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Tag: 2024

2024 Travel Retrospective

We traveled together to various destinations as we wanted to cover as wide a range of tastes as possible. We went to the highest mountains in Romania, we talked about craftsmen and artisans, ancient villages, and we also visited famous castles. We presented options for spa treatment in traditional centers in Romania as well as the resorts on the Romanian Black Sea Coast.

We opened the travel series from 2024 just 161 kilometers from Bucharest, in Brașov, the city at the foot of the Tâmpa mountains. Known for the Black Church, the largest Gothic-style religious edifice in South-Eastern Europe, for its streets with a medieval atmosphere and for its many restaurants and clubs, the city can be the ideal city-break destination. We then headed to Iași, a former capital of the province of Moldavia for almost 300 years. Also in eastern Romania, we discovered the beauties of the Trotuș Valley, among which the Ghika Palace from Comănești, built in 1890 after blueprints by the architect Albert Galleron, who built the Romanian Athenaeum and the building of the National Bank of Romania. We also visited the Peleș and Pelișor castles in a special feature dedicated to the city of Sinaia, the summer residence of the Romanian royal family from 1887 until 1947. We then stopped at the ski and snowboard slopes of the Bușteni mountain resort. We talked about the offers for winter sports lovers, and also about the biggest and most valuable monument of the resort, unique in the country: the Cross of the Heroes of the Nation, built between 1926-1927, under the care of Her Majesty, Queen Marie. We ended the winter season with the cultural-tourist route of open-air museums in Romania, developed at the national level and recognized by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism, a route launched in Romania given the large number of tourists who showed interest in these objectives.

In the first week of spring, we discovered that Buzău county earned the name “little Romania”, due to the diversity of forms of relief found there. We got to know this picturesque area better which is full of legends. Then, we traveled with the ‘mocănița’, a narrow-gauge steam train, maintained by volunteers, which connects the tourist hub of Sibiu with the rural communities of the Hârtibaciu Valley. From the center of Romania, we headed to one of the oldest spa resorts in Europe, attested around the year 150. Located in southwestern Romania, the Băile Herculane resort offers a varied range of treatment procedures. In addition to the special therapeutic quality of the mineral waters, the strongly ionized air balances the nervous system and ensures a restful sleep. From here, we took you to the fortress of Alba Carolina. In Alba-Iulia, tourists are fascinated by the history of the largest Vauban fortification in Romania. Its aspect of a seven-pointed star also means seven huge bastions, which can still be seen today. We didn’t forget about Harghita, the family-friendly county, where there is an animal petting park. Contact with animals can be therapeutic, and, in this park, you can find deer, Icelandic horses and rabbits. From the center of Romania, we set off on the “Gates of Transylvania” cultural-tourist route. It has a length of 1,141 km, and the more than 100 tourist sites with cultural value, included in this program, can be visited by car within 16 days. Last but not least, the invitation to celebrate Easter was in the north of Romania, in Bukovina and Maramureș. The Corvini Castle, the best-preserved monument of Gothic, civil and military architecture in central and southeastern Europe, was our proposal at the beginning of May. Located in western Romania, the imposing construction is one of the main tourist attractions in the area. Then we returned to Bucharest where we learned about three unique tours: Communism versus monarchy, the Old Town and Dracula, the Old Town and communism.

At the beginning of the summer, we learned that the Romanian Black Sea Coast changes for the better from year to year. We have presented you with some of the newest hotels and investments, which are supposed to ensure a pleasant vacation. We also dedicated a feature to the only seaside resort in Romania with mineral, sulphurous and mesothermal springs: Mangalia. From here, we headed to the Danube Delta, where we presented you with a form of tourism that is friendly to the environment: sustainable or ecological tourism. On the other hand, the Danube Delta is also part of the “Golden Apples” cultural-tourist route, as we learned from another feature. This includes destinations such as Bukovina, Mărginimea Sibiului, Târgu Jiu and Oradea. The destinations are awarded the “Golden Apple” trophy by the International Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers. The Story of Wine and speleological tourism in the Anina Mountains were the next proposals, after which we stopped on the road located at the highest altitude in Romania: Transalpina. Towards the end of the year, we talked about active tourism. This form of tourism attracts more and more visitors to Romania due to the spectacular landscapes and the diversity of outdoor activities. The Carpathian Mountains are a favorite destination for hiking, climbing and bouldering, with routes of all levels of difficulty. Last but not least, we spent the winter holidays, one by one, in the Banat mountains and in Maramureș.

