A look at the main events of the past week in Romania
President Klaus Iohannis holds talks with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, in Bucharest
The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has held talks in Bucharest with Victoria Nuland, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. The two officials emphasised the privileged nature of bilateral ties and reiterated both countries’ wish to strengthen the strategic partnership under all aspects. Also discussed was the progress Romania made in fighting corruption. Also this week, President Iohannis has outlined Romania’s main foreign policy guidelines as part of his annual meeting with foreign ambassadors to Bucharest. Klaus Iohannis said the Strategic Partnership with the United States and Romania’s NATO and EU membership have been and will continue to be the pillars of Romania’s foreign policy. Another important topic on Romania’s foreign policy agenda is the consolidation of strategic partnerships or of privileged relations with Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and Turkey. The President also said Bucharest would continue to focus on its relations with its neighbours, especially with the Republic of Moldova. Iohannis said he was expecting the EU to better plan its own agenda, especially as regards the refugee issue and a more efficient management at the level of the EU institutions. As regards Schengen accession, the Romanian president said that although the Schengen area was facing a great many difficulties and challenges at present, Romania still wanted to join the free-travel area.
Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos pays visit to France
Joining the Schengen area was one of the topics tackled in Paris by Romania’s PM Dacian Ciolos with the French President Francois Hollande and with PM Manuel Valls.
As regards Romania’s position on this matter, Dacian Ciolos has said: “I have confirmed the fact that Romania supports border consolidation projects because France itself is in charge of securing one of the largest EU external borders. We plan on further doing our job in this respect and we hope that Romania’s contribution to border security is acknowledged, besides the technical criteria that Romania has already met, in order for this country to be able to join the Schengen space, starting with the opening of air communications.”
Dacian Ciolos and President Hollande discussed about the good results of the bilateral strategic partnership. The French President has confirmed that he will pay a visit to Romania this year. The two officials also tackled joint objectives in the military, economic and cultural field as well as topical issues on the European agenda such as the refugee crisis and terrorism. At the meeting with French business people, Ciolos said Romania is a stable country in political terms and also predictable from a fiscal and budgetary view point. The Romanian PM also met with the heads of the two chambers of the French Parliament and with representatives of the Romanian community in that country.
Romanian Defense Minister holds talks with NATO Secretary General
Romania’s Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc held talks in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. According to a release by the Romanian Defense Ministry, Minister Motoc highlighted the importance that must be paid to the security situation in the Black Sea extended area. Motoc gave assurances that in 2016 Romania will stick to its commitment to participate in the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan with some 650 military. The two officials also tackled the implementation of the Plan to enhance NATO’s operational capability and the agenda of the Alliance’s next summit. Mihnea Motoc also met with General Petr Pavel, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee.
No special pensions for elected local officials
The Constitutional Court of Romania ruled that the law giving special pension benefits to elected local officials is against the Constitution, as notified by the Government. The Court has found that the law is unclear, it discriminates between elected officials and fails to indicate the financing sources. On December 26, 2015, the Government notified the Court that some provisions in the law apparently breached the Constitution, in that they regulate privileges for certain locally elected officials, they give special rights retroactively and fail to specify financing sources for the new benefits. The Government warned that there are over 16,000 potential beneficiaries of the law, and the budgetary strain in 2016 may affect the stability of the fiscal-budgetary framework.
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