Radio România Internațional

Tag: Agerpress

  • October 25, 2022

    October 25, 2022

    REFUGEES According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, since the
    beginning of the war in Ukraine, over 2.6 million Ukrainians have transited
    Romania and over 86,500 have chosen to stay here. 8 months on from the beginning
    of the conflict on February 24th, Bucharest recalls its active
    involvement in easing the transport and transit of Ukrainian grain towards
    international markets. At the same time, the humanitarian hub in Suceava,
    north-eastern Romania, has contributed to 56 humanitarian shipments from
    countries like Italy, France or Germany.








    ECLIPSE A partial solar eclipse is visible in
    Romania today. According to the Astronomic Observatory in Bucharest, the sun is
    covered 30-40% and the eclipse, which lasts for two hours and a half, can also
    be seen in capital Bucharest.








    DAY The Romanian Army Day is being celebrated
    today through a series of events staged all over Romania and in other regions
    around the world where Romanian troops are stationed now. Wreath laying
    ceremonies are taking place at heroes’ monuments around Romania and abroad in
    countries like Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
    the Russian Federation, Poland the Republic of Moldova and Hungary. According
    to the Romanian Defence Ministry, the WWII efforts involved the deployment of
    roughly 540 thousand servicemen. Out of all who did the fighting, 90 thousand were
    KIA, 60 thousand MIA and over 330 thousand were wounded. After the liberation
    of the Romanian territories on October 25th 1944, the Romanian army continued
    to fight in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria alongside the allied troops
    contributing to the big victory on May 9th 1945, which marked the
    end of WWII in Europe.








    DECREE Romanian president Klaus
    Iohannis has signed a decree acknowledging the resignation of Defence Minister
    Vasile Dincu at the same time designating Prime Minister Ciuca as the country’s
    interim defence minister. We recall that Social-Democrat Ciuca stepped down on
    Monday saying that he cannot cooperate with the country’s president. Dincu’s resignation
    comes two weeks after he made a series of controversial statements concerning
    the situation in Ukraine. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has called for an
    emergency meeting of the ruling coalition for a decision on Dincu’s successor.








    WEATHER The weather continues to be very warm
    for this time of the year, particularly in the country’s south and south-east. The
    sky is overcast and showers have been reported in the northern regions and in
    the mountains. The highs of the day range between 17 and 27 degrees Celsius.








    COAL Romania has increased its coal production
    to cope with the energy crisis. According to the National Institute for
    Statistics, the quantities extracted have grown by 1.7% in the first 8 months
    of the year while coal imports have risen by 13.5%. The National Committee of
    Strategy and Forecast estimates for this year a coal production 10% bigger than
    in 2021 and imports 2.8% higher. Coal production is expected to grow by 8% next
    year.








    REPORT On October 26,
    European Commission experts and their counterparts from member states are to
    present in Brussels their report and conclusions of the Schengen assessment mission,
    which went on in Romania and Bulgaria in mid-October. The Council will next
    have to take the necessary steps for Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia to join the free-movement
    zone of Schengen, Anitta Hipper, the European Commission on Home Affairs,
    Migration and Internal Security has told the Romanian news agency AGERPRES. With
    a large majority, the European Parliament has endorsed a non-legislative
    resolution calling on the Council to take all the necessary measures for Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen
    by the end of the year. In the Netherlands, a country, which opposed Romania
    and Bulgaria’s entry on reasons of justice and the rule of law, Parliament has
    recently endorsed a resolution calling on the government in the Hague to carry
    out additional investigations on border surveillance by Romania and Bulgaria
    and until then to refrain from making irreversible decisions. The issue of
    accession might be high on the agenda of the Justice and Home Affairs Council
    over December 8-9 and the enlargement process needs unanimous voting.






    (bill)

  • December 10, 2017 UPDATE

    December 10, 2017 UPDATE


    MICHAEL I On Monday, Romanias Parliament will gather in solemn session to honour the last sovereign of Romania, King Michael I, who died on December 5th in Switzerland, aged 96. The coffin will arrive in Romania on December 13th, and on December 16th the former king will be buried in Curtea de Arges, the final resting place of the Romanian royal family. Michael I took the throne in September 1940, and for a long time his was a merely ceremonial role, with the pro-Germany strongman Ion Antonescu actually ruling the country. But on August 23, 1944, the King had Marshall Antonescu arrested, broke the countrys ties with the Axis and had Romania join the anti-Nazi coalition. Historians agree that this decision shortened the war by months, saving tens of thousands of lives. He was forced by the communists to abdicate in 1947 and was able to return to the country only after the fall of the regime. He was one of the most important promoters of Romanias joining NATO and the EU.



