Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on a visit to Poland
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is in Poland for an official visit aimed at strengthening regional co-operation. Talks will also focus on security issues following recent events in eastern Ukraine. President Iohannis is expected to meet his Polish countepart Bronislaw Komorowski on Thursday while talks with Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz are scheduled on Friday. Romania’s relations with Poland are a priority as both countries are EU and NATO members involved in a strategic partnership, Mr. Iohannis told reporters before flying to Warsaw. Romania and Poland share a common history of co-operation and they are united by the solidarity they showed in crucial moments, the president added.
First visit of the new EU Agriculture Commissioner to Romania
Two European commissioners are expected to visit Romania these days for talks with Romanian officials. The Romanian EU Commissioner for Regional Policies Corina Creţu and Phil Hogan, the EU Agriculture Commissioner, will arrive in Bucharest for a two-day visit on Thursday. Mr. Hogan was an environment, community and local governance minister and a finance minister in his native Republic of Ireland before becoming a EU commissioner. It is his first visit to Romania since he replaced Romanian-born Dacian Cioloş as Agriculture Commissioner. The country’s Agriculture Ministry is expecting the European Commission to approve its National Programme of Rural Development for 2014 – 2020. A formal EC approval is due in June. Phil Hogan will also hold talks with Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Agriculture Minister Daniel Constantin and members of agriculture and European affairs committees in parliament.
Oana Niculescu-Mizil before DNA
A Romanian deputy in the parliament’s lower house, Oana Niculescu-Mizil has appeared before prosecutors of the country’s anti-corruption watchdog on Thursday. Granddaughter of Paul Niculescu-Mizil, a former minister and deputy prime minister during Ceauşescu’s Communist rule, Ms. Niculescu-Mizil is questioned by prosecutors with the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) for her alleged involvement in a corruption-related case. Marian Vanghelie, mayor of Bucharest Sector 5 who is also companion of Ms. Niculescu-Mizil, is under investigation for abuse of office with alleged damages of some RON 2 bn. However, Ms. Niculescu-Mizil told reporters she couldn’t explain her presence at the DNA headquarters.
Opening of Romania Tourism Fair
More than 200 Romanian and foreign companies are attending Romania’s Tourism Fair opening at the Romexpo compound in the capital Bucharest on Thursday. „We already had lots of sales last November and December. I also expect lots of contracts for the Romanian seaside. However, the trend is up both in Romania and abroad. It is rather difficult to forecast figures. Holidays are shorter than before. People use to leave for holidays twice or three times a year for shorter time – 5 to 7 days”, Alin Burcea, first vice-president of the Romanian Tourism Agencies’ National Association, told reporters. Visitors are invited from Thursday to Saturday between 10 AM and 6 PM. On Sunday, the last day of the showroom, the fair will close at 4 PM.
Alexandru Danga – RADOR
