December 3, 2016 UPDATE
Trump administration continues Strategic Partnership with Romania/ Presidential election in Austria repeated/ Romania's women's handball team go to Sweden
Newsroom, 03.12.2016, 12:15
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will continue the Strategic Partnership with Romania, an important NATO member, said American officials attending the events held on December 1 and 2 at the Romanian Embassy in Washington on Romania’s National Day. Congressman Jason Chaffetz, the chairman of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, appreciated the strong military and economic ties between the US and Romania. In turn, congressman Robert Aderholt, a member in the Group of Friends for Romania in the US Congress and in the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe highlighted that the strong existing bilateral relations would continue during the new American administration. Last but not least, Frank Rose, Assistant Secretary of State and former negotiator of the Agreement regarding the deployment in Romania of the US anti-ballistic missile defense shield referred to the new security challenges facing NATO. He underlined that the anti-missile defense system in Deveselu (in the south of Romania) had a key role in the collective defense of NATO members.
EUROSTAT — Romania ranks 2nd in the EU as regards the population that risks poverty and social exclusion. One Romanian citizen in three is in this situation, shows the latest study made public by the European Statistical Office, Eurostat. In 2015, 41.3% of the population in Bulgaria ran the risk of poverty and social exclusion while in Romania the percentage stood at 37.3%. Third comes Greece with 35.7%. As regards children risking poverty and social exclusion, Romania is ranked 1st, with 46.8% of the total population, which means one child out of two. Next come Bulgaria (43.7%), Greece (37.8%), Hungary (36.1%), Spain (34.4%) and Italy (33.5%). In the 28 EU member states, 26.9% of the population aged between 0 and 17, namely 25 million children, ran the risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2015 as compared to 27.5% in 2010.
VIENNA — 6.4 million Austrians with the right to vote are expected to the polls again on Sunday to elect their president. They will have to choose between Norbert Hofer representing the Freedom Party, considered of far right orientation, and independent Alexander Van der Bellen. The first round of the presidential election took place in April and the second in May. The winner of the May election was Alexander Van der Bellen but the Constitutional Court in Vienna decided to cancel the second round because of irregularities reported in the postal voting procedure.
HANDBALL – Romania’s national women’s handball team are participating in Sweden between December 4th –18th in the European Handball Championship. Romania will take on Norway, in Group D, on December 5th, Russia on the 7th of December and Croatia on the 9th. The three top-ranking teams in each group will qualify to the second stage. Romania’s team is coached by the Spanish Ambros Martin, who last month replaced the Swedish Tomas Ryde, who led the Romanians to victory at the 2015 World Championship hosted by Denmark, when they won bronze. Ambros Martin was designated the best coach of the world in 2013 and 2014 and won two times the Champions League with the Hungarian team Győr that he is also coaching. The teams of Norway and Denmark have won the most continental titles, 6 and 3 respectively. Romania’s best result at the European Championship was the bronze medal in 2010.
ROME- A constitutional referendum will be held on Sunday in Italy, which is considered one of the most important acid tests for the political career of the PM Matteo Renzi, the head of a center-leftist government. He came to power in February 2014, and is now trying to persuade the Italian citizens of the need to reform the domestic political life. The reform plan stipulates, among other things, a drastic diminution of the Senate’s power and a limitation of the regions’ powers. A great part of the political spectrum has called on voters to say NO to the reform and has asked for early elections. The referendum might affect not only Italy’s political stability but also its economic situation.
BERLIN — Germany and the European Commission have reached an accord after several years of negotiations over the introduction of a highway toll for vehicles. The EC claims the agreement discourages the discrimination of European citizens. Foreigners who cross Germany by car on highway will pay a toll, depending on the car engine’s capacity and the carbon emissions, amounting to 2.5 up to 20 euros for a vignette valid for 10 days. (translation by Lacramioara Simion)
