EU STRASBOURG The unity of the UE is being
\ntested, said the president of Romania in his address before the European
\nParliament on Wednesday, as
\npart of a debate in the This is Europe series. According to the Romanian
\nofficial, instability has reached alarming levels in the EU. The European
\nUnion must improve the efficiency of its decision-making processes, and Romania
\nis fully engaged in this effort, he added. As for the war in neighbouring
\nUkraine, Klaus Iohannis said Europeans must stand by Ukraine and its people. Prior to the address, the Romanian official had
\na meeting with the president of the EP, Roberta Metsola, and discussed Romania’s
\nSchengen accession, the war in Ukraine and the neighbouring R. of Moldova. Romania’s
\nfull Schengen accession as soon as possible, with its land borders as well,
\nwill considerably strengthen the Union and its security and will facilitate
\ncohesion and cooperation among member states, the Romanian official argued. In
\nturn, Metsola said Europe would be stronger with Romania in the Eurozone and the
\nSchengen area, and told Romanians it was important for them to take part in
\nJune’s elections for the EP and not to take Europe for granted.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
MOLDOVA For the Republic of Moldova, carrying on and
\nconsolidating strategic relations with neighbouring Romania in all sectors is a
\npriority, was the message brought to Bucharest by Chi\u015fin\u0103u’s new foreign
\nminister, Mihai Pop\u015foi. He had talks with his Romanian counterpart, Lumini\u0163a
\nOdobescu, and was also received by PM Marcel Ciolacu, who emphasised the interest
\nin developing joint projects benefitting the citizens of both states. Romania will
\ncontinue to support Moldova in its EU accession negotiations, the Romanian
\nofficial promised.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
FARMERS
\nThe president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced
\nthe EC was dropping a proposal to halve the use of pesticides across the EU,
\nand explained this had become a symbol of polarisation. The move seems to be a
\nconcession to the farmers protesting in many EU member states. Meanwhile, the
\nEC proposed last week a partial derogation from rules obliging farmers to keep
\ncertain areas non-productive, and a limitation of Ukrainian imports, while also
\npromising to streamline the Common Agricultural Policy. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
NAVAL The Damen Shipyard in Gala\u0163i (south-eastern
\nRomania) will build a state-of-the-art multifunctional vessel for the
\nPortuguese Navy. The ship will be able to conduct ocean research missions,
\nsearch and rescue as well as emergency aid missions, and will be equipped with a
\nUAV launching system. Damen Group was awarded the construction works following
\nan EU call for tenders. Funding will be provided under the EU Recovery and Resilience
\nMechanism. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
MIDDLE EAST The US secretary of state
\nAntony Blinken is in Israel today, at a time when Tel Aviv is analysing
\nthe response given by Hamas to a proposed truce, including hostage releases,
\nafter 4 months of war that have seen countless victims. Blinken, whose country
\nis a close ally of Israel, said he would discuss the Hamas answer with the
\nIsraeli authorities today, as part of his 5th tour in the Middle
\nEast since October 7. The US secretary of
\nstate, who has visited Saudi Arabia, Egypt and
\nQatar, is to travel next to the West Bank, an autonomous Palestinian territory
\noccupied by Israel since 1967.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Sorana C\u00eerstea plays today in the
\neighth-finals of the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE), against third-seed
\nMaria Sakkari of Greece (9 WTA). C\u00eerstea (26 WTA), leads 2-1 head-to-head, the
\nGreek player having won the last match 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the second round at
\nCincinnati. (AMP)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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