Verheugen receives UBB’s DHC title

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The Cluj-Napoca-based “Babes-Bolyai” University (UBB) conferred to former European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen yesterday the Doctor Honoris Causa (DHC) title, Mediafax informs. The event was attended by Premier Victor Ponta, Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean and Romania’s former chief negotiator with the European Union Vasile Puscas (PSD). During the ceremony several youths waved banners with English-language messages accusing Verheugen of “dirty lobbying.” The two banners read “No honor in political honoris causa” and “No award for dirty lobbyist.” Guenter Verheugen interrupted his speech and countered the accusations. “I never engaged in lobbying. Your information is erroneous,” he said. UBB representatives asked the protestors to leave the room. At the end of the ceremony PM Ponta stated that former European Commissioner Guenter Vergheugen was Romania’s most correct partner, being “alongside Adrian Nastase one of the founding fathers of the idea of European Romania,” pointing out that the young women that protested at UBB are EU citizens thanks to him. “Guenter Verheugen has a fundamental merit: we are members of the EU today thanks to Guenter Verheugen. (…) We are to blame for starting to fight against Romania, from Romania, since 2005. It’s our problem,” the Premier stated. Asked for his comment on the messages concerning his Ph.D. after several youngsters wearing t-shirts reading “Copy” and “Paste” (hinting to the plagiarism accusations against Ponta – editor’s note) protested outside UBB, Ponta answered: “Against me it’s normal. I’m not a doctor with UBB.”