July 11, 2020

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 11.07.2020, 14:00

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Prime Minister Ludovic Orban on Saturday
expressed disgruntlement with the Senate’s decision to postpone for Monday the
debate and vote for the controversial Government-backed law on quarantine and
isolation. Ludovic Orban believes this is a political move that might lead to a
dramatic increase in the number of corona infections. On Thursday night, the
Chamber of Deputies adopted the document in a heavily modified form compared to
the original. Interim Social-Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu called on Liberal
Prime Minister Ludovic Orban and Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu to attend the
debate on the law, which he claims is infringing on citizens’ rights and liberties.
In turn, Senate interim Speaker, Social-Democrat Robert Cazanciuc, said he has
invited representatives of the Superior Council of Magistracy and of human
rights associations to attend debates regarding the bill. We recall the law was
adopted by the Government and submitted to Parliament after the Constitutional
Court decided that self-isolation, quarantine and hospitalization cannot be
imposed through a ministry order even in the case of infected persons. Judges
believe restrictive measures must be imposed only under a law clearly
regulating these restrictions. Another 698 new infections were reported on
Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 32.079. 23.613 people have recovered
and 1.871 have died.

RESTRICTIONS – Several states have announced restrictions for
Romanians travelling abroad. People with holiday plans in Austria need documents
proving they tested negative for SARS CoV2, which must be no older than 4 days
at the time of entry. The document needs to be translated into German and
English and be accompanied by proof of accommodation in this country. The
Romanian Foreign Ministry says that anyone failing to provide the said
documentation will be placed in isolation for 14 days. The measure will be
lifted if the person in isolation tests negative during the interval. As of
Monday, Lithuania will deny access to Romanians, with the exception of people
on transit to Romania. As of Tuesday, all Romanians travelling to Greece,
entering trough the Promachonas crossing point, will have to provide proof of negative
testing against COVID-19, no older than 72 hours. Finally, Norway announced
that all arrivals will stay isolated for 10 days starting July 15. Prime
Minister Ludovic Orban said he would call on all centers doing corona testing
to take priority for Romanians with planned holidays abroad.

BUDGET -
European Council President Charles Michel on Friday presented the proposals for
the 2021-2027 EU budget, expected to stand at €1.074 billion and an economic
recovery fund of €750 billion, aimed at helping countries cope with the
economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders of EU Member States next
week will decide whether to change the proposed figures, as well as how the
money and funds will be allotted and spent for various policies. The economic
recovery plan has been met with reluctance by Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden,
Denmark and Finland, which estimate they will have to fund southern European
economies that have been hit bad by the pandemic.

RESOLUTION
– In a resolution on Saturday the European Parliament laid out the principles
of the upcoming EU health strategy. MEPs have pointed out the current pandemic
is far from being over, insisting on the need for EU health systems to be
better equipped and coordinate with each other to deal with future threats to public
healthcare. The resolution presents minimum common standards for quality
medical assistance and the swift creation of the European health response
mechanism for all types of crises. According to the European Parliament, the
upcoming pharmaceutical strategy should provide measures that essential drugs
be made available straight away in Europe, while diversified supply chains
should guarantee access to drugs at affordable prices at any time.

ARREST -
The Former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and
Terrorism (DIICOT), Alina Bica, wanted internationally, was arrested on
Saturday night in Italy, the Romanian Police General Inspectorate has
announced. Alina Bica was evading the execution of her prison sentence. Alina
Bica was sentenced in 2019 to 4 years in prison in a case where she was charged
for favoring a businessman. According to the Romanian Police, after a series of
judicial formalities, Alina Bica will be handed over to Romanian authorities.

(Translated by V. Palcu)