June 26, 2015
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România Internațional, 26.06.2015, 12:00
Institutionalized corruption remains a major issue in Romania — according to a report released by the US Department of State; the document mentions last year’s attempts from politicians to circumvent the legal system and intimidate the journalists. The document is also mentioning acts of discrimination. Major issues related to human rights include police abuses against detainees and Roma people. The report shows, among other things, that government and Parliament have adopted laws in a manner that was not transparent, while Parliament has often voted against lifting the immunity of some of its members so that they may elude legal prosecution in various corruption cases. Although the Romanian legislation is guaranteeing the freedom of the press, there are some media groups controlled by the politicians. Bribing is rampant particularly in the health sector the document also shows. The National Anti-corruption Directorate continued investigating high and medium-level corruption cases all throughout the year 2014. 710 people have been accused of corruption this year as compared to the first 530 in the first seven months of the year 2013, the report also shows.
Over 1000 soldiers from NATO member countries are participating in a joint military drill called Trident Joust 15 currently underway in the shooting range of Cincu, in Brasov, central Romania. In a first for Romania, structures of the Allied Command have been temporarily stationed in this country. Present in Cincu, the head of the Allied Command, US admiral Mark Ferguson said these exercises come to prove the capability of NATO forces to adjust to security demands, highlighting the defensive dimension of the application. Trident Joust will be unfolding until Sunday June 17th, in central Romania.
The ex-soviet Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova is on the last day of its election campaign bracing up for the second round of the local election, due on Sunday. Two candidates are vying for the capital city’s mayor seat: incumbent pro-western liberal Dorin Chirtoaca and former pro-Russian Prime minister Zinaida Greceanii.
The European Commission has failed to reach an agreement with the Romanian authorities concerning the Fiscal Code, but a decision is expected at the ECOFIN meeting on July 14th. The IMF has cancelled its assessing visit next month as it already has the conclusion of the European Commission’s mission, public Finance minister Eugen Teodorovici has said. Romania’s International lenders fear that the fiscal relaxation envisaged by the new Fiscal Code, particularly the VAT cut from 24 to 19% could exceed the budget deficit target of 2.9% agreed for 2016.
The summer proceedings of the 28 heads of state and government are carrying on in Brussels, where Romania has been represented by its president Klaus Iohannis. High on the agenda today is terrorism and economic issues, such as Greece’s debt crisis. Yesterday, in the first day of the meeting, Greece was the main topic of discussion, after the Eurogroup had failed to reach an agreement with the Greek side. European leaders are waiting for finance ministers from the eurozone to reach an agreement with the government in Athens on Saturday. Unless any agreement is reached, Greece is running the risk of defaulting on payment and might leave the eurozone. As concerns the migration crisis, the 28 have decided on the relocation of 40 thousand people, who made it to Greece and Italy crossing the Mediterranean, as well as of other 20 thousand from outside the EU. Also high on the agenda were Britain’s moves to a referendum concerning their stay in the community area.
