RODICA

The estimated budget for Romania's presidency of the Council of the EU is between 60 and 80 million euros, Daniel Gosea, general manager of the UPP UE unit in charge with preparing Romania for assuming the presidency, told a briefing dedicated to the presidency that Romania assumes in early 2019.

Romania's Ambassador to the US George Cristian Maior believes that it is high time that Romania assumed a more prominent role in redefining the economic development framework in the transatlantic space and that the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US has the capacity to endorse such a role.

Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) maintained the BBB- / A-3 rating for Romania's long-term and short-term government debt in foreign currency and local currency, thus reconfirming the country rating with a stable outlook, a release of the Public Finance Ministry (MFP) sent to AGERPRES on Saturday informed.

Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced that he is initiating the procedure to assess the managerial activity of Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar, in the context of the protocols concluded with the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI).

He says that the assessment results, which are to be accompanied by possible proposals, will be made public within no more than 30 days.

Romanian-Dutch pairing Horia Tecau/Jean-Julien Rojer won the title of the men's doubles event of the 691,415-USD Winston-Salem Open ATP tournament in North Carolina, after defeating American-Indian double James Cerretani / Leander Paes, with a score of 6-4, 6-2.

President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday welcomed Austria's Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl, with whom he discussed the consolidation and diversification of the bilateral cooperation on all levels, in the perspective of Austria and Romania successively holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as cooperation on a regiona

The Executive supports the Government Internship Program, as shown by the fact that compared to the 2017 edition, when 100 seats were allocated, this year the number of participants is 200, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Monday at the launch of the sixth edition of the program.

AGERPRES National News Agency on Wednesday became a member of the National Committee of the Live Skills European project, initiated by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme, alongside the Culture & Mass Media Federation FAIR - MediaSind, the British Council and other partners from Bulgaria, Greece and the UK.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila had a meeting with Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, on Tuesday, in the context of her working visit to Brussels, with the agenda of the discussions including the Common Agricultural Policy and the situation regarding swine fever and the floods Romania has been confronted with.

President Klaus Iohannis paid a visit on Sunday to the Oncological Institute of Cluj-Napoca (IOCN) and he was particularly interested in the patient care methods and the research within the medical unit.

President Iohannis' visit to the IOCN lasted approximately 35 minutes and he didn't want to make any press statement.