September 10, 2015 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.

Newsroom, 10.09.2015, 12:15

REFUGEE CRISIS – The European Parliament on Thursday adopted the package of emergency measures put forth by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker regarding the distribution quotas for migrants in EU Member States. A resolution passed in Strasbourg by a large majority criticizes the regrettable lack of solidarity of Governments towards asylum seekers, France Press reports. National authorities continue to be split over the way the refugee crisis should be handled. In Bucharest, president Klaus Iohannis again called on voluntary quotas for migrant distribution and argued against any kind of distribution system that should be imposed. Romania cannot accommodate a number of refugees above its current capacity at national level, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu also said. The emergency plan for receiving refugees in EU Member States dictates that Romania must take in some 4,646 refugees on top of the 1,785 it originally pledged to accommodate.

FOOD SAFETY – EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis had talks in Bucharest on Thursday with the Romanian Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu, with representatives of the Government and of health and European affairs committees of the Romanian Parliament. The EU Commissioner warned about the risks generated by the low level of vaccination in Romania, and referred to the poliomyelitis outbreak risk in neighbouring Ukraine. Vytenis Andriukaitis also participated in a citizens dialogue focusing on European issues such as health and food safety, access to quality healthcare services, antibiotic resistance, medical and sanitary staff and chronic diseases.

CORRUPTION – The Bucharest Tribunal judges on Thursday motivated their decision to approve the temporary 30-day arrest of Bucharests mayor Sorin Oprescu. Judges say the latter knew the 25,000 euros he received constituted bribe, not a loan, as he claimed. The court argues it was necessary to arrest Oprescu because he could have influenced the witnesses in the investigation, all the more so as some of them are his subordinates in the City Hall. Sorin Oprescu is accused of pocketing 10% of all contracts involving public funds as bribe. The Court of Appeal will rule on Oprescus appeal against his temporary arrest on Monday.

INFLATION – Romanias annual inflation rate saw a 1.9% drop in August compared with 1.7% in July. According to the National Institute for Statistics, the monthly inflation rate reached 0.51%. The governor of the National Bank Mugur Isarescu has said recently that the inflation rate will remain below the minimum variation range of 1.5% until the beginning of 2017. In his opinion, despite estimates that the inflation rate will continue to drop over the next three quarters, Romania is not faced with the risk of deflation because consumption has increased by 6% and will grow even further by the end of the year, to 10%.

GEORGE ENESCU FESTIVAL – The series of outdoor events as part of the George Enescu International Music Festival on Thursday opened with the National Radio Orchestra and chamber concerts and recitals. The highlight of the day was the performance by the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra at the Grand Palace Concert Hall, as part of the Great World Orchestras series.