Romania’s interior minister at an informal meeting in the Netherlands
Romania’s Interior Minister Petre Tobă is in the Dutch city of Amsterdam for an informal EU meeting on Monday. Minister Tobă is expected to attend a summit of EU justice and interior ministers, the first such meeting focused on how to tackle the migrant crisis amid the stream of new arrivals and continuing disagreements over how to seal off borders. Further talks are expected on fighting terror, ensuring cyber-security and establishing a new EU Border Police and Coast Guard. Participants also include the EU migration commisioner, Europol chief and officials of other EU agencies. Greece could be subject to fresh pressure on its handling of the migrant crisis after Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner warned that Athens faced “temporary exclusion” from the Schengen passport-free area.
Romanian senator and former minister under DNA investigation
Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) is expected to open an investigation against Gabriel Oprea, a senator and former interior minister, for two alleged abuse of office-related crimes. The case is in connection with alleged illegal use of motorcades that prosecutors say he was not entitled to. Romanian prosecutors asked parliament on Monday to approve a criminal inquiry into Mr. Oprea’s case. Oprea resigned in November alongside Prime Minister Victor Ponta after a deadly fire at the Colectiv nightclub in the capital Bucharest last October left more than 60 people dead. Gabriel Oprea denies any wrongdoing.
Police raids in southern Romania
Police raids were reported in Romania’s capital Bucharest and the southern county of Teleorman early on Monday. The raids are part of an investigation concerning the illegal trade of alcohol. Suspects sold illicit fake booze kept in improper conditions, according to police sources. Eight people were detained for hearings. Financial damages are estimated at Ron 100,000.
Romanian Jiu Valley mines could be shut down
Mines in the Romanian western region of Jiu Valley could be shut down, according to a statement issued by the Labour Territorial Inspectorate in the county of Hunedoara on Monday. The measure will come into force unless the miners’ working conditions and security will improve. Romania’s Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu visited the region last month when he called on managers of the Energy Complex in Hunedoara (CEH) to admit responsibility for the company’s mismanagement. However, Mr. Grigorescu ruled out the collapse of the company while warning that social consequences would be „huge” and threat the country’s energy stability. The European Commission approved in April this year a rescue aid for the CEH in exchange of restructuring plans.
Alexandru Danga
