May 28, 2014 UPDATE
Click here for a round-up of domestic and international news.
Roxana Vasile, 28.05.2014, 12:10
POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS– Representatives of the two main right wing parties in Romania, the National Liberal Party and the Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday decided to lay the foundations of a solid and long-lasting common political project. The announcement was made by the Liberals, who said the project includes, among others, the creation of a big right wing party in the near future. In turn, the Democrat Liberals made public the two parties’ decision to have a single candidate in the presidential election due in November. The National Liberal Party and the Liberal Democratic Party started holding official negotiations against the backdrop of talks between the leaders of the two parties, in an attempt to create a common front against the Social Democratic Party, the major party in the ruling coalition. In Sunday’s EP elections, the left wing electoral alliance made up of the Social Democratic Party, the National Union for the Progress of Romania and the Conservative Party won a landslide victory, with over 37% of the cast votes. The National Liberal Party got 15% and the Liberal Democratic Party 12%.
DIPLOMACY-Romanian foreign minister Titus Corlatean on Wednesday received in audience his Italian counterpart, Federica Mogherini. The focal points of the talks were the current stage of bilateral relations, the returns of the European parliamentary elections and the situation in Ukraine. Minister Corlatean underlined that Italy continued to be Romania’s second largest trading partner in 2013. The volume of two-way trade-exchanges stood at approximately 12 billion Euros and over 37,000 companies with Italian capital are present on the Romanian market. Furthermore, the Romanian community, the largest in Italy has a major contribution to Italy’s economic life and society. The visit also marked the 135th anniversary of establishing bilateral diplomatic relations.
UKRAINE– In an interview with the German daily “Bild”, Ukraine’s newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, on Wednesday pledged to put an end to terror in the eastern part of the country, which is being ravaged by separatism. In another move, European leaders have called on Petro Poroshenko to initiate the reform process and have promised the European Union’s support for the process of constitutional reform, economic stabilisation and enhancing energy security. EU leaders have also called on Russia to cooperate with the new authorities in Kiev, continue the pull-out of its troops from the common border with Ukraine and use its influence with the armed groups in eastern Ukraine to reduce tension in the area.
BRUSSELS-The European Union is further extremely vulnerable, because it has imported 53% of its energy consumption, over the past 10 years, which costs it one billion dollars a day, the European Commission announced on Wednesday. The main supplier is Russia, which covers 39% of the natural gas needs and 33% of the oil needs of the community bloc. According to Brussels, the EU can temporarily cope with a cessation of Russian gas deliveries, which are transiting Ukraine, but at a high cost. Consequently, if it wants to reduce its energy dependency on Moscow, the Union should develop its renewable energies or to exploit unconventional resources, such as shale gas. The energy systems of six European states, among which Germany, Bulgaria and Poland are largely dependent on Russian gas imports.
PRINCE CHARLES’ VISIT– Prince Charles of Great Britain continues his private visit to Romania. On Wednesday he visited the city of Brasov, in central Romania. He made a stopover at the Black Church and took a stroll down the narrow streets in the old city. Prince Charles owns a number of properties and old houses in Zalan Valley, Covasna County, that he has restored. The heir to the British Crown is involved in the conservation of several historical monuments, particularly the Saxon villages in Transylvania, founded in the 12th century, some of which are on the UNESCO world heritage list.
FLASH FLOOD– Romanian hydrologists on Wednesday issued new code yellow and orange alerts against flooding on the Danube. The Danube water level on the Romanian section has grown in the southeast of the country, where a flash flood originating in Serbia is being expected. According to experts, a flood alert on the Danube remains in place until the end of the month.
BOOK FAIR– The 9th Bookfest International Book Fair has got under way in Bucharest. The fair, which comes to an end on June 1st, features 300 different events and brings together 200 publishers. The guest country this year is Poland. As a first, books for children and teenagers will be launched as part of a new programme entitled Bookfest Junior, as well as book signings, drawing and acting workshops for children.