    BUDGET Next week, the 2018 budget and social security bill will reach the joint budget-finance committee of the Romanian parliament. The final vote on the 2018 budget is scheduled for December 21st. Representatives of the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania say that the budget is balanced and sustainable, but the opposition MPs say the time allocated for debate is too short and the bill needs improvement. Next years budget is based on a estimated 5.5% economic growth rate, an annual inflation rate of 3.1% and a budget deficit below 3% of the GDP. The estimated monthly net salary is the equivalent of some 570 euro. According to the Romanian Government, health, education and investment are next years priorities. On the other hand, the budget deficit might start decreasing as of 2019, to reach 1.45% of the GDP in 2021. These estimates were presented in the macroeconomic report drawn up by the Finance Ministry, a document which accompanies the 2018 budget bill.



    EU FUNDS According to data provided by the European Commission, at the request of the AGERPRES news agency, Romania has spent only 1.1% of the European money allocated within the 2014-2020 financial framework, as compared to countries like Bulgaria and Poland, which have spent 7.5% and 6.5% respectively. The largest part of this amount, approximately 242 million Euro, has been spent through the Regional Development Fund. The countries that have spent less than Romania from the structural and investment funds are Austria, with 0.3%, and Ireland, with 0.9%. AGERPRES recalls that the Romanian Minister Delegate for European Funds Marius Nica has stated recently that in 2023 Romania will be presented as an example of European fund absorption and the percentage of 89% corresponding to the 2007-2013 time-frame is not bad. As regards the 2014-2020 framework, the Romanian minister has stated that 20 of the 27 EU countries have complained about bureaucracy and cumbersome procedures for the implementation of European funds.



    ROMANIA 100 The president of the Romania 100 platform, the former technocrat Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, announced on Sunday that the platform, created by people wishing to change politics in Romania, will give birth to a party. The new party will be presented in the coming months and will be open for collaboration with the right-wing opposition. Dacian Ciolos headed a government of specialists from November 2015 until January 2017, when the reigns of power were taken over by the leftist coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. The Ciolos Cabinet was established after the resignation of the Social-Democrat Government headed by Victor Ponta, against the background of large-scale anti-corruption rallies triggered by the tragedy that occurred at the Colectiv club in Bucharest, where 64 young people died in a fire.



    PROTESTS New street protests were staged on Sunday in Bucharest and other cities across the country against the ruling coalition. People are unhappy with the changes brought to the justice laws. Promoted by the left-wing coalition and virulently criticised by civil society and the heads of the main judicial institutions in Romania, the controversial bill is currently in Parliament for debate. According to the bill, the head of state cannot alter the nominations for the leadership of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, but will still be able to maintain previous responsibilities with regard to the appointment of the Prosecutor General and of the heads of the National Anticorruption Directorate and the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism. Also, a magistrate will no longer be suspended automatically when taken to court. Under the new laws, a special department will be set up to investigate the magistrates accused of crimes that are related to the justice field.



    FAC The Romanian State Secretary George Ciamba will attend in Brussels on Monday the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). The main topics on the agenda of talks are developments in the Middle East and Iraq. Also, there will be a joint session of the EU foreign ministers and development ministers, focusing on the implementation of the decisions made at the African Union – European Union summit, which was held in Abidjan on November 29-30. Also on Monday, on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council, the European foreign ministers will take part in a working breakfast hosted by Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. The special guest will be the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



    ISRAEL Before travelling to Brussels on Monday for talks with the EU foreign policy and security chief Federica Mogherini and EU foreign ministers, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday met in Paris with President Emmanuel Macron. Macron told Netanyahu that Paris disapproved of the White Houses decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel, but at the same time condemned any threat to Israels security. He also told the Israeli Prime Minister that he ought to “give peace a chance” and “make gestures toward the Palestinians.” Macron suggested that one such gesture would be the freezing of Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be resolved through a negotiated, two-state solution both parties agree on. Previously, Netanyahu had stated that Europes reaction to US President Donald Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel was hypocritical and said he would not accept a double standard from it. Federica Mogherini herself has criticised the White Houses announcement, just like the USs European allies. Also, the Arab League Foreign Ministers have called on Washington, in a resolution made public after a meeting in Cairo on Sunday, to cancel the decision. They have urged the international community to recognize a Palestinian state having east Jerusalem as capital.



