July 13, 2022

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 13.07.2022, 13:55

NATO – The Government in Bucharest is
today expected to adopt and submit to Parliament a draft law on the
ratification of the NATO accession of Finland and Sweden. The NATO accession
protocols were signed in Brussels on July 5, and now they must be ratified by
all Member States. Last week, Chamber of Deputies speaker, Marcel Ciolacu, said
Parliament will make short work of the ratification process, and that a special
Parliament session will be called in this respect. Ciolacu went on to say that
the illegal and unwarranted war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine
has fundamentally changed the security context. The status of NATO candidate
countries allows Finland and Sweden to attend NATO meetings, also providing
them with access to confidential information. Until the ratification process is
completed at the level of all NATO member states, the two countries cannot
benefit from collective defense under Article 5. The ratification process could
last a year, some experts say.

WHISTLEBLOWERS – The Constitutional Court of Romania
today ruled against a notification submitted by USR in opposition regarding the
law on the protection of whistleblowers. USR claims the law adopted by the
PSD-PNL-UDMR Cabinet is considerably reducing the protection offered to people
who signal irregularities in public institutions and raises major obstacles in
securing Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) funds. The notification invokes elements
of unconstitutionality, including the violation of certain commitments Romania
pledged to observe upon joining the EU and the lack of clarity and
predictability of some provisions.

COVID – The number of COVID cases is on the
rise. Over 4,000 new infections were signaled on Tuesday within the space of 24
hours. Of these, most were reported in Bucharest. Some 1,500 COVID patients are
currently hospitalized, 90 in intensive care. The authorities also reported 9
related deaths. We recall the authorities have reverted to daily
epidemiological updates amidst a resurge in the number of COVID cases.

REFUGEES – According to the Romanian
Border Police Inspectorate, 9,808 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania on
Tuesday, a 10% drop compared to the previous day. Starting February 10, 2022,
some 1.5 million Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania.

TOUR – US president Joe Biden has started a
tour of the Middle East. The president is today expected to arrive in Israel,
where he will stay for two days. On Friday, Joe Biden will meet the president
of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Next he will
travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which will mark the first visit ever paid by an
American president to this country. Here he will hold talks with Saudi
officials and attend a summit of Gulf allies. Today, president Biden,
accompanied by the Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz, will visit an
exhibition of the country’s air defense network. The USA and Israel are
expected to sign a Strategic Partnership agreement, including a joint stance
against Iran’s nuclear program and regional aggression to ensure Iran never
attains a nuclear weapon.

FOOTBALL – Romania’s football champions, CFR Cluj,
are today playing Piunik Yerevan of Armenia at home in the return leg of the
Champions League first preliminary round. A week ago in Yerevan, CFR had drawn
0-0 in the first leg. Should it win, CFR Cluj will next play F91 Dudelange of
Luxembourg in the second preliminary round. The team from Luxembourg knocked
out the Albanian champions KF Tirana in the first round. The three Romanian
teams qualified to European Conference League will go up against less
formidable clubs in the second preliminary round. Therefore, Romanian
vice-champions, FCSB will take on the winner of the match pitting FC Saburtalo
of Georgia against Partizani Tirana of Albania. Sepsi OSK will play the winner
of the match pitting Olimpja Ljubljana of Slovenia against Differdange 03 of
Luxembourg, whereas finally, Universitatea Craiova will play KF Vllaznia
Shkoder of Albania, the winner of the Albanian Cup. The return legs are
scheduled this month. (VP)