October 21-27

A selection of the week's highlights in Romania

România Internațional, 26.10.2013, 13:15

The Romanian Prime Minister Ponta paid a visit to the US

The Romanian Prime Minister has this week paid an official visit to the United States, where he met with Vice-President Joe Biden, but also with representatives of several big US companies. Victor Ponta pointed out that energy independence was a strategic objective for Romania, and the Romanian Government would support all explorations of unconventional resources, provided their subsequent development would not damage the environment. In another move, Victor Ponta told Vice-President Joe Biden that there would be no more constitutional crises in Romania, and the judiciary would no longer be involved in political disputes. In turn, the US official said that Romania’s success as a democratic partner and its strong rule of law are vital for the creation of a good business environment, and this serves the interests of both countries. He reasserted the US’s commitment to the strategic partnership with Romania and thanked the Romanian Prime Minister for this country’s constant participation in settling regional issues, including Afghanistan, and for hosting the anti-missile defense shield. He also highlighted Romania’s high development potential in the coming years, provided our country continued to develop a predictable and transparent business environment. Bilateral relations account for one of the most powerful guarantees for Romania’s security and for regional stability, said in his turn the Romanian President Traian Basescu. He also referred to the importance of American investments, with special focus on fields that have the potential to boost economic growth, such as IT, agriculture, food industry, car making industry and oil equipment.

The autumn proceedings of the European Council focused on the single telecommunications market

The autumn proceedings of the European Council, where President Traian Basescu represented Romania, focused on building a single telecommunications market and also on settling immigration related issues. The EU heads of state and government drafted a joint declaration, which reads that the single telecommunications market should be rendered operational in 2015. The declaration also highlights the importance of investment in research, innovation and staff development in the IT sector, where over 900 thousand jobs could be taken by 2015. In another move, France and Germany drafted a joint proposal to start talks with the US, with the aim of reaching an agreement regarding the activities carried out by secret services. The proposal came out as a result of the recent disclosures according to which the US intelligence service allegedly monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone conversations, as well as other millions of calls from France.

A joint IMF, EC and WB mission came to Bucharest to a assess a new precautionary agreement

A joint IMF, EC and WB delegation is in Bucharest to assess the new precautionary agreement with Romania. The delegation is having meetings with the authorities as well as with representatives of political parties, trade unions, business associations, banks and civil society. In September, the IMF board approved the letter of intent submitted by the Romanian authorities for the conclusion of a new precautionary agreement, worth some 2 billion Euros and covering a period of two years, adding to another two million Euros from the European Commission.

The largest gas producer and provider in Romania, Romgaz, is now traded at the Bucharest and London stock exchanges.

Starting Tuesday until the end of the month, 15% of the shares in the largest gas producer and supplier in Romania, Romgaz, are up for sale at both the Bucharest and the London Stock Exchanges. The Romanian Government hopes to get between 300 and 400 million Euros in exchange for the stock. 15% of the shares are reserved for small investors, and the rest is to be sold to institutional investors. Romgaz owns more than half of Romania’s gas reserves and exploitation facilities. On June 30th 2013 the company reported net reserves of 62 billion cubic meters of gas and another 13.1 million cubic meters in potential reserves.

Another communist torturer in Romania was officially charged with genocide

A former commander of a communist labour camp in Romania has been officially indicted for genocide, for his role in the killing of over 100 political detainees. Aged 85, Ioan Ficior ran the Periprava camp in the Danube Delta between 1958 and 1960. There, according to the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes, he implemented an abusive and repressive system against political detainees. Ion Ficior is the second head of penitentiary accused of genocide in Romania.

Romania is back into the European and World football elite

The decision has been made! Romania’s national football team will be taking on Greece, in the qualifying playoffs of next year’s World Football Championship in Brazil, according to the drawing of lots was held in Zurich this past Monday. The first leg is scheduled on November 15th in Greece, while the return leg will be played in Bucharest on November 19th. In another development, Romania’s football champion squad Steaua Bucharest this past Tuesday were held to a 1-all draw on home turf by Swiss side Basle, in a group E game counting towards the Champions League’s stage. Steaua are bottom of the table, with only one point on their record sheet, in a group where London giants Chelsea and German strongholds Schalke 04 call the shots. In Thursday night’s game counting towards Europa League’s third round, another Romanian team, Pandurii Tg Jiu were trashed by Italian side Fiorentina, 3-nil, in the competition’s Group E match.