THE WEEK IN REVIEW
February 5-9, 2024
Ştefan Stoica, 09.02.2024, 18:41
Letter from the President to the Parliament
The joint permanent offices of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies took note, on Wednesday, of President Klaus Iohannis’ letter by which the Parliament is informed that the NATO reaction force can enter, station or transit Romania for the purpose of preparing and/or carrying out military operations, if that will be the case, in the year 2024. In the letter, the president states that the international environment has become less and less predictable, the conflict situation at the regional and global level has increased, and Russia has not given up on the initial declared objectives of the invasion. According to the cited document, ‘in the event of the untimely appearance of the premises for triggering a major security crisis, with possible implications on Romania’s independence and national sovereignty, the North Atlantic Council can make the decision to deploy the NATO Response Force on Romania’s territory with the ability to very speedy reaction, in order to defuse the crisis and discourage its escalation’. President Iohannis mentions that, for the implementation, in the very short time frame available – 72 hours – of the measures prepared at the national level for the purpose of receiving the NATO Response Force, it is necessary to have approval for its deployment or transit on national territory.
A new law for the military training of the population?
In the same register, the members of the Defense Committees in Parliament had a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, devoted to the regional security situation, problems related to acquisitions and legislation in the field. Recently, the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghiţă Vlad, drew attention to the need to update the legislation regarding the preparation of the population for defense. He also emphasized the importance of restoring the operational military reserve, against the background of a serious shortage of personnel and the aging of the reservists. As part of the efforts to prepare the population for defense, the relevant ministry will propose a legislative project on the introduction of volunteering, as a form of familiarization with military training. Thus, young people between 18 and 35 years of age, regardless of gender, who wish to do so, can be trained to use a weapon in order to become voluntary reservists. Returning to compulsory military service is not taken into account. On the other hand, all the officials from Bucharest, without exception, gave assurances that Romania is not in danger of war. Recently, NATO officials and heads of the allied armies have expressed their concern regarding a possible expansion of the military conflict in Ukraine.
Measures for farmers
The government approved, on Thursday, a series of measures to support farmers. Mainly, it is about loans with lower interest and subsidizing electricity. All fees related to the credits will be paid by the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the line minister, Florin Barbu, the vast majority of the measures agreed with the farmers have been adopted. We remind you that, like their colleagues from European Union states, Romanian farmers took to the streets, weeks in a row, to complain about the high production costs, against the background of the transition to organic farming, cheap agricultural imports from Ukraine, and the much too convoluted European bureaucracy.
Plea for Europe
President Klaus Iohannis pleaded, on Wednesday, in a speech delivered in the plenary session of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, in favor of a faster decision-making process at the level of the European Union, even with the waiver of the right of veto for certain cases. The European project requires effort and patience, if we want to live in a united and prosperous Europe, emphasized Iohannis. He also pleaded for Romania’s full entry into the Schengen area. ‘The lifting, in March, of controls at the air and sea borders must be followed, naturally, in the shortest possible time, by the elimination of controls at the land borders. Only in this way will we have the correct and concrete reflection of the contribution that Romania brings to the consolidation of the security of the entire Union’, Klaus Iohannis pointed out. The head of state emphasized the importance of the European elections that will take place in June, and told those who intend to run to fight for Europe in the electoral campaign and not against it. He also said that the Union must strengthen its values and defense.
The new Foreign Minister of the Republic of Moldova in Bucharest
The efforts to reform the Republic of Moldova are visible and appreciated, declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, after this week’s discussions in Bucharest with her new counterpart from Chişinău, Mihai Popşoi. ‘We see manipulation attempts and various actions visibly orchestrated from the outside. Unfortunately for those who finance such plans, and fortunately for the Republic of Moldova, the country has resisted and will resist. It is consolidating its institutional capacities, it is in full process of reform, and, above all, it is firmly anchored in its European course’, emphasized Mrs. Odobescu. Minister Mihai Popşoi opined that the last two years have been a great challenge for his country, but at the same time a great opportunity to transform positively on the path of European integration. He said that he was assured, once again, that Romania will continue to give its neighbor from the East priority, comprehensive and solid support in projects aimed at strengthening energy security, infrastructure development, advancement during European integration, and the development of institutional capacities for the effective implementation of reforms.
