March 26, 2018

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Newsroom, 26.03.2018, 13:41

CENTENNIAL — The Romanian Academy is toady hosting an event devoted to the celebration of 100 years since the Union of Bessarabia and Romania. Entitled “Romania and the Republic of Moldova — Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, the agenda of the event includes keynote addresses by the vice-president of the Romanian Academy, Alexandru Surdu, Academy member Dan Berindei, Valeriu Matei, former Moldovan Education Minister and honorary member of the Romanian Academy. On Tuesday, the Parliament in Bucharest will convene in a solemn plenary session, which will debate and adopt a solemn declaration to celebrate the Union of Bessarabia with Romania. Attending will be President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, HRH Margareta, Custodian of the Royal Crown, as well as officials from the Republic of Moldova.

TALKS — Romania’s Justice Minister Tudorel Toader is today meeting his Serbian counterpart Nela Kuburovic in Belgrade. Toader said talks will also focus on the status of former Romanian MP Sebastian Ghita, who’s wanted in several criminal investigations and fled to Serbia, a non-EU state. Minister Toader said Romania has fulfilled its obligations and sent Belgrade authorities all the information needed for its extradition. We recall Sebastian Ghita fled the country in December 2016 and was caught in Serbia in April 2017.

JUSTICE — Parliament’s special committee for the justice laws today issued a favorable opinion on the modifications brought to the laws on judicial organization, the status of magistrates and the functioning and structure of the Superior Council of Magistracy. The documents were re-drafted as per the rulings of the Constitutional Court. The Chamber of Deputies last week passed the three modified versions of the laws. The Senate is the decision-making body in this matter. Representatives of the opposition have criticized the modifications, saying there are reasons to notify the Constitutional Court again. Some of the points in the new laws have prompted massive street protests and triggered the magistrates’ vehement disapproval.

MEETING — European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk are today holding talks in Varna, Bulgaria, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over efforts to re-launch the EU-Turkey dialogue. Talks will focus on a number of delicate topics, such as the degrading rule of law in Turkey, the two parties’ stand on migration and Turkey’s bid to join the EU. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said talks will prove very difficult. Neither of the two parties want to sidetrack the talks, because the EU remains an important trade partner for Turkey, while in turn Turkey is a key ally for Europe in combating migration and terrorism, France Press reports.

ECONOMY — Germany was Romania’s top trade partner in 2017, accounting for 20% of Romania’s exports and imports, reads a recent Eurostat report. Italy, France and Hungary are next on the list of Romania’s top trade partners. At EU level, the United States and China together accounted for a third of EU trade in 2017. The value of two-way trade between the EU and the US stood at €631 billion, while two-way trade between the EU and China stood at €573 billion.

FIRE — At least 64 people were killed in a fire that engulfed a shopping center in Kemerovo, southwestern Siberia, the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reports. The fire broke out on the third-floor, close to the cinema and a play area. Dozens of people are still missing. Eye-witness reports say no one was there to order an evacuation, hence some people tried to save themselves by jumping off the windows, many of whom are now being hospitalized and treated for serious trauma. The work of rescue teams is extremely challenging, as there is a risk for the whole building to collapse. Authorities have launched an investigation.

RESPONSE — Romania will announce later today its official response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergey Skripal in the UK, Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Monday told a press conference held jointly with his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius. Melescanu said we need to show solidarity with the UK, especially in the context of Brexit, so as to prove the EU wants to maintain close relations with London in the field of defence and security once this country leaves the community bloc. In turn, the Lithuanian official said this case is a challenge for the entire international community, saying that such methods are unacceptable and require an appropriate response.

HANDBALL — The Romanian women’s national handball team on Sunday defeated the Olympic defending champions Russia at home, 26-25 as part of Group 4 of the 2018 European Championship preliminaries. Romania thus squared things off with Russia after losing the first match against them. Our team now has 6 points and tops the group tables, the same as Austria, which nevertheless has a lower goal average. Russia is third-ranked with 4 points while Portugal is last-placed with 0 points. The first two teams will qualify to the European Championship to be hosted by France this summer. Romania’s last two fixtures are against Austria away from home and Portugal on home turf. (Translated by V. Palcu)