The Week in Review August 31-September 6

A look back at the weeks top stories in politics, economy, society, culture and sports.

România Internațional, 06.09.2014, 13:02

Major decisions for Romania at the NATO summit in Wales

Romania has reached all the objectives set for the NATO summit, said on Friday Romanian President Traian Basescu at the end of the meeting held in New Port Wales. He mentioned the adoption of a rapid action plan, for the establishment of a rapid reaction force on the territories on the countries that make the east border of the Alliance, including Romania. He also said that Romania offered to host a NATO command unit on its soil. To Romania it is extremely important that the Black Sea was recognized as particularly important for the Euro-Atlantic security following the latest events in Ukraine, the President also said. Basescu also announced NATO countries’ commitment to increase national defence budgets to 2% of the GDP. Romania also offered to be a framework nation for a mutual fund for a cyber security program for Ukraine.

Bucharest approves presence of NATO fighter aircraft in Romania

Romania has approved the presence of NATO fighter aircraft on Romanian territory and airspace. The announcement was made on Wednesday by president Traian Basescu, after a meeting of the country’s Supreme Defence Council, against the backdrop of the worsening crisis in neighbouring Ukraine. Apart from airplanes, 200 Allied troops, pilots and maintenance personnel may also be stationed in Romania.

PM Victor Ponta makes official trips to China

The Romanian prime minister Victor Ponta made an official visit to China at the invitation of his counterpart Li Keqiang, as a follow-up to the latter’s visit to Bucharest in November 2013 to attend the China-Central and Eastern Europe Forum. The two officials described the bilateral political relations as exceptional and agreed to strengthen economic ties through joint projects in agriculture, energy and infrastructure. According to Ponta, priority will be given to four investment projects in the energy sector: the 3rd and 4th reactors of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, the projects in Tarnita and Rovinari, and the Hunedoara Power Complex. These are strategic projects, which ensure Romania’s energy independence and its capacity to export energy to other countries in the region, such as the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian prime minister also took part in an economic meeting attended by representatives of the main Chinese companies and banks that have businesses in Romania or intend to invest here. The Romanian official was received by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, who appreciated the consistency of Romania’s position throughout the 65 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Romania up 17 places in world economic competitiveness ranking

Romania ranks 59th in the world in terms of economic competitiveness, according to an annual standing released by the World Economic Forum. Compared to last year, Romania went up 17 places. In the regional standing, Romania comes after Turkey and Bulgaria, but ahead of Hungary and Croatia. The most competitive economies in the world are Switzerland, Singapore and the USA. The 2014-2015 Global Competitiveness Report was based on opinion expressed by 15,000 managers of companies from over 140 countries. On the other hand, according to the National Statistics Institute, industry had the greatest contribution to the growth of the Romanian economy in the first half of this year, whereas agriculture and constructions had negative performances.

Romanian Social Democrat MEP Corina Cretu is on the list of the future European Commissioners

Romanian Social-Democrat MEP Corina Cretu is on the list of the future members of the European Commission, made public by the next Commission President Jean Claude Junker on Friday. Mrs. Cretu, aged 47, has been a member of the EP since 2007 and is currently vice-president of the Euroepan Parliament. The membership of the future European Commision must also be approved by the EU Council and then it will be published in the EU’s official jounral. Portfolios will be announced next week.

National football team up against Greece in Euro 2016 preliminaries

Romania’s national football team will play against Greece in Piraeus on Sunday, in its first qualifying game for the 2016 European Championship. Last autumn, Greece qualified into the World Cup final tournament in Brazil at the expense of Romania, after a win at home and a draw in Bucharest. The Euro qualifying group F also includes Hungary, Finland, Northern Ireland and the Faeroe Islands. Romania last qualified for a European Championship final tournament in 2008.