June 26, 2024 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 26.06.2024, 20:00

SUMMIT The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, attends the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. Support for the neighbouring Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as well as the new structure of the European Parliament, are on the meeting’s agenda, according to a press release from the Presidency. EU leaders will also continue discussions on appointments at the top of the EU institutions, following the recent European elections.

CURRENCY Romania does not meet the conditions for switching to the single currency, the European Commission said after assessing judicial compatibility and the fulfillment of the so-called convergence criteria. The European Commission looked at price stability, the soundness of public finances, the currency exchange rate stability and the stability of long-term interest rates, areas in which Romania still has a lot to do. Bulgaria, on the other hand, does meet the criteria, but it is not yet a member of the exchange rate mechanism. One of the requirements for joining the Euro zone is a minimum 2-year participation in the mechanism, without major monetary tensions.

CITIZENSHIP A bill modifying the Citizenship Act was endorsed by the Parliament of Romania on Wednesday. A provision allowing foreign citizens who are married and living together with a Romanian national abroad for at least 10 years to be granted Romanian citizenship has been scrapped. The prerequisite for applicants to obtain Romanian citizenship is for them to have legally resided in Romania for at least 8 years or, if they are married to Romanian citizens, for at least 5 years. Refugees may also be granted Romanian citizenship after 3 years, instead of 8 years previously. The document also provides for biometric checks such as fingerprints and face recognition, for those who apply for Romanian citizenship, so as to prevent fraud. Also on Wednesday, Romanian MPs passed legislation binding business operators to card customers who purchase alcohol, energy drinks and tobacco in order to make sure they are over 18. The fines for failure to comply range from EUR 2,000 to 6,000.

REHAB Detoxification and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts will be established in each of the 8 development regions in Romania, under a bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies in this respect. Dan Tănasă, a member of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR, in opposition) says drug trafficking is a topic on the agenda of the Supreme Defence Council, which is a clear sign that Romania has been hijacked by drug trafficking networks. Tănasă also said setting up such centres does not tackle the core issue. In response, the Social Democrat Florin Buicu, whose party is the main partner in the ruling coalition, said prevention is necessary with respect to drug consumption, but that the need for addict treatment centres is undeniable. The bill is to be submitted to the president of Romania for promulgation.

USR The ex-journalist Elena Lasconi, the mayor of Câmpulung Muscel (southern Romania), was elected president of Save Romania Union (in opposition, affiliated to RENEW in the European Parliament) with 68% of the online votes of party members. Lasconi said the reconstruction of USR would now begin, with a party congress scheduled for this weekend, when the members of the party’s leading structure, the National Bureau, will also be elected. The former USR leader Cătălin Drulă resigned following the local and EP elections of June 9, when the United Right Alliance, comprising USR, the People’s Movement Party and the Force of the Right came below the Social Democrats and the Liberals (in the ruling coalition) and AUR party.

NATO The 32 NATO member countries Wednesday confirmed the nomination of the Dutch PM Mark Rutte for secretary general. France Press says the withdrawal of the candidacy of Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis and of the objections raised by Hungary and Slovakia paved the way for Rutte securing the top NATO post. He is to take office on October 1, when the last extension of the current secretary general Jens Stoltenberg’s term in office expires. Appointed in 2014, Stoltenberg saw his term in office extended 4 times in the context of the war in Ukraine. (AMP)