The year 2025 promises to be at least as interesting and full of travels. We are waiting for you to join us again in the new year to get to know holiday destinations, interesting projects, unique places and welcoming people. A Happy New Year! (LS)

9 January 2025
The Year 2024 in Review

Electoral marathon abandoned before the end

2024 was announced as a complicated political year from the very beginning, with elections of all types, local, European Parliament, presidential and legislative, but no one anticipated what was going to happen at the end of the year and of the electoral marathon. In June, local elections were held together with the European Parliament elections. The common list for the European Parliament proposed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL), the parties in the governing coalition, prevailed over the other competitors. At the local elections, the social democrats and the liberals won, in that order, the most town halls and county councils. The increasingly heated pre-election speech caused a cooling of relations between the Prime Minister and PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, and the PNL leader Nicolae Ciucă, both running for president. And then came the shock of the first round of the presidential election, from November 24, when the political system received a severe blow: Ciucă obtained a single-digit score, Ciolacu came only third, an unwanted scenario and a first for the PSD, the head of the Save Romania Union (USR), Elena Lasconi, was ranked second and the winner was an independent who was not very well known, Călin Georgescu. The general astonishment was followed by concern because the latter’s statements betrayed a pro-Russian and anti-Western extremist, an admirer of the fascist, anti-Semitic leaders of interwar Romania and a promoter of a self-sufficient economic system after the model promoted by Ceausescu. Then, the intelligence services, that had kept silent until then, offered what they consider to be the explanation of Georgescu’s unbelievable score: he would have been aggressively promoted on TikTok, in defiance of electoral laws, and the activity of the TikTok accounts that gave him a strong exposure was financed with a lot of money. Everything would have allegedly happened with the involvement of a state actor. Romania, the Foreign Intelligence Service said, was a target of the aggressive Russian hybrid actions. The Constitutional Court canceled the election, which was an unprecedented decision, on the grounds that the entire electoral process was flawed. In Washington, the bipartisan US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations issued a statement condemning Russia’s involvement in the presidential election in Romania. Vladimir Putin’s attack on the Romanian elections is yet another example of the hybrid war he is waging on our European allies and partners, US senators said. In Brussels, the European Commission announced that it would launch official proceedings against TikTok, after interference in the presidential election in Romania, to find out if the platform violated its legal obligation to assess and mitigate risks to the integrity of the elections. 35 years after the collapse of the communist regime, the still young democratic state called Romania is discovering its major vulnerabilities, which requires, according to analysts, adjustments or even deep institutional and constitutional reforms.

A new fragmented Parliament, a coalition government

Bolstered by Georgescu’s success, three self-styled sovereigntist parties, a sweetened formula that covers ultranationalists, populists, isolationist anti-globalists, detractors of the EU and NATO, extremists or conspirators, entered the Romanian Parliament following the December 1 elections and hold a third of the seats. The representative party of this group is the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). Alerted by the prospect of an anti-Westerner, supported by sovereigntists, winning the presidency, the pro-European parties PSD, PNL, USR and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) made a pact against extremism after the first round. And after the cancellation of the presidential election, they decided to form a governing coalition. Following tough negotiations and the elimination of USR from the government formula, PSD, PNL and UDMR agreed on a government, led by the same Marcel Ciolacu, and on a common candidate for the upcoming presidential election in the person of the former liberal leader Crin Antonescu. The current president, Klaus Iohannis, is challenged, with arguments, by politicians, and also by experts, who considered the Constitutional Court of Romania – CCR’s decision to cancel the presidential election questionable, on the grounds that it was not based on proven facts. Organizing new elections is a priority. However, the urgency of the moment is the budgetary-fiscal recovery of the country. At the end of the year, Fitch Ratings confirmed Romania’s long-term currency rating at ‘BBB minus’, but worsened the assigned outlook from stable to negative, which means that another downgrade is possible. The revision of the outlook reflects the political uncertainties, which affect the fiscal outlook, the increase in public debt and the high budget deficit.

Criticized measures to reduce budget expenses

In the last meeting of 2024, the Romanian government adopted an emergency ordinance that provides for measures to ensure economic stability, to responsibly manage the budget resources and to maintain control over public spending in 2025. The document provides for the suspension of state employment, as well as the freezing of pensions and of state employees’ salaries at the level of 2024. Overtime will no longer be paid, and extra pay or bonuses will no longer be granted. The government claims that, through these measures, it wants to reduce budget expenditures by 1% of the GDP, but not to give up improving people’s lives and investments. The government approved the increase from 8% to 10% in the tax on dividends and the reduction of the taxation ceiling for micro-enterprises from 500,000 Euros to 250,000 Euros. Transportation facilities for students were also restricted and fiscal facilities for some categories of employees were eliminated. The major trade union federations, employers’ organizations and student associations harshly criticized the measures taken by the Government.

