January 9, 2020 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 09.01.2020, 19:42
ROMANIA-EU RELATIONS – Romania is a serious,
responsible partner committed to attaining EU goals and implementing
regulations adopted by community institutions, Romania’s Prime Minister Ludovic
Orban said on Thursday on the sidelines of his meeting in Brussels with
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The EU is Romania’s ally as
it prepares for the digital era, relying on Bucharest’s support, which enjoys
an outstanding reputation in this field, the EU official said in turn. The
agenda for talks also included the economy and the judiciary. The two officials
also discussed the issue of Romania’s Schengen accession, our country’s plea
having been met with both support and opposition from member states. Prime
Minister Orban expressed hope Romania would join the travel-free area within a
reasonable timetable.
ROMANIA-NATO
RELATIONS – Prime Minister Ludovic Orban and NATO Secretary General Jens
Stoltenberg met in Brussels on Thursday. They discussed, among other things,
cooperation within NATO, the developments in the Middle East and security in
the Black Sea region. Secretary Stoltenberg hailed Romania’s efforts to earmark
2% of its GDP to defense spending, pointing out the Black Sea region is of
strategic importance to NATO. Jens Stoltenberg thanked Romania for our
country’s participation in the Iraq missions, stating NATO has the possibility
of doing more in the Middle East, just as President Donald Trump has asked.
Ludovic Orban said the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance is a major partner of
Romania, reiterating Bucharest’s full support for the fulfillment of the
organization’s goals. The Romanian Prime Minister said Romania would continue
to take part in NATO missions and initiatives concerning NATO’s advanced
presence on its eastern flank, as well as in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq.
IRAN -The
escalating tensions in the Middle East are in the interest of neither the
region, nor the international community, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis
Klaus Iohannis told a press conference on Thursday. He gave assurances that
Romania has so far not been affected by any of the developments, neither have
been its citizens and military deployed to the area. Romania is in permanent
coordination with NATO and the EU as well as with its strategic bilateral
partners, first and foremost the United States, as regards its fundamental
security goals, Klaus Iohannis went on to say. The Romanian president also
hailed Wednesday’s declarations of President Donald Trump, underlining that the
common fight against terrorism in Iraq should definitely continue.
FORECAST
– The World Bank has revised up to 3.9% its forecast for Romania’s economic
growth in 2019, 0.3 % more than the forecast in June last year, shows the
Global Economic Prospects report published on Wednesday. According to the same
sources Romania is expected to register a GDP growth of 3.4%, 0.1 % higher than
the previous forecast. In spite of improved performances, the World Bank
believes the GDP growth will significantly slow down to 3.1% in 2021 and 2022.
The World Bank estimates a slight economic growth all over the world in 2020,
which is expected to reach 2.5% after the slowdown last year. The World Bank
has cautioned about this growth, which it described as fragile and subject to
potential risks.
HANDBALL
– The Romanian men’s handball team is in Italy. There our handballers are to
take on Italy, Georgia and Kosovo over January 10-12 in the first stage of
their qualification for the World Championship in Egypt next year. Coach Rares
Fortuneanu, who is also coaching French side Saint Raphael, has voiced optimism
concerning Romania’s qualification for the final tournament next year, the
first attended by 32 sides. We recall that the Romanian women’s representative
had made it to the main groups of the World Championship held last month in Japan.
(Translated by V. Palcu & D. Bilt)
