Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ No. 13/ 4th Year 1st – 15 th of October 2011 Politics 1. Romania supports effort for NATO strengthening and Alliance missions being accomplished 2. MFA Hails Adoption of New Resolution by European Parliament on Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Accession to Schengen Area Economics 1. Romania's economic growth on track for year-end 1.5 pct target 2. Transports Minister meets British Secretary of State for Business Environment 3. Romanian Government makes effort for business environment to be predictable for German investors 4. Russia voices interest in closer economic cooperation with Romania 5. Romanian economic mission to be organized in South Africa 6. Romgaz is to invest 520 million dollars over next 5 years 7. Nuclearelectrica is looking for investments in reactors 3 and 4 8. Cernavoda n-power plant, ranked 5th among world's nuclear units 9. Invest Forum joins FAO in order to promote agricultural opportunities in South-East Europe 10. 30 French companies at the French Pavilion INDAGRA 19-23 October at Romexpo 11. More than 5,600 Dacia cars sold in France in September 12. The National Wine Far – Vintest Bucharest 13. Pound trades at 4.94 lei Culture 1. The Annual Conference of the Romanian Students, Professors and Researchers 2. Romanian Cultural Institute in London events Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Tel. 020 7937 9666 Fax: 020 7937 8069 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.london.mae.ro Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ • Politics Romania supports effort for NATO strengthening and Alliance missions being accomplished Bucharest, Oct 8 /Agerpres/ - Romania supports the effort for NATO's strengthening and for developing the Alliance's capacity of accomplishing its missions, especially concerning the ISAF mission of Afghanistan, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Baconschi said in his speech delivered during the working session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Political Committee. 'Romania's contributions to the efforts of the international community in Afghanistan is significant and will be adjusted depending on the local developments. There are over 1,900 Romanian soldiers deployed there at present. I believe that an essential condition for the success in Afghanistan is to act in accordance with the principle ‘in together, out together.' This is very important for the transition process to be solid and irreversible. Nevertheless, we must make sure that the transition is made depending on meeting the requirements and not depending on meeting deadlines. Moreover, it is important that the ISAF troops and other available resources be redirected to answer the needs of other critical security areas in Afghanistan, where insurgent actions are still intense, for example, in the south of Afghanistan,' Minister Baconschi said. According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, in order to secure the success of the transition process, the continuation of efforts for training the Afghan security forces is necessary, Romania contributing to this process since May this year, when a first group of Gendarmerie officers arrived in Afghanistan. Minister Baconschi said that he was waiting for the debates and results of the International Conference on Afghanistan taking place in December in Bonn. The Romanian chief diplomat also pointed out in his speech the fact that the last challenge the North-Atlantic Alliance was confronted with was that of Libya and that represented a success. 'We see the NATO action in Libya as a success both in terms of the operation and of the objectives set and results. This is also the first operation launched after the adoption of the New Strategic Concept. At present, we need a deeper assessment of the lessons learned,' Minister Baconschi mentioned. Moreover, the Minister said that Romania also supported NATO's efforts of maintaining the stability in the Western Balkans. According to him, Romania continues to maintain its military contribution to KFOR and the allies had to constantly make sure that NATO's role in Kosovo was kept in accordance with its mandate and that the neutral status of KFOR and EULEX were maintained. The Black Sea Region is another important field to the Euro-Atlantic stability and, for this reason, Minister Baconschi says that Romania will bring its contribution for developing some modalities in which NATO can encourage the riparian states' efforts of consolidating the regional security. Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Tel. 020 7937 9666 Fax: 020 7937 8069 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.london.mae.ro Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 'We want to see a solid partnership for the cooperation with the countries in Caucasus and Central Asia, which will also enhance NATO's capacity of accomplishing its mission in Afghanistan. In the Black Sea Region, Romania is a strong supporter of the partnership policy's reform and reiterates the importance of maintaining 'the Alliance's policy of open doors,' the Romanian chief diplomat pointed out. Referring to Europe's eastern area, he mentioned that Romania was and would continue to be a strong and active supporter of the consolidation of the partnership with the Republic of Moldova, thus strengthening its commitment to the European course. At the same time, he referred to the importance of maintaining the commitment of Ukraine on the path of cooperation and reforms, depending on its own interest, the NATO values and the democratic principles. 'At the same time, we hope that the NATO-Russia partnership becomes a strategic one. We believe this target can be achieved when the principles grounding the NATO-Russia relations are unequivocally observed,' Minister Teodor Baconschi pointed out. Last, but not least, he underlined the importance of the NATO-EU dialogue, especially in the economic crisis context, when the identification of cooperation modalities in the field of security with the optimisation of the financial resources involved was necessary. MFA Hails Adoption of New Resolution by European Parliament on Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Accession to Schengen Area MFA – Bucharest/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hails the adoption of a new Resolution by the European Parliament, which reconfirms its support for an enlargement of the Schengen Area by including Romania and Bulgaria. The favourable vote, expressed by a wide majority, sends a firm political message in support of the quickest possible accession of Romania to the Schengen Area, under the Accession Treaty and the acquis and procedures characterizing such area. Efforts already made by Romania in strengthening the security of the EU external borders have been acknowledged, and a strong call was made to all Member States to fulfil their commitments assumed under the EU legal framework in respect of the Schengen Area accession criteria. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hails the fact that the political groups and the European Parliament members in general have adopted a constructive and extremely principled attitude all along the parliamentary debates preceding the vote. They have acknowledged Romania’s high level of readiness and, as a consequence, have openly declared their support for its accession. Members of the European Parliament continue to show a particular interest in Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area, the prevailing approach continuing to maintain the spirit of promoting community solidarity and of applying a non-discriminating treatment to the two Member States. Minister Teodor Baconschi said: “I express my hope that the positive messages coming from the European Parliament will be assessed at their real political significance and will become additional arguments for all Member States to support Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area and to adopt a favourable decision as soon as possible.” Background Adoption of this Resolution takes place in the context where the decision on enlarging the Schengen Area by including Romania and Bulgaria has been postponed. During the meeting of the EU Council on June 9, 2011, the successful completion of the Schengen evaluation for Romanian and Bulgaria was confirmed, and reopening of the file was set for the meeting on Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Tel. 020 7937 9666 Fax: 020 7937 8069 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.london.mae.ro Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ September 22 of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. During the aforementioned Council meeting, the needed favourable unanimous vote could not be obtained, as a result of the reservations expressed by only two Member States. We recall that the European Parliament has already decided in favour of the Schengen Area enlargement through a Resolution adopted on June 8, 2011, through which it granted its assent for Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area. • Economics Romania's economic growth on track for year-end 1.5 pct target Prime Minister Emil Boc declared in Caracal (south-west of Bucharest)