Radio România Internațional

Tag: aid for Moldova

  • May 30, 2024

    May 30, 2024

    GOVERNMENT – The Romanian Government is today voting an emergency decree to adopt the national program on the digitization of local authorities. The program stipulates specific actions for each local administration, including planning and implementing digital platforms, e-governance services, apps and investments in computer infrastructure and related equipment. The Government says these actions will boost the online availability of digital public services, helping Romania attain 100% online availability of digital services, a digital goal. The Government will also vote an emergency decree on modifying and amending legislation on expropriations caused by public utility. The modifications are required to implement certain objectives of national, county and local interest.

     

     

    INVESTIGATION – Romanian authorities have arrested 13 people suspected of fraud and issuing forged prescriptions for diabetes. One medical nurse, eight drugstore workers and four physicians are targeted by an investigation into the issuance of subsidized drugs, in particular Ozempic, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes, which also causes weight loss. The illegally issued prescriptions were picked up by the suspects’ relatives from 140 pharmacies in Bucharest and Ilfov County. Although they did not have the right to issue them, gynecologists, cardiologists and family physicians issued the prescriptions from private clinics, and the drugs were sold via online platforms to clients all over the country. The prejudice exceeds 200 thousand EUR.

     

     

    PROTEST – Members of the National Federation of Administrative Trade Unions on Thursday protested the Government’s discriminatory salary policies and its refusal to pass fair and proportionate measures with a view to doing away with salary inequities. The trade federation represents employees of local and central authorities. Unionists have recently criticized the draft decree stipulating a 10% salary increase for certain categories of public workers, accusing the government of encouraging salary disparities between similar institutions and of disregarding the actual needs of public sector employees.

     

     

    UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate went up to 5.3% in April, a 0.1% increase compared to March, the National Statistics Institute reports. Youth unemployment stood at 20.5% for the 15-24 age bracket, although it reported a drop compared to March. Unemployment among the male population is 0.6% higher than the rate among women.

     

     

    MOLDOVA – On the sidelines of his visit to Chișinău, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a 50-mln-USD assistance package designed to help Moldovan authorities bolster  democratic institutions in the face of Moscow’s threats. Another 85 mln USD will be invested to help curb Moldova’s energy dependency on Russia, the US official added. During a press briefing held jointly with the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, Secretary Blinken condemned Moscow’s ingressions into democratic processes in Moldova and its war of aggression against Ukraine. In turn, president Sandu hailed Blinken’s visit, describing it as evidence of the excellent relations between the two countries and a signal of support for peace and democracy.

     

     

    TENNIS – Irina Begu and Ana Bogdan are the only Romanian tennis players still competing in the women’s singles at Roland Garros. In today’s second round, Begu is playing Linda Nosková of Czechia, whereas Bogdan will take on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia.  Bogdan and Begu are also competing in the women’s doubles, alongside other representatives of Romania. (VP)

  • November 2, 2022

    November 2, 2022

    AMENDMENTS – The Government is expected to
    pass a number of legislative amendments in preparation of Romania’s Schengen
    accession. The Government noted the current legislation no longer reflects the
    current European framework for exchanging information among Member States,
    while the national digital reporting system also needs improvement. The
    government wants to decide which authorities should have a right to access,
    transmit or consult data from the national digital system.


    COLD SEASON – 58% of Romanians say they
    will have trouble paying energy bills this upcoming winter, estimating
    temperatures in their homes will be lower compared to previous years, a recent
    study reveals. According to its findings, soaring utility expenses have shaped
    Romanians’ purchasing behavior. 55% of Romanians said they have stopped buying
    non-essential products. 40% of respondents have described energy bills as their
    biggest concern for the period ahead.


    MOLDOVA – Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu,
    received assurances regarding Bucharest’s full support for Chișinău
    in the context of the energy crisis in this country. President Sandu on Tuesday
    met Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă in Bucharest, expressing gratitude for
    their support and Romania’s actions to facilitate the provision of electricity,
    natural gas, fuel oil and firewood to Moldovan citizens. Furthermore, Maia
    Sandu thanked Romania for quickly responding to offset Moldova’s electricity
    deficit. We recall Bucharest has started supplying electricity and natural gas to
    Moldova after Ukraine has ceased energy exports to Moldova after its energy
    infrastructure was affected by Russian bombings.


    REFUGEES – The Border Police Inspectorate
    announced some 65 thousand people entered Romania on Tuesday, of whom 7,500
    were Ukrainian nationals. According to a press release, some 2.7 million
    Ukrainians have entered Romania starting February 10, most of them headed to
    countries in Western Europe. Over 86,500 Ukrainians have chosen to stay.


    SHIPMENTS – Russia today agreed to resume grain
    exports from Ukraine after receiving guarantees in writing from Ukraine
    regarding the demilitarization of the maritime corridor used for their transport.
    On Saturday, Moscow suspended grain exports invoking drone attacks on Russian military
    watercraft in the port of Sevastopol. Russia claimed the drones moved along the
    secure corridor addressing trade vessels transporting Ukrainian grain. On
    Monday, Russia had warned against the danger of freight ships continuing to navigate
    the corridor used by Ukrainian trade vessels to reach the Mediterranean through
    the Bosporus strait without its consent.


