November 11, 2013 UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Valentin Țigău, 11.11.2013, 12:13
A Romanian Parliament’s special committee on Monday rejected with 17 yes votes and two abstentions the government project on cyanide mining in Rosia Montana, central Romania. The commission report has been assessing the cyanide-exploitation, which has a negative environmental impact. At the same time the MPs have asked that the exploitation license be made public so that we may know who exerted pressures in order that the Rosia Montana Company be granted the exploitation license on a free basis. The Romanian MPs have also recommended the setting up of a new legislative framework for gold exploitation in Romania.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development the EBRD has improved the forecast on Romania’s economic growth for next year from 2.2% in May up to 2.4% but cautioned that the short-term prospects are limited by the poor performances in the euro zone. For this year the bank estimates a GDP rate of 2.4% as compared to 1.4% in May shows an EBRD report on the countries in which it operates. The EBRD has improved the economic growth rate for this year from 1.4% to 1.6%, while the forecast for next year has been maintained at 2.2%.
Iran has reached an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency AIEA over its nuclear programme after a two-week deadlock. According to the BBC the two sides have agreed to cooperate in solving some aspects related to Iran’s nuclear activity in the past and present. The IAEA head said the accord represents a step forward but cautioned that there is more to be done. Now Iran has three months to implement the agreement. The talks between Iran and the IAEA are separate of the talks in Geneva between the world powers and Teheran but they can support efforts to reach a larger agreement.
Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean is on Monday and Tuesday in New Delhi, India, attending the Asia-Europe Meeting of ministers. On the agenda are economic challenges and opportunities in Europe and Asia, fighting terrorism, cybersecurity, as well as food, energy and water security. The foreign ministers are also set to discuss accepting new member states in their organization, especially Croatia, which joined the EU on July 1st this year. The Asia-Europe Meeting is an informal dialog group created in 1996, which includes EU states plus Norway and Switzerland, as well as 20 Asian countries.
The European Union and the United States have resumed in Brussels free trade agreement negotiations, which started in July, but were interrupted due to the budget crisis in the US, as well as by leaks regarding American spying on Europeans. This week until Friday, talks will revolve around services, investment, energy and raw materials, with the aim of issuing a preliminary set of proposals by early 2014. If signed, this trade agreement will become the biggest in history, reducing costs for companies that conduct cross-ocean business. Trade between the US and the EU accounts for 30% of global exchanges.
The international community has rallied in support of the Philippines, devastated late last week by Hurricane Haiyan, which has officially left 255 dead, though the authorities fear a death toll as high as 10,000. The number of people affected by the phenomenon is estimated to be between 600,000 to four million. Many countries have made contributions in various forms, such as rescue teams and equipment, food, and medicine. Haiyan reached Monday North Vietnam, close to China. At least 11 people have been killed there already, and 600,000 have been evacuated, even though the hurricane has now been downgraded to severe tropical storm.
November 11th is the 95th anniversary of the official end of WWI, celebrating the signing of the armistice between the Allies and the Central Powers in France. Many countries are holding special events for the victims of the Great War, which left 9 million combatants dead, and as many civilians. Romania hosts in Bucharest a joint ceremony organized by the German and French embassies. On Sunday, Great Britain too commemorated the event with a ceremony attended by thousands of soldiers and veterans, as well as by members of the Royal Family.
European ministers of finance meet on Monday in Brussels to discuss the 2014 EU budget. They are attempting to reach agreement on the final form of the document, which the parliament in Strasbourg has to pass as law. Two adjustment proposals are being examined, one for agriculture expenditure, and the other for adapting the budget for the 2014-2020 financial exercise, as well as providing 100 million Euro more for Cyprus in structural funds.
