June 24, 2016
UK votes to leave EU, PM Cameron to step down by October
Newsroom, 24.06.2016, 00:00
BREXIT — Prime Minister David Cameron has announced today plans to step down by October further to Britain’s vote to leave the EU. Previously, UKIP leader Nigel Farage had called for a “Brexit government.” According to the final results of yesterday’s referendum, 51.9% of the British citizens voted against their country staying in the EU. The voter turnout was over 72%. The referendum revealed major regional differences, with a pro-EU vote in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland, while most England and Wales preferred to leave. The Northern Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein has already issued a release calling for a referendum in Northern Ireland on joining the Republic of Ireland as a solution for staying in the EU. The UK vote risks encouraging similar referendums in other EU member countries. In the Netherlands, anti-immigration leader Geert Wilders has already called for a similar vote in his country, and so did in Italy and France the far-right parties Northern League and National Front. Paris has called on Europe to move to regain the confidence of its citizens. Berlin spoke about a sad day for Europe and for UK, and is to host tomorrow a meeting of the ambassadors of the 6 EU founding member states. In Brussels, the President of the European Council Donald Tusk said the Union was determined to keep its unity as a 27-member bloc. The head of the European Parliament Martin Schulz announced a special meeting of the Parliament on Tuesday. The White House has announced President Barack Obama would have a phone conversation with PM David Cameron today.
CONSULTATIONS — Romania regrets the UK vote to leave the EU, but respects it, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has said today after talks with PM Dacian Cioloş, the central bank governor Mugur Isărescu and the leaders of Romanian political parties. The PM emphasised that Brexit will not have a great impact on the Romanian economy and it will be managed without major problems. The National Bank Governor said the impact on the national currency is small and maneageble, while local political leaders say Romania’s path is within the Union, alongside the other member states. The EU is a highly valuable project, and it must carry on, said President Iohannis. He added that in the negotiations preceding the actual separation, Romania will do its best to protect the Romanians who work and live in that country. Klaus Iohannis also pointed out that UK will remain an important partner for Romania, but it will not have a privileged status compared to the EU. Not least, the President pleaded for redefining the European project, so that it might be easier to understand by and more beneficial to its citizens.
DIASPORA — Forty-five delegations from 13 countries are taking part in Bucharest in the first Congress of Romanian Diaspora, organized in order to strengthen ties with the Romanians living abroad. The talks will mainly focus on the problems faced by the Romanian communities abroad. The agenda also includes talks on the establishment of new cultural institutions for the diaspora, to promote national culture among the Romanian communities in other countries.
IA DAY — The Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse, a part of the traditional costume of Romanian women, is celebrated today in the main cities across the country with exhibitions, fairs, and conferences on the present and future of one of the elements of Romania’s national culture. The Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse was initiated by the online community “La Blouse Roumaine” in 2013 and grew into a global event, celebrated in over 50 countries. It is marked in cities like Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Paris, London, Madrid, Amsterdam, Milan and Vienna.
CULTURE — Bucharest is hosting tonight the 10th White Night of Cultural Institutes, in which institutions like the British Council, Goethe Institut, Cervantes Institute, the French Institute and the Romanian Cultural Institute are taking part. Fifteen cultural entities organise more than 50 events in 12 venues. The agenda includes concerts, film screenings, sculpture and photography exhibitions. The White Night of Cultural Institutes is a project of the network of EU National Cultural Institutes, and is organised with support from the Representative office of the European Commission in Romania.
