February 16, 2017
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Newsroom, 16.02.2017, 14:12
VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is today meeting European Commission chief-negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, who is on a visit to Bucharest. The meeting is scheduled ahead of Romanias taking over the EU presidency in 2019, a year when Brexit negotiations are due to enter their final phase. President Iohannis has repeatedly said that Brexit negotiations should observe the rights of Romanians living in the UK. Michel Barnier visited Romania on October 5, 2016, when he met with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.
EMERGENCY DECREE – The Chamber of Deputies is today debating the emergency decree rescinding the controversial decree by means of which the Government tried to amend criminal legislation. According to the chairman of the Chambers judicial committee, which is the decision-making body is this matter, approving the former would make null the latter. The decree, which among other things partially decriminalized abuse of office, was at the centre of mass street protests in Bucharest and other large cities, started on January 31. Protesters called for the withdrawal of the decree and called for the resignation of the Government. Anti-presidential protests were also staged against Klaus Iohannis. Protesters accuse the president for failing to act as a mediator in the current crisis.
ACTIVITY REPORT – The total value of assets seized or frozen last year by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism stood at 930 million euros. According to the institutions activity report for 2016, total crime-related damages, as shown by cases solved last year, stood at 135 million euros, as compared to 173 million euros in 2015. Anti-mafia prosecutors solved over 13,000 cases last year, up by 12.5% as against 2015, with almost 4,000 people being prosecuted. Another 13,000 cases are still pending.
INFRINGEMENT – The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Romania on retail trade of agricultural and food products. Large retailers from Romania are required to purchase at least 51% of food and agricultural products from local producers. The Commission raised concerns on the basis of the principle of free movement of goods. The joint Senate committees on European affairs and agriculture decided to set up a task force to harmonize Romanian legislation with EU regulations.
NATO – NATO Defence Ministers are today discussing cyber security at the end of their two-day formal meeting in Brussels. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said cyber-attacks on NATO networks went up by 60% over 2015-2016 and there are reports from some Member States indicating that Russia might be behind some of these attacks. On Monday NATO Defence Ministers agreed to set up a new regional centre to respond to threats from the south. The centre will be integrated into the NATO Command Centre in Napoli, Italy, and will function as a response force to threats from the Middle East and Northern Africa. Attending the meeting, Romanian Defence Minister Gabriel Les said that Romania has observed its commitment to allotting 2% of its GDP to defence this year. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Defence Ministers of Romania, the Czech Republic and Germany signed agreements to consolidate cooperation.
TRAVEL FAIR – Over 250 travel agents from 14 countries on Thursday and Friday are taking part in Romanias Travel Fair. Agencies from Romania and Austria, Bulgaria, Egypt, Croatia, the Russian Federation, Greece, Israel, Moldova, Palestine, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Turkey and Hungary will be presenting visitors with customised offers, based on individual budgets and preferences, travel packages for Easter, the summer holidays as well as circuits. Travel agents have offers at 40-50% discounts, available only during the fair, transport offers for one euro only, air travel costs included and other benefits.
FOOTBALL – Romanias football champions Astra Giurgiu is today playing KRC Genk of Belgium in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16. Qualified to this phase for the first time, Astra previously played in a group with AS Rome of Italy, Viktoria Plezen of the Czech Republic and Austria Vienna. Astra is the only Romanian team left in the competition. The return leg will be played away from home next Thursday. (Tranlsated by V. Palcu)
