March 10, 2015 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.

Mihai Pelin, 10.03.2015, 12:15

BILATERAL RELATIONS — The Romanian PM Victor Ponta on Tuesday met in Bucharest with a British trade delegation made up of representatives of 50 British companies. He gave assurances to the British investors that, despite the complicated times and the events taking place in Romania’s neighboring countries, Romania is the most stable and predictable state in the region. The PM also said that the number of Romanian-British business partnerships is small in comparison with the existing potential and showed that the IT industry, energy, infrastructure and agriculture are competitive domains that could attract investments. Attending the meeting, the British ambassador to Bucharest, Paul Brummell, said that the two countries are compatible in terms of developing joint economic projects in critical domains such as the oil and gas industries, the nuclear industry, transports and the environment. According to the British ambassador, this is the largest British trade delegation to visit Romania in the past 26 years. Bilateral trade exchanges reached 3 billion euros in 2014 with British investments in Romania standing at present at 6.5 billion euros. The British trade delegation’s visit to Bucharest is part of the British authorities’ larger-scale effort meant to double Great Britain’s trade exchanges with countries from Central and Eastern Europe, to reach 30 billion pounds sterling by 2020.

DEFENSE — The activity of the Romanian Defense Ministry in 2014 was marked by the changes in the security environment of the Black Sea extended area and by the increased instability in the southern neighborhood of NATO, said Tuesday the Romanian defense minister, Mircea Dusa, at the annual review meeting. He announced that the two NATO commands to be set up in Romania will be located in Bucharest and are to become operational in 2016 and 2018 respectively. In 2014 as many as 1,200 soldiers participated in missions and operations outside Romania’s territory. Some of last year’s achievements were the anti-missile defense shield located in Deveselu (in the south), the Transit Centre in Mihail Kogalniceanu (in the south east) and two strategic programs meant for the Romanian army’s military endowment. We recall that, at president Iohannis’ initiative, a political agreement was concluded in January with the parliamentary parties stipulating the provision of 2% of the GDP for the Defense Ministry as of 2017.

ARREST — Former Constitutional Court judge Toni Grebla was arrested on Tuesday in Bucharest by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. In early February Grebla resigned from the Constitutional Court after Anti-corruption Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi called on the Senate to place him under arrest and start criminal proceedings against him. Grebla is facing allegations of influence peddling, setting up a crime group with a view to using forged documents in border crossings.

DRILL — Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish naval forces on Tuesday joined another four NATO states in a military drill in the Black Sea, Reuters reports. Taking part are USS carrier Vicksburg and four battleships from Canada, Germany and Italy. NATO is conducting a series of drills in Eastern Europe to reassure neighbouring states concerned with Russia’s intentions and the developments in Eastern Ukraine. The drills in the Black Sea will also include anti-air and anti-submarine actions, as well as small-boat attack drills.

UNIVERSIADE — Romania on Tuesday in Bucharest launched its candidacy for the organization of the 2021 Summer Universiade. The ceremony was attended by President Klaus Iohannis, the former gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Andreea Raducan, fencer Mihai Covaliu as well as Eric Saintrond, the secretary general of the International University Sports Federation. The Universiade is an international sports and cultural event held every two years following a selection process set by the International University Sports Federation, being the 2nd most important event after the Olympic Games. Romania has so far organized one edition of the Universiade in 1981.

GREECE — Greece and the international lenders on Wednesday are starting in Brussels technical discussions with a view to disbursing further funds for Athens. The Greek authorities met on Monday evening with the European finance ministers but the meeting yielded no results. The head of the euro group, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, said the Greek government had to make firm promises that it would comply with the pledges made. Under the recently signed agreement with the euro zone countries, Greece will no longer receive further funds until June unless it implements new economic reforms imposed by the creditors. On Friday Greece paid back 310 million euros out of a total of one billion and a half, accounting for its debt to the IMF that is to be paid in the next 2 weeks. At present unemployment in Greece affects a quarter of the country’s population. The country’s debt stands at present at almost 315 billion euros, accounting for 175% of the GDP.

SURVEY — Over 90% of the inhabitants of the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia, in the south of the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population, are in favour of closer relations with Russia. According to a survey, as many as 30% of the more than 150 thousand inhabitants of Gagauzia, mostly Christian –Orthodox Turkish people, want a rapprochement to Turkey and only 5% of the population wants closer relations with the EU. Out of the 11 candidates running in the March 22nd elections for the region’s governor position, Irina Vlah is a favourite being supported by the pro-Russian Socialists, in opposition, and by Moscow. The political options of the Gagauz population differ greatly from the pro-European orientation of the central government in Chisinau.

REPORT — Romania’s Prosecutor General Tiberiu Nitu on Tuesday told a session of the Prosecutor’s Office that 2014 had been a good year, also considering the latest CVM report. He said that in 2014 over 50,000 were indicted, most for asset-related crimes, which is less than in 2013. In all tax evasion cases prosecutors seized assets worth 136 million euros. According to Tiberiu Nitu, the high number of aggravated crimes, such as murder, rapes, assault or other forms of physical violence, requires additional strategies and pre-emptive actions from the relevant authorities.

TOURISM FAIR — Over 200 travel agents from Romania and abroad will take part in the 33rd edition of the Romanian Tourism Fair, taking place between March 12 and 15 in Bucharest. The event this year focuses on regions in Romania, but will also offer many destinations abroad, in such countries as Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Poland or Serbia. Organizers say promoting Romania’s regions is one of the main goals of this year’s fair. Attending the event all agents from 14 countries, while a Tourism Scholarship will be held for the first time.