October 13, 2017 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 13.10.2017, 19:48
RESHUFFLE — The leadership of the Social-Democratic Party on Friday adopted the nominations for the new ministers. Paul Stanescu will take over as the new Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Prime Minister, Felix Stroe is to be the new Transport Minister and Marius Nica will receive the European Funds portfolio. Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said he would present the new proposals to President Klaus Iohannis on Monday. The three will replace outgoing ministers Sevil Shhaideh, Rovana Plumb and Razvan Cuc, who decided to step down in order not to hinder the Government’s activity. Sevil Shhaideh and Rovana Plumb are being investigated by anticorruption prosecutors. Also on Friday, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats said it would not withdraw its political support for Minister Delegate for Liaison with Parliament Viorel Ilie, who is also being accused of influence peddling.
MEETING — Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Friday met with European Council President Donald Tusk in Bucharest. Tusk is on a tour of European Council member states, holding consultations in order to draft a document on the future consolidation of the European Union. During the talks President Iohannis reiterated Romania’s firm opposition to any scenarios concerning a multi-speed Europe or a Europe divided in concentric circles, which would only increase the divide between member states. Klaus Iohannis argued in favour of a united, strong, cohesive and coherent Europe that keeps its citizens close and is strongly oriented towards global developments.
UKRAINE — Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu expressed Bucharest’s sympathy with the concerns and disgruntlement of the Romanian minority in Ukraine over the recently adopted education law. After meeting in Bucharest with his Ukrainian counterpart, Pavlo Klimkin, Melescanu said talks are ongoing with Kiev authorities, who are expected to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation. Minister Klimkin admitted that the Ukrainian Government must talk to the Romanian authorities and the minority communities in Ukraine regarding this law, which severely restricts access to education in the mother tongue. The law was criticized on Thursday in a resolution adopted by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.
ROBOR — The ROBOR index, according to which interest rates for credits in the local currency are calculated, has risen to a 1.84% record high in the past years, data released by the Romanian Central Bank shows. The unusual increase, which began in September, was caused by an improved tax collection process. The Central Bank has recently stepped in, granting record loans of nearly 2€ billion to trade banks, but the measure had only a limited effect on the ROBOR increase.
BREXIT — Great Britain should pay what it owes to the European Union so that negotiations on the post-Brexit UK-EU relations can commence, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Friday, in the wake of the fifth round of Brexit talks that produced no significant progress. EU chief negotiator on Breixt Michel Barnier said he cannot recommend heads of state and government to move to the next phase of negotiations at the summit next week. Unresolved financial issues are now hindering negotiations, affecting both taxpayers and those who benefit from EU policies. His British counterpart, David Davis has called on European leaders to acknowledge the progress made so far so that negotiations can move to the next chapter of negotiations, trade relations between the European Union and Great Britain. (Translated by V. Palcu)
