April 27, 2023 UPDATE

MEDIA - The situation of the media in Romania is not very rosy, there is plenty of room for improvement and the country should show the headway made in this respect in the upcoming rule of law report, the European Commission's Vice-president for values and transparency, Věra Jourová, said in Brussels on Wednesday. According to the European Commission's 2022 rule of law report, media in Romania is facing a series of issues such as the incomplete transparency of the media ownership and the cases in which journalists have been subjected to harassment and violence. Asked if the new legislative instruments proposed by the European Commission last year and currently under implementation are enough to tackle this issue, Věra Jourová gave an affirmative answer. "Romania still has enough space to do something in this respect without being pushed by the EU laws. I went to Romania and want to go back again due to the legal issues and of course it is in Romania's interest to also show some progress in the rule of law report in July", Věra Jourová went on to say. 

ECHR - Sebastian Răduleţu has been elected by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly for a 9-year term at the European Court for Human Rights. Rădulețu grabbed 84 of the 165 votes in the second round. ECHR judges are elected from a list of three candidates nominated by every country that ratified the European Convention on Human Rights. Right now, representing Romania at the ECHR is Iulia Motoc, who starting next year will take on a new job at the International Criminal Court.

TALKS - The Education Committee with the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest on Thursday continued talks over the amendments in the University Education Law after the talks over the pre-university education were concluded on Wednesday. The talks focused on articles and amendments regarding research as well as the overall activity of students. The Committee preserved the Education Ministry's proposals regarding the psychological and teacher training program at university level. The line minister Ligia Deca pointed out the draft law also stipulates measures for increasing the level of training and financial support for graduates opting for an academic career. Additionally, under the new law, rectors can be elected for a five-year term for a maximum of two terms in a specific institution.

SUPPORT - As of May 1st, the executive in Bucharest is changing the way of granting financial support to the Ukrainian refugees. The assistance will be given directly to refugees, not to the family housing them, as has been the case so far. The grant is unconditionally offered only for one month after which the refugees will have to find jobs and send their children to schools or kindergartens. If they want to benefit from financial support from the fifth month of their stay they must prove they have found a job in Romania.

MOLDOVA - The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has again accused Russia of interfering with the domestic affairs of the Republic, just two days before elections are scheduled in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia (ATUG). In an appearance on a local TV station, president Sandu said several candidates enrolled in Sunday's election are Russian agents. We are witnessing a blatant ingression into the ballot in Găgăuzia, the president added. Russia has never respected the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and it is now trying to destabilize the country in order to obstruct its European track and cause chaos, the Moldovan official argued. According to Maia Sandu, Russia funds protests and various parties in the Republic of Moldova to help pro-Russian politicians return to power. Relying on the support of the European Union, Chișinău authorities have opposed Moscow's efforts. In turn, Russia has denied the accusations. (VP)