking off negotiations would be an attack on the founding principles of the European Union. Turkeys accession negotiations started in 2005, but are currently stalled because of the political developments in this country and of the authoritarian conduct that president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accused of, Reuters comments.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)