Wednesday, June 8th

European Commission confirms raids on Romanian gas suppliers

The European Commission in Brussels confirmed on Tuesday that its antitrust regulators have raided Romanian state-owned gas producer Romgaz, gas pipeline operator Transgaz and top oil and gas firm OMV Petrom over suspected blocking of gas exports to other EU countries. EC pointed out that such raids were usual preliminary steps to further investigations, which by no means could be perceived as a proof of any wrongdoings. „The Commission has been investigating potential anti-competitive practices in the transmission and supply of natural gas in Romania, in particular relating to suspected anti-competitive behaviour aimed at hindering natural gas exports from Romania to other member states”, the EC said in a statement.

Romania’s Forest and Rural Development Council established

Romania’s Forest and Rural Development Council was established at a meeting of representatives of forestry associations on Wednesday. The newly created council is meant to be an independent body designed to plan new politicies and strategies in the field. The council includes forest owners and managers, timber and wood processing companies, and NGO’s. Romanian authorities are not doing enough in order to save forests from logging spree and improve the Forest Radar, Cătălin Tobescu, vice-president of Nostra Silva Association told reporters.

Romanian football club owner before anti-corruption prosecutors

A famous tycoon has appeared before prosecutors of Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) on Wednesday. George (Gigi) Becali, also the owner of  Steaua Football Club, appeared as a witness in a file concerning the books corrupt politicians and tycoons used to write in order to reduce their sentences. The country’s anti-corruption watchdog opened an investigation on tha matter in January. As far as Mr. Becali is concerned, the controversial owner of Steaua Bucharest reduced his stay in prison by writing two books, one of which was about his relationship with the team.

An independent lawmaker at Romania’s Constitutional Court

An independent lawmaker was assigned as judge with Romania’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday. A deputy in the parliament’s lower house, Marian Enache was appointed with the support of the leftist Social Democratic Party, the former governing party in the country. His appointment was approved at a senate session on Tuesday. Supported by the right-wing National Liberal Party, Ruxandra Jipa, an independent senator, and judge Mona Lisa Neagoe have failed to get the position. Mr. Enache is replacing Valentin-Zoltán Puskás, who ended his nine-year mandate.

Alexandru Danga