November 15, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news.
România Internațional, 15.11.2013, 12:19
Romania considers that it is its duty to get involved in the first line of assistance for the Republic of Moldova, in its effort to get closer to the EU, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said in Brussels. He made this statement in a press conference given jointly with his Moldovan counterpart, Iurie Leanca and the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso. In turn, Barroso thanked the Romanian prime minister for the consistent support granted by Romania to Moldova, in its efforts to join the EU. The European official has added that he will propose, at the Vilnius summit, the elimination of visas for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The joint visit paid to Brussels by the Prime Ministers of the two neighbouring states comes two weeks ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, where the republic of Moldova will initial the EU Association Agreement.
Romania’s Supreme Court is today analysing the case in which deputy Prime Minister Liviu Dragnea is accused, alongside 74 other people, of electoral rigging. At the time, Liviu Dragnea was Secretary General of the ruling Social Democratic Party and is now MP and deputy Prime Minister. He is accused of rigging the referendum on the impeachment of president Basescu in 2012, by using a multiple voting system, electoral tourism and signature forgery. We recall that the referendum organised in the summer of 2012 was not validated because of a lack of quorum, although a large majority of those who went to the polls voted for the impeachment of the suspended president. Also today, the prefect of Galati county, in the east, Catalin Bocaneanu, has been taken into custody by the prosecutors of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, being accused of peddling in influence, blackmail, instigation to the use of information which is not meant for the public and abuse of office.
Romanian foreign minister, Titus Corlatean is currently on a one day visit to Athens, at the invitation of his counterpart, deputy-prime minister, Evangelos Venizelos, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced. The visit is part of the regular bilateral political dialogue and is paid shortly before Greece takes over the rotating presidency of the EU Council, on January the 1st 2014. In its turn, Romania is currently holding the rotating presidency of the South-East European Cooperation Process. The two ministers will analyse the stage of bilateral cooperation and will identify new cooperation projects in such fields as economy, investment, energy, transportation and infrastructure, regional development, as well as tourism and culture.
The EU finance ministers are analysing in Brussels a proposal forwarded by the European Commission which intends to set up a single system for the return of the VAT. The agenda of the talks also includes a project on the creation of the Banking Union. In a joint declaration issued on Thursday evening, the relevant ministers in the Euro zone congratulated the Irish authorities on the successful implementation of the financial assistance program carried out jointly by the European Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank.
Typhoon Haiyan, which smashed into and devastated the central Philippines a week ago has claimed over 3,600 lives, local authorities announced on Friday. Over 1,000 others are reported missing. Although international assistance efforts have been boosted at an unprecedented level, the situation continues to be dramatic, The “Save the Children” Humanitarian Organisation has announced. In certain areas, severely affected by the storm, it is impossible to distribute humanitarian aid until Saturday. The local authorities say more cases of rape, stabbing and plunder have been reported in recent days. Some 11 million people have been affected by Taiphoon Haiyan which smashed into the Philippines, according to estimates made by the UN.
Romania’s national team tonight will be taking on the Greek national squad in Piraeus. The confrontation counts towards the playoffs’ first leg of next year’s World Cup in Brazil. The return leg is scheduled this coming Tuesday in Bucharest. The last time Romania took part in a World Cup final tournament was in 1998. Also, Romania has not taken part in a playoff session since 2001. We recall that back then the Romanians were ousted by Slovenia. In the ongoing qualifying race, Romania’s national squad was on the runner-up position in Group D, second only to the Netherlands, but ahead of Turkey, Hungary, Estonia and Andorra.
