June 26, 2016 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 26.06.2016, 12:30
BREXIT European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Sunday called on Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron to commence the process of leaving the EU at the European Summit due on Tuesday. In an interview to German paper Bild, Schulz said that hesistating would lead to even more insecurity. On Saturday, foreign ministers from the EUs six founding states issued a joint statement in Berlin urging Britain to start the process of leaving as soon as possible. In another development, the US secretary of state, John Kerry will travel to Brussels and London for talks with EU and British officials about the Brexit effects.
COUNCIL Patriarchs of the Orthodox churches that convened in Cyprus for a Council that hadn’t been held for more than 1000 years but was marked by the absence of the Russian patriarch, on Sunday made an appeal for the protection of Christian minorities persecuted in the Middle East. The council has also voiced the church’s concern about moral dilemmas sparked off by the rapid progress in sciences like genetics and biotechnology. The meeting, which was aimed at strengthening Orthodox unity, was boycotted by the Georgian and Bulgarian churches, considered close to Moscow. The Orthodox community, which numbers about 250 million believers, consists of 14 autocephalous churches, including that in Romania.
COOPERATION Military cooperation on security issues between Romania and Great Britain will continue, Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc has said shortly after Britain’s recent decision to get out of the European Union. Motoc has also said that neither will Britain’s role inside NATO change. In another development Finance Minister Anca Dragu on Saturday said that Britain’s leaving the EU would not affect Romania from the financial point of view. According to Dragu, Romania can rely on significant currency and funding reserves. Furthermore, the country’s economy is robust and can take such a shock irrespective of the period of time needed for the implementation of such a referendum.
MEDAL Romania’s female saber team on Saturday won bronze at the 2016 edition of the European Fencing Championships in Torun, Poland, after beating Hungary. Romania’s male sabre team has also walked away with bronze after a win against the similar side of Hungary. We recall that last year the Romanian women fencers reaped gold in the sabre event of the European Championships in Montreux, Switzerland.
FLAG Every year on June 26th Romanians celebrate the Day of the National Flag. Ceremonies dedicated to this event are to be staged in Bucharest and all over the country. In his address on the occasion, president Iohannis has underlined that the flag is the most important symbol of national identity as it represents a modern Romania, a sovereign, independent, unitary and undivided country, a staunch ally of the USA and fully-fledged NATO and EU member. In turn, Romania’s Foreign Minister says the national flag is the supreme symbol of the Romanian unity and identity.
COMMISSIONER Brexit results have put the EU in an unprecedented situation but EU members will remain united and be strong after having overcome this new challenge, the European commissioner for regional policy, Romanian Corina Cretu has said. In a communique issued today, the European official said it is a difficult moment for the EU, but also for part of the Britons. Corina Cretu believes the government in London has to implement the referendum’s results as soon as possible because any delay leads to prolonged uncertainty. She explained there are clear rules for this process. The procedures of article 50 of the Maastricht Treaty must be launched first, and unless an agreement concerning Britain’s leaving of the EU winthin 2 years since the activation of the article is reached, the country leaves the Union without any new agreement in place.
