Romania’s President requests reconsideration of Bill on support to Romanians worldwide

Romania’s President, Traian Basescu, returned to Parliament for reconsideration on April 10 the Bill regarding support given to Romanians living abroad. According to Romanian media, this piece of legislation lists the rights and support Romanians living outside the country’s borders shall enjoy, and stipulates the transfer of the Department for Romanians Abroad from the Romanian MFA under the subordination of the Prime Minister’s Office. The document, reads the reconsideration request, must specify the institutions that would address the relations with Romanians living abroad. The current structure of bodies and institutions that deal with “Romanians worldwide” is “shaggy and unclear” in what concerns their competences, the Romanian president says. At present, there is a Department for Romanians Living Abroad, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a government office (the Office for coordinating relations with Moldova, subordinated to the Prime Minister’s Office), 5 specialised divisions (3 incorporated in the MFA, and 2 in the Ministry of Labour and Family, and the Romanian Diplomatic Institute, respectively), a compartment within the Ministry of Education, and a bureau for citizenship within the Ministry of Justice.