The Week in Review 3-9.06.2013

We bring you a review of the main events of the week.

Corina Cristea, 08.06.2013, 14:37

The Constitution Revision process continues

In Bucharest, the first meetings of the Constitution Revision Committee have brought substantial changes, such as reducing the number of MPs to 300, not including the representatives of ethnic minorities. On the other hand, the Committee dismissed the proposals regarding a single-chamber Parliament, the switch to a parliamentary republic and the elimination of the phrase “nation state” as suggested by the representatives of Hungarian ethnics. The Committee also decided that the concept of “region” should be introduced in the amended Constitution, in addition to the existing forms of administrative organization.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta pays a visit to Poland

Poland will assist the Romanian authorities with the territorial reorganization process and with absorbing EU funds, prime minister Victor Ponta and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk agreed in Warsaw this week. Poland is a model for Romania and a privileged partner, and the two countries have no conflicting interests in any field, Ponta said:

“Given the excellent political relations and the common interests of the two countries, we would like Poland to see Romania as a partner and a strategic friend, and we would like Poland and Romania to pay a strong role in the region and in the EU in the years to come.”

The two prime ministers also expressed their support for the identification of new energy sources, as Romania and Poland share commons views on the environment and energy policies.

The President of the Turkish Parliament comes to Bucharest

The President of the National Assembly in Ankara, Cemil Cicek, was received by President Traian Basescu, had meetings with the speakers of the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament and gave an address before the Chamber of Deputies. The Turkish official praised the high level of trade between Romania and Turkey, which in spite of the negative economic context reached 6 billion US dollars last year. At present over 7,000 Turkish investors have businesses in Romania. Bucharest reiterated Romania’s support for the EU accession of Turkey, and expressed confidence that Ankara will have a positive contribution to the consolidation of the European project.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, makes a visit to Romania

The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, paid a two-day visit to Romania, as a guest to the World Congress of the Vine and Wine Industry. Dacian Ciolos said the vine growing industry is one of the most dynamic fields of the European agriculture:

“In spite of the crisis, which affected many areas of the European economy, especially in terms of competitiveness and exports, the wine industry is one of the fields where European exports grow from one year to the next. But in order to keep this pace, we need innovation and research in this field.”

Later, Commissioner Ciolos took part in a conference on the prospects of the fruit growing sector in Romania.

The European Commission releases a report on the freedom of movement

The European Commission has reiterated support for Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Schengen accession, although member states are yet to make a decision regarding the date of the two countries’ accession. In its half-yearly report on the European border-free zone, the Commission found that the two countries have implemented measures that would help meet this goal. Approximately 400 million EU citizens and an increasing number of citizens from third countries travel freely in the Schengen area, without internal border controls.

George Becali receives a new imprisonment sentence

Businessman George Becali received a final sentence to 3 years in prison in a case dating back to 2008, when he offered 1.7 million Euros to a football team as an incentive for defeating football club Steaua’s contender in the championship. Becali was found guilty of bribe-giving and forgery of private documents. Becali claimed he only intended to encourage and motivate the footballers. UEFA is also to state its official opinion on the case, and Steaua Bucharest risks being excluded from European competitions. George Becali, who is currently serving a three-year sentence for another case, involving a real estate fraud, will challenge the new sentence at the European Court for Human Rights.

Sibiu hosts a theatre festival

The town of Sibiu, in central Romania, is hosting an International Theatre Festival. For 10 days, 360 events will take place, involving theatre companies from 70 countries. This year France is the guest of honour. The most spectacular section comprises street performances and music shows in Sibiu’s Grand Square. The Sibiu Festival is the third-largest theatre festival in Europe, after the ones in Edinburgh and Avignon.

The Museum of Art Collections is once again open

The Museum of Art Collections was re-opened in Bucharest this week, displaying works of art that belonged to leading personalities of Romanian culture in the inter-war years. The Museum has 34 collections that were not on public display since 1986. Apart from works by famous Romanian painters like Nicolae Grigorescu, Corneliu Baba and Nicolae Tonitza, the Museum also takes pride in a drawing by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.