May 22, 2018 UPDATE

Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, has urged the Government to show more concern about absorbing European funds/The law on the status of judges and prosecutors has been adopted by the Romanian Senate, which is decision-making body in this case

Mihai Pelin, 22.05.2018, 18:50

EU FUNDS – Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, on Tuesday urged the Government to show more concern about absorbing European funds. He said that of the 31 billion Euros that can be attracted by Romania, our country hasn’t even used 5 billion, and this money should be used for development. Romania cannot afford the luxury of giving up the EU projects, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, has also warned. In Bacau, eastern Romania, in a dialogue with citizens on the future of Europe and of the cohesion policy, Cretu also said she expected several major projects from Romania to the European Commission. Corina Cretu recalled that only four major projects have been submitted by Romania, since she became EU Commissioner. On Monday, the European official, alongside PM Viorica Dăncilă, held talks with the mayors of county capitals on urban investments with European funds. The Commissioner has again called on the Romanian authorities to make sustained efforts, to reduce the risk of loosing European money. She also referred to the need to simplify procedures and step up the process of assessing the projects.

JUSTICE LAWS– The law on the status of judges and prosecutors was adopted on Tuesday by the Romanian Senate, which is the decision-making body in this case. Thus, the document, which now redefines “judicial error is now submitted to President Klaus Iohannis for promulgation. We recall that early this month, Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis decided to send the justice laws back to the Constitutional Court, after they had been adopted by Parliament – the status of judges and prosecutors, judicial organisation and the Higher Council of Magistracy. The president has also notified the Venice Commission.

REVOLUTION TRIAL – Romanias former leftist president Ion Iliescu was heard at the Prosecutor Generals Office, in the case concerning the 1989 anti-communist revolution, in which he is accused of crimes against humanity. Last month the head of state Klaus Iohannis approved the prosecutors request to prosecute Iliescu, the ex-PM Petre Roman and the former deputy PM Gelu Voican Voiculescu. They allegedly plotted a military diversion designed to give them legitimacy as the new leaders after the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled the capital city. The diversion resulted in 1,166 deaths, of which more than 800 after Ceausescu was ousted, as well as in losses, damages and injuries.

PENSION FUNDS – In a televised statement on Tuesday, President Klaus Iohannis asked the Government to clarify its plans with respect to the privately-managed pension funds known as the “Pension Pillar II. The head of state voiced concerns regarding the situation and said people might begin to question the governments capacity to design and manage the pension system. PM Viorica Dăncilă promised that Pillar II will not be dismantled, but did not rule out possible changes in the laws regulating its operation. Dancila explained there was a draft in this respect put together by the National Strategy and Prognosis Commission but not approved by the Government, and that an analysis will be made on the topic.

AmCham – Romania had a fairly high investment rate compared to other EU member states in 2001-2016, but the effects of these investments were late in appearing, Anda Todor, head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania said in a press conference. In turn, AmCham treasurer Ciprian Lăduncă said Romania should have a national investment plan, a long-term business plan approved by all stakeholders in the Romanian society. Another very important measure for the Romanian economy is to encourage long-term saving, whether through life insurance, private pensions or investment funds, Ciprian Lăduncă added.

JUDICIARY – The High Court of
Cassation and Justice in Bucharest on Tuesday acquitted Calin
Popescu-Tariceanu, the Senate Speaker and president of the Alliance for
Liberals and Democrats, in the ruling coalition in Romania, in a lawsuit in
which he was charged with perjury and encouraging an offender. The court also
decided to change the accusation from perjury and encouraging an offender
into perjury. The ruling is not final. In the last hearing of the case, the
National Anti-Corruption Directorate had requested a 3-year prison sentence for
the Liberal Democrat leader. According to prosecutors, during investigations
into the unlawful return of landed estates near Bucharest, Tăriceanu gave
untrue statements while under oath.

EU TRADE – The trade ministers of EU member countries have authorised the European Commission to initiate negotiations on free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. The announcement was made at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council for trade, held in Brussels. Romania is represented by line minister Ştefan Radu Oprea.(Translated by D. Vijeu and AM Popescu)