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10. 09. 10. - 14:00

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10. 09. 10. - 14:00

Eric Besson: There is no competition between France and Romania

Romanian Times

French Immigration minister, Eric Besson, said yesterday (Thurs), during his visit to Bucharest, that there was "no competition" between France and Romania.

Besson said there was a "constructive and positive" work day in Bucharest, where French officials had talks with Romanian authorities about the social reinsertion of Roma people.

French state secretary for European Affairs, Pierre Lellouche, replied there is no connection between Romania's accession to the Schengen Area and the Roma problems. Previous press reports implied France would oppose Romania's accession due to the Roma immigration problems. Romania has a target date of 27 March 2011 for joining the Schengen Zone.

France dismantled illegal Roma camps last month and sent back around 1,000 Roma people to Romania.

The European Parliament condemned the French president's policy saying it expresses "deep concern at the measures taken by the French authorities and other member states’ authorities targeting Roma and travellers" and urged them "immediately to suspend all expulsions of Roma".

The MEPs stressed that "mass expulsions are prohibited" under EU law because "they amount to discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity". The parliament also said it "deeply deplores the late and limited response" by the European Commission over the deportations, and criticised "inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric" against Roma.

Romanian Foreign Affairs minister, Teodor Baconschi, said Romania "assumes its responsibility very clearly towards its citizens, but we do not consider the Roma minority problem in Europe to be an exclusively Romanian problem."

The Romanian Foreign Affairs ministry issued a statement saying the cooperation to fight crime will be strengthened by sending another 10 Romanian policemen to France.

Almost half of Romanians live in poverty
Almost half of the Romanians (8.89 millions) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat data published today (Weds).

Police carry man off the snow and save his life
A man who had collapsed in freezing weather near a river, in Stoina, Gorj, southern Romania, was saved after policemen carried him for several kilometres.

New government with same eight former ministers proposed
The Romanian parliament will vote on the new government team, proposed by designated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, tomorrow (Thurs).

Forty-one dead in freezing weather
Another three persons have died due to low temperatures in the last 24 hours, the Romanian Health Ministry said today (Weds).

EC report on Justice is positive, minister says
Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu currently acting prime minister until the new government is voted in by the parliament, said today (Weds) that the European Commission's interim report on progress in justice is, overall, "positive".

Pink Martini concerts in Bucharest
American orchestra Pink Martini will give a concert in Bucharest on 26 May at the Palace Hall, part of the promotional tour for their latest album "A Retrospective", local organisers Events said today (Weds).

Romania's industrial output up
Romania's industrial output increased by 15.6 per cent in 2011, the National Statistics Institute (INS) said today (Weds).

Father tried for abusing four-year-old girl
A Romanian father was sent to trial for abusing his stepdaughter, aged only 4, prosecutors said today (Weds).

Pitch in best condition for Steaua-Twente match, authorities say
The pitch for the Europa League match Steaua Bucuresti - Twente Enschede will be in optimal condition, the Bucharest town hall promises, after criticism of the National Arena turf.

More Romanian tourists travel to Austria
The number of Romanian tourists to Austria rose last year, after two years of a decline, Austria's National Tourism Office in Romania announced today (Weds).