September 19, 2019
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 19.09.2019, 13:56
COREPER – The Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union has voted the Romanian Laura Codruta Kovesi as the first European Chief Prosecutor, with 17 votes out of 22. The Romanian representative voted against Ms Kovesi. Previously, prime-minister Viorica Dancila had announced she did not support Kovesi and called on the Romanian representative in COREPER to vote against her. Kovesis candidacy must also be endorsed by the European Parliament, which has already voiced its support for the Romanian candidate.
MIGRATION – Last year, some 5.3 million migrants left their home countries to settle in developed countries, reads a report published in Paris by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Romania ranks second after China among the countries with the largest number of migrants. Last year, some 500,000 Romanians emigrated. Most of them got to Germany, Great Britain and Italy. As regards migration to Romania, most of the immigrants came from the neighboring Republic of Moldova, followed by Chinese and French.
VISIT – Non-reimbursable funding provided by the Bucharest authorities have been the main topic of discussion between the Minister for Romanians Abroad Natalia Intotero and the Romanians living in Italy. The meeting was held in Rome, at the end of a tour that the minister took of the Italian peninsula. Other topics of discussion included the Romanians rights and obligations, combating human trafficking and voting abroad. Natalia Intotero has stated that she has visited Italy at this time because the new electoral legislation came into force in Romania in August. The Romanian official has also said that Bucharest authorities are trying to reach the largest Romanian communities in Europe by the start of the election campaign for Novembers presidential election, in order to make sure information is properly disseminated.
FOOTBALL – Romanias football champion CFR Cluj is playing today against Lazio Rome of Italy, in the first leg of Europa Leagues Group E. In the other match of the group, Rennes of France will come up against Celtic Glasgow of Scotland. Back in 2008, in a memorable match, the Romanians defeated AS Rome 2-1, away from home, at the start of the Champions League. The Romanian Radu Stefan plays for the Italian club, but he was not included in the squad for this particular match. This summer, CFR eliminated Celtic in the third preliminary round of the Champions League. The vice-champion FCSB has failed to qualify for the Europa Leagues groups, after losing in the decisive leg of the play-off the match with the Portuguese from Vitoria Guimaraes.
HANDBALL – Romanias mens handball champion CS Dinamo Bucharest has defeated the Swedish IFK Kristianstad 28-25 on Wednesday night, on home turf, in Champions Leagues group D. Following this victory, Dinamo ranks first in the group with 3 points, followed by the Danes from GOG Gudme with 2 points and Chekhovskiye Medvedi of Russia also with 2 points. Ranking fourth are the Swiss from Kadetten with one point, followed by Visla Plock of Poland with zero points. Kristianstand of Sweden ranks last, also with no points. In the next match, Dinamo will play against GOG Gudme, in Bucharest, on September 25th. (translated by M. Ignatescu)
