April 4, 2023

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 04.04.2023, 14:11

NATO Finland has today become the 31st
member of NATO right ahead a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers. The
Secretary General of the North-Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg has hailed
Finland’s entry into NATO saying quote: It will be a good day for Finland’s
security, for Nordic security and for NATO as a whole.

Finland and Sweden last year applied for NATO
accession shortly after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and
they were given the statute of invitees also last year. While Finland got the
greenlight from all NATO members, Sweden’s accession has been delayed by
Turkey. Stoltenberg has expressed hope that Sweden will soon become a
fully-fledged member just like Finland. During their meeting, the allies are
expected to tackle the illegal war Russia is presently waging on Ukraine and
endorse a multiannual support programme. Southern threats and provocations, the
importance of increased investment in the defence industry and China’s increased
partnership with Russia are also high on the agenda. NATO’s partners in the
Indo-Pacific area and the EU will be participating in talks about the global
consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

DEBATES The legal committee of the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest is today
resuming debates over the new Criminal Code amendments, criminalizing the abuse
of office and neglect of duty. The initial form endorsed by the Senate,
providing for a ceiling of roughly five thousand Euros for this crime is going
to be amended. The ruling coalition held talks about an 18 hundred euros
ceiling whereas the Liberals have announced their intention to propose a
ceiling of 12 hundred euros, accounting for two minimum wages. The opposition
USR believes the ceiling for the aforementioned offence should be around a
symbolic value so that the Constitutional Court rulings be observed.

ACADEMY Romania’s highest cultural and scientific forum, the Romanian Academy, has today, on its 157th anniversary, opened its doors to visitors.
On this occasion, its most representative places like the Academy Hall, the
Academy Club or the Memorial Museum, have been opened to visitors who are also offered
a guided tour of the Library. The Romanian Academy boasts 14 sections, covering
several domains such as literature, linguistics, history, philosophy, mathematics,
physics, chemistry, biology, genomics, technical sciences, science and IT,
agronomy, medicine, economic and legal sciences, art and architecture. The
Romanian Academy presently boasts 181 members and corresponding members as well
as 135 honorary members.

MEETING We are supporting the Republic of Moldova with
everything we can so that it may defend against Russia’s attempts to
destabilize the country, was the joint message conveyed in Bucharest by German
Chancellor Olaf Scholtz and President Klaus Iohannis upon a trilateral meeting
with the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The Moldovan
official said that under the present context, her country needs economic
support but also assistance in the attempts to strengthen the country’s defence
capabilities. Chancellor Scholtz has given assurances that Germany supports
Romania’s accession to Europe’s border-free area, Schengen.

(bill)