October 23, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 23.10.2019, 14:00

GOVERNMENT – The Political Bureau of the National
Liberal Party will convene on Thursday to vote on the list of ministers in the
future Orban Cabinet and on the governing program. Prime Minister designate
Ludovic Orban will subsequently submit the documents to Parliament. Today Orban
concluded a new round of talks with parliamentary parties that voted the
no-confidence motion of October 10 that ousted the Social-Democrat Government
led by Viorica Dancila. Orban expressed confidence that the new Cabinet will
receive the necessary number of votes in Parliament.

STUDY – The purchasing power per capita in Romania stands at
5,881 euros, as compared to the average sum of 14.739 euros Europeans spend and
save, a Gfk recent study shows. Romania ranks 32 in a ranking of European
countries in terms of purchasing power per capita, tantamount to 60% below the
European average. At national level, Bucharest has the highest purchasing
power, namely 10.452 euros per capita, followed by Timis County with 7.564
euros and Cluj County with 7.457 euros. At the opposite poll is Vaslui County,
with an average purchasing power per capita of 3.706 euros. The purchasing
power is indicative of the net-of-tax income minus deductions of charitable
contributions and any state-offered benefits.

EXERCISE – The biggest military exercise since the
end of the Cold War will be held in Europe next year. Defender Europe 2020 will
involve the participation of some 37,000 soldiers, of whom 29,000 American.
Romania’s contribution to the exercise will be consistent, Romania’s chief of
general staff, General Nicolae Ciuca told Radio Romania. The exercise will be
held in several countries, although Germany and Poland will be hosting the main
drills. Defender Europe 2020 will be held over February-August 2020. During the
cold War, large-scale exercises focusing on the quick deploying of a high
number of troops to Europe were central to training for a potential war with
the Soviet Union. While the US’s military focus has been on the Middle East in
the past two decades, Russia’s ingressions in Ukraine in 2014 have prompted the
Pentagon to refocus on Europe’s defense and ways of transferring US troops
overseas to respond to various conflicts.

NATO – The annual NATO Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Arms
Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation continues in Brussels today, Romania
being represented by State Secretary Dan Neculaescu. In yesterday’s address,
the Romanian official tackled global security concerns prompted by the
development of ballistic missiles, as well as the transfer of any associated
technology to state and non-state actors. Neculaescu also focused on efforts
and expertize Romania can offer in the field of WMD non-proliferation. On the
sidelines of the Conference, Dan Neculaescu met with NATO deputy Secretary
General, Mircea Geoana, discussing allied efforts to consolidate defense and deterrence
on NATO’s eastern flank. The two officials also exchanged views regarding the
upcoming NATO summit of December 2019 in London.

BREXIT – European Council President Donald Tusk has
recommended EU Member States to accept a new delay of Brexit, following the
decision of British Prime Minister to stall Parliament’s vote on the Brexit
deal negotiated with the EU. Johnson yesterday said he would suspend
legislation on Brexit, after British MPs earlier that day rejected the
three-day timetable for adopting the deal, which the Prime Minister had
submitted to Parliament for examination. The very short time required to
examine the legislation seems to push for an adoption of Brexit legislation,
ahead of Britain’s scheduled withdrawal from the community bloc on October 31. John
on Saturday sent a letter of request to Brussels, calling for a delay of
Brexit. The document was accompanied by another letter that stating the
opposite, as a result of Britain’s all-or-nothing commitment to leave the EU
by the end of October.

FOOTBALL – Romania’s champions CFR
Cluj on Thursday are playing Rennes of France in Europa League Group E. In the
first two matches in the group phase, CFR won 2-1 at home against Lazio Rome
and lost nil-2 to Celtic Glasgow away from home. Celtic ranks first with 4
points, followed by CFR with 3 points, Lazio with 3 points and Rennes with 1
point.

(translated
by V. Palcu)