About: Romania
Romanian absurd: A ruling party that calls a protest meeting
The political party that toppled its own government in Romania last year has made another head-scratching move: It is staging a massive protest in front of the building that houses the government it appointed only a few months ago.
Masks fall as Romanian government withdraws UNESCO application for Rosia Montana
The Romanian government has officially requested UNESCO to withdraw Bucharest's application to make Rosia Montana a protected world heritage site. The move prompted outrage and protests over the ruling PSD's apparent links with the company that wants to turn the site into a commercial gold mine, writes Claudia Ciobanu.
Romania breaks up alleged €25m illegal logging ring
Romania’s security forces have mounted a series of raids to break up an alleged €25m illegal logging ring, in what is believed to be the largest operation of its kind yet seen in Europe. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.
Romania Constitutional Court orders President to sack chief anti-graft prosecutor
Romania’s Constitutional Court decided on Wednesday (30 May) that President Klaus Iohannis must dismiss the chief prosecutor of the Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), who has been praised by Brussels and Washington for tackling corruption.
Romania squandering EU funding, Moldova deserves more, says EU regional boss
Romanian Commissioner Corina Creţu wants her country to take full advantage of the EU funding that is on offer and for Moldova to meet the bloc’s accession criteria in order to unlock even more financing.
Alba Iulia: Ancient city transformed by EU funds eyes smart future
The EU-financed restoration of Alba Carolina Citadel has already transformed the city of Alba Iulia in one of Romania’s top tourist attractions. But the ambitions of the administrators of the 70,000-people city in central Romania have not stopped.
MEP Nicolai: European Parliament is sometimes arrogant with EU’s neighbours
The EU has already failed in the Mediterranean and is hardly a relevant player there. Now it risks being isolated if it repeats the same mistake with its Eastern neighbours, Norica Nicolai, the European Parliament Rapporteur on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement, told EURACTIV.
Israel, US Jerusalem festivities uncover EU rift
US President Donald Trump succeeded in dividing EU nations ahead of today’s (14 May) opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem.
Refugees at the EU borders – status update from Romania
How prepared is the EU to receive people in need of protection? How can the integration programmes be improved? – two important case files for Brussels and the member states that can decide the future of millions. EURACTIV Romania reports.
Romania’s president denounces PM as ‘unfit’ for office
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis called on Prime Minister Viorica Dancila to resign on Friday (27 April) after she endorsed a secret deal to move the country's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and refused to attend a meeting to resolve other ongoing disputes.
Report: Romania to break ranks with EU by moving embassy to Jerusalem
The Romanian government will follow the United States and transfer its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader said Thursday (19 April). “The decision has been taken (…), the procedures are beginning,” Liviu Dragnea told...
Kosovo conundrum looms large over Western Balkans summit
As Bulgaria prepares for a Western Balkan summit in May, seen by many as the centrepiece of its EU Council Presidency, Sofia has realised that not all its guests want to sit at the same table.
Romania’s former EU Commissioner starts new political party
Romania's former EU Agriculture Commissioner, Dacian Cioloș, who also briefly headed a technocratic government in 2016, has started a new political party just as the country gears up for presidential elections next year and parliamentary elections in 2020.
Commission official: ‘We want to improve CAP’s agro-environment architecture’
The European Commission is "aiming high" in the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), aware of the need to improve its architecture and links with climate and environment policies. But the level of funding that will be available from 2020 is still unknown.
Romania’s parliament open to Moldova reunification idea
Romanian lawmakers expressed support for reunification with neighbouring Moldova in a symbolic vote on Tuesday intended to highlight close historic ties, but the speaker of Moldova's own parliament said his country cherished its independence.
Romania’s ruling party congress votes to join euro in 2024
Romania's ruling Social Democrats (PSD), in power for a year, voted at an extraordinary congress on Saturday to back a 2024 target date to adopt the euro currency.
For Romania’s president, the ‘Road to Sibiu’ could also lead to Brussels
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is being considered as a possible replacement for European Council President Donald Tusk when his term expires in December 2019, according to local media reports.
Timmermans urges Romania to avoid ‘wrong’ turn in law reform
The vice-president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans urged Romania yesterday (1 March) not to "run in the wrong direction" over controversial judicial reforms.
Romanian judicial watchdog rejects bid to dismiss anti-graft chief
Romania’s judicial watchdog rejected yesterday (27 February) an application by the justice minister to sack the country's main anti-corruption prosecutor, bolstering her case days after protesters massed in the streets to support her work.
Romanian minister calls for prosecutor’s sacking, graft crackdown under threat
Romania's Justice Minister called on Thursday for the country's chief anti-corruption prosecutor to be dismissed for "excess of authority", triggering street protests and potentially destabilising a crackdown on graft.
MEPs grill Romania’s government in absentia
Procedural problems prevented Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader from addressing the European Parliament's plenary session on Wednesday (7 February) and explaining the government’s current judiciary reforms, which many MEPs see as a threat to the rule of law.
Corruption – is there a cure?
Curbing corruption is not a quick-fix and there is no single universal cure for it. However, there is more hope than ever that the endemic spread of corruption can be contained and ultimately reduced, argues Adina Turk.
Romania backs Poland in rejecting EU funding conditionality
Romania backed Poland yesterday (1 February) in vehemently rejecting proposals to tie future European Union subsidies to member states' adherence to the rule of law.