December 13, 2018
President Iohannis attends the EU Council and Euro Summit; British PM beats no confidence vote in Parliament
Mihai Pelin, 13.12.2018, 13:52
BRUSSELS – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis takes part on Thursday and Friday in the European Council meeting in Brussels and the Euro Summit. According to a press release from the Presidency, the European Council has on it agenda the budget past 2020, the internal EU market, migration, climate change, and the fight against racism and xenophobia. The Romanian president will plead for a speedy resolution regarding the budget, specifying that Romania, while holding the rotating presidency of the EU, will act towards significant progress in the negotiations. The presidency also said that the country would get actively involved in dialog with other EU member states in the matter of managing migration. The Brexit is back as a major topic in this meeting, while at the Euro Summit, the head of state will reiterate Romanias support for the consolidation of the economic and monetary union.
BREXIT – British PM Theresa May will be back in Brussels for Brexit negotiations, after beating a no confidence vote in her Conservative Party, currently in the majority. May will attempt to gain assurance from the EU to quell worries among MPs on certain aspects of the Brexit deal. Theresa May proved she had the trust of a slight majority of the Conservative Party in Parliament, after Mondays postponement of a vote on the Brexit deal she delivered. The document was adopted by the British cabinet, under intense criticism, even from Mays own party. The close margin of the no confidence vote, 200 as against 117, shows that the opposition against her is greater than anticipated. Opponents believe that the deal does not represent the position of most Brits on leaving the EU, and that May should resign.
HANDBALL — Romanias national womens handball team qualified for the semifinals in the European Championships in France, securing a place in the world championships in Japan next year. The team managed this in spite of the fact that they were defeated by Hungary 31-29, after the Netherlands defeated Germany 27-21 in Nancy, in the last game of main group II. On Friday, in the semifinals, Romania takes on current champions Russia, but will have to manage without Cristina Neagu, the top scorer in the history of European competitions, who suffered an injury. On that same day, the Netherlands takes on Frances in the other semifinal. The best result for the Romanian team in European championships was getting the bronze in 2010.
TRAIN — At least nine people were killed and around 50 were injured on Thursday near Ankara, Turkey, in a high speed rail accident. A train hit an engine that was running an inspection of the railway. According to the Turkish press, the train carried at least 200 passengers. The authorities are running a close inspection of the causes of the accident.
FILM — Paris is host to the Panorama of Romanian Cinema, one of the most important events in the 2019 Romania- France Cultural Season. The opening is a screening of the movie One Step Behind the Seraphims, attended by the director, Daniel Sandu, and actor Vlad Ivanov. For the December 16th wrap-up, the sequel Morometii 2 will be screened, in the presence of director Stere Gulea and actor Horatiu Malaele. The Panorama of Romanian Cinema, in its second edition, brings the audience 12 films, among them two documentaries and a short feature. Ten of the twelve will be premiering in France, and each will be followed by a panel discussion with the audience. The events of the 2019 Romania- France Cultural Season is an opportunity to review the cultural relationship between the two countries.
