December 13, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 13.12.2019, 13:55

UK ELECTION – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
today reiterated his promise of seeing Brexit achieved on January 31, 2020,
following the crushing victory of the Conservative Party in Thursday’s snap
election. The Prime Minister, whose party grabbed 363 of the total of 650 seats
in the House of Commons, according to partial results, has congratulated
everyone who contributed to securing the biggest Conservative win since the
’80s. The main opposition force, the Labor Party, has reported a biting defeat,
grabbing only 203 seats as compared to the 262 in the previous election two
years ago. US President Donald Trump congratulated Boris Johnson for his win.
The White House leader stated that Great Britain and the United States will now
be able to agree on a massive trade agreement post-Brexit.

BREXIT – The EU is hoping for a swift vote in
favor of Brexit in the British Parliament following the Conservative Party’s
win in Thursday’s snap election, European Council President Charles Michel said
Friday on the sidelines of the European Council meeting in Brussels. In turn,
President Klaus Iohannis said the result of the British legislative election is
good for Romanians living in the UK. The Romanian president said British
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wanted a no-deal Brexit.

GOVERNMENT – The Government in Bucharest will pay the
state-owed debt to the Micula brothers, in order to avoid a deadlock at the
Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration (ROMATSA). The debt was incurred
following a court case concluded several years ago. The two business people won
the trial at the Court of International Commercial Arbitration, and were due 84
million euros from the Romanian state. The total amount has reached 400 million
euros, with added interest rates and penalties. In another move, the Government
will seek Parliament’s vote of confidence for the repeal of certain provisions
in the emergency decree 114, referring to the introduction of measures in the
field of public investment, of certain fiscal-budgetary measures, the
modification and addition of draft laws and the postponement of deadlines. The
Government also wants to eliminate taxes in energy, communications and the
banking sector, private pension conditions and the dissolution of the Sovereign
Investment Fund. The minimum wage in constructions is expected to stay the
same.

VISA WAIVER – The United States and the European Union
have pledged to support the lifting of US visas for citizens from Bulgaria,
Cyprus, Croatia and Romania, by including these countries in the Visa Waiver
programme, an EU Council release reads. Access to the programme allows citizens
to travel to the US for tourism or business for a period of up to 90 days
without requiring a visa. As regards Romania, our country continues its efforts
to join the programme. The Romania-US joint declaration adopted by Presidents
Klaus Iohannis and Donald Trump on August 20, 2019, reiterates US support for
Romania’s efforts of becoming eligible for Visa Waiver admission, in line with
US legislative requirements.

FOOTBALL – Romanian champions CFR Cluj on Thursday qualified to
the Europa League round of 32 after defeating Celtic Glasgow of Scotland 2-nil
at home in its last Group E fixture. With four wins, CFR will advance to the
next stage, joined by Thursday’s opponents Celtic. In the other group fixture,
Rennes of France defeated Lazio Rome 2-nil. The two teams have been knocked
out. The draw for the round of 32 is scheduled on Monday. CFR is likely to take
on powerful opponents such as Ajax Amsterdam of the Netherlands, Inter Milan of
Italy, Seville of Spain or Manchester United of Great Britain.

(Translated by V.
Palcu)