March 31, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 31.03.2019, 13:52

VISIT – EU Commissioner
for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Canete on Monday and Tuesday is
paying an official visit to Bucharest, the European Commission’s Representative
Office in Bucharest has announced. On April 1, the EU official will attend the
meeting titled The Regional Energy Cooperation Initiative in Central and
Eastern Europe. The event will bring together ministers and high-ranking
officials from member states and contracting parties of the Energy Community.
The meeting will include ceremonies for the signing of energy grants under the
European Interconnection Mechanism. EU officials will also look at progress
obtained so far and will address the priorities for the future of natural gas
and energy markets and the development of infrastructure and sustainable energy
sources. On Tuesday, Miguel Arias Canete will attend the Informal Energy
Council, on the sidelines of which the first meeting of Energy Ministers from
EU states and the Eastern Partnership will be held, with a view to
consolidating regional energy cooperation.

FRONTEX – Over April 1 – June 30 the Romanian Border Police will
take part in the 2019 POSEIDON mission organized by FRONTEX, providing a
maritime patrol ship MAI 1101 as part of the Coast Guard. The mission will take
place in the Aegian Sea. The ship and the two crews will carry out patrol,
surveillance, search and rescue missions alongside the other participant
states. The purpose of the operation is to provide Greek authorities with
support in the surveillance and control at the EU’s maritime borders, as well
as for the search and rescue of people in distress on the EU’s external
borders.

EARTH HOUR – Romania
joined around 180 other countries in celebrating Earth Hour on Saturday, a
movement that warns about climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Between
8.30 pm and 9.30 pm, lights went out in several towns and cities across the
country, including the capital Bucharest, in a symbolic gesture to raise
awareness about the importance of protecting the planet. Performances, bike
races and other events were also held. According to some estimates, if every
person in Romania took part in Earth Hour by switching off their lights for one
hour, this would save more than 1 million kilowatts, enough to supply the
electricity of a community of 2,200 people for a year. Romania has marked Earth
Hour since 2009.

DST – On Saturday
night Romanians turned forward their clocks one hour in observance of Daylight
Saving Time. So, three o’clock became four o’clock with a three hour GMT
difference. The switch this year could be one of the last such changes, as the
European Parliament this week voted a proposal to renounce DST changes at EU
level starting 2021. Member States are free to choose to observe standard time
or DST.

TRADE FAIR – Romania is taking part in the HannoverMesse, one of
the biggest industrial technology fairs in the world, held over April 1-5. The
event opens on Sunday under the slogan The future development of industry. A
total of 6,500 exhibitors from all over the world are expected to take part.
This year’s partner country is Sweden.

ELECTION
IN SLOVAKIA – Liberal Zuzana Caputova has won the second round of Saturday’s
presidential election in Slovakia, thus becoming the country’s first female
head of state. Aged 45, Zuzana Caputova grabbed 58% of the vote, as compared to
41% obtained by the other candidate, Maros Sefcovic, an EU Commissioner backed
by the left-of-center ruling party. Shortly after the results were announced,
Zuzana Caputova called for unity. She said the result shows it is possible to
fight populism and earn people’s trust without using aggressive language and
personal attacks. Her adversary conceded defeat. In turn, Prime Minister Peter
Pellegrini expressed hope for a positive cooperation with the new president.

ELECTION IN UKRAINE – Some 35.5 million Ukrainians on Sunday hit
the polls to elect a new president. A total of 39 candidates have enrolled in
the race, although the Central Election Commission has registered 44
candidates, of whom 5 have in the meantime withdrawn. Favourite to win are
comedian Volodimir Zelenski, current President Petro Poroshenko and former
Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko. Various surveys show that 28.5% of Ukrainians
would vote for Zelenski, 18.8% for Poroshenko and 13.3% for Timoshenko. In case
none of the candidates grabs over 50% of the vote, a second ballot will be held
on April 21 pitting the top two candidates.

(translated by V. Palcu)