About: Romania
Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors targeted by new work requirements
Romanian prosecutors said they feared for their jobs and the rule of law after a new government ordinance increasing the years of professional experience required of them was published Tuesday (16 October).
Romanians boycott the ‘referendum of hate’
A referendum to change Romania’s constitution to prevent same sex couples from securing the right to marry failed to draw enough voters to validate the result on Sunday (7 October), after a campaign that led to a rise in hate speech against the gay community.
How long can you ignore three million people? Romanians to vote on marriage, finally
Not too long ago, Romania was a country where voting was a mere impossibility. Romanian citizens did not enjoy this privilege. They could not make their voices heard and had no say on important aspects of their society. But things have changed in Romania, writes Adina Portaru.
Better regional cooperation for higher EU absorption rate: the Bulgaria-Romania case
When it comes to European structural funds, one of the main concerns is the capacity of the member states to attract them. Cooperation between public authorities has proven to be a driving factor.
EU cross-border cooperation: working on both sides of the river
Ahead of the European Week of Regions and Cities, the debate on Cohesion policy continues to spark tension inside the Brussels bubble as well as among stakeholders and networks of regions and cities across Europe.
Heated debate in Strasbourg on the rule of law under threat in Romania
Agitation took hold of the European chamber concerning the reform of the Romanian judicial system, which aims to lighten corruption proceedings. EURACTIV France reports.
Moscow: US comments on possible destruction of Russian warheads are dangerous
Russia regards as dangerous a statement by Washington's envoy to NATO who said Moscow must halt its covert development of a banned cruise missile system or the United States would seek to destroy it before it becomes operational.
Deputy mayor: A second bridge at Ruse-Giurgiu is a priority
Strahil Karapchanski, the deputy mayor of Ruse, the largest Bulgarian city on the Danube, told EURACTIV about the history, the present and his hopes for the future of cross-border regional cooperation with Romania, which he has helped to oversee.
Business representative: ‘Cross-border cooperation is a broader European integration exercise’
Since 2014, the Romania-Bulgaria Interreg programme has helped to boost the economy on both sides of the border by promoting cross-border trade and boosting cooperation in tourism, agriculture and industry. EURACTIV spoke to a business representative of companies operating in the area.
From Calarasi to Vidin: common borders, common solutions
From Calarasi to Ruse, from Costanza to Veliko Tarnovo, EU Cohesion Policy has supported hundreds of actions and infrastructure investment in the fields of transport, science, education, youth employment, environment and support for small and medium-sized enterprises in Romania and Bulgaria.
Less money, a new legal framework, what future for the Interreg post-2020?
While Brexit and the new EU priorities threaten to reduce the funds allocated for cross-border cooperation after 25 years, the Commission wants to improve Interreg with a new legal framework for cooperation between regions.
Romania’s constitutional court backs rights for gay couples
Romania's constitutional court ruled Thursday (27 September) that gay couples should have the same family rights as heterosexuals, a judgment that runs counter to a referendum next month seeking to interdict gay marriage.
Romania’s strongman urged to resign with ruling party in free fall
Three former allies of the leader of Romania’s ruling Social Democrats called on him to resign on Wednesday, saying his criminal convictions have become the party’s largest vulnerability ahead of elections in 2019 and 2020.
Juncker: We are not ‘under the rule’ of English
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made a point of delivering his plenary speech at the Three Seas Initiative forum in Bucharest in French, bucking the trend of other world leaders attending the event on Tuesday (September 18).
Romanian magistrates rally to support rule of law
Hundreds of Romanian magistrates held a silent protest in support of an independent judiciary in capital Bucharest on Sunday (16 September) after a slew of legal changes by the ruling Social Democrats in one of the European Union's most corrupt states.
Amnesty calls upon Romania to stop the ‘traditional family’ referendum
Amnesty International said on Thursday (13 September) that it will try to prevent Romania's planned referendum aimed at changing the definition of "family" for this will "breach international human rights standards" and make it impossible to legalise same-sex unions.
Manfred Weber: Bulgaria and Croatia should join Schengen ‘immediately’
Bulgaria and Croatia should join the EU's passport-free Schengen area immediately, EPP group leader Manfred Weber said on Wednesday (12 September), in a friendly gesture to two Eastern European governments from his political family.
MEPs trigger Article 7 against Hungary after evasive Juncker speech
MEPs voted en masse to trigger Article 7 proceedings against Hungary on Wednesday (12 September), although Jean-Claude Juncker's early morning Strasbourg speech failed to send much of a clear signal against Budapest's alleged rule of law violations.
Trump lawyer denounces ‘excesses’ of Romania’s anti-corruption efforts
US President Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has written a letter to Romania’s president, accusing the Eastern European country’s anticorruption efforts of going too far and calling for amnesty for those already prosecuted and convicted.
German foreign minister brands Trump’s EU policy ‘irritating’
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas again took aim at US President Donald Trump's foreign policy in a speech on Monday, branding his policies towards Europe "irritating".
Lithuania says it will not appeal European court ruling over CIA torture jail
Lithuania on Wednesday (22 August) said it would not appeal a European court ruling that the Baltic state had been complicit in a clandestine CIA programme by holding terror suspects at a secret detention site on its territory.
Romania to probe alleged police violence at protest
Romania has opened an enquiry into alleged police violence at a mass anti-corruption protest against the leftwing government last week where hundreds were injured, military prosecutors said Monday.
Third night of anti-government protests in Romania
Thousands took part on Sunday (12 August) in the third night of protests in Bucharest against alleged government corruption, two days after a crackdown on a mass demonstration left hundreds injured.