The Week in Review, February 9-15

A roundup of the week's main stories

Florentin Căpitănescu, 14.02.2015, 12:00

Romania understands the threat posed by the armed conflict in the neighbouring Ukraine and joins efforts to find a solution to it

Romania understands the threat posed by the armed conflict in the neighboring Ukraine and joins efforts to find a solution to it, said Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at his first participation in the European Council in Brussels as head of state. Iohannis pointed out that the only solution to the Ukrainian crisis is a political one, based on dialogue. We have new reasons to hope that observing Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty will become a priority for all international leaders, Russia included, the head of state also said. According to Iohannis, a declaration on combating terrorism was adopted at the European Council on behalf of Romania, and the measures to be taken will have to be applied equally to both Schengen and non-Schengen members, such as Romania. The declaration lays emphasis on citizen safety, prevention of radicalism of any kind and cooperation with the EU’s international partners. On the sidelines of the European Council meeting, Klaus Iohannis met with German chancellor Angela Merkel and with the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The latter invited the Romanian President to pay a visit to Kiev. Earlier this week Klaus Iohannis held talks in Paris with his French counterpart Francois Hollande, on the bilateral strategic partnership, the situation in Ukraine and economic developments in the EU. Iohannis also met with representatives of the Romanian community in France.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, on a formal visit to the US, reiterated Bucharest’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Washington in the field of defense.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, on a formal visit to the US, reiterated in a meeting with the then Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Bucharest’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Washington in the field of defense. In his turn, Chuck Hagel voiced appreciation for Romania’s contribution to international military operations, in particular the one in Afghanistan, and for the excellent bilateral collaboration. Victor Ponta also met with the US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and the two officials decided that a delegation of the US Department of Commerce would come to Romania this May to look for business opportunities in the IT technology and cyber security fields. They also assessed the progress made in the implementation of the Bilateral action plan for the improvement of the Romanian business environment. PM Ponta also had a meeting with the CIA chief, John Brennan with whom he discussed the progress made with regard to the Romania-US Strategic Partnership. John Brennan appreciated the good collaboration with the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service. The prime minister’s visit to the US has a major economic component as well. Victor Ponta chaired in Washington a round table organized by the American-Romanian Business Council.

One of the most influential Romanian politicians of the past 10 years, the former minister of tourism and regional development, MP Elena Udrea is under arrest pending trial.

One of the most influential Romanian politicians of the past 10 years, the former minister of tourism and development, MP Elena Udrea is under arrest pending trial, after the High Court of Cassation and Justice approved the anti-corruption prosecutors’ proposal. Udrea is charged, among other things, with influence peddling in a heavy file related to the illegal purchase of IT licenses for schools, involving several other foreign ministers. Previously, the Chamber of Deputies green lighted the anti corruption prosecutors’ requests to prosecute, detain and arrest Elen Udrea, given that she is also investigated in another famous case. Udrea has been the closest collaborator of former President Traian Basescu, whom she even wanted to replace by running in the presidential elections of November 2014. Also this week the Senate approved the start of criminal proceedings against a former Economy minister, Ion Aritorn, on charges of accessory to abuse of office and misuse of authority. On the same day the Senate refused to green light the prosecution of another former Economy Minister, Varujan Vosganian, accused of setting up a crime group, abuse of office and complicity to embezzlement. The controversial vote comes against the background of criticism leveled at the Bucharest Parliament in the recent European Commission justice report, which is seen as obstructing justice. President Klaus Iohannis made no secret out of the fact that he is disappointed by the Senate’s vote in favor of Varujan Vosganian .

Due to disagreements over the liberalization of natural gas tariffs and the privatization of several energy companies, the visit to Bucharest of Romania’s international lenders was concluded without the usual letter of intent.

The misunderstandings over liberalizing the natural gas tariffs and privatizing several energy companies led to the visit to Bucharest of Romania’s international lenders ending without the usual letter of intent. Prime Minister Victor Ponta has said that liberalizing the natural gas tariffs would in fact trigger their significant increase for both individuals and companies. As for the energy companies, Ponta has pointed out that their privatization would affect, in a few years, the Romanian energy sector. Negotiations on these two issues will be resumed in April, the PM said.