May 11, 2014
Click here for a round-up of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 11.05.2014, 12:00
RATING– Romania’s President, Traian Basescu has criticised the decision by Standard & Poors rating agency to maintain Romania in the category not recommended for long term investments, although the economy has registered a 3.5% growth rate and a deficit below 3%. Attending a debate on economic issues held in the western Romanian city of Arad, the Romanian president has recommended to investors to focus their attention on the areas with high unemployment rates, where there is available labour force. He has also said that the government should use for youth the 105 million Euros worth of funds allocated by the EU to Romania, which should be spent in the 2014-2015 period. Some other 465 million Euros should be destined for the creation of jobs for disadvantaged people.
UKRAINE– Self-rule referendums are being organised by the pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Over 7 million voters are expected to go to the polls to vote in the referendums, which are being held against the backdrop of violence in several cities in eastern Ukraine. The polls have been declared illegal by the Kiev government, the western leaders and the US, whereas Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for their potponement. The self-proclaimed leaders of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk have decided to hold the referendums, in spite of the appeal launched by the Russian President. Ukraine has announced Sunday’s voting might lead to the “self-destruction” of those regions.
SEECP-The inaugural session of the South-East European Cooperation Process Parliamentary Assembly comes to a close in Bucharest today. The rotating presidency of the organisation is currently held by the Romanian Parliament, until June. The MPs whose countries are members of the SEECP PA have expressed their wish that the region be an area marked by good neighbourhood relations, especially against the backdrop of the recent events in Ukraine. The agenda of the talks covered such issues as ways to promote European values and principles at regional level, laying emphasis on the rule of law and the observance of human rights, particularly the protection of the minorities’ rights. Another focal point was economic cooperation, especially in the domain of transport and energy infrastructure, as well as in the field of research.
BUDAPEST– Dual citizenship and the autonomy of the Hungarians living in the Carpathian basin continue to be the priorities of Hungary’s policy in the following four years. The announcement has been made by the populist Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, who was officially re-elected by Parliament on Saturday, for a second term in a row, following last month’s elections. According to Orban, Budapest will put economic relations at the centre of its foreign policy and will continue to show greater openness to the East.
TENNIS– Romanian Simona Halep, no.5 WTA and Maria Sharapova, no.9 WTA, are today playing the Madrid tennis tournament finals, with approximately 3.7 million Euro prize money up for grabs. In the semi-finals, Halep defeated Czech Petra Kvitova, no.6 WTA, in three sets, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, and Sharapova defeated Polish Agnieszka Radwanska in two sets, 6-1,6-4. If she wins the Madrid tournament, Simona Halep, the best-seeded Romanian women tennis player in history, might become no.4 WTA.
EUROVISION– Conchita Wurst of Austria has won this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest held in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the song “Rise like a Phoenix”, which got 290 points. Austria was followed by the Netherlands and Sweden. Romania’s representatives, Paula Seling and Ovi, got 72 points with their song “Miracle” and ranked 12th, among the 26 countries represented in the final. In 2010, the two singers ranked third in the Eurovision Song Contest.
