July 2, 2019 UPDATE

Romania was, is and will remain the most constant and vocal supporter of Moldova, President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday.

Newsroom, 02.07.2019, 20:02

STATEMENT – Romania was, is and will remain deeply committed to the European values and the rule of law and a defender of the rights and freedoms of the Romanian and European citizens. The statement was made on Tuesday by Romanian Justice Minister Ana Birchall who met with a EU delegation as part of their first assessment mission of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in Romania this year. According to a release by the Justice Ministry, the mission represents a continuation of the informal technical talks held in Brussels this spring. Minister Birchall presented at the meeting the progress made by Romania under the CVM and emphasized the Romanian authorities’ determination to continue the technical analysis of every point of the CVM report, with a view to have it lifted.

LAWS – The Chamber of Deputies legal committee on Tuesday adopted a report on the project for the modification of some legal provisions on voting abroad at the presidential election. On Wednesday, the bill will be debated and voted upon in the plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this case. The Senate on Monday passed the bill, which provides for alternative voting procedures for Romanians abroad, such as extending the vote for three days and postal voting. The bill is aimed at allowing all Romanians to cast their vote and avoiding difficulties and delays, such as the ones reported in the recent European Parliament election.

VISIT – Romania was, is and will remain the most constant and vocal supporter of Moldova, President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday after talks with Moldovan Prime Minister Maia Sandu, who is on a visit to Bucharest. The President said Bucharest will support at EU level financial assistance for the Republic of Moldova. In turn, Prime Minister Sandu said the Government wants to develop joint projects with Romania, and the European agenda is the defining characteristic of relations with Bucharest. Also on Tuesday Maia Sandu met with her Romanian counterpart, Viorica Dancila, and with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu. Sworn in last month, Maia Sandu decided to pay her first visit abroad to Bucharest, although she previously announced she would visit Brussels. Another Moldovan official on Monday visited Bucharest, Foreign Minister Nicolae Popescu, who said Moldova is firmly and irreversibly on track to European accession. Last year, 68% of Moldovas exports were to the European Union, while 20% were to Romania, Minister Popescu went on to say.

VALIDATION — In Bucharest, the joint budget-finance committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies validated the componence of the new Board of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) that has been headed by Governor Mugur Isarescu in the last 30 years. BNR will continue its cautios and responsible policy, which in the long-run targets the country’s swith to the euro, Mugur Isarescu said before the committees. He also pointed out that Romania must be prepared before adopting the single currency so much so as the developmet gaps between the various regions of the country are significant. The BNR Board is made up of 9 members elected by Parliament at the proposal of the expert committees of the Parliamen’s chambers. The final vote on the appoitment of the new Board will be held on Wednesday in Parliament’s plenary session.

WIMBLEDON — Romanian tennis player Monica Niculescu qualified on Tuesday to the 2nd round at Wibledon, the third Grand Slam of the year, after defeating German Andrea Petkovic, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. In the second round, Niculescu will be up against Belgian Elise Mertens, seed no. 21. Also on Tuesday, Romanian Ana Bogdan lost to Johanna Konta of Britain, while Sorana Cîrstea lost to American Amanda Anisimova. Former world no. 1 Simona Halep will play her fellow Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu, on Wednesday, in the second round. In the men’s singles, the only Romanian in the competition, Marius Copil, was defeated on Monday by Guido Pella of Argentina.

(Translated by Elena Enache)