December 3, 2018 UPDATE

The project Educated Romania, initiated by President Klaus Iohannis, to be launched for public debate

Newsroom, 03.12.2018, 19:47

VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis received on Monday in Bucharest the Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, occasion on which he presented Romania’s priorities after taking over the EU Council Presidency. The Norwegian official voiced appreciation for the Romanian community in his country, who is well integrated and who brings added value to the bilateral relations. Also on Monday, the Romanian and Norwegian foreign ministers discussed about the perspective of bilateral ties and economic cooperation.

EDUCATION – On Wednesday Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is launching for public debate the results of the “Educated Romania” project, which he initiated in 2016, a presidential release has said. The project is the most comprehensive public consultation ever held in Romania in the field of public policies in education. More than 10 thousand people and over 60 public institutions, NGOs and representatives of decision-makers in the field contributed to the report. Also launched will the project’s website, where results are available for consultation and where people can say their opinions and suggestions.

PGI – Romania has a new entry on the list of products officially recognized at European level, as the Smoked Pontic Shad (the Danube Red Herring) has received the European Commission’s approval to become a protected geographical indication product (PGI), the EC Representation in Bucharest informs. The Pontic Shad is a wild fish that migrates from the Black Sea to the Danube. The species cannot be grown in aquaculture and is captured only during migration on the Danube. It is the world’s richest fish in fat compared to its size.

SUMMIT – Romanian PM Viorica Dancila took part on Monday in Zagreb in the opening of the Central-European Initiative Summit, which marks the end of Croatias one-year term at the helm of this institution. The Initiative was founded in 1989 as a regional inter-government forum engaged in supporting European integration and sustainable development by means of cooperation among member states and the EU, international and regional organizations, as well as other public or private institutions and NGOs. The main topics for the meeting are regional cooperation, with emphasis on promoting democratic values and practices, good neighborhood relations, and ensuring regional stability. The prime ministers will also discuss economic projects in energy interconnection and transportation. On Monday, PM Dancila had a meeting with her Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic.

JUDICIAL — In Bucharest, all criminal cases on the Supreme Court docket, scheduled to be ruled on on Monday, have been delayed for January 14. Involved are over 20 cases under appeal, including the one concerning Social Democrat leader and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Liviu Dragnea. He initially received a three and a half years prison sentence for instigation to abuse of office. The delay is the result of a ruling of the Bucharest Court of Appeal, canceling the decision on the drawing of lots for choosing the panels of five judges, which was in line with a specific disposition from the Constitutional Court. The drawing of lots was appealed in Court by Liviu Dragnea, who claimed that the Constitutional Court has not issued their motivation of that decision.

SENATE — The Senate in Bucharest rejected on Monday the simple motion against Minister of Tourism Bogdan Trif, tabled by the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union. 40 senators supported the motion while 76 were against it. The two parties claim that Romania trails every other EU country in terms of tourism at all levels, and that the activity of the Ministry of Tourism lacks transparency. The signatories of the motion also say that Minister Trif is unsuitable for the position, and that he missed a great opportunity by not promoting Romania this year, the year of the Centennial.

ENVIRONMENT — Patricia Espinosa, UN executive secretary for climate change, said that the threats against humanity posed by climate change were never greater than today. Speaking in the opening of the climate change conference in Katowice, Poland, she said that next year will among the hottest on record. Over 20,000 delegates gathered in Poland at what is considered to be the most important global warming meeting after the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.

(Translated by Elena Enache)