October 21, 2013 UPDATE
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Mihai Pelin, 21.10.2013, 20:01
A joint delegation of the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the World Bank will come to Bucharest on Tuesday to assess the new precautionary agreement with Romania. For two weeks, the delegation members will hold talks with the Romanian authorities, with representatives of the political parties, trade unions, business associations, banks and civil society. The IMF board approved, in September, the letter of intent submitted by the Romanian authorities for the signing of a new precautionary agreement. This is the 3rd such agreement between Romania and the IMF since the beginning of the economic crisis. The first one was signed in 2009 and the second one in 2011.
Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Monday started a 3-day official visit to the United States, where he is expected to reaffirm the strategic, political and military partnership between the two states. Victor Ponta is due to meet the United States vicepresident Joe Biden, the secretaries of commerce and energy and the World Bank president. He is accompanied on his trip by a governmental delegation made up of the ministers for energy, environment, education and foreign affairs. The first day of the visit is dedicated to economic aspects. The Romanian prime minister will have talks with representatives of American companies that are doing business in Romania. The meetings agenda also includes projects related to energy, IT and technology.
The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest discussed on Monday a simple no-confidence motion submitted by the two parties in opposition, namely the centre-right Liberal Democratic Party and the populist Dan Diaconescu Party of the People. The supporters of the motion ask the centre-left Social Liberal government to withdraw its emergency ordinance related to the insolvency code, which in their opinion is an unprecedented attack on independent press and the business environment. Prime minister Victor Ponta says, however, the code seeks to combat tax evasion and non-payment of state budget contributions in a more efficient way. A vote on the motion is scheduled for Tuesday.
Romania’s national football squad will play against Greece in the 2014 World Cup qualifying playoffs due in November, following the draws on Monday in Zurich. Romania will play on November 15 in Greece and on November 19 on home turf. With 19 points in 10 games, Romania finished second in preliminary Group D, after the defending world vice-champions Holland and ahead of Hungary, Turkey, Estonia and Andorra. Romania last qualified to a world final tournament 15 years ago. On Tuesday, Romania’s football champion Steaua Bucharest will play against FC Basel of Switzerland, in Champions’ league Group E. In the first two matches Steaua was defeated by Chelsea London and the German side Schalke 04.
