IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
- Government. Victor Ponta: We came to power conceiving an inclusive society and this is what we will continue to do.
- Foreign Policy. Prime Minister Victor Ponta makes a historical visit in Serbia. Romania is becoming a major player in the region.
- EDUCATION. Massive European funding for Education will be attracted between 2014 and 2020.
- European POLITICS. Traian Basescu is wrong about the appointment of the European Commissioner from Romania.
- FOREIGN POLICY. Victor Ponta: The plane crash in Ukraine is a terrible tragedy; those guilty of it must be found and punished.
- EUROPEAN FUNDS. More than 10,000 jobs will be created for the rural area and the disadvantaged categories.
Victor Ponta: We came to power conceiving an inclusive society and this is what we will continue to do
The Government’s conception is an inclusive society, where the best are rewarded, and the less competitive are supported, said Prime Minister Victor Ponta, PSD President.
„It is important that the access to European funds to be made possible not only for the naturally competitive categories, but also for those who really need the support and the access to European funds, which basically means the ability to create jobs and wealth in areas that have the greatest need. It is a question that may finally be heading in the right direction. Regarding the changes in the education law – it is a real ideological debate, there is a conception that governed Romania between 2010 – 2011, a conception not necessarily rightist or extreme rightist, I call it a law of the jungle, in which only if you are very strong you can have access to school, European funds, if not, you can die. We came to power, and this is what we will do as long as we stay in power, on an inclusive society concept, in which we reward and congratulate them and we pride ourselves with the very best in school, with the very best in the economy, but we do not abandon the others, those who, for one reason or another have poor results, who need support and, in my view, in education and in health and in the social economy a modern society should take care of all its members”, said Ponta in a press conference at the Ministry of Labor.
The PSD President added that one of the biggest challenges for the 2014 – 2020 period is the correct and efficient use of European funds, in order to have concrete results regarding the integration of disadvantaged communities, primarily the Roma. At the moment, Romania has the best image in terms of growth and still has the worst image regarding the integration capacity of different disadvantaged communities, concluded the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta makes a historical visit in Serbia. Romania is becoming a major player in the region.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta, along with several members of the Government, made a historic visit to Serbia yesterday. Victor Ponta met and talked with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, and the President of this country, Tomislav Nikolić.
Government officials stressed the historic nature of the visit, since it was for the first time in history that both heads of Government – the Romanian and the Serbian – have visited together the Romanian community in the Timoc Valley. Prime Minister Victor Ponta gave a very important signal on the rights of the Romanian minority in Serbia and showed Romania’s care for them. Romanian officials have stressed that it is very important that the Serbian Prime Minister learned better, in a direct manner, which are the problems and needs of the Romanian community in the Timoc Valley.
Government officials stressed that the current Government continues to transform Romania into a major player in the region, after the country was led out from the external isolation in which it had been brought by the Basescu Regime.
Moreover, on this occasion, Romania reiterated its full support for Serbia on its European path. Serbia will find a true ally in Romania for the EU accession, the Romanian representatives emphasized.
One of the projects that have resulted from the bilateral meetings: the highway between Timisoara and Belgrade. Prime Minister Victor Ponta said that by September 1, there must be a very clear situation regarding this highway – what are the costs, which is the funding.
Massive European funding for Education will be attracted between 2014 and 2020
Government officials stressed that there are European funds for this area, there is the money for more than seven years. They should have been attracted five years ago. The money will come from Brussels to the MNE and from the MNE to the counties that have problems. Ministry officials pointed out that currently, there are already counties that have written projects and which are conducting after school programs, tutoring for the National Assessment and for the Baccalaureate. The projects are written, won, the contracts are signed. Structural Funds will be directed wherever needed.
Between 2014-2020 there will be grants for all study programs from kindergarten to college. The grants will be designed so that investments go on two areas: HUMAN RESOURCES, i.e. teachers., and STUDENTS. They do overtime and must be paid for it. Teachers who want to earn extra money and to gain performance with students must also be rewarded. The Basescu Regime cut those 100 Euros, money that went to teachers for purchasing books. The Minister of Education is considering reintroducing this program, but in a more flexible formula.
Especially young teachers need a budget for professional development, whether they buy books, or they go and participate in various conferences and various courses. They must be supported, the MNE officials stressed.
Student life, meaning, for example, the „Money for High School” project. The government is trying to attract structural funds towards this area.
Additional incomes for teachers, additional or increased scholarships for students, especially for those in rural areas or those who belong to disadvantaged families, a small annual grant available to each teacher for professional development, will lead to an increase in the quality and the performance of the student, Government officials emphasized.
Traian Basescu is wrong about the appointment of the European Commissioner from Romania
The right to nominate the European Commissioner belongs to the Government, PSD leaders stressed. This does not mean that we did not or do not believe that it is important for such a nomination to be a broad consensus of the most important institutions, the same voices have shown, who criticized the fact that the President unfortunately remained tributary to the mentality of the Boc period when, no matter if he had responsibilities in the field, he decided everything.
The manner in which the president behaves clearly shows why we need a man in Cotroceni and one at the Victoria Palace, to pull in the same direction, in the national interest, said representatives of the PSD. Law 373/2013 on cooperation between Parliament and Government in European affairs provides that the Executive is the one who must inform the Legislative on Romania’s nomination for the Commissioner office it deserves.
„The Romanian Parliament will be informed by the Government in relation to the nomination of the persons for filling some positions within the EU institutions” provides art. 19, paragraph 1. The specialized committees of the Parliament must examine the Government nominee for the job as Member of the European Commission, says paragraph 2.
The Prime Minister is the one who must send the letter to the elected President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, for the suggestion of Romania of the Commissioner that it deserves. According to the Lisbon Treaty, Commissioners are validated by the Council of the European Union, which includes the Executive representatives of the Member States – in this case the Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
„The Council, in agreement with the elected President, shall adopt the list of the other persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission” provides the EU Treaty (Article 18, paragraph 7).
Victor Ponta: The plane crash in Ukraine is a terrible tragedy; those guilty of it must be found and punished
Prime Minister Victor Ponta, PSD President, said Friday, July 18, 2014, that the plane crash in Ukraine is a terrible tragedy and that the culprits must be found and punished as soon as possible.
„What happened in Ukraine is a terrible tragedy. We are all shocked by this event and I believe that those guilty of it must be found quickly and punished. In such moments, neither politics, nor our differences matter – what matters is only our humanity and our ability to protect us from such incredible tragedies„, says Victor Ponta, in a message posted on his Facebook page.
At the same time, the Prime Minister added that „for us, as a country, mobilization must be exemplary, for all institutions” and he expressed his belief that „everyone will do their duty for that matter”.
„We will still be in touch with our partners to see how we can contribute to the current effort. We are with the families of the disappeared”, says Victor Ponta.
More than 10,000 jobs will be created for the rural area and the disadvantaged categories
More than 10,000 jobs will be especially created for people in the rural areas and for the vulnerable social groups. The Government adopted a program financed through European funds that promotes, at the same time, social inclusion and economic growth.
The value of the European funding to support this program is 200 million Euros. „Offers can already be submitted, it is not a little deal. It is a 200 million Euros program, available for 1000 projects and social enterprises to which vulnerable people have access to”, said Prime Minister Victor Ponta, PSD President.
Moreover, Romania has received this year 1.7 billion Euros in European funds.
