July 13, 2018

Brussels talks on project for M6 subway segment to link international airport, Washington supports the territorial integrity and political sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia

Newsroom, 13.07.2018, 13:13

Transports — The Romanian minister for European funds Rovana Plumb and the transport minister Lucian Sova talked in Brussels with the EU Commissioner for regional policy Corina Cretu about the approval by the European Commission of the project for the M6 subway segment that will ensure the link with the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest. According to a communiqué of the Transport Ministry in mid March the European Commission asked Metrorex company to provide clarifications in relation to their request for funding the project. The Transport Ministry officials say the value of the subway segment is almost 1.3 billion Euros of which Romania can cover at present only 330 million Euros from a loan and the state budget, with the rest to be possibly covered from European funds. Talks in Brussels also tackled the possibility of building a highway between Transylvania (in the center) and Moldavia (in the east). The route of the highway will be set in such a way so as to bring economic benefits to both Romania and the EU.

Washington – Washington supports the territorial integrity and political sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia and reiterates its support for the democratically elected governments and people of those three countries, shows a US Congress resolution. The document shows the US’s commitment to supporting the three former Soviet republics on their way to European integration, and to obtain energy security and intensify commercial cooperation. The resolution also condemns the Russian aggression in the region, and calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition which are illegally deployed on the territory of these three states. The resolution asks the allies from the EU and the UN to continue to put pressure on Moscow for it to comply with its international commitments and calls on the US Department of State to have a full-fledged and active dialogue against Russia’s interference in the democratic processes of the three sovereign nations. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has recently reiterated the need for a complete withdrawal of foreign armed forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, and NATO called for the pullout of Russian troops stationed in the three states, without their consent, in line with international commitments.

Brussels — Securing border points, equipping them with state-of-the-art technology and modernizing the customs infrastructure are some of the main objectives of the Romanian Public Finance Ministry for 2018. This is the statement made by finance minister Eugen Teodorovici in Brussels at an event occasioned by the celebration of 50 years of customs union. Minister Teodorovici signed, on the occasion, the European Customs Charter under the high patronage of Pierre Moscovici, a European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, and of Hartwig Loger, the Austrian finance minister, whose country is holding the presidency of the Council of the EU. Customs union was first mentioned in the Rome Treaty and came into force in 1968 when customs duties levied at the border between the states of the European Community were eliminated. The EU members are using a common set of rules, the so-called Customs Code, which lies at the basis of the Customs Union.

Gărâna — The 22nd edition of the Gărâna Jazz Festival is under way in the southwest of Romania until Sunday. The program includes 25 concerts by musicians from 16 countries. Besides concerts, the audience will have the opportunity to attend the presentation of an experiment — installation made by painter Gheorghe Fikl, during the theater play “Farm” by the Auăleu troupe, the Vinyl National Fair, the exhibition of jazz posters as well as the launch of the book ‘Instant Stage’ by Ioana Tăut. In the past 20 years, more than 70 thousand spectators and many internationally-famed artists shared the experience of avant-garde jazz music in the open air, in the small Romanian village of Gărâna.

B-Fit — As of Friday until August 5 Bucharest will host, each weekend, the 10th edition of the International Street Theater Festival, B-Fit in the Street. This anniversary edition of the festival, called “A Romanian Story in the Centennial Year” includes tens of shows performed by 400 artists from12 countries among which Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Romania. The world premiere of the aerial acrobatics show ‘Sonics in Wish’ from Italy will take place on July 14.

Luxemburg — FC Viitorul football team, 4th ranked in Romania’s football championship, on Thursday won the away match against Racing Union Luxemburg 2-0, in the first preliminary round of Europa League. The return match will take place in Romania on July 19. If they defeat the team of Luxemburg, FC Viitorul will play in the second preliminary round against Vitesse Arnhem of the Netherlands. Also playing in the Europa League preliminaries will be CSU Craiova, the Cup winner, and vice-champions FCSB. Title holder CFR Cluj will play in the preliminaries of the Champions League. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)