November 5, 2018

Romanian PM Viorica Dancila is paying an official visit to Oman

Newsroom, 05.11.2018, 14:08

COURT – The High Court of Cassation and Justice has today potstponed for December 3rd the first hearing in the case where Social-Democrat leader and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment in the court of first instance. In June, the Court handed Dragnea the sentence for instigation to abuse of office. Anticorruption prosecutors say Liviu Dragnea ordered the fictitious employment of two party members at the Social Assistance and Child Protection Directorate. Also on Monday, the High Court of Cassation and Justice is judging an appeal filed by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate against the acquittal of constitutional court judge Toni Grebla. In May, a Constitutional Court 3-judge panel dismissed the charges against Grebla, who had been indicted in 2015 for influence peddling, forgery, financial operations incompatible with his office, and setting up an organized crime group.

FORUM — Bucharest is hosting today and tomorrow a National Forum marking the official launch of Romania’s presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region. The EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) is a macro-regional strategy adopted by the European Commission in December 2010 and endorsed by the European Council in 2011. The Strategy was jointly developed by the Commission, together with the Danube Region countries and stakeholders, in order to address common challenges together. The Strategy seeks to create synergies and coordination between existing policies and initiatives taking place across the Danube Region.

MEETINGS – Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici is taking part in Brussels in the meetings of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) and of EUROGRUP. The ECOFIN Council’s agenda includes topics such as the taxation of digital services, the annual report of the European Court of Accounts on the EU budget execution in 2017 and conclusions on the Union’s statistics. Minister Teodorovici will also take part in the conference “Single market, decisive factor of investment in Europe” organized by the European Commission in partnership with European Political Strategy Center.

VISIT – Romanian PM Viorica Dancila is paying an official visit to Oman, in south-west Asia, where she met with His Royal Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said, First Deputy PM of the Council of Ministers in the country. The two officials have assessed concrete opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, health and education. The Romanian PM’s visit to Oman has occasioned the first meeting between government officials in the two countries, since the establishment of the diplomatic ties in 1974.

PSD — The National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party — PSD, the main party of the ruling coalition in Bucharest, is meeting today, with the clear purpose of nominating the leaders of the Financial Supervisory Authority and of the National Council of the Audiovisual. The press speculates that they might also discuss the details of the government reshuffle announced by the PM Dancila. The meeting takes place against the backdrop of increasing tension between the supporters and opponents of the party leader Liviu Dragnea.

SANCTIONS — Sanctions recently imposed on Iran have entered into force as of today. The Trump administration is restoring all sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal in a bid to pressure Iran. They will hit oil exports, shipping and banks, and make it difficult to do business with this country. President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear accord earlier this year.

ROME — Roman and Greek-Catholic bishops from Romania have today started a one-week visit to Rome, where they will meet with Pope Francis. This is the 5th visit to the Vatican by the members of the Episcopal Conference of Romania after the fall of the Communist dictatorship in 1989 and the first visit to meet the current Pope. Joining the conference members is also the Roman-Catholic bishop of neighboring Moldova. We remind you that in 1999 Romania became the 2nd country with a majority Orthodox population to be visited by a Pope, namely Pope John Paul II.

CITY HALL — The general mayor of Bucharest, Gabriela Firea, is paying an official visit to Madrid. Together with the mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena Castrillo, she will sign a memorandum of cooperation between the two cities in the fields of sustainable development, infrastructure, education, culture and tourism. Gabriela Firea will also meet with Madrid city hall experts specialized in smart cities and infrastructure as well as with the representatives of companies dealing in urban planning and urban governance. The Bucharest general mayor will also participate in the opening of the World Forum on Urban Violence and Education for Coexistence and Peace, and will meet with the president of the Madrid Community, Angel Garrido. (Translated by Elena Enache)