Sweden Blasts Romania Over Inertia On Roma
Swedish Minister for European Affairs, Birgitta Ohlsson, said in an interview that Romania lacks the political will to solve the Roma issue and underlined the need for a joint system overseeing the compliance with human rights in EU Member States, which could also include sanctions.
“We have tried to get Romania to support the proposal, but they have refused. There is a certain political unwillingness, and political prestige is also involved,” Ohlsson said. “I get angry at their lack of interest.”
“For several months, Sweden has been negotiating with Romania towards using European funds to prevent the Roma from emigrating. I am disappointed that the Romanian Government has refused to cooperate on European level. We need other parties in these negotiations,” Ohlsson also said. (Puterea)
Romania Gets CHF2.5M From Switzerland To Fight Money Laundering
Switzerland will grant non-reimbursable financing of CHF2.5 million to Romania to assist the latter in the fight against money laundering.
Funds will be used to buy anti-money laundering software and hardware, as well as for professional training.
Thomas Stauffer, head of the Swiss Contribution Office in Romania, said the project targets to crack down on money laundering by enhancing the capacity of Romania’s National Office for the Prevention and Control of Money Laundering. (Adevarul)
Nuclearelectrica Mulls Selling EUR14.8 Worth Of Electricity On OPCOM
Romanian power grid operator Nuclearelectrica (SNN.RO) plans to sell nearly 400.000 megawatt-hours of electricity on the local energy exchange OPCOM in a bid to raise 66 million lei (EUR14.8 million).
The company scheduled several auctions on OPCOM for April 28.
Nuclearelectrica’s electricity production is estimated at 10.54 million MWh in 2014, down 1.3% from 2013.
Nucleareletrica is controlled by the state, through the Energy Department. The company operates two 700-megawatt reactors at its Cernavoda plant, covering around 30% of Romania’s energy consumption. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romanian PM Checks On Situation In Flood-Hit Teleorman County
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta and deputy premier Liviu Dragnea Tuesday visited several areas in southern Teleorman county hit by recent floods following heavy rainfalls over the past few days.
“Romania needs long-term solutions to prevent floods,” Ponta said Tuesday at a meeting of the Teleorman County Council for Emergency Situations.
Dragnea said the government will provide building materials to rebuild flooded homes. (Adevarul)