February 23, 2017
The National Anti-corruption Directorate was very effective last year, reads the 2016 activity report. / The Romanian Government has four new ministers.
Newsroom, 23.02.2017, 13:56
ANTI-CORRUPTION In Romania, the efforts made with regard to the justice system must be supported by a stable legislative and institutional background in order for the system to be effective in combating corruption, said in Bucharest the chief-prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption Directorate Laura Docruta Kovesi upon presenting the 2016 activity report of the Directorate. The idea has also been stressed by the head of state Klaus Iohannis, who has stated that there are some gaps in the Romanian legislation with regard to the judiciary and real consultations on this matter are a must. He has stated that he will unconditionally support the strengthening of the rule of law, saying that the role of the National Anti-corruption Directorate is essential in fighting corruption and observing the law. According to the report, in 2016 the directorates activity was more effective. Some 1300 people were indicted, of which 870 got final sentences. The latter include 3 ministers, 6 senators, 11 deputies, 16 magistrates and 20 directors of state-owned companies. More than one quarter of those sent to court in 2016 were found guilty of abuse of office, which caused the state losses of over 260 million Euros. Recovering the losses was an important component and precautionary measures were taken, worth some 760 million Euros.
ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT Romanias President Klaus Iohannis has signed the decrees on the appointment of the new ministers of Justice, Economy, Business environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, as well as of the Minister Delegate for European Funds. Two nominations were expected initially, for Justice and Business Environment, as the two offices had remained vacant against the background of the political crisis triggered by the Governments attempt to amend the Criminal Codes under an emergency decree and to operate a collective pardon. On Wednesday, the Social Democratic Party decided to operate four changes in the cabinet, all of them validated by the leadership of the party. Tudorel Toader, a former judge with the Constitutional Court, was nominated for the office of Minister of Justice. According to the Prime Minister, his main priorities are the elimination of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and transposing the Courts decision into the criminal codes. The proposal for the Ministry of Business Environment and SMEs is Alexandru Petrescu, who had to give up the Economy, where the next minister will be Mihai Tudose. Tudose used to hold the same office in the Ponta Cabinet. Rovana Plumb is the proposal for Minister Delegate for European Funds. Sorin Grindeanu has explained that this field needs a person that has both governmental and political experience, and Rovana Plumb has both.
FOREIGN POLICY The State Secretary with the Romanian Foreign Minister George Ciamba has held talks in Brussels with the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides. The two officials talked about the EU policy on assistance for development and humanitarian aid. George Ciamba highlighted Romanias support for the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement on migration, highlighting Bucharests contribution to the Facility for Refugees in Turkey and the interest in participating in the projects run as part of this facility. As regards the situation in eastern Ukraine, he reiterated Bucharests support for the integrity and sovereignty of that country, as well as support for observing the cease-fire decisions, in order to prevent the humanitarian crisis from deepening. Also in Brussels, the Romanian official held talks with assistants to the NATO Secretary General on the role of the Alliance in combating terrorism and cyber attacks. The NATO officials hailed Romanias important contribution to the efforts made by the Alliance, including by means of a substantial commitment in Afghanistan, as part of the Resolute Support Mission, as well as by taking part in strengthening the defense capacity of the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Iraq.
FOOTBALL Romanias football champion Astra Giurgiu is today taking on, away from home, the Belgian squad KRC Genk, in the final match of Europa Leagues final 32. In the first match of the leg, held in Giurgiu, the match ended in a draw 2-2. According to the specialized press, Astra still stands chances of qualifying for the return game. Qualified for the first time in this stage of the competition, from a group in which it played against AS Rome, Viktoria Plzen and Austria Vienna, Astra Giurgiu is the last Romanian team still standing in the current edition of the European cups.
