September 24, 2015
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Bogdan Matei, 24.09.2015, 12:00
Heads of states and governments of EU countries last night convened in an informal extraordinary session and vowed to earmark at least 1 billion Euro worth of extra funding to the UN agencies supporting the refugees coming from Syria’s neighbouring countries — Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. The money will mainly go to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program. Against the backdrop of the refugee crisis, rated as the most serious since World War Two, a decision has also been taken regarding the strengthening of the Union’s outer borders. And, last but not the least, the so-called hot spots will become operational as of late November. We recall the hot spots are filtering centres set up in Italy and Greece, countries lying at the forefront of the asylum-seekers inflow. From those centres, migrants rated as being illegal are to be sent back to their countries of origin. Also from those centres, refugees will be relocated to other EU member states.
Romanian president Klaus Johannis as of today is on an official visit to the United States. Johannis will be taking part in UN General Assembly in New York, where the 2030 Agenda for long-lasting development is to be adopted. The Agenda is a commitment made by heads of states and governments and is rated as historic, since it sets a series of universal objectives for a world under construction. In Washington, Klaus Johannis will be received in audience by US vice-president Joe Biden. High on the bilateral talks’ agenda is the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two states. At the invitation of US President Barack Obama, Johannis will also be attending the summit of the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organization.
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta in London today will be starting negotiations with officials of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, focusing on an agreement regarding the Bank’s representation in Romania. In Romania, the European Bank has been carrying out projects in the energy sector, as well as in industry, trade and infrastructure, offering assistance to financial and banking institutions, with special emphasis laid on the SMEs. 64 states are shareholders of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the European Union and the European Investment Bank. The European Bank so far has invested more than 7 billion Euro in Romania, also earmarking over 14 billion Euro for those projects, resorting to other financing sources.
Bucharest is playing host to a forum staged by the Romanian Association of Local Danube Riparian Communities. The event brings in players involved in the Danube European Strategy, including the European Commission, coordinator of the Danube Strategy Marco Onida. The event is aimed at attracting local communities, the business environment, young people and universities involved in local and regional development projects.
Romania’s national rugby team in London on Wednesday night has been defeated by the world’s vice-champion team France, 38-11, in its Pool D debut confrontation at the World Cup. The sports press in Bucharest headlined the Romanians have put up a good performance, but lost mainly because of their lack of focus late into the game, mostly. For the first time ever in a final tournament, three naturalized, foreign-born rugby players were on the pitch for Romania’s lineup, the Georgian Otar Turashvili, the south-African Johannes van Heerden and Paula of Kinikilau, Tonga. Romania’s upcoming fixture at the World Cup is scheduled on Sunday, when the Oak Leaf Knights will be proving their mettle against the strong team of Ireland.
Romania’s men’s tennis team on home court will be taking on the winner of the match pitting Lithuania against Slovenia, in the first round of the Davis Cup 2016, according to the drawing of lots made in Santiago de Chile. Lithuania and Slovenia will be facing one another over October 30 and November 1st in Slovenia, in a playoff match counting towards maintaining a place in Group 1. In another development, in China’s Guangzhou, the world’s number two tennis player, the Romanian Simona Halep today will today be taking on WTA 74th-placed Denis Allertova of the Czech Republic, in a quarterfinals fixture. Also in the quarterfinals, WTA 49th-placed Monica Niculescu has been defeated by the Belgian tennis player Yanina Wickmayer.
