Latest News from Romania
Romanians Split Over Anti-Communist Cross
Romania's Senate last week adopted adopt a new law condemning communist totalitarianism, which includes the drafting of a report and the establishment of the National Museum of Communist Totalitarianism in Bucharest, early next year.
Romania's PM Ponta Survives No-confidence Vote
Romania's Parliament on Tuesday rejected a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Victor Ponta filed by the opposition over a corruption scandal.
The motion, which was filed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), was backed by 207 MPs while eight voted against it. It needed at least 275 votes to pass. It was the second no-confidence vote against Ponta in four months.
Romania's Ponta Survives No-confidence Vote
Opposition lawmakers in Romania have failed in their bid to topple the government of Victor Ponta after a no-confidence vote mustered only 207 votes, well short of the 275 needed.
Most parliamentarians from Ponta's ruling Social Democratic Party, PSD, and its two junior allies did not vote.
Romania Govt Likely to Survive No-Confidence Vote
Romania's parliament on Tuesday is to debate a no-confidence motion on the rule of the centre-left government of Victor Ponta, but its chances of success are seen as low.
The motion tabled by the opposition National Liberal Party, PNL, slams Ponta for refusing to resign after he was indicted and faces trial on corruption-related charges.
Romania Backs 'Secret CIA Jails' Probe
"There is no further evidence that Romania was complicit in the CIA's covert detention programme. We stand by the conclusion of the parliamentary inquiries, which uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing. And no new evidence has emerged in the meantime," MP Marius Obreja, the head of the Parliamentary Defence Committee, said on Saturday.
Bulgaria Working on Joint 'Balkan' Tourism Product
Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova has said that Bulgaria is to present a joint tourism product with "neighboring Balkan countries".
Rare books at Istanbul Bibliopole Festival
Bibliopoles from across Turkey have gathered at the 9th Beyo?lu Bibliopole Festival in Istanbul, offering rare and old books, magazines and posters to visitors.
Romania Fears Brain Drain as Students Head Abroad
Around 5,000 Romanian students go abroad to study each year, mostly in Western Europe, lured by better educational standards as well as the hope of better jobs and salaries after finishing their studies, according to estimates.
A study by the League of Romanian Students Studying Abroad, LSRS, say that the main destinations are the UK, France, Germany, Denmark and Holland.
Hungary Starts Building Razor-Wire Fence along Border with Slovenia
Hungary has started building a razor-wire fence along the border with Slovenia to deter a flow of illegal migrants, AP reported on Thursday.
Slovenian state news agency STA said the country wasn't informed in advance of Hungary's plans.
Austria Has Sent Back 52 Migrants to Bulgaria This Year, Sofia Says
Bulgaria's State Agency for Refugees said on Thursday that a total of 52 people have been sent back to the country by the Austrian authorities this year, BGNES reported.
Romania Changes Heart on EU Refugee Quota
In a surprising twist, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday said Bucharest could now manage the number of refugees the EU is planning to relocate to the Balkan country, although he is still against mandatory quotas imposed by the Commission.
EU refugee-sharing plan causes rift between east, west Europe
The European Commission has warned 19 EU member-states against failure to implement rules on handling waves of asylum seekers now flooding Europe.
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans issued the warning as EU leaders gathered in Brussels for an emergency summit on the refugee/migrant crisis on Wednesday.
Bulgaria Demands Access to Schengen Database amid Migrant Crisis
The quota system for migrant relocation is currently the only possible and right option for Europe, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva has said.
In a statement to the media also published on her own blog, she has urged on leaders to adopt the plan proposed by the EU Commission and backed by all but for interior ministers at a Tuesday meeting in Luxembourg.
Bulgaria PM Skeptical of EU Approach to Migrant Crisis
Only with the cooperation of both the United States and Russia can the conflict in Syria be solved, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.
Speaking in front of reporters in Parliament, where he arrived to urge support for constitutional changes, he also commented on the migrant crisis and the roots it has in the Syrian conflict.
Romanian TV Chief Faces Axe From MPs
Romania's parliament is expected to give a negative verdict on Wednesday on TV Romania's activity report for last year, in which case the leadership of TVR will have to quit.
Stelian Tanase, 63, director of the state-owned television company, started his job on a mission to reform the cash-strapped firm, but it now likely to have to resign long his mandate ends.