Global conversations
I love the Orthodox tradition of sharing the Holy Fire from Jerusalem at Easter. Last weekend my wife was back in London so I was a single parent for Easter in Bucharest with our two younger daughters (and one of their friends). We went to the midnight service at our local Orthodox Church. There was something truly mystical to be standing in the pitch darkness of the church until the … Read more »Lumină din Lumină
Last week we received many visitors to the Embassy and many messages of condolence on the death of Margaret Thatcher. I was touched to read the sentiments of the many admirers that she had in Romania, and her achievements as seen by people in this part of Europe. In the first place, she is seen as a symbol of the struggle against communism, and a source of hope for people … Read more »Margaret Thatcher, remembered in Romania
Being an Ambassador is a great job. In the last two years, I’ve steered a battleship, driven a sports car, travelled all over Romania and met some wonderful people. But the day I enjoyed most was July 27, 2011, when the British Embassy marked a year to go to the London Olympics by holding a street party in Ferentari. I had enormous fun that day, playing drums on the stage … Read more »International Roma Day – La Multi Ani!
Last month I was in Rotherham in South Yorkshire with a delegation from Dolj County looking at approaches to Roma inclusion. This was the return visit after the leader of Rotherham Municipal Borough Council Roger Stone OBE visited Craiova and Podari last January. I wanted him to see the excellent work that local authorities have been doing on Roma inclusion in partnership with Ovidiu Ro, and to start a conversation … Read more »Roma Inclusion in Rotherham and Romania
The Prime Minister David Cameron has set out his thinking in a speech yesterday on how best to manage migration in the UK. I’d like to underline several points from his speech. Firstly, David Cameron reaffirmed that transitional controls on Romanian and Bulgarian workers will be lifted in 2014. He said “from the beginning of next year, the transitional controls on Bulgaria and Romania will be lifted. That means Romanians … Read more »Managing Migration
Minister for Europe David Lidington visited Romania recently, as I was telling you in my last post. I invited him to do a short video blog about the visit and his vision for the partnership between the UK and Romania. You can also check my Twitter account for a brief recap of the Minister’s key messages.
One of my followers on Twitter (@HMAMartinHarris) urged me last week to: “please untangle the politicians heads. UK and Romania should be partners.” I want to offer reassurance on two counts. Firstly – the UK and Romania are partners, on a very broad range of issues. Second – the politicians are putting their heads together to keep that partnership strong and moving forward. Tomorrow the UK’s Europe Minister, David Lidington … Read more »Free Exchange on Free Movement
I was in Poiana Brasov last week to support Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival. I spent two days on the slopes, and brought my three daughters along too to watch the figure skating – their favourite sport. For many of the young British athletes and their coaches this was their first visit to Romania, and they were very favourably impressed. Firstly with the facilities at Poiana … Read more »The Olympic Flame burns bright in Romania
While in Sibiu, I was challenged by the regional blogging community to do a video blog about my trip. So here it is. Find out more about my meetings with the local authorities and the British businesses.
Last Saturday some 170 people gathered at the Athenee Palace Hotel in Bucharest for Burns Night – an annual celebration for the Scottish community. Born on 25th January 1759, Robert Burns is Scotland’s national poet as well as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. Burns suppers are organised each year on or around the poet’s birthday, to celebrate his work and the impact it has had on Scottish literature and … Read more »Robert Burns and Romania