December 3, 2016
Romania's Foreign Minister visits Valletta/US President Elect Donald Trump meets Mitt Romney/
Newsroom, 03.12.2016, 12:00
VALETTA — The Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazăr Comănescu, on Friday gave assurances, in Valletta, to his Maltese counterpart George Vella and to the Maltese president, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, that Romania would support the priorities and objectives of the Maltese presidency of the EU in the first half of 2017. Lazăr Comănescu and his Maltese counterpart tackled the main challenges facing the EU, focusing on migration, Brexit and the European Neighborhood Policy. In another development Lazăr Comănescu expressed confidence that during the Maltese presidency of the EU a positive solution would be found regarding Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area. The two officials also signed a memorandum of understanding between the Romanian Diplomatic Institute and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies.
WASHINGTON –The US President Elect, Donald Trump, is today meeting in New Jersey with the former governor of the state of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, who is credited with the highest chances of becoming Secretary of State in the future administration, the CNN reports. Donald Trump also announced his nomination for the position of Secretary of Defense, namely retired marine general James Mattis, who withdrew from the army on 2013. At the time he was holding the position of chief of the US Central Command. Also known as Mad Dog, James Mattis, 66, has become famous as an excellent military strategist following the operations he led between 2010 and 2013 in the Middle East. However he was regarded with hostility by the Obama administration for the criticism he leveled against the agreement with Iran.
HANDBALL – Romania’s national women’s handball team are today leaving for Sweden to participate in the European Championship scheduled for the period December 4th –18th. In the final tournament, Romania will take on Norway, in Group D, on December 5th, Russia on the 7th of December and Croatia on the 9th. The three top-ranking teams in each group will qualify to the second stage. Romania’s team is coached by the Spanish Ambros Martin, who last month replaced the Swedish Tomas Ryde, who led the Romanians to victory at the 2015 World Championship hosted by Denmark, when they won bronze. Ambros Martin was designated the best coach of the world in 2013 and 2014 and won two times the Champions League with the Hungarian team Győr that he also coaches. The teams of Norway and Denmark have won the most continental titles, 6 and 3 respectively. Romania’s best result at the European Championship was the bronze medal in 2010.
BERLIN — Germany and the European Commission have reached an accord after several years of negotiations over the introduction of a highway toll for vehicles. The EC claims the agreement discourages the discrimination of European citizens. Foreigners who cross Germany by car on highway will pay a toll, depending on the car engine’s capacity and the carbon emissions, amounting to 2.5 up to 20 euros for a vignette valid for 10 days. (translation by L. Simion)