    HANDBALL The first matches in the round of 16 of the World Womens Handball Championship are taking place in Germany. The Romanian national team, which has qualified from the first position in Group A, will take on the Czech squad on Monday. If it wins, Romanian will play against the winner of the game pitching the Netherlands against Japan. From the previous edition of the world championship, in 2015, Romania came home with bronze. Romania is the only side that has participated in all the 22 editions of the championship held so far.


    (translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)




  • December 10, 2017

    December 10, 2017


    MICHAEL I On Monday, Romanias Parliament will gather in solemn session to honour the last sovereign of Romania, King Michael I, who died on December 5th in Switzerland, aged 96. The coffin will arrive in Romania on December 13th and on December 16th the former king will be buried in Curtea de Arges, the final resting place of the Romanian royal family. Michael I took the throne in September 1940, and for a long time his was a merely ceremonial role, with the pro-Germany strongman Ion Antonescu actually ruling the country. But on August 23, 1944, the King had Marshall Antonescu arrested, broke the countrys ties with the Axis and had Romania join the anti-Nazi coalition. Historians agree that this decision shortened the war by months, saving tens of thousands of lives. He was forced by the communists to abdicate in 1947 and was able to return to the country only after the fall of the regime. He was one of the most important promoters of Romanias joining NATO and the EU.



    BUDGET Next week, the 2018 budget and social security bill will reach the joint budget-finance committee of the Romanian parliament. The final vote on the 2018 budget is scheduled for December 21st. Representatives of the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania say that the budget is balanced and sustainable, but the opposition MPs say the time allocated for debate is too short and the bill needs improvement. Next years budget is based on a estimated 5.5% economic growth rate, an annual inflation rate of 3.1% and a budget deficit below 3% of the GDP. The estimated monthly net salary is the equivalent of some 570 euro. According to the Romanian Government, health, education and investment are next years priorities. On the other hand, the budget deficit might start decreasing as of 2019, to reach 1.45% of the GDP in 2021. These estimates were presented in the macroeconomic report drawn up by the Finance Ministry, a document which accompanies the 2018 budget bill.



    FUNDING According to data provided by the European Commission, at the request of the AGERPRES news agency, Romania has spent only 1.1% of the European money allocated within the 2014-2020 financial framework, as compared to countries like Bulgaria and Poland, which have spent 7.5% and 6.5% respectively. The largest part of this amount, approximately 242 million Euro, has been spent through the Regional Development Fund. The countries that have spent less than Romania from the structural and investment funds are Austria, with 0.3%, and Ireland, with 0.9%. AGERPRES recalls that the Romanian Minister Delegate for European Funds Marius Nica has stated recently that in 2023 Romania will be presented as an example of European fund absorption and the percentage of 89% corresponding to the 2007-2013 timeframe is not bad. As regards the 2014-2020 framework, the Romanian minister has stated that 20 of the 27 EU countries have complained about bureaucracy and cumbersome procedures for the implementation of European funds.



    ROMANIA 100 The president of the Romania 100 platform, the former technocrat Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, has announced today that the platform, created by people wishing to change politics in Romania, will generate a party. The new party will be presented in the coming months and will be open for collaboration with the right-wing opposition. Dacian Ciolos headed a government of specialists from November 2015 until January 2017, when the reigns of power were taken over by the leftist coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. The Ciolos Cabinet was established after the resignation of the Social-Democrat Government headed by Victor Ponta, against the background of large-scale anti-corruption rallies triggered by the tragedy that occurred at the Colectiv club in Bucharest, where 64 young people died in a fire.



    ISRAEL The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is today meeting in Paris with the French President Emmanuel Macron. Tomorrow he will then travel to Brussels to take part in the EU Foreign Ministers meeting, at the invitation of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. Prior to these visits, Netanyahu stated that Europes reaction to US President Donald Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel is hypocritical and a demonstration that double standards are applied in such cases. He blamed the European leaders for not condemning the missile attacks on Israel and the Palestinian radicals who instigated to violence. Federica Mogherini herself has criticised Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Also, the USs European allies have adopted a joint statement in which they criticise the announcement made by the White House. The Arab League Foreign Ministers have called on Washington, in a resolution made public after a meeting in Cairo on Sunday, to cancel the decision. They have urged the international community to recognize a Palestinian state having east Jerusalem as capital. We recall that this part of the city was annexed by Israel in 1967.



    HANDBALL The first matches in the round of 16 of the World Womens Handball Championship are taking place today in Germany. The Romanian national team, which has qualified from the first position in Group A, will take on the Czech squad on Monday. If it wins, Romanian will play against the winner of the game pitching the Netherlands against Japan. From the previous edition of the world championship, in 2015, Romania came home with bronze. Romania is the only side that has participated in all the 22 editions of the championship held so far.