The document also makes a series of recommendations. Better results are expected with regard to seizing unjustified assets, the investigation of money laundering, as well as delivering dissuasive sanctions for incompatibilities. Brussels officials have called on Romanian authorities to enforce harsher regulations in managing public funds as well as the criminal and civil codes. Romanian president Traian Basescu has stated the report makes a correct assessment both of progress as well as of pending issues that affect the credibility of Romania and its justice sytem.

The report shows that Romania has started having autonomous institutions that are not subordinated to the political class, such as the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and the National Integrity Agency. Conversely, the activity of several institutions, among which Parliament, the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Supreme Council of Magistracy, were reported as inconclusive, president Basescu has also said. The Commission’s next assessment report is scheduled for July 2012.

IMF, EU and World Bank experts are on a mission to Bucharest aimed at assessing the progress with regard to the commitments made by Romanian authorities.

A new group of IMF, European Commission and World Bank experts is in Bucharest for a second assessment of the precautionary loan agreement signed by Romania with the IMF in March. The mission is due to end on August 1st, by which time representatives of international officials will have assessed the extent to which Romanian authorities have achieved the targets set for the first half of the year.

The assessment is primarily targeting budget adjustment, the collection of public revenues and the restructuring and privatization of state-owned companies. Experts will also hold talks with representatives of political parties, trade unions, business operators, banks and civil society. The 3-billion worth of loan is accompanied by a precautionary assistance support instrument of 1.5 billion euros granted by the EU and a 400-million-euro loan from the World Bank.

Romania has been hit by both extreme heat and torrential rain and thunderstorms

Romanians’ resilience to extreme temperatures was put to the test earlier this week when temperatures went as high as 39 degrees Celsius, combined with high humidity levels. Relief and first-aid tents have been set up in numerous cities and the capital city Bucharest in high-traffic areas. Meanwhile, public health institutions and ambulance service providers have run at full capacity. Wednesday and Thursday, weather conditions took a radical turn, as heavy downpours and thunderstorms swept Romania. The aftermath saw roads, streets and households flooded, trees uprooted, rooftops blown off, dozens of car wrecks, while the electricity for entire areas was cut off. One person died electrocuted, several were reported injured and material damage was significant.

70% of primary and secondary school teachers who took the state teaching certification competition exam failed

2011 will stay in the books as the year with the worst results in Romanian education, which has been reformed dozens of times in recent history. Now exam figures speak for themselves. The national high school graduation exam, the baccalaureate, was failed by over half of the students who took it, to the point where only 45% of them passed. Much worse fared prospective full time teachers who took the state certification exam needed to teach in lower education institutions. 70% of them failed to get the minimum 7 out of a maximum of 10 grade, which would have allowed them to take up teaching positions full time. Applicants who got grades between 5 and 7 may stay on as substitutes. Trade unions in education claim that the poor results are a reflection of the very low wages in the education system, and that they reveal how wrong policies in education were in the last few years.

A decision without precedent in Romanian football – Universitatea Craiova football club was temporarily banned for breaking rules

Universitatea Craiova, a major football club in Romania, one of the best loved in the country, has won countless awards. It was the first Romanian team to make it to the European semi-finals in 1983. In spite of all this, the club is one step away from being definitively banned from all domestic competitions. The Romanian Football Federation voted to kick out the club because of its refusal to withdraw its civil lawsuit against the federation and former coach, presently national team coach, Victor Piturca. The owner of the club filed protests against decisions taken by the federation and the National Football League against his club. If the decision is to stand, it has to be approved by the first Romanian Football Federation General Assembly. Until then, the team is banned even from friendly games. Universitatea Craiova was relegated to the Second League at the end of last season. Created in 1948 on the 5th of September, the team holds four national championships and six Romanian cups.

Romania’s saber team is once again European champion

Romania’s women’s sabre team won the gold in the European fencing championships held in the UK in Sheffield. In the finals, the Romanians defeated Russia. As 2010 world champions, Romania now has two European championships, after the one they obtained in 2009. Also in Sheffield, Ana Maria Branza got the bronze in the individual sabre event, while the men’s team came in fourth.