February 20, 2019 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 20.02.2019, 19:49
Rule of law — The European Commission is following with great concern the latest developments related to the rule of law in Romania, said Wednesday Margaritis Schinas, the EC spokesperson. Both the content and the procedure used for the latest changes, namely an emergency decree, without consultations with the justice representatives and those directly interested, run counter to the recommendations made by the EC as part of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, which is supported by all member states. Consequently the EC will ask the Romanian government to provide explanations related to the latest modifications. The EC spokesperson reminded that the Commission’s November report urged Romania to implement a solid and independent system for the appointment of high-ranking prosecutors, based on clear and transparent criteria and supported by the Venice Commission. The EU also called on Bucharest to revise the justice law by taking into account the recommendations made as part of the MCV and by the Venice Commission and GRECO. Mr. Schinas also said that Romania should urgently bring the reform process back on track and should abstain from taking any measure that cancels the progress reported over the past years.
EU Copyright Directive — The EU member states on Wednesday validated, at the Committee of the Permanent Representatives COREPER meeting, the political agreement reached by Romania, in its capacity as president of the Council of the EU, with the European Parliament over the copyright reform. According to a communiqué posted on the website of the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU, this is a further, important step towards passing the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, a law that is currently one of the most difficult files under discussion at European level. The balanced provisions of the Directive stipulate a correct pay of copyright holders and also take into account the interests of private users, the Romanian culture minister Daniel Breaz explained for Radio Romania News and Current Affairs. According to him, the European citizens will have access to a richer offer of online cultural content and educational materials as well as to trustworthy and quality news. The directive will have a positive impact on a large category of actors, for instance, press publishers, cultural institutions, education institutions, artists, performers, creators and professionals from the cultural field.
Tennis — World no. 2 player, Romanian Simona Halep, on Wednesday qualified to the quarter finals of the WTA tournament in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Halep defeated the Ukrainian Lesia Ţurenko (23 WTA) 6-3, 7-5 in the eighth finals. Halep, 3rd seed in the Dubai tournament, on Tuesday defeated Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 7-6, 6-4. Also on Wednesday the pair made up of Romanian Irina Bara and Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic was eliminated in the doubles’ eighth finals, 6-4, 6-4, by the 8th-seeded pair Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Germany)/Demi Schuurs (the Netehrlands).
Flu — 147 people have so far died from the flu in Romania since the start of the cold season, show latest data provided by the National Centre for the Monitoring and Control of Transmittable Diseases within the National Public Health Institute. The victims were suffering from other diseases and had not been vaccinated against the flu. Romania is currently in the grips of a flu epidemic. (news update by L. Simion)
