Latest News from Romania

Romania Debates Controversial Anti-Graft Decrees

Romanian Justice Minister Florin Iordache has said a public debate on two controversial government decrees - designed to pardon people jailed for less than five years for petty crimes, including corruption, and amend the penal code to remove abuse of office and trading in influence - will start on Monday.

Greece's Green Cola targets British market

Greek soft drink Green Cola is continuing its international expansion, after beginning with exports to Serbia and Romania.

It is now available from UK online supermarket Ocado and it will be available at regular supermarkets across Britain within the year, following agreements signed in 2016 for that purpose.

Romania Raids Migrant-Smugglers' Hideouts

Romanian police have conducted raids at suspected people-smuggling locations across the country, including several in Bucharest and the western city of Arad.

The search targeted homes of several suspects who in August-December 2016 smuggled over 100 refugees and migrants from Turkey through several Balkan countries to Romania and then to Germany, the Romanian police authorities said.

Romania, Bulgaria Still Need Monitoring, Commission Says

The European Commission will continue to monitor Romania and Bulgaria in 2017 because they have not made enough progress in terms of justice and the fight against corruption.

Third Permanent Lane for Trucks To Be Opened at Danube Bridge 2

Bulgarian and Romanian border authorities have agreed to open a permanent third lane for trucks at the exit of the country at border cross checkpoint Danube Bridge 2.

In order to alleviate traffic, vehicles from countries outside the EU will be processed separately.

Bulgaria, Romania Border Officials to Meet over Danube Bridge 2 Tensions

Border police officials of Bulgaria and Romania will meet near the city of Vidin on Wednesday to discuss the long queues of trucks lining up to cross the Danube Bridge 2 which connects the countries.

Tensions surfaced on Tuesday as truck drivers blocked the bridge, saying they had waited for many hours to pass.

Bulgaria Nears 'Global Average' in Corruption Perception Index

Bulgaria has ranked 75th in the world in terms of corruption perception and is singled out as the EU state perceived as "most corrupt" by its citizens in the latest Transparency International ranking.

Watchdog Highlights Persistent Corruption in Balkans

Transparency International on Wednesday published its annual global report on perceived corruption in society, indicating that governments in Balkan states have a lot of work to do to eradicate graft, with Macedonia singled out as one of the countries in which the situation has significantly worsened over the year.

Greece drops 11 spots in global corruption list (interactive map)

According to International Transparency’s Corruption Perception Index, Greece dropped 11 spots on the list of countries seen as corrupt in 2016 compared to 2015. Greece fell to 69th spot from 58 in 2015, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

EU Commission to Publish CVM Reports on Bulgaria, Romania

The European Commission is set to unveil the reports measuring Bulgaria and Romania's progress in reform on Wednesday.

The monitoring, done under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), analyzes each country's progress in fighting corruption and (specifically for Bulgaria) organized crime and gives and assessment of judicial reform.

Truckers' Blockade on Danube Bridge 2 Lifted

There are no more protesting truck drivers barring passage through Danube Bridge 2, which connects Vidin in Bulgaria to Calafat in Romania, local media report.

Demonstrators have been assured by Vidin Governor Momchil Stankov that the situation at the Danube Bridge crossing point will be addressed swiftly.

Bulgarian Truck Drivers Block Danube Bridge between Vidin, Calafat

Road haulage workers have staged roadblocks on Danube Bridge 2, connecting Vidin in Bulgaria to Calafat in Romania, private NOVA TV broadcaster reports.

Protesters have moved to vent their anger at Romanian authorities, saying it takes hours to process their papers on the Romanian side.

Eurobank seeks partner for Romanian subsidiary

Eurobank has hired HSBC and Mediobanca to help it find a "strategic partner" for its Romanian subsidiary, a source at the Greek bank said on Monday.

Major Greek banks are looking to reduce their exposure abroad and strengthen their capital base under the terms of the country's latest multi-billion euro financial bailout.

40 People Taken To Hospital After Bucharest Night Club Fire

One year and three months after the tragedy in the Colectiv disco in Bucharest which killed 64 people and caused mass protests and the resignation of the former government, the capital of Romania was rocked by a similar incident on Saturday morning but no victims have been reported.

A popular night club burnt up and over 40 people were taken to the hospital, reported Reuters.

Man, 46, charged with raping daughter, friend

Police in Patra, western Greece, arrested a 46-year-old man Friday on charges he repeatedly raped his teenage daughter and her female friend, and for molesting a young male.

According to police, the incidents took place from September to December in 2015.

His daughter was 16, her friend was 14, while the male, who was from Romania, was 18.

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