29 January, 2016

Romanias president Klaus Iohannis signs into law legislation banning smoking in enclosed public spaces.

Newsroom, 29.01.2016, 12:00

Romania’s consolidated budget recorded a deficit of 2.2 billion euros
accounting for 1.4% of the GDP at the end of December, following a surplus of 11
million euros and 0.76% of the GDP in November, the finance ministry has
announced. The government spent no less than 2% of the GDP in one single month.
1.5 billion went into European-funded projects, given that the eligibility
period for the European-funded projects corresponding to the 2007-2013 period
was to expire at the end of 2015. Last month, co-funding for European projects
exceeded 1.9 billion euros, which is six times the average amount.

The Romanian
president Klaus Iohannis on Friday signed into law a bill that bans smoking in
enclosed public spaces, two days after the Constitutional Court established
that the bill in question complies with the constitution. First passed in
December, the bill bans smoking in enclosed public spaces, enclosed work
spaces, children playground areas, hospitals, schools and areas housing child
protection and assistance services. Smoking is banned in enclosed public
spaces, on public transport and in work spaces in 17 of the European Union’s 28
member states.

The Romanian justice minister Raluca Pruna will today
make public the draft of an emergency order to eliminate a legal provision on
the possibility of early release for convicts who publish academic papers while
in prison. Although the proposal received a negative opinion from the Superior
Council of Magistracy, the minister will pursue her efforts to repeal the
provision in question, arguing that it has been extensively abused.

The Hungarian foreign affairs and foreign
trade minister Peter Szijjarto today travels to
Bucharest following an invitation by his Romanian counterpart Lazar Comanescu.
According to the foreign ministry, the two officials will have talks on the
bilateral relationship and ways to diversify cooperation, in particular in the
economic, transport and energy infrastructure areas. Talks will also tackle
European, regional and international issues. The Hungarian minister will also
be received by prime minister Dacian Ciolos.

The representatives of protesters in the Republic of
Moldova today said they would continue protests in an attempt to put pressure
on the government. They said protesters’ demands must be fully met for their
country to be able to overcome the crisis. One of the leaders, the Socialist
Igor Dodon, described as a victory the announcement made today by parliament
speaker Adrian Candu on the possibility of holding a referendum on the election
of the president through direct vote. Speaking about protesters’ demand for
early elections, Candu says the law does not allow for the dissolution of
Parliament and explained that there is no other legal option to hold early
elections. Following last week’s installation of Pavel Filip’s government, tens
of thousands of people have taken to the streets following a call by
pro-European civil society organisations, as well as two pro-Russian parties
denouncing the corruption of the Moldovan political class.

The Romanian-American mixed doubles pair Horia Tecau and
Coco Vandeweghe will face the Russian-Brazilian pair Elena Vesnina and Bruno
Soares in the Australian Open finals. In the semifinals, Tecau and Vandeweghe
defeated the Filipino-Slovenian pair Treat Huey and Andreja Klepac in two sets,
while Vesnina and Soares defeated Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig, who were seeded
first in the tournament. Horia Tecau won the Australian Open mixed doubles
title in 2012, together with the American player Bethanie Mattek-Sands.