June 19, 2020 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 19.06.2020, 19:45

EUROPEAN COUNCIL – Romanian president
Klaus Iohannis on Friday attended the European Council meeting, held in
videoconference format. The main points on the agenda were the 2021-2027
multiannual financial framework and the economic recovery plan. The President
said, after the meeting, that European leaders have agreed to continue talks on
the two topics, although additional points in the two packages have to be
discussed and settled. Romania was earmarked €44 billion in the current
financial framework. We’re trying to get a considerably higher amount over the
next financial framework, and we are equally fighting to obtain more favorable
conditions for their implementation, the President went on to say. The money is expected to go to economic
development, healthcare, road and rail infrastructure, water and sewage,
education and sustainable energy. President Iohannis said the next European
Council meeting is scheduled for mid-July. According to France Press, EU
leaders have called on the EU27 to swiftly reach an agreement on the post-COVID
economic recovery plan, with the aim of pulling the European continent out of a
historic recession. A bailout plan worth €750 billion is on the table, and
could represent a major step for Europe, as for the first time the sum will be
borrowed on the financial markets.

ONLINE FORM – Air passengers
entering the country via Henri Coanda airport must file an online form stating
their epidemiological status. Available as of Friday, the form is aimed at
reducing waiting times and boosting the flow of arrivals, with the overall
purpose of preventing the SARS CoV2 virus from spreading. The form can be
accessed on bucharestairports.ro.

PENSIONS – The High Court of
Cassation and Justice in Bucharest and the Ombudsman have referred a law on the
progressive taxation up to 85% of all special pensions in Romania, endorsed by
Parliament, to the Constitutional Court. The Court has criticized several
aspects, such as the fact that its rulings in this matter have been repeatedly
ignored, the Supreme Council of Magistrates has not been consulted and several
principles haven’t been observed, such as the proper and equitable taxation and
the independence of judges. There are multiple reasons of unconstitutionality,
the Ombudsman has also pointed out, adding that, under the law, the
beneficiaries of these special pensions are being discriminated against. We
recall that on May 6 Romania’s Constitutional Court turned down a law on
cancelling special pensions upon two notifications by the High Court and the Ombudsman.

NATO – The Multinational
Division South-East Command will contribute to the deterring and defence
capabilities of NATO’s eastern flank, Romania’s Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca
has said. His statement came after Parliament in Bucharest on Thursday endorsed
the setting up of this command in Sibiu, central Romania. According to Ciuca,
Romania’s initiative has been appreciated by NATO partners and accepted by the
allies thus highlighting the strategic importance of the Black Sea for the
security of the Euro-Atlantic area and the need for increasing allied military
presence in the region. The new military body will have the statute of
international military command subordinated to an allied command outside the
national structure of command and control.

SANCTIONS – EU leaders have
agreed to extend economic sanctions on Russia by another six months, reason
being Russia’s unresolved conflict in Eastern Ukraine and its refusal to
implement the Minsk peace agreements, European Council President Charles Michel
has said. Introduced back in July, 2014, the sanctions target the finance,
energy and defense sectors in Russia, preventing certain Russian banks and
businesses from accessing EU markets, as well as restricting certain European
imports. The sanctions also restrict Russia’s access to certain sensitive
technologies and services that can be used to explore and produce oil. Romania’s
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said Romania does not consider Russia to be an enemy
state, but condemns the country’s previous aggressive behavior. It’s not just
Romania’s viewpoint, but a common analysis inside NATO and the EU. The allies are
viewing Russia’s actions in the Black Sea region as generating risks, Minister
Aurescu explained. The Romanian official took part in an online debate
organized by the American Center for European Political Analysis, where he
discussed the possibility of introducing the Russian Federation into the country’s
new National Defense Strategy.

(translated by D. Bilt
& V. Palcu)