October 21, 2017
Romanian economy might grow more than estimated in 2017 and 2018, according to a World Bank report
Newsroom, 21.10.2017, 13:59
CATALONIA — The Spanish Government has begun a crisis cabinet meeting to trigger the suspension of Catalonia’s political autonomy after the region missed a deadline to clarify an ambiguous declaration of independence. The central Government confirmed on Thursday it would invoke article 155 of Spain’s 1978 constitution, which allows it to take control of a region if it breaks the law. Madrid said that the Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont had refused to comply with a request to confirm whether the region had declared independence. Puigdemont appeared to declare independence after the October 1st referendum but then he immediately suspended it, calling for dialogue with Spain, a request so far denied. His request for the European Union to mediate in the dispute was denied, with the EU supporting the Rajoy government and saying it would not recognize an independent Catalonia.
MEETING — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor said on Friday in Krakow, Poland, that it was high time for Romania and Poland to tighten cooperation in sectors such as defence. Minister Fifor made this statement at a meeting with members of the Romanian community and Polish students studying the Romanian language at the Jagiellonian University. The Romanian official underlined the long-lasting friendship between Romania and Poland and the two country’s good cooperation under the Strategic Partnership. On the occasion of his visit to Poland, Fifor met with Romanian military dispatched in this country as part of the US Army – led NATO Battle Group.
ECONOMY –Romanian economy might grow more than estimated in 2017 and 2018, according to a World Bank report. The GDP could go up by 5.5% this year, due to fiscal stimulation measures and improved results of the European economy. Increased consumption will trigger, however, an increase in the current account deficit and inflation. The report also shows that Romania’s GDP will go up by 4.1% in 2018 and by 3.6% in 2019. The World Bank has warned, however that increased fiscal pressure and excessive domestic demand make Romanian economy more vulnerable to shocks.
SUMMIT — Brexit and migration were the main topics discussed at the recent Brussels summit. After two days of talks, the European leaders are united and determined to go forward with optimism, as they want to create ‘a better Union closer to the citizen.’ As for the Brexit negotiations, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who represented Romania at the summit, said that the progress made is insufficient. The Brussels meeting also included talks on migration, a phenomenon that the EU continues to deal with and which has decreased. Iohannis announced that Romania had decided together with the countries participating in the summit to back the Nuclear Agreement with Iran. The EU’s digital agenda, security and defence, the EU’s relations with Turkey and North Korea’s nuclear programme were also discussed during the summit.
ELECTION – Voting in the Czech parliamentary election began on Friday and continue today with opinion polls predicting victory for businessman Andrej Babis’s centrist ANO movement and other protest parties. Babis is on course to achieve election success on a wave of popular support, anti-immigrant sentiment and a widespread distrust of traditional politics. This despite the fact that the country’s economy is performing well and immigration into the Czech Republic, a country of 10 million people, is virtually non-existent. Although Andrej Babis is not expected to secure a majority, a win for ANO would be yet another success for Europe’s anti-establishment wave.
TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number one in the world, will be up against French player Carolia Garcia, WTA’s 9th seed in the WTA Finals in Singapore, which brings together the eight best players of the year. Halep, aged 26, who has recently become the world’s best player is also the first Romanian player to achieve this historic milestone since the computer rankings were introduced in 1975, being the 25th woman to hold the no. 1 ranking. Her rise to the first sport brings to an end the reign of Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza, who spent four weeks in the top position. Halep entered the Top 10 for the first time on January 27, 2014, and has been there ever since. (Translated by Elena Enache)
