June 27, 2016
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Bogdan Matei, 27.06.2016, 12:00
CONSULTATIONS – President Klaus Iohannis has today convened in Bucharest Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and the leaders of the political parties for talks on the possible effects of Brexit on Romania. Shortly after the Britons decided to leave the community block, president Iohannis said Romanias path is within the European Union, alongside the other member states, and stood for redefining the European project. The president underlined that, during the forthcoming negotiations caused by Great Britains separation from the EU, Romania will do its best to promote its own interests and to defend the Romanians living and working in the UK. In turn, the prime minister gave assurances that the Brexits effect on the Romanian economy is small and is manageable, without major difficulties. In perfect agreement, the leaders of the political parties say the European project should continue with Romania being part of the process and Bucharest should maintain and develop the strategic partnership with Great Britain.
BREXIT/REACTIONS – French president Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi are today going to Berlin for talks with chancellor Angela Merkel on the future of the European Union without Great Britain. According to FP, a French-German proposal to make the Union more flexible is under debate. It is meant to respond the criticism voiced by some of the members which contest the much too centralised decisions made by Brussels. Great Britain is the first country to decide, by the June 23 referendum, to leave the EU. The President European Council, Donald Tusk, who is also attending the meeting, expressed fears the referendum might produce a domino-like effect. In another move, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, will pay a visit to Brussels and London, also for talks on the effects produced by Brexit.
EUROPEAN FUNDS – The Commission for European Affairs with the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest is today hearing the minister for European Funds, Cristian Ghinea, in the context in which the degree of absorption in 2016 stands at zero. Aspects related to the current stage of European funds absorption and the strategy of reorganising the activity of the line ministry, as well as a series of actions taken into consideration to enhance the performance of institutions in the field and concrete measures to step up the absorption of EU funds are to be approached during the hearings. According to the Commission President, Ana Birchall, a series of measures envisaged by minister Ghinea on the Juncker Plan (the Investment Plan for Europe) will be brought into the focus of attention again.
CORRUPTION – The leader of the Ilfov branch of the National Liberal Party, Marian Petrache, will be investigated by the anti-corruption prosecutors, being accused of fraud in the local elections of June 5. The police officers have already started an investigation, based on audio recordings made public by the media, in which Petrache reportedly ordered that voters be brought to the polling stations by cars. In the June 5 elections, the National Liberal Party ranked second at national level, after the Social Democratic Party, in terms of the positions of mayors, local and county counsellor won in the elections.
SPAIN – Talks for the formation of a new government coalition have today started in Madrid, after no party managed to secure majority in the Spanish Parliament. The Peoples Party of PM Mariano Rajoy, came first in the top of the Spaniards preferences, with 33%. Ranking second was the Socialist Party, with 22.6%, followed by the leftist, anti-system Podemos Party, with 21.1%. The liberal Ciudadanos party will also be represented in Parliament. These elections are held just 6 months after the latest ballot, which resulted in a Parliament divided among the four political forces and didnt allow for the formation of a government majority.
LONDON– The best rated woman tennis player in Romania, Simona Halep, WTAs no. 5, is today playing Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia, in the first round of the Wimbledon tennis tournament. Also today, Irina Begu (WTAs no.27) is facing Carina Witthoeft of Germany, and Patricia Ţig (WTAs no.100) is playing Sara Errani (Italy). Two other Romanian women tennis players are also playing in the inaugural round: Monica Niculescu (WTAs no. 47), will be facing a player coming from the qualifications, and Sorana Cîrstea (WTAs no. 86), which is playing 11th seeded Petra Kvitova (the Czech Republic). In the mens competition, Romanias only representative is Marius Copil, who qualified in this inaugural round, after defeating Italian Thomas Fabbiano, 7-5, 7-5, 6-4, on Friday, in the preliminary round. The Wimbledon tennis tournament, the oldest and most prestigious of the four Grand Slam tournaments in the world, will come to a close on July 10. (Translated by D. Vijeu)
