May 9, 2019 UPDATE

Sibiu Declaration adopted a the EU Summit in Sibiu, Declaration for Sustainable Development at the Black Sea passed in Bucharest

Newsroom, 09.05.2019, 20:01

Summit – At the EU 27 summer summit held in Romania, which is holding the rotating half-yearly presidency of the Council of the EU, the Sibiu Declaration was adopted which focuses on unity as the basic principle for the future of the Union. Under this document, the EU leaders commit to protecting the European way of life, democracy and the rule of law and establish the principle of equity on the common labor market in the social assistance and economic fields. The European leaders also had a first discussion on the future strategic agenda to be applied by 2024, which is to be adopted at the European Council due next month. The first target on the agenda is to protect the European citizens and their freedoms by providing security, addressing the issues of migration and safeguarding the European freedoms and democracies. A 2nd priority on the agenda is to develop the economic basis by mobilizing all relevant policies, by promoting a correct and competitive environment, investments into the future and the completion of digital transition. Another target on the agenda is related to a more ecological, fairer and more inclusive future. Another priority is to maintain the European way of life, and many member states agree on developing the European social pillar. The draft strategy also includes the promotion of European interests and values across the world.

Joint conference — Romania, which is holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, a country deeply attached to the European project, on Thursday became the center of debates on the future of the EU, said the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the end of the summit in Sibiu, at a joint conference with the president of the EC, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk. Jean-Claude Juncker said the Sibiu summit showed that “we can be really united” while Donald Tusk said that 2 weeks ahead of the EP elections the EU leaders gathered in Sibiu to start talks on the EU priorities for the coming years.

Anniversary — Romania marks on May 9 the State Independence Day proclaimed in 1877, the WWII Victory Day of the United Nations Coalition and Europe Day. Ceremonies, exhibitions, concerts, symposiums, film screenings and sports events were held on the occasion. In Bucharest flower wreathes were laid at the Monument of the Country’s Heroes of WW II, an event that was attended by the defense minster Gabriel Les, active duty and reserve military as well as foreign military attaches.

Black Sea — The international scientific community, the Black Sea riparian countries and EU representatives on Thursday adopted in Bucharest the Declaration for Sustainable Development at the Black Sea. The signatories pledge to support ecological restoration programs, to monitor climate change and introduce the green economy. Researchers have drawn attention that, in order to capitalize on the region’s fishery potential, green technologies and policies need to be applied that should take into account that the fish stocks have dramatically fallen in the past 50 years, which requires the setting up of protected areas for the restoration of marine biodiversity. The signing of the document ended the international conference hosted by Bucharest which discussed the economic potential of the Black Sea as well as the environmental issues that need to be solved.

Tennis –World’s no. 3 tennis player, the Romanian Simona Halep, on Thursday qualified to the semifinals of the Madrid tournament, which has prizes worth a total of 7 million dollars. She defeated Australian Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 7-5. Halep previously won the Madrid tournament in 2016 and 2017. In the women’s doubles the Romanian pair Irina Bara/Mihaela Buzărnescu was defeated by Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)/Vera Zvonareva (Russia), 6-0, 6-3. In the men’s doubles, Romanian Horia Tecau and the Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer defeated, in the eighth finals, the British pair Kyle Edmund and Neal Skupski. In the quarterfinals they will be up against the winners of the match pitting Roberto Carballes Baena/Jaume Munar (Spain) against Marcelo Demoliner (Brazil)/Daniile Medvedev (Russia). (translation by L. Simion)