June 30, 2014
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Ştefan Stoica, 30.06.2014, 13:18
A fresh round of talks is being held in Bucharest today for the merger of Romania’s right-of-center parties, the National Liberal Party and Democrat Liberal Party. Talks have been initiated as the mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Johannis was elected head of the National Liberal Party at the party’s extraordinary congress on Sunday. In another move, the Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party, the governing coalition’s main party, today sets the action timeline for the nomination of the social-democratic candidate to the presidential elections in November. Prime Minister Victor Ponta is highly likely to be the Social Democrat candidate for the autumn ballot.
The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in Bucharest this week will reconvene in extraordinary sessions to ratify the Association and Free Trade Treaty the Republic of Moldova signed with the European Union in Brussels on Friday. Romania has already announced that, symbolically, it wanted to be the first EU member state to ratify the treaty, in token of support for the European integration endeavor of its neighboring state, which is a former Soviet Republic, with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population. In order for the treaty to become effective, it needs to be ratified by the parliaments of the Union’s 28 member states.
A new phone conference of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian and the French Presidents Petro Poroshenko and Francois Hollande, respectively, as well as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled today, as the frail yet still valid truce expires in South-eastern Ukraine. On Sunday, the four-way talks focused on the extension of the truce, on initiating a series of efficient control operations along the Russian-Ukrainian border under the supervision of the OSCE, and on the peace plan put forward by Poroshenko. Also today, the time of grace expires the European Union has granted Russia, so that the latter can implement specific measures aimed at defusing the tension in south-eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, the situation on the ground is still uncertain, according to the AFP.
Romania has walked away with five medals, three god and two silver, at the World aerobic Gymnastics Championships held in the city of Cancun ( Mexico). Romania gold medals were won in the mixed pairs, trio and group events. Adding to Romania’s record sheet were the two silver medals won in the women’s all-round event as well as in the nations’ competition.
The European Commission today has approved Bulgaria’s request for a credit line worth 2.3 bn Euro, for the support of the banks that have been confronted with a speculative attack. According to the Commission, under special circumstances, money will provide enough liquidities for the banking system of Bulgaria, which is Romania’s neighboring country. Bulgaria’s president Rosen Plevneliev said it was a crisis of confidence which has occurred against the backdrop of the uncertainty two key financial institutions have been facing, which are 3rd and 4th-placed on the domestic banking market.
France is facing Nigeria and Germany will be taking on Algeria, in today’s scheduled games counting towards the World Cup’ round of last 16. On Sunday, Netherlands outclassed Mexico, 2-1, while Costa Rica emerged as the winning team in the game against Greece, following the penalty shootout. The Netherlands and Costa Rica have already booked their place in the World Cup quarterfinals. Also playing a game in the quarterfinals are Brazil and Colombia. Two other quarterfinal games are scheduled Tuesday, when Argentina will be taking on Switzerland, while Belgium will be facing the United States.
