February 1, 2020
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 01.02.2020, 13:55
MEETING Romanian PM Ludovic Orban is today attending in Beja, Portugal, the informal group The Friends of Cohesion. The meeting in Portugal follows after officials of the 17 member-states met in Prague in November 2019 to define the groups further steps in defending the cohesion and agricultural policies in the next financial framework. They want that in the 2021-2027 financial framework the same amount as before to be set aside for cohesion purposes. They also insist on preserving the same domestic share of means invested in EU co-funded projects in their respective countries and oppose plans to shorten the period necessary for the implementation of such projects.
FLU Eleven people died in Romania from seasonal flu so far, according to the National Centre for Infectious Disease Monitoring and Control. Experts announced that the week of January 20th was the season’s first week of epidemic. Several schools in Bucharest and elsewhere in the country were also closed because of flu cases. The Education Ministry announced that full or partial suspension of classes because of the flu affects over 5,500 students, but that this is not the number of cases among children. Neighbouring Bulgaria is also affected, with 19 regions officially declaring a flu epidemic and classes suspended in nearly 1,900 schools and kindergartens.
BREXIT Britain is no longer a memebr of the EU, starting today. It is the first state to leave the EU since its establishment. The British economy accounted for 15% of the EU economy, and London is the world’s financial capital. The UK was also the EU member state with the largest defence budget. The kingdom joined the European community in 1973, 16 years since the Rome Treaty had been signed and 22 since the European Coal and Steel Community had been set up by France, West Germany, Italy and Benelux. In 2016, the UK decided through a referendum to leave the bloc, which kicked off a controversial and complicated negotiation process. The transition period which begins on Saturday ends late this year. One of the most critical aspects that need working out is a trade agreement to avoid customs duties between the 2 parties. Romania regrets Britain’s decision and hopes it will remain a close and trustworthy partner, sharing the same system of values, President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement. He emphasised that Bucharest’s main goal has been to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Romanian citizens who live, work and study in the UK, a goal which is properly reflected in the Withdrawal Agreement. Romania wishes to deepen its strategic partnership with Britain, so as to strengthen the post-Brexit relation between the 2 countries, president Iohannis also said.
AVIATION Poland signed on Friday a 4.6 billion US dollar deal on the procurement of 32 last-generation stealth F-35 aircraft from the US, to consolidate its air forces and also its relations with Washington, AFP reports. This is an important day for the Polish military aviation, for the country’s security and for the security of this part of Europe, Poland’s president Andrzej Duda said. The first fighters could be supplied in 2024, making Poland the first Central and Eastern European country to use this kind of aircraft.
VIRUS No coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Romania so far, the ministerial committee for the management and monitoring of the potential infections with the new virus has announced. Prevention measures have been put in place in airports and medical units designated for the treatment of possible infection cases. The National Authority for Consumer Protection in Romania has given assurances that there is no contamination risk from goods imported from China since the virus has a lifespan of 24 hours outside the human body, and it takes around 35 days to transport goods from China into Romania. The World Health Organisation has declared the new coronavirus a global emergency as the death toll in China stands at 259, out of nearly 12,000 cases. The virus has also reached Europe, with cases being reported in Spain, Sweden, Germany, Britain, France and Russia.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
