March 17, 2019 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 17.03.2019, 19:27
EU — The EU on Sunday reiterated its commitment regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, 5 years after the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and of Sevastopol by Russia, shows a statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. The EU reiterated that it did not recognize the annexation, which it considers a direct challenge to international security with serious consequences for international legal order which protects the territorial integrity, the unity and sovereignty of all states. The EU equally keeps its commitment to fully implementing the non-recognition policy for Crimea, also through restrictive measures. In Bucharest the Foreign Ministry officials said they supported the statement of the EU foreign policy chief Mogherini. They also condemn the illegal annexation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea which they consider a violation of the principles and norms of the international law.
Meeting – Bucharest is hosting, on Sunday and Monday, a ministerial meeting dwelling on Diaspora policies. The meeting is organized by the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU and is taking place in the context of the free movement of labor force and of debates on migration and integration. The Romanian authorities believe that the exchange of good practices, the presentation of and consultation on the national strategies regarding the Diaspora could be useful instruments at both European and national level. The talks will focus on ways through which the European countries could establish relations of economic and cultural cooperation with the Diaspora, the initiatives for supporting its linguistic and cultural development, the policies that contributed to the rapid integration of the Diaspora community members as well as the policies meant to support the return of the members of the Diaspora to the countries of origin.
Brussels — Romania’s rugby team on Sunday defeated the Belgian team in Brussels, 43-17, in the last leg of the 2019 Rugby Europe International Championship (REIC). In the other matches, Georgia defeated Russia and Spain had the upper hand on Germany. Romania comes 3rd in the rankings after Georgia and Spain.
Belgrade — Thousands of people on Sunday gathered in Belgrade in front of the Serbian presidential headquarters to protest against president Aleksandar Vucic, whom they accuse of authoritarianism and subordination of the press, news agencies report. Vucic accuses the protesters of excessive violence after some of them on Saturday evening stormed the public television headquarters. The protesters denounced the bias of the public television and its dependence on the government. Protests against president Vucic started on December 8 last year, and have been held every Saturday in Belgrade and other Serbian cities ever since.
London — The British Labor opposition will force a vote on a motion of censure if the Conservative PM Theresa fails again to obtain a vote on a Brexit deal in Parliament, the leader of the Labor Party Jeremy Corbyn announced on Sunday, according to Reuters. He called on all MPs to work together in order to find an urgent way out of the Brexit deadlock. The British Parliament on Thursday evening approved the motion through which Theresa May’s government is asking for a postponement of Brexit after March 29. The postponement needs to also be accepted by the EU leaders who will gather in Brussels on March 21 and 22. (translation by L. Simion)
