July 10, 2019

Struggle continues in Parliament around controversial judicial bills; In Romania, the annual rate of inflation is down below 3.84%, but the trade deficit has gone up

Mihai Pelin, 10.07.2019, 14:08

JUSTICE — Romanias Constitutional Court postponed until Thursday debates on the motions filed by President Klaus Iohannis and the opposition against changes to the Penal and Penal Procedural codes of law. The justices have delayed several times a decision in this respect. Opposition parties claim unconstitutionality against the bill, saying that the proposed bill brings over 300 changes in legislation, favoring the criminal, in stark opposition to the rule of law and the Constitution. In addition, President Klaus Iohannis pointed out that the parliamentary majority amended the codes in violation of certain rulings by the Constitutional Court. The bills were adopted in late April by the lower chamber of Parliament, which is the decision making forum in this case.

INFLATION – In Romania, the annual rate of inflation is down below 3.84%, but the trade deficit has gone up, according to the National Institute of Statistics. Also, consumer prices fell by .23% in June from the previous month, and by 2.98% compared to December 2018. On July 4, National Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu estimated that inflation in July may go under 4%, in line with market data. The trade deficit of Romania went up by 6.5 billion Euro after the first five months of the year, 30% higher as compared to the same period last year. As compared to the January — May 2018 period, exports went up almost 4.5%, but imports went up faster, by 8.3%.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis star Simona Halep plays on Thursday against Ukrainian Elena Svitolina in the semi-finals in Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year. Previously, Halep had defeated 50th seeded Chinese Shuai Zhang. Halep and Svitolina face off for the 8th time, with the Ukrainian holding the lead with four games won. They meet for the first time on grass court. In the other semi-final, American Serena Williams, 10th seeded, plays against Czech Barbora Strycova ( 54 WTA). In the mixed doubles, Romanian Raluca Olaru and Croat Franko Skugor go to the quarter finals by defeating 6-2, 6-2 the double Nikola Metkic (Croatia)/Alicja Rosolska (Poland). In the mens doubles in the quarter finals, the pair Horia Tecău (Romania) and Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) was defeated by the Colombian pair Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 11-9. In the womens eighth finals, Romanians Irina Begu Monica Niculescu were defeated 6-3, 6-4 by the pair Su-Wei Hsieh (Taiwan)/Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic).

OSCE — Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu took part between July 8 and 9 in the informal meeting of OSCE foreign ministers, held in Slovakia, according to a Foreign Ministry press release. Minister Melescanu underlined the need to implement fully the principles and commitments made by member states in all areas of activity for the organization: political, military, economic, and environmental. He emphasized the importance of the cooperation between the OSCE and the EU, as well as Romanias specific contribution as the country holding the presidency of the Council of Europe in 2019. At the same time, the head of diplomacy reaffirmed his countrys support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also said that a solution to the conflict in Transdnestr, a separatist region in the east of Moldova, is a major priority for Romania, and reaffirmed the countrys support for 5+2 negotiations, a framework guaranteeing the transparency and legitimacy of a lasting solution, based on respecting in full the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former Soviet republic.

LABOR — The Ministry of Labor and Social Justice made a proposal to bring up to 30,000 the number of foreign workers on the Romanian market this year. The bill could replace an executive order setting at 20,000 the number of such workers. The ministry specified that this increase may contribute to ensuring the necessary labor force for certain sectors and occupations not covered with Romanian workers. At the same time, it would prevent situations in which foreign citizens work in Romania illegally. According to the National Agency for Workplace Occupancy, of the total vacant jobs in the first five months of this year, 60,000 have been declared repeatedly by employers as being unfilled.