April 28, 2017
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 28.04.2017, 14:05
DIGITAL MARKET — The digital single market is an objective in the EU region and the yearly costs for its creation stay around 415 billion euros, the vice president of the European Commission, Andrus Ansip, has today said in Bucharest during a conference entitled Eurosfat 2017. According to the EU official, one of the digital single market’s benefits is the coming into effect as of June 15th 2017 of the new regulations concerning the service of roaming at EU level. On the other hand, the EU official has underlined that the European Commission is working on liberalizing the citizens’ access to digital content as well as the online purchase of goods and services. Andrus Ansip is paying a formal visit to Romania for talks with Romanian officials, the Representation of the European Commission in Romania informs.
TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, currently ranking fifth in the world standings, will today be taking on Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Stuttgart with 760 thousand dollars in prize money. We recall that Simona has been eliminated from the doubles contest. Another two players, Irina Begu and Sorana Cirstea are representing Romania in the tournament in Istanbul.
POPE — Pope Francis is today taking part in a peace conference in Cairo staged by the Al Azhar Islamic University. The Pontiff is to meet a high Sunni authority, Sheik Ahmad Muhammad al-Tayeb and the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Theodore the second of Alexandria, as well as leaders of a small Catholic community. Jointly with Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the Pope is expected to deliver a speech at the Al-Azhar University. According to experts, the presence of the Pope and the Orthodox Patriarch at a Sunni University shortly after the bloody attacks against the Coptic Christians in Egypt during Easter, is a sign of unity between the Christians of various denominations, expressing their readiness for dialogue with the Muslims who reject violence and terrorism in the name of religion. Islam is the state religion in Egypt but the Coptic Christians account for 10% of the country’s 90 million people. The Pontiff is also expected to see president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
VACCINES — Romania is to notify the European Commission of its intention to put on hold its export of vaccines against the background of a measles epidemic currently affecting 5,000 people in this country, Health Minister Florian Bodog has announced. The Romanian official has added that the authorities intend to block exports in the case of other medicines including those stipulated in the national health programmes, medicines used in the treatment of various types of cancers. Minister Bodog has also said that he wants the Romanian patients not to be disadvantaged in comparison with patients from other countries where these medicines are at higher prices.
AMBASSADOR According to Romania’s ambassador in Washington, George Maior, the 20 years of Romanian-US strategic partnership have confirmed the fact that the US doesn’t have a better and closer partner in southeastern Europe than Romania. The Romanian diplomat on Thursday hosted a special dinner, which brought together several Republican members of the US’ House of Representatives, devoted to celebrating 20 years of Romanian-US strategic partnership. The tight cooperation in the field of security and the latest positive developments in the fields of economy, trade and investment have been underscored on this occasion. The US officials have mentioned the US Congress and administration appreciate the evolution and progress registered in terms of bilateral cooperation, which have turned Romania into a staunch partner for the USA.
