Government expected to adopt measures encouraging major investements in Romania’s economy
Government in Romania is expected to take further steps aimed at stimulating major investments in the country’s economy, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă said in a statement on Wednesday. The prime minister pointed out her government expected foreign investment to reach €1bn this year. „Our target is an investment of more than €1bn. Such investments will create thousands of jobs and increase revenues”, Ms. Dăncilă said. The prime minister also pointed out that her government was seeking a real strategic partnership with big companies wishing to invest in Romania. Direct foreign investments in Romania are 21 percent higher than figures in the previous year which proves the confidence in the country’s economy. However, this is not enough, the prime minister added. The statement was made at the opening of this year’s edition of „State Aid Scheme”.
Maximum sentence for two convicted defendants – DNA
Prosecutors of Romania’s anti-corruption watchdog, the DNA, have called for a maximum sentence in two corruption-related cases. The DNA insists that Alina Bica, a former head of the country’s Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), and Dorin Cocoş, a businessman and former husband of former Romanian minister and MP Elena Udrea, should get a maximum jail term with execution and damages of almost RON300 ml. In Mr. Cocoş’s case, prosecutors also called for a seizure of €10 mls. The hearing on Wednesday is the last in Ms. Bica’s case where she is accused of abuse of office when she served as secretary of state in Romania’s Justice Ministry. Alina Bica is currently in Costa Rica where she applied for asylum.
Romanian minister for European affairs on a visit to Germany
Romania’s minister delegate for European affairs was on a visit to Germany on Tuesday. Minister Victor Negrescu met his German and French counterparts in order to present the progress made by his country in order to prepare its future rotating EU Council Presidency in January 2019. Mr. Negrescu met his German counterpart Michael Roth and French minister Nathalie Loiseau. The informal talks were also focused on issues concerning a new start of the EU project based on state of law and EU values. „Exercising the Presidency of the Council of the European Union is also an opportunity expected to enforce unity of the member states while acting as a mediator and performing an approach based on consensus and dialogue,” Victor Negrescu said in a statement.
Romanian former sports broadcaster Cristian Ţopescu dies at 81
Cristian Ţopescu, a hugely-acclaimed sports broadcaster and TV icon during the Communist era, has died of a heart arrest in Romania’s capital Bucharest on Tuesday. He was 81. Ţopescu won his nation-wide fame with his live commentary of gymnast Nadia Comaneci scoring a perfect 10 at the 1976 edition of the Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Known for his love of sport and the human touches in his commentary, Ţopescu was elected to Parliament in 2008 for the National Liberal Party, but later abandoned politics calling it „insincere”. Mourners are expected to pay their last respects in the Studio 2 of the Romanian National Television.
Alexandru Danga