Very good news regarding the freedom of movement

From January 1, Romania entered the European free travel area with land borders too, after, in March, it had entered Schengen with air and sea borders. The full accession of Romania and Bulgaria was possible because Austria and the Netherlands gave up their opposition. However, for 6 months, alternative or random controls will be maintained. The Romanian authorities say that the country’s Schengen accession means faster movement for citizens, lower logistics costs for companies, increased competitiveness of Romanian products and services on the European market, business opportunities and jobs. The good news from Brussels was doubled by the one from Washington: the Department of State announced that Romania fell below the threshold of 3% rejected visa applications, a threshold imposed by American legislation to access the Visa-Waiver program that allows visa-free travel to the US.

A successful sporting year

2024 was a good year for Romanian athletes, who returned from the Paris Olympics with 9 medals, three gold, four silver and two bronze. World swimming star, David Popovici lived up to his status, winning the Olympic title in the 200 meters freestyle and the bronze in the 100 meters event. In football, things went well too: the national team passed the groups at Euro 2024 in Germany and qualified for the eighth finals. The national team footballers also had a great game in the League of Nations, which gave them chances in the drawing of lots for the World Cup in North America. (LS)

4 January 2025
The Week in Review 27-31.05.2024

Waiting for the first election in 2024

This year, all four possible types of elections are held in Romania. And the first elections will be held on June 9, namely the combined local and European Parliament elections. 207,389 people aspire to the chance of occupying the seat of mayor, local or county councilor, County Council president or MEP. The youngest candidate is 23 years old, the oldest 100 years, Toni Greblă, the president of the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, announced in a press conference on Tuesday. Voters will receive five ballots each and will be able to cast their vote until 10:00 p.m. local time. Under special conditions, the vote can be extended even until midnight. There are 3,186 mayoral positions throughout the country. And for the European Parliament elections, there are 14 candidates per seat: Romania will have 33 MEPs, just like in the current mandate. All Romanians over the age of 18, or who turn 18 on the election day, have the right to vote. 18,025,324 people are registered in the electoral register, of which 942,730 are Romanians residing abroad. 18,968 polling stations will be opened in the country, and a record number of 915 abroad. Of the 915 sections, most will be in countries where there are more Romanian citizens. There will be 150 polling stations in Italy, 147 in Spain, 104 polling stations in Great Britain, 87 in Germany, 67 polling stations in France and the Principality of Monaco, 52 in the Republic of Moldova, and 45 polling stations in the USA. In the local elections, you can vote only in Romania and only in the locality where voters have their domicile or residence. On the other hand, for the European Parliament elections one can vote anywhere, in the country or abroad.

Budget deficit

Romania’s budget deficit rose to 3.24% of the Gross Domestic Product after the first four months of this year. According to the data published this week by the Finance Ministry, the State had revenues of almost 183 billion lei (almost 37 billion Euros), but the expenses were approximately 240 billion (about 48 billion Euros), by over 57 billion lei more. According to the Finance Ministry, the April deficit was also influenced by the advance payment of pensions before the May 1^st and the Easter mini holidays. Expressed as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product, the expenses for this year registered a 2% increase compared to the same period of 2023, the ministry officials also stated. Romania’s budget this year is based on a deficit of 5% of the GDP, down from last year. On the other hand, in March, Romanians made 70% more new consumer loans compared to the same period of last year, and in the last 12 months lending to the population increased by more than 8%, according to the National Bank data. This trend of credit growth is normal as inflation and, implicitly, interest rates decrease.

Day of Romanians Everywhere

President Klaus Iohannis urged the preservation of Romanian identity, language and traditions, in a message on the occasion of Romanians Everywhere Day, celebrated since 2015, on the last Sunday of May. The head of state emphasized that it is necessary for the diaspora to remain a strong voice, heard both in Bucharest and in other capitals of the world. The government will continue to support Romanians abroad, declared Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who announced, among other things, that in July the agreement will be signed so that Romanians in Spain can have dual citizenship, and by the end of the year Romania will fully join the Schengen area. For their part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, recalled that the well-being and security of Romanian citizens abroad, as well as the permanent dialogue with the diaspora, must be priorities of Romanian diplomacy. The Day of Romanians Everywhere was marked by events hosted by important cultural institutions in Bucharest, within the “Here-There” Festival, in which more than 500 Romanians from the diaspora and historical communities, as well as from the country, were expected to participate. The Day of Romanians Everywhere is a form of recognition of the importance that the Romanian state gives to Romanian communities living outside the country’s borders.

