Romania

Debate on Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Bids Postponed for end-2013

The debate on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen was postponed for end-2013 during Thursday’s sitting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA). During the JHA sitting, most of the member states admitted that Bulgaria and Romania had fulfilled

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EU dashes Bulgaria, Romania hopes to join passport-free zone

Romania and Bulgaria’s hopes of joining Europe’s huge passport-free zone were again dashed on Wednesday as EU officials said there was no consensus on letting in the poor eastern states. “There will be no vote, and no decision” at talks on their bid to join due to be held Thursday …

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Swoboda Slams Germany over Threat to Block Bulgarian, Romanian Schengen Bid

Hannes Swoboda, President of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, has described as “populist and deceitful” Germany’s threat to veto Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen accession. According to EurActiv, Swoboda has insisted that progress has been assessed in both countries and EU ministers

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Romania to Scale Back Clean-Energy Aid to Curb Power-Price Gains

Romania will scale back renewable- power subsidies to limit electricity-price increases for consumers, according to the minister-delegate for energy. The eastern European country plans to make changes to its incentive program in July or at the beginning of next year, Constantin Nita said today in an interview in Bucharest. It …

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Romania’s Crowded Prisons Could Improve, Report

Jail conditions are far better in Romania than what they were – but overcrowding and poor diet remain a problem, a new report says. The number of inmates in Romania’s prisons has risen constantly in recent years and the government spends over 41 million euro a year in supporting them, according …

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Bulgaria Turmoil ‘May Hit Romania’s Schengen Bid’

As the EU ponders Romania’s desire to join the passport-free Schengen area, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta voices concern that instability in Bulgaria may affect its chances.“The European Commission’s decision next month on Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen area will surely be negatively influenced by the current instability in …

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Rivals Battle Over Romania’s Ex-Ruling Party

The struggle over who should lead the former ruling Democratic Liberal Party is unlikely to restore its standing with the electorate.With around one month to go before crucial internal elections on March 23, the Democratic Liberal Party, PDL, Romania’s biggest opposition party, remains divided by disputes and between its main …

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Romania Denies Blame For Horsemeat Scandal

As EU ministers prepare to meet to discuss the horse meat scandal, Romania says two slaughterhouses are under investigation in connection to the row – but denies wrongdoing.Romania on Tuesday disclosed the names of two local companies that are under investigation for alleged involvement in the frozen food scandal spreading …

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