April 29, 2015 UPDATE
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Valentin Țigău, 29.04.2015, 12:30
The European Parliament on Wednesday approved one billion euros worth of funds so that member states could assist young people in their attempt to find jobs. The funds will benefit 20 countries with regions where unemployment is higher than 25% including Romania. According to a communiqué issued by the European Parliament, the number of young people with ages ranging from 15 to 25 without a job or who aren’t attending any education or professional training programme is on the rise particularly in the member states facing difficulties in co-funding European funds for programmes.
Romanian PM Victor Ponta between 30 April- 5 May goes on a tour of Arab countries in the Gulf, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, aiming to strengthen dialog and to enhance trade relations. Investment and business opportunities are high on the agenda, especially in construction, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, energy, IT, tourism and health. A number of agreements and bilateral protocols will be signed in foreign relations, education and research, tourism, health, air transportation, as well as oil and gas.
European Commissioner for Regional Policies, Romanian Corina Cretu says the use of European funds for the period between 2007 and 2013 remains a major challenge for Romania. The European Commission appreciates the progress Romania has made and the issue was also tackled during the meeting in Strasbourg on Tuesday between president Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister Victor Ponta. Commissioner Cretu is urging Romania to adopt and implement the initiative for the SMEs, which do not require co-funding at national level and has a huge potential of boosting entrepreneurship and foster the creation of new jobs.
Radio Romania has initiated the organisation of a recital, which opens the series of musical events occasioned by the participation in the European Broadcasting Union’s New York Meeting 2015 due over April 29th and May 3rd. The series of events consisting of seminars, debates, concerts and working visits focusing on musical broadcasts and exchanges of musical programmes are to bring together representatives of public radio stations from Europe and America. Standing out among the events scheduled during the meeting is the recital due on April 30th at the Concert Space in Manhattan given by Matei Varga, a pianist of Romanian extraction.
Humanitarian aid and rescue teams start arriving in the isolated communities in Nepal close to the epicentre of the devastating earthquake, which hit the region late last week. Rescue operations are underway in capital Kathmandu, where enraged people clashed with police troops following the authorities’ delayed response. Over 5 thousand people are reported to have died so far and over half a million have been left homeless.
Ukrainian President Petro Porosenko on Wednesday signed a law regarding the ratification of the Agreement between Ukraine and Romania, which includes measures aimed at strengthening mutual trust and security, reads the online publication “Evropieska Pravda”. The parties agreed to develop military cooperation with the aim of consolidating security and trust in the areas neighboring the state border between Ukraine and Romania. The agreement also stipulates that “the Ukrainian party shall not hold or deploy offensive weapons on the Serpent Island” in the Black Sea.
The Minister delegate for Relations with Romanians Abroad, Angel Tilvar, will be paying a formal visit to Israel between April 30th — May 3rd. ‘The visit reflects the special attention that Romania pays to the Middle East in general, and Israel in particular’ reads a press release issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry. According to the communiqué, the agenda of the meeting includes topic concerning the community of Romanian-born Israelis, who are attached to the cultural values in their country of origin and help strengthen the Romanian identity profile.
