Romania

(Following is a report first published by BosNewsLife September 25, 2009, which prompted many reactions. Amid a fresh discussion on migration in Europe, and whether or not Romania and Bulgaria should join the EU's passport-free Schengen zone, the theme remains very actual). By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Key non-governmental groups and officials have urged the European Union to urgently tackle the "growing problem" of street children moving from Eastern to Western Europe, by improving cross-border cooperation and child protection.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Forensic analysts have exhumed what are believed to be the bodies of late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, who were executed in 1989. It comes after relatives raised doubts that the couple was really buried in Romania's capital Bucharest.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife CHISINAU, MOLDOVA (BosNewsLife)-- Facing student-led demonstrations, the Moldova's ruling Communists has agreed to recount parliamentary election returns that gave the victory in Sunday's vote to the Communist Party.

Listen to this BosNewsLife report via Vatican Radio    By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BUDAPEST/BUCHAREST (BosNewsLife) Romania's Parliament has sworn in the first ethnic German as president of the former Communist nation, at a time when the country remembers the 25th anniversary of a bloody revolution that ended decades of Communist dictatorship. Former mayor Klaus Iohannis promised a different style from the combative outgoing president Traian Basescu

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUCHAREST/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Latest official results show that Romanian President Traian Basescu has won the first round of Sunday's presidential ballot with about 32.5 percent of the vote. His main rival Mircea Geoana received about 30.8 percent. However, the poll has been overshadowed by reported election fraud and a political and economic crisis in the country.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Romania and Hungary are among several former Communist nations of the European Union facing social and political turmoil, as the EU and other Western institutions demand far reaching political and austerity measures in exchange for multi-billion dollar financial assistance. The resulting tensions have revived a debate over how much sovereignty eastern EU members should give up, more than two decades after freeing themselves from the Soviet Union's sphere of influence.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/BUCHAREST (BosNewsLife)-- Romania has been rocked by political turmoil after parliament suspended President Traian Basescu from office, paving the way for a referendum on his future later this month. The procedure comes despite European Union and U.S. concerns over the status of democracy in the former communist nation.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has called on America's European allies to step-up their defense efforts, saying they the face growing security threats from outside Europe. Biden made the comments in Bucharest, Romania Thursday, October 22, before ending his Central and Eastern European tour in the Czech Republic.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/BUCHAREST (BosNewsLife)-- Romania has expressed concern about the deportations of Gypsies, or Roma, from France, saying it could lead to "xenophobic reactions". Friday's statement came as French authorities put some 100Roma, on a charter flight headed to their native Romania after expelling scores of others on Thursday.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The left leaning Social Democratic Party, the successor of the former Communist party, has won the most votes in Romania's first parliamentary elections since becoming a member of the European Union last year.