Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos had talks with the EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Bucharest.
Brexit. The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier today had talks in Bucharest with prime minister Dacian Ciolos and foreign minister Lazar Comanescu. Barnier's trip to Romania comes only four days after taking over the position of Brexit negotiator. Barnier, who served previously as a foreign minister for France and as a European Commissioner, said he would travel to every European capital with the exception of London. His aim is to discuss the position of each member state vis-à-vis Britain's exit from the European Union. Actual exit talks are due to begin next year, after London officially files the request for leaving the Union. The most sensitive subjects are access to the EU single market and access to the British labour market.
Privatisation. The government in Bucharest says it plans to sell the packages of shares in state-owned companies and privatise companies in a difficult financial situation. A memorandum published on the government's official website contains the measures considered in the case of several state companies. The economy ministry has proposed the launch of a call for the sale of around 15% of the shares held by the government in the Oltenia Energy Complex and Hidroelectrica, while holding on to a majority package. Over 25% of the state's shares in Rompetrol will also be put up for sale. The transport ministry plans to increase the registered capital of the National Airport Company and the Port Administration by 20-25% by issuing new shares and to make a new attempt to privatise the freight division of the Romanian Railways Company.
Defence. The defence minister Mihnea Motoc makes an official trip to Berlin today at the invitation of his German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen. Talks will focus on bilateral cooperation in the area of defence and topical issues on the Euro-Atlantic and European agenda. According to a press release by the Romanian defence ministry, emphasis will be placed on the implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO Summit in Warsaw and of the European Union's Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy. The bilateral support within the European and allied framework will also be analysed.
Nobel. France's Jean-Pierre Sauvage, UK's Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Holland's Bernard L. Feringa today received the Nobel prize in chemistry for the design and synthesis of machines on a molecular scale. The machines conceived by the three scientists will most probably be used for the development of new elements such as new materials and energy storage systems and sensors, the Nobel jury has explained. Last year, the Nobel prize in chemistry went to a Swedish and two American scientists for their studies on DNA repair.
Frontex. The Romanian interior minister Ioan-Dragos Tudorache is attending a conference on the launch of the new Frontex Agency, the European border and coast guard agency, held in Bulgaria on Wednesday and Thursday. The meeting is attended by the EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos, Slovenia's prime minister, the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Slovakia, Turkey and Greece and the Frontex executive director Fabrice Leggeri. The new European agency will comprise Frontex and the national authorities of the member states responsible for border management, including coast guard if this entails border controls. EU members will contribute to common efforts to make the Union's external borders more secure with border police and other staff. Romania's contribution consists in 75 border police officers who will take part in rapid response teams on the EU external borders.
Football. Romania's football side continue training for their away matches against Armenia on the 8th of October and Kazakhstan on the 11th of October, as part of their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia. Last month, Romania drew 1-all against Montenegro at home in Cristoph Daum's first match as manager of the Romanian side. He is Romania's first ever foreign manager. Also in Group E, Denmark defeated Armenia 1-nil at home, while Poland drew 2-all against Kazakhstan away. This autumn, Romania will also face Poland at home on the 11th of November. (Translated by: C. Mateescu)
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