Click here for a review of the headline grabbing events this past week.
The former sovereign of Romania, Mihai I, has withdrawn from public life due to health problems. He will be represented by Crown Princess Margareta of Romania who will fulfill of the king’s public duties. King Mihai I has recently undergone surgery and is undergoing a complex and demanding treatment, being diagnosed with two forms of cancer, shows a communiqué of the Royal House press office. The news about King Mihai’s health condition was received with concern by both President Klaus Iohannis and the PM Dacian Ciolos. In a Facebook post, the Romanian President has said he wanted the Royal Family to remain a beacon of hope and solidarity, while the PM has said His Majesty has given the Romanian people much love, hope and support along the years.
The Romanian Defense Ministry presented its activity report for 2015, a year in which the security environment in the Black Sea area continued to change and instability in the NATO’s southern vicinity increased. Among the top priorities of the Defense Ministry were the re-establishment of the army’s operational capacity and its active involvement in the Euro-Atlantic structures. The Romanian Army participated in more than 400 military exercises, of which over 100 were multinational drills. The main priority for 2016 is related to the enlargement of the National Defense Strategy, of Romania’s strategic partnerships and its involvement within NATO and other international bodies. For 2016 the Romanian Army received a budget by more than 50% higher than in 2015.
The European Commissioner for Justice praises the reforms Romania has made in the justice field
The European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourova, has this week visited Bucharest. On the occasion she said Romania and Romanians went to great lengths to fight corruption and protect the independence of the judiciary, the progress reported being encouraging. European issues and the projects Romania intends to run were high on the agenda of talks the European Commissioner had with the PM Dacian Ciolos and with Justice Minister, Raluca Prună. Vera Jourova pointed out that in 2017 it would be decided whether the process of monitoring the reforms in Romania would be continued and whether the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification would be maintained or another instrument would be set up.
The European Commissioner for Regional Policies, Corina Cretu visits Bucharest
The European Commissioner for Regional Policies, Corina Cretu, has also visited Bucharest this week. She has launched in Romania, for the first time, the pilot project entitled “Less Developed Regions” which will run for 2 years in the northwest and northeast of the country. The project is aimed at better using European funds. Corina Cretu said Brussels would try to cooperate with the national authorities and also directly with the local authorities, in order to identify the structural problems that prevent or slow down the absorption of European funds. In another development, the European Commissioner has drawn the attention of Romanian government officials that they have not sent to Brussels the documents necessary for funding the construction of three big regional hospitals in Cluj Napoca, Iasi and Craiova, although almost a year has passed since the launch of the projects.
An IMF delegation to Romania
An IMF delegation is currently in Bucharest for the annual assessment of the Romanian economy. The members of the delegation are due to have talks with representatives of the central authorities, the political parties, trade unions, business associations, the banking system and academics. Romania must undergo periodic economic assessments as part of its IMF membership. After assessing the state of the national economy, the delegation makes general recommendations regarding monetary, financial and economic policies to be pursued by the line authorities to ensure stability and economic growth. At the moment, Romania does not have a running agreement with the IMF.
The first refugees have arrived in Romania
15 refugees arrived in Romania on Thursday, coming from Greece. They will be accommodated in Galati, at the Centre for Asylum Seekers. In the following period of time, they will follow the specific asylum seeking procedures and will receive medical and material assistance as well as psychological counselling at the centre. These are the first refugees distributed to Romania, according to the quotas established at EU level. Romania is supposed to receive a total number of over 6,000 refugees.
The Romanian foreign minister has paid a visit to Iran
EU border security relies on negotiated solutions, in line with international law, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazar Comanescu, has said. On a visit to Tehran earlier this week, the Romanian Foreign Minister and Iranian officials agreed to finding solutions to the crises in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon, by holding consultations at Foreign Ministry level. Bucharest and Tehran have also decided to set up sectoral working groups, in preparation for the Joint Economic Commission, due to convene in Bucharest this year. The fields of cooperation agreed upon are transports, energy, petrochemistry, oil and natural gas.
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