April 2, 2019
Romania celebrates 15 years of NATO membership; British Parliament fails to agree on Brexit once again
Corina Cristea, 02.04.2019, 14:21
BUCHAREST – In Bucharest, Parliament held a solemn session to celebrate 15 years since Romania joined the North Atlantic Alliance. The event features speeches by the president of the country, high officials, and a wide array of diplomats, with Parliament adopting a declaration. At present, 887 Romanian military personnel are involved in NATO missions, of which 56 in the KFOR mission in Kosovo, 690 in Afghanistan, a 120 strong anti-air detachment in Poland, and 21 general staff and liaison officers in NATO structures.
XXX — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sent Romanian President Klaus Iohannis congratulations on the 15th anniversary of Romania joining the North Atlantic Alliance. The secretary said that NATOs expansion has been a great success, promoting stability and prosperity. He added that Romania is a strong and committed ally, bringing an important contribution to common defense and Alliance missions and operations, playing a major role in the Black Sea area, in maritime, air, and anti-ballistic defense.
ENERGY – European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy is on a two day visit to Bucharest, taking part in the Informal Energy Council, hosted by the Romanian line minister, Anton Anton. Under discussion are the priorities of the future energy system in the EU in order to ensure energy transition post-2020. The meeting will include two ceremonies to sign grants for energy as part of the European Interconnection Mechanism. The Council also hosts the first ministerial level energy meeting between EU states and the states in the Eastern Partnership. On Monday, the European official took part in a meeting dedicated to regional energy cooperation in CEE.
BREXIT – The British Parliament once again failed to find a solution for the Brexit, rejecting all four amendments proposed on Monday night, which raises the chances that the UK will leave the EU with no deal on April 12. According to Radio Romanias correspondent in London, the amendment that came closest to passing was the one that proposed the UK stay in the Customs Union, which failed by 3 votes. The proposal to hold a new referendum failed by 12 votes. EU head negotiator Michel Barnier said that the UK has three option ahead of the break-up date: to withdraw with no deal, to ask for a long term delay of the Brexit, or to hold European Parliament elections in the UK in May.
BUCHAREST — The Judiciary Committee in the Romanian Senate did not have the quorum today to discuss the National Anti-Corruption Directorate request to start criminal investigations into Senate Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu for alleged bribery. He stands accused of taking 800,000 dollars from an Austrian company, which were then used in the election campaign. Tariceanu, during hearings, said that the purpose of prosecutors is to intimidate him in what he said was his fight against so-called abuses in Romania. The official is still covered by immunity, since the alleged deeds were perpetrated during his term as premier.