The last game of the Golden Generation

On May 25, Romania’s Golden Generation in football played “For the last time together”. It was against the World Legends team coached by the famous José Mourinho, which it beat 3-2 after being beaten 2-0. The national team that brought so much joy to Romanians at the 1994 World Cup filled up a stadium, the National Arena being stormed by the more than 50 thousand ticket payers who came to pay tribute to those who, 30 years ago, established the highest national team performance – 5th place at the World Cup in the United States. The anniversary game was led by Ion Crăciunescu, the most highly awarded Romanian referee in history. Famous former Romanian internationals such as Gheorghe Hagi, Gheorghe Popescu, Miodrag Belodedici, Dan Petrescu, Ilie Dumitrescu, Florin Răducioiu, or Marius Lăcătuș were not absent from the field. In the world team that came to Bucharest for the match, other exceptional names – the Brazilian Rivaldo, the French Karembeu, the Bulgarian Stoichkov, or the Portuguese Nuno Gomes! The older Romanians revived memories, and for the generations coming after them was a memorable experience – noted the publication Gazeta Sporturilor about the farewell match of the footballers who wrote history for Romania.

1 June 2024
Romania at the London Book Fair 2024

35 years after the Romanian Revolution, the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) celebrated freedom in all its creative forms, at a new edition of the London Book Fair. Under the motto “Voices of Freedom”, Romania’s participation in this year’s edition of the London Book Fair, one of the largest events devoted to professionals in the literary field, was dedicated to all generations of local writers who have created in an epoch of full freedom of speech. The Romanian Cultural Institute prepared a program of events that included book launches, conferences and spoken word performances, which took place at the ICR stand at the fair, the ICR London headquarters, the Barbican library and Conway Hall.

Eli Bădică, the coordinator and initiator of the collection of contemporary Romanian literature by Nemira Editorial Group, spoke to us about Romania’s participation in the London Book Fair from her perspective as a publisher: “A fair like this is also accessible to the public, but it is not a book sale fair. It is not a fair similar to those held in Romania, within which many events and launches take place, it is an event dedicated especially to literary agents, publishers, cultural managers and translators, to literary and commercial networking. It is an important fair for me and my colleagues, who are active in this industry, it is the second largest fair after Frankfurt in terms of importance worldwide. That’s why they are somehow strategically scheduled, in spring and autumn, because they are the fairs where translation rights are usually bought. Returning to Romania’s presence at this edition of the fair, part of the events took place at the headquarters of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, and another two events took place in libraries, some splendid spaces. Romanian writers, literary critics and cultural managers were present and participated in some very interesting discussions. Also, the few recently published translations from Romanian into English were also presented. And during these events, a discussion was brought up that only 3% of the Anglo-Saxon book market is represented by translations.I’m saying this to understand how difficult this mission of publishers is, to try to find publishing houses for Romanian writers in this space, where English dominates the book market. I had some meetings in London with translators, editors and agents really interested in what Romanian writers write. What very few people know is that usually the editorial plans that are made in this space are considering very few writers from the East, sometimes only one in an editorial year. So, you have to try to convince the publisher, translator or the agent that that writer from Eastern Europe deserves to be a Romanian writer.”

Participation in this edition of the London Book Fair opened with an event dedicated to the voices of female writers from Romania and Great Britain. One of the writers who participated in that debate was Elena Vlădăreanu, the initiator and coordinator of the “Sofia Nădejde” Prize, awarded to contemporary Romanian writers.

Elena Vlădăreanu: “One of the writers participating in this discussion was Alina Purcaru. Alina Purcaru is also the coordinator, together with Paula Erizanu, of the three-volume anthology ‘A century of Romanian poetry written by women’ published by the Cartier publishing house. It is a very important anthology because Alina and Paula have collected a century of Romanian poetry, selecting and managing to bring in the spotlight writers that many people have not even heard of. Two very interesting writers and philosophers from Great Britain, with very rich work and PhDs in philosophy, Suzannah Lipscomb and Hannah Dawson, also participated in the same discussion. Suzannah Lipscomb is a specialist in history and has recently initiated a prize for non-fiction literature, which complements the prize already being granted in the UK for fiction. This prize which she initiated is called the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. At the debate organized by ICR London, Suzannah Lipscomb said she came up with the idea of the award after noticing that references in the academia were mostly to texts and research written by men. In this way, she thought of highlighting these non-fiction texts written by women and that is why she initiated the award, which this year will be granted for the first time. In turn, Hannah Dawson, a specialist in the philosophy of language, has recently published an anthology at Penguin entitled The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing. To compile this anthology, Dawson went through at least 100 years of literature written by women. She was interested, first of all, in finding those unknown texts that address feminist themes. And she was surprised to find very old texts, texts even more than 100 years old, which addressed in a very contemporary way feminist themes, such as equality, the right to education, the social status of women, the relationships that women have within the family as well as within society.”

Mădălina Căuneac, Liliana Corobca, Cosmin Perța, Florentin Popa, Maria Stadnicka, Matei Vișniec, Marius Chivu, Bogdan Crețu, Alex Ciorogarand, Susan Curtis, Iulian Morar, Gabi Reigh and Milena Deleva are on the list of participants attending the events organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London as part of the London Book Fair. (LS)

13 April 2024