A roundup of domestic and international news
MOTION - The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest is today debating a simple motion against Interior Minister Lucian Bode, filed by 55 opposition MPs. A vote has been scheduled for Wednesday. The motion was originally due to be debated last week, but has been rescheduled at the request of Minister Bode. The document states Lucian Bode should step down from the Interior Ministry which he failed to reform. The Minister's efficiency became visible when he helped his friend, president Klaus Iohannis, sell 600 BMWs to the Romanian Police for only 32 thousand EUR gross of VAT as part of what the opposition describes as a rigged auction, the document also reads.
DEFENSE - Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă held talks earlier today with Defense Minister Vasile Dîncu. The meeting focused on the NATO Defense Ministers meeting held in Brussels and communication policies at Defense Ministry level. Last week, the Prime Minister was unhappy with Minister Dîncu's statement regarding the war in Ukraine, according to which peace in Ukraine can only be achieved by negotiating with Russia. Subsequently, Klaus Iohannis pointed out that only Kyiv can decide when, how and what is being negotiated, and that this is the official position of Romania and the EU. Defense Minister Vasile Dîncu will today appear before the Chamber of Deputies to provide clarifications over his statements. His presence was requested by USR in opposition, a party that believes Minister Dîncu is reiterating Kremlin rhetoric and endangering Romania's partnerships with EU and NATO states.
GAS - Romania's gas storage capacity reached 90.9% on Sunday, the equivalent of some 2.8 billion cub meters, the national company Transgaz announced. Romania met the 80% minimum level of gas reserves imposed by the European Union ahead of the cold season on September 17. Back then, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the EU's total gas reserves stood at 84%.
FAC - Romania's Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, is today attending the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Luxembourg. EU Foreign Ministers will exchange views over the effects of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will also attend the proceedings in videoconference. The agenda of the meeting also includes EU-China relations and other hot topics on the international agenda, such as the developments in Iran, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and the effects of climate change.
SESSION - The European Parliament starts a new session in Strasbourg today. One of the priorities of the new session is a vote on the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria. The proposal was debated on October 5, when most MEPs urged Member States to acknowledge both states have fulfilled Schengen criteria and must be allowed to join the visa-free travel area as soon as possible. Bucharest has repeatedly pointed out it has fulfilled technical accession criteria and is de facto a member of Schengen. Parliament is also expected to debate, alongside the Commission and the Council, the issue of internal border controls at Schengen level. In April, the European Court of Justice decided to introduce border controls within EU borders over a period of six-months after reported breaches of border security. The period may be extended only if a new threat is confirmed. MEPs are expected to call on Member States to observe normal travel-free regulations. The agenda of the new Parliament session also includes the war in Ukraine, the EU budget for 2023 and climate change.
HANDBALL - The Romanian men's handball team defeated Ukraine 34-26 on Sunday at home in the 2024 EHF European Championship preliminary Group B. This is the first win for Romania in the current preliminaries, after Romania lost the first match 32-26 to Austria away from home. Also on Sunday, the Romanian women's vice-champions, CSM Bucharest, won 40-25 against DHK Banik of the Czech Republic in a match played in Bucharest, counting towards Champions League Group A. CSM thus remains undefeated in Group A with 4 wins and a draw. Bietigheim of Germany is also ranked first in the group tables along CSM. On Saturday, the Romanian champions Rapid Bucharest drew 30-30 against Buducnost Podgorica of Montenegro away from home in Group B. Rapid is also undefeated in the last five fixtures, with three wins and two draws, and remains top of the group tables. Bucharest is the only European capital with two teams performing in the most important women's European inter-club competition. (VP)
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