July 15, 2019
The Romanian Interior Minister Carmen Dan, resigns on the day that her party decides on a government reshuffle; The members of the European Parliament meet in Strasbourg in plenary session to decide on the new European Commission president
România Internațional, 15.07.2019, 13:41
MINISTER – The Romanian Interior Minister, Social Democrat Carmen Dan, announced on Monday her resignation. According to the Bucharest press, she was on the list of possible sackings. Her partys leadership decides on a government reshuffle today. Social Democratic PM Viorica Dancila specified that they analyzed the activity of eight of the ministers in her cabinet, without giving names. Dancila said that she would make proposals on the eight. The evaluation of the ministers was made based on several criteria, including the governing platform, as well as effectiveness and communication, said the head of government.
STRASBOURG – The members of the European Parliament meet in Strasbourg in plenary session to decide on the new European Commission president, who takes over on November 1st. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday. One possibility for Jean-Claude Junkers successor, who is the 12th president of the Commission, is German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen. If she gets at least 374 votes from EuroMPs, she would take over the presidency for five years as the first woman to occupy the position. Romanian PM Viorica Dancila will also be addressing the European Parliament on Tuesday to present Romanias results while holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which ended on June 30. Also this week, EP committee chairmen meet in conference, and will also hold hearings for Romanian Ioan Mircea Pascu and Estonian Kadri Simson, who are candidates for European Commissioner. The two were appointed to the executive, but without a specific portfolio given their short terms, ending on October 31st.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis star Simona Halep is now fourth seeded after winning the Wimbledon tournament. She climbed three places in the WTA standings, published on Monday, after the historic win. She returns today to the country after her success, where she defeated multiple champion Serena Williams.
BRUSSELS — Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu takes part today in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Affairs, according to a Foreign Ministry press release in Bucharest. The main topics on the agenda are recent events in Iran, Iraq, and the Central African Republic. The ministers will also discuss external migration. According to the ministry, the council will include a working lunch with special guest Nicolae Popescu, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Moldova.
FENCING — Romania is represented by 23 athletes at the 2019 edition of the Fencing World Cup in Budapest, taking part between July 15 and 23, which are the qualifiers for the Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo. The favorite for a medal is Olympic champion Ana Maria Popescu, number two in the world in womens epee. Last year she won the silver at the world championships in China. Romania has its full teams in the all the womens categories, with the foil and saber mens teams.
EXERCISE — Over 2,000 military personnel from 11 NATO countries, including Romania, take part in the Breeze 2019 international military exercise held until July 21 in Bulgarias Black Sea territorial waters. The exercise will include 26 combat and auxiliary ships, 10 fixed and rotary wing aircraft, Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, and the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1. The exercise will simulate maritime security operations in case of a crisis. The main aim is increasing interoperability and interactions between naval forces of member countries.
