July 16, 2014
A look at some of the top stories in Romania today.
România Internațional, 16.07.2014, 12:00
The new president of the European Commission Jean Claude Junker today holds his first meeting with the EU heads of state and government to discuss the priorities for the next 5 years and future appointments within the European institutions. Romania says it wishes to retain the position of commissioner for agriculture, which is currently held by Dacian Ciolos. The European Council will also discuss the situation in Ukraine, following a warning on Tuesday in Strasbourg by the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle that the situation in the east of the country, on the EU border, continues to deteriorate. Romania is represented in Brussels by president Traian Basescu.
The Constanta Tribunal today rejected a temporary arrest appeal by the president’s younger brother, the businessman Mircea Basescu. He was indicted on Monday for peddling in influence, being accused by prosecutors of receiving 250,000 euros for using his influence with the magistrates in favour of a man on trial for attempted murder. His arrest last month caused a big political scandal in Bucharest. Parliament even adopted a political declaration asking the president to resign as the honourable thing to do. Traian Basescu refused, however, to step down saying the special services did not brief him on any possible links between his brother and organised crime groups.
Romania’s foreign minister Titus Corlatean today met the chargé daffaires at the US embassy in Bucharest Duane Butcher, whose term in Bucharest has come to an end. At a farewell function yesterday, Butcher praised the two states’ collaboration in areas such as security, the fight against crime and law enforcement and said that in terms of national security, Romania may be considered a real fortress and an example for other states. Duane Butcher acted as US chargé daffaires in Bucharest since December in 2012.
The prosecutors with the Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism have today searched 120 homes in the south-western city of Craiova and Bucharest as part of efforts to dismantle a group specialising in bank fraud and trafficking in ethnobotanical substances. At the same time, the French authorities have searced the Paris homes of other members of this group.
Romania’s football champions Steaua Bucharest today meet the Norwegian side Stroemsgodset IF in an away game in the first leg of the Champions League second preliminary round. In the Europa League, Romania is represented by three sides. On Thursday, Petrolul Ploiesti meet the Albanian side Flamurtari at home, CFR Cluj play, also at home, against the Serbian side Jagodina, while the vice-champions Astra Giurgiu go straight into the third preliminary round.
