May 6, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
România Internațional, 06.05.2014, 12:26
The European Commission on Tuesday announced a support package for the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, worth 60 million euros. This support package will help public institutions, citizens and the business community to seize the benefits and opportunities of the Association Agreements with the EU, including the possibility of access to the EU market. According to European Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, the European Commission’s financial support is a reward for the democratic reforms of the two countries, which are members of the Eastern Partnership. Support to the Republic of Moldova , worth 30 million euros, targets competitiveness of small business, development of national legislation in line with EU quality standards and promotion of export and investment opportunities, communication and information campaigns on the trade agreement with the EU.
On the occasion a Council of Europe ministerial meeting in Vienna, Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean on Tuesday met with the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. Minister Corlatean emphasized Bucharest’s concern as regards the deterioration of regional security in Eastern Europe. Also mentioned was Romania’s concern as regards possible effects over Moldova’s region of Transdniester and it was reiterated the need for a more active involvement of the Council for the preservation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of the states that deal with frozen conflicts. Set up 65 years ago, the Council of Europe aims to defend human rights and parliamentary democracy.
Romania will report an economic growth of 2.5% and 2.6% in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the European Commission estimates. According to an EC report, Romania’s main economic engine will be the domestic demand, which is expected to exceed exports. In these two years, investments are also estimated to grow, as they will be supported by a better absorption of European funds and by the development of major infrastructure projects. Across the EU, economic growth is expected to reach 1.6%.
The politicization of the media discourse, the abusive use of the freedom of expression right or the use of the media as a pressure instrument by certain media owners – these are some of the conclusions of the report on the freedom of the press in Romania presented by the Active Watch organization. The document also shows that the media institutions across Romania continue to be politicized and affected by big business interests that undermine the freedom of the press and the principle of equidistance.
