July 21, 2019 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news
Newsroom, 21.07.2019, 19:13
EU PM Viorica Dăncilă sees as fair the view taken by the new president of the European Commission, Ursula van der Leyen, who wants a new mechanism monitoring the rule of law in all member states. Dăncilă also said the Romanian Government would carry on talks with the European Commission concerning the lifting of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism with respect to Romania. The head of the Romanian Government added that after the elections for the European Parliament she discussed with the former president of the European Commission and the former first vice-president about the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, and told them that Romania is open to discussion and that each and every aspect must be analysed separately. But, Viorica Dancila added, these talks must involve not only the Justice Ministry. The opinions of judges, prosecutors and magistrate associations must also be taken into account, in order for certain aspects in the CVM to be implemented or to explain why they cannot be implemented in Romania.
COURSES Between July 22nd and August 4th, the University of Bucharest organises the 59th edition of the Summer Courses in Romanian language, culture and civilisation. This summer school is the oldest initiative by a Romanian university to promote Romanian language and culture around the world. Taking part in the 2019 edition will be 30 learners from 14 countries: the US, Canada, Brazil, Korea, Turkey, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia and Italy.
FAIR Thousands took part this weekend in the Mount Gaina Maidens Fair, the largest and best known outdoor traditional festival in the country, first mentioned in documents dating back to 1816. In the old times, the festival was an opportunity for the locals to get together, reconnect with their relatives and friends, make new friends and even meet spouses. At present the Mount Gaina Fair aims to promote traditional crafts and arts, Romanian folk costumes, customs and traditions and Romanian music. This years festival included traditional music and dance performances, outdoor parties and fireworks.
BREXIT Thousands of anti-Brexit protesters rallied in London just days before Boris Johnson is expected to become Tory leader and the new Prime Minister. On Tuesday the Conservative Party is to announce the winner of the race for Theresa Mays replacement. Boris Johnson, former foreign secretary and a Brexit supporter, is seen as the frontrunner in this race. On Sunday, the British Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is against a no-deal Brexit, announced he intends to resign if Boris Johnson becomes the UKs next Prime Minister. “Assuming that Boris Johnson becomes the next Prime Minister, I understand that his conditions for serving in his government would include accepting a no-deal exit on the 31st of October. That is not something I could ever sign up to, Hammond said in an interview to the BBC.
TENNIS The tennis player Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (106 WTA) Sunday won the final of the BRD Bucharest Open. She defeated the only Romanian left in the competition, Patricia Ţig, 6-2 6-0. Patricia Ţig is the 3rd Romanian to play the finals of the Bucharest Open, after Simona Halep in 2014 and 2016, and Irina Begu in 2017. Also on Sunday, in the doubles final, Romanians Jaqueline Adina Cristian and Elena-Gabriela Ruse lost to Viktoria Kuzmova (Slovakia) / Kristyna Pliskova (the Czech Republic), 6-4, 7-6.
(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)
