June 10, 2015 UPDATE
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România Internațional, 10.06.2015, 12:30
The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling on the EU to revise its relations with Moscow seriously affected after Russia’s deliberate violation of democratic principles, fundamental values and international law through its acts of violence causing instability in some of its neighbouring countries. The European Parliament has called on the Commission to take action and provide financial support to fighting Russia’s propaganda and its misinformation campaign inside the EU and abroad. The MEPs have called on member states to set up a coordinated mechanism of monitoring the financial, political and technical assistance Russia is offering to political parties and other organisations in the EU.
France has reiterated its commitment to having the rule of law respected in Romania, French ambassador in Bucharest Francois Saint-Paul says underlining that Bucharest must comply with EU values in the field. The French officials’ response comes after the Romanian MPs on Tuesday rejected the anti-corruption prosecutors’ request for a criminal investigation against Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on corruption charges. The French diplomat said the benefit of the doubt, equal rights and unobstructed justice are essential principles. On Tuesday, the US, British and Dutch embassies in Romania criticised the Romanian MPs’ decision while US officials said that law must be for everyone. In turn, Great Britain said that legal institutions must act in a spirit of complete independence.
Romania will be contributing 7.5 million Special Drawing Rights to the IMF’s Fund for Low-Income countries, which account for 9.4 million euros under a draft law the government passed on Wednesday. According to a government communiqué, Romania’s National Bank is the institution in charge of implementing the law on Romania’s contribution to the Fund. The Central Bank has underlined that backing the IMF efforts aimed at supporting low-income countries is a positive signal abroad speaking about the improvement of Romania’s macroeconomic prospects and last but not least would be an act of solidarity as Bucharest has along the years benefited from a consistent support from the IMF.
Countering radicalization leading to violent extremism and terrorism in prisons is one of the greatest challenges facing prison and probation services at present, said Philippe Boillat, Director General of Human Rights and the Rule of Law within the Council of Europe, on the sideline of the 20th edition of the Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services currently taking place in Bucharest. The event brings together directors of prison and probation services from 47 Council of Europe member states, the United States and Canada, representatives of observer states and Council of Europe officials. This is the first time an East-European country plays host to such an event.
Romanian President Klaus Johannis in Brussels for two days will be attending the Joint European Union — Latin American and Caribbean States Community Summit, with presidents of more than 60 countries expected to attend the event. It is the European Union’s seventh joint summit with Latin American countries, and the second to include the Caribbean area. President Johannis stated that during the event he would plead for strengthening the political dialogue, the development of economic ties and an extended cooperation. Johannis went on to say that for Romania, a country of Latin origin, the development of an EU — Latin American and Caribbean partnership was of very special interest.
