Dan Stoenescu
[4] On April 16, 2021, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced his appointment as EU chargé d’affaires to Syria, effective September.
Stoenescu was Minister-delegate for Romanians abroad from 17 November 2015 to 7 July 2016, in the government of technocrats, led by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.
[16] He previously lived in Egypt when he worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) offices in Cairo.
Dan Stoenescu also worked as a journalist for various newspapers and magazines in Romania,[17] United States, UK, Egypt, Lebanon,[18] and the Republic of Moldova.
He was involved in Egypt with non-governmental organizations such as African Hope,[19] in the United States he volunteered for the Center for the Survivors of Torture as well as in Central America for El Salvador's Siglo XXIII.
[21] In 2000, he established the Worldwide Romanians Youth League (Liga Tinerilor Români de Pretutindeni) [22] and later on the Center for Democratic Education Romania.
[25] During his academic career, he was awarded many honors and distinctions such as the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, Ford Foundation scholarship, First Phi Theta Kappa All-California Academic Team, Presbyterian Church USA Samuel Roberson award, and distinctions from California governor Gray Davis, assembly member Wilma Chan, and senator Don Perata.
[29] The program offered a financing line for diaspora Romanians who returned recently and intend to open a business in an urban area in Romania.
[31] In order to develop entrepreneurial skills within the Diaspora, a new online program called "Worldwide Romanian Entrepreneurs" was launched offering hundreds of free scholarships.
[40] The minister delegate was the first high-ranking official member of the Dacian Cioloș government to visit the Republic of Moldova[43] In early March 2016, Stoenescu went on a diplomatic mission to Malaysia as special envoy of President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș to appeal to the Malaysian authorities to pardon and commute the death sentence for the Romanian inmate Ionut Gologan.
[45] Moreover, he initiated a legislative modification of Law no.321/2006 to ensure greater transparency on non-refundable financing for programs, projects and activities in support of Romanian communities living abroad.
[46] The Romanian media recognized the innovations brought by his mandate: "unlike the politicians that had Stoenescu's portfolio, his work was an enormous leap forward"[47] Since 1963, bilateral relations are governed by a legal framework comprising more than 50 agreements.
[50] Also, during his term, a strong partnership was established between the National Civil Protection Office of Tunisia and the Department for Emergency Situations of Romania,[51] between the courts of Auditors of the two countries, between national radio stations and there are also many other examples…[52] In the first half of 2019, under his direction, the activities organized by the Embassy of Romania in Tunis on the sidelines of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union included public and cultural diplomacy events, coordination meetings, political and diplomatic events and a debate on EU-Africa relations.
[48] Also, many other numerous meetings and economic events were organized to promote Romania together with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Tunis, Sfax,[70] Sousse,[71] Bizerte,[72] Beja.
[86] Dan Stoenescu's tenure as Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union to Syria, beginning in September 2021, has been marked by several key achievements and initiatives.
One of his main roles has been maintaining communication channels open with the Syrian authorities, despite the European Union's non-recognition of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
[89] During his mandate he has also highlighted the interconnectedness of global events, particularly noting how the situation in Ukraine affected Syria, disrupting grain supplies and having a significant impact on food security within the country.
The projects ranged from life-saving support being provided by humanitarian partners to longer-term interventions that address deeper structural issues that underlie the crisis in Syria.
[93] In response, Stoenescu stressed that the projects implemented by the European Union in Syria are not aimed at rehabilitating the regime but are humanitarian assistance such as repairing schools and streets and providing water.
[96] During his mandate, Dan Stoenescu has contributed to the European Union's response to the complex and evolving situation in Syria, focusing on humanitarian assistance, political dialogue, and strategic funding allocation to support the Syrian people in the midst of ongoing conflict and crisis.
[97] "Dacă românii din străinătate se înscriu în Registrul Electoral, vor putea vota prin corespondenţă, sau în cadrul unei noi secţii de votare acolo unde ei solicită să fie înfiinţată această secţie de votare".
