The Week in Review 27.11 – 3.12.2017

Click here for a review of the headline-grabbing events ocurring in Romania over the past week

România Internațional, 02.12.2017, 14:08

On the rundown:

– Bucharest’s military cooperation with Washington is given a new impetus.

– Romania — 10 years since its EU accession.

– Divergences over the justice laws.

– Mini-holiday for Romanians on the occasion of St. Andrew’s Day and the National Day

Bucharest’s military cooperation with Washington is given a new impetus.

Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, on Monday promulgated the law on the purchase of seven Patriot missile systems from the US. The law had been previously passed by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this case. Romania wants to purchase from the US seven Patriot missile systems worth a total of 3.9 billion dollars, without VAT. The first system, worth around 765 million dollars, is to become operational in the first half of 2020, according to Defense Minister Mihai Fifor. The Defence Ministry’s procurement plan also includes the purchase of Piranha 8×8 armored vehicles. The first 30 such vehicles will be purchased also from the US, and the next ones might be manufactured at the Bucharest Mechanical Plant.

Also this week, Romanias Higher Defense Council decided to maintain in 2018 the 2% share of the GDP earmarked for defense, just like this year. 1,775 soldiers, 286 more than this year, will be deployed abroad next year. Also, 1,867 gendarmes and police staff will take part in foreign missions under the aegis of the EU, the OSCE, NATO and the UN, by 340 more than this year. According to the Presidential Administration, the main effort will continue to be Romania’s participation in the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and in the NATO KFOR and EUFOR Althea in the Balkans. By taking part in such missions, the Romanian state gets actively involved in the promotion of regional and global stability and security and in fighting international terrorism.

Romania — 10 years since its EU accession

Ten years after Romania’s accession to the European Union, 57% of Romanians continue to trust the EU, according to the results of a survey made public recently by the European Commission Representation in Romania. In the Romanians’ opinion, the main advantages of being EU members are the good ties among its members, democracy, the observance of human rights and the rule of law and also the capacity to promote peace and democracy beyond its borders. The fact that 54% of Romanians believe that their voice is being heard at EU level proves that they become active European citizens. As for the future, Romanians believe that the main threats and challenges are the fight against terrorism (65%), the relations with Russia (46%) and the immigration policy (41%). The survey also shows that according to the Romanians, the main advantages of their country’s EU accession are finding a job in another member state, the access to more markets and the positive impact of EU funds on the region they live in. As for disadvantages, these are the decrease in the purchasing power, foreigners having the right to buy land and real estate in Romania and the exodus of the highly qualified labor force.

Divergences over the justice laws.

Romania remains divided over a number of proposed changes to the laws regulating the judicial sector. In Bucharest, a special parliamentary committee has this week endorsed several amendments that sparked discontent among the right-wing opposition. The judicial reforms proposed by the Social Democrats are also criticized by part of civil society through street protests, on grounds that the new legislation would provide protection to corrupt politicians. Moreover, justice system officials argue that the changes will severely affect the efforts to curb corruption. The most recent signal has come from Washington, which has voiced concern with the Romanian Parliament preparing legislation that might affect the fight against corruption and weaken the judiciary’s independence from political pressure. The statement caused irritation in the ruling coalition, and delighted the Opposition. The Justice Minister Tudorel Toader said Parliament cannot be prevented from legislating, while the leaders of the 2 chambers, the Social Democrat Liviu Dragnea and the Liberal Democrat Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, issued a joint news release saying that “the debates, decisions and votes in Parliament are held in the name of the sovereignty of the people and cannot be subject to any form of pressure.” According to commentators, the American reaction comes after the European Commission had also said the global pace of reforms in the Romanian judiciary is slowing down, and the challenges to its independence are a major source of concern.

Mini-holiday for Romanians on St Andrew’s Day and on December 1, the National Holiday of Romania.

Romanians have been on a four-day mini-holiday as of Thursday, occasioned by St Andrews’ Day, the patron saint of Romania, followed by Romania’s National Day, on December 1st. Most Romanians have chosen local destinations to spend these days off from work, their favorites being the resorts on the Prahova Valley, in the Southern Carpathians, Bukovina, in the north as well as spas and treatment resorts. The average budget allocated for these travels across the country stands at some 170 Euros per person. The Romanians spending their mini-holiday abroad will however spend around 320 Euros per person. Celebrated by both the Romanians living in the country and abroad, December 1st, the National Day of Romania, is, as every year, a moment of joy. The highlight of the day was the traditional military parade in Bucharest. The approximately 3,500 Romanian military, accompanied by 50 aircraft and over 300 fighting vehicles paraded in Romania’s capital city. 300 other troops from allied and partner countries such as the US, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Greece and Great Britain were invited to join the parade. Also on December 1, Bucharest hosted open-air concerts and shows.