The Week – June 17-20
Important defense decisions
Roxana Vasile, 22.06.2024, 14:00
Important defense decisions
The Supreme Defense Council on Thursday decided that Romania will donate a PATRIOT surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine. The decision was announced by the Presidency in a press release. The Council invoked “the significant deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine, as a result of Russia’s constant and massive attacks on civilians and civil infrastructure, especially in the energy sector, as well as the regional consequences of this situation, including on Romania’s security”. The system will be transferred provided negotiations continue with NATO allies for Romania to obtain a similar anti-aircraft system, and if a temporary solution is identified to cover the operational vulnerability thus created. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted, stating that Romania’s decision to provide his country with a PATRIOT defense system will strengthen Ukraine’s air defense shield, as well as security throughout Europe. So far, Romania has purchased seven PATRIOT systems. Four have been delivered and two are already operational. On the other hand, president Klaus Iohannis briefed the Council that he has withdrawn his candidacy for the position of Secretary General of NATO. The Council voted Romania would support the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Talks on the upcoming election
Shortly after the local and European Parliament elections held on June 9, the ruling coalition in Romania this week met to discuss the timetable for the upcoming presidential election amid disagreements on this issue between coalition partners PNL and PSD. The Liberals want these elections to take place towards the end of the year, in November-December, while the Social-Democrats insist on maintaining the original date already established at coalition level – September. PNL argues that an election in the first half of September would disrupt the start of the school year, and the election campaign overlaps with the holidays. We recall this year Romanians will also take part in parliamentary elections.
Italy’s president visits Bucharest
The President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, on Wednesday, paid an official visit to Bucharest, where he had talks with his counterpart, Klaus Iohannis and with Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu. The Italian official underscored the excellent bilateral relations at all levels, facilitated by deep cultural ties and the presence of the Italian community in Romania, and of the Romanian community in Italy, respectively. Two-way trade reached 20 bln EUR last year, president Klaus Iohannis said. In addition, the Romanian official hailed Italy’s present and future participation in NATO air policing missions in Romania. In turn, the Italian president expressed his support for Romania’s full accession to Schengen and reiterated the expansion of the European Union and the involvement of candidate states in this process as a key objective. On the sidelines of his meeting with Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in turn voiced appreciation for Italy’s contribution to maintaining the connection between Romanians who study, work and live in Italy with their country of origin and with the Romanian language.
Romania’s Prime Minister visits Germany
The governments of Romania and the State of Bavaria convened on Tuesday in Munich, in a joint session marking 25 years of bilateral relations. The consolidation of economic, social and security cooperation was high on the agenda for talks, both parties signing a Memorandum on entrepreneurship, SMEs and startups. Of Germany’s federal states, Bavaria is Romania’s biggest investor and trade partner, with a trade volume of 8.3 bln EUR at the end of last year. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated that he wants large Bavarian companies to invest in Romania. In turn, the Bavarian Prime Minister said that defense industry is one of the areas of cooperation that deserves greater attention.
The European Commission cautions Romania
The European Commission has officially cautioned 8 of its Member States about excessive budget deficits. Romania is one of them, criticized for not taking into account the Union’s previous warnings about excessive spending. In 2020, the EU Council recommended Romania implement measures to correct the budget deficit until 2022. Romania next year is expected to have the EU’s largest deficit, 7% of GDP.
Excellent results in sports
Romania’s national football team made a spectacular debut at EURO 2024, grabbing a 3-0 win against Ukraine in Monday’s opener on Football Arena in Munich in Group E. Romania’s previous win at a European Championship was 24 years ago, 3-2 against England. In swimming, 19-year-old David Popovici won gold in the 100m freestyle final at the European Swimming Championships in Belgrade, thus defending the title he won 2 years ago in Rome. (VP)
