Monday, March 6th

Romania has a historical opportunity to be part of a revamped European Union, Corina Cretu says

The European Commisioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, has said that Romania has a historic chance to be involved in the revamping process of a European Union affected by Brexit and the rise of nationalist movements. Corina Cretu has urged the Romanian authorities to act in order to make the country significantly involved in the process to revamp the EU, recently launched by the European Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker.
Corina Cretu: I believe that Romania has to struggle to be in this core of the European Union, because it is a country that has only benefited from being a member of the EU, for ten years. The goal is to reach a consensus and move on together. It is clear that for a country like Romania, for example, the fifth scenario with a broader integration is ideal, because this way the 27 member Union can be safeguarded and the countries that want a broader integration, in certain areas, could get it. As far as Romania is concerned, in these scenarios, I think that along with the other member states, Romania has this opportunity to be involved for the first time in its history as a member state in this re-launching process of the EU. I am worried by the anti-European voices, because Romania is not a country that can afford to think of another alternative but that of being a EU member state.

More than 1,500 troops from seven NATO states are taking part in the Poseidon 2017 drill

More than 1,500 soldiers from seven NATO member states will participate in the Poseidon 2017 drill, for a week starting on Monday. The drill is unfolding in the Romanian waters and also in international waters from the Western side of the Black Sea. The coordination center will direct the drill, with 17 military ships, a Puma Naval helicopter and two fast boats for divers taking part. In order to create a complex battle environment, two MIG-21 Lancer jets and a Coast Guard vessel will join the drill.

About 4,000 people have protested again in the Romanian capital

Around 4,000 people took part in a protest march on Sunday in the center of the Romanian capital, Bucharest. The demonstrators have started their march in the Victory Square, at around 7 pm, following the route: University Square – Parliament Palace – the headquarters of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and returned in front of the Government headquarters. For the fifth Sunday in a row, the protesters – though fewer – have accused the Government and the Social Democratic Party of lack of transparency and corruption. The protesters asked for the Government to resign, saying that it has lost the confidence of the people and expressed their anger towards the Constitutional Court, which took no action on the controversial 13th Ordinance, by means of which the Government has intended to amend the Criminal Codes. The only supportive slogans were chanted in front of the DNA, an institution that enjoys the backing of the demonstrators. There were also protests on Sunday evening in Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Brasov and Galati.

Mădălina Brotăcel – Agenţia de presă RADOR