    CONSTITUTIONAL COURT – The Constitutional
    Court of Romania today admitted a notification filed by USR in opposition
    regarding the law that sanctions the building of small power plants in
    protected areas. USR has lodged 11 unconstitutionality claims, including the
    violation of the principle of bicameralism, considering there are major
    differences between the law adopted in the Senate and the version passed by the
    Chamber of Deputies. USR also claims the law is in breach of the right to a
    clean environment. Early this year, Parliament adopted the law stipulating that
    power plants in protected areas that are over 60% complete are considered
    projects of national security and must be rendered operational by the end of
    2025. (VP)

  • July 4, 2017 UPDATE

    July 4, 2017 UPDATE

    ROMANIA-US RELATIONS — The Strategic Partnership with the US has had a decisive impact on Romania’s development, President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday at a cocktail party marking the National Day of the USA, July 4. In turn, Ambassador Hans Klemm said he wants to strengthen cooperation in all fields of the strategic partnership, a document signed over 20 years ago by the then presidents Bill Clinton and Emil Constantinescu. Last month Klaus Iohannis and Donald Trump reasserted the tenets of the partnership during the Romanian president’s visit to Washington. Our shared priorities, Ambassador Klemm argues, are fostering security, democracy, promoting and rule of law and prosperity.



    DEFENSE COUNCIL — The European Union security and defense strategy ranked high on Tuesday’s meeting of the Supreme Defense Council. According to President Klaus Iohannis who chaired the meeting, Romania wants to take part in this project. The president said that in the first phase the strategy focuses on military research, to see how Europe’s defense industry can be improved and how national armies can cooperate more closely. On the other hand, the Council adopted the number of troops and equipment used by the Interior Ministry that can be deployed for missions outside Romania’s territory. Finally, the Council passed the activity report of the Romanian Intelligence Service in 2016.



    MOLDOVA — The European Parliament on Tuesday signed off on a 100-million-euro aid package for the Republic of Moldova, of which 60 million euros will count as a loan, while the remaining 40 million euros will be non-reimbursable. If Moldova meets all the requirements, the money will be transferred in three instalments, in 2017 and 2018. MEPs have called on Moldova for safeguards in terms of the independence of its judiciary, freedom of the press and depoliticizing public administration. According to our Strasbourg correspondent, a report filed by the Romanian Social-Democrat MEP Sorin Moisa, Moldova is asked to renounce its controversial reform of the election law, by means of which half of the MPs are voted in the single-winner system. Criticized by the Venice Commission, opposition parties and civil society, the reform allegedly favours large parties, such as the pro-Russian Socialist Party and the pro-European Democratic Party.



    FUNDS — Between 2007 and 2013, Romania was allocated 18.8 billion Euro by the EU, and absorbed 17 billion of them by the end of last year. This is the lowest rate of absorption, with 90.4%, 5% below other states receiving such funds, according to a report published by the National Bank of Romania. Around two thirds of this money was earmarked for major projects such as infrastructure in transportation, environmental protection, and developing education and vocational training, as well as SMEs. The rest of the funding was directed towards social inclusion and improving the economy.



    NBG — National Bank of Greece, the second largest Greek Bank, will send some of its assets in the Balkans, including its operations from Romania, NBG General Director Leonidas Fragiadakis told Reuters on Tuesday. The move is part of the European Commission’s plan to restructure the main Greek banks by increasing capital and reducing their operations abroad. NBG bought the majority package at the Romanian Bank in 2003. With a primary capital of 155 million euros and a network totalling 110 branches across the country, the Romanian Bank has been operating for 22 years on the Romanian banking market.



    NEVERSEA — The Romanian Black Seacoast is getting ready to host the first edition of the Neversea festival. Taking place Over July 7 and 9 in Constanta, the festival will bring together some 150 artists from the international music industry. Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo, Tiesto, Fatboy Slim and Years&Years are some of the names of artists and bands who will perform live on the stages set up along the coast. Some 150,000 have been sold so far. Neversea is organized by the team behind the prestigious Untold festival, hosted by Cluj in central Romania. Having reached its third edition, Untold will run over August 3-6.



    TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea, 63 WTA, qualified on Tuesday to the second round at Wimbledon, the most important Grand Slam tournament of the year, after defeating Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, 7-6, 6-4. Sorana Cirstea will next take on Bethanie Mattek Sands of the US. On Monday, Simona Halep, WTA no. 2, eased past Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, 129 WTA. Halep will next take on Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil. Ana Bogdan, 115 WTA, defeated Ying-Ying Duan of China, WTA no. 62, and will next play Caroline Garcia of France. After defeating Naomi Broady of Great Britain, Irina Begu, 64 WTA, will advance to the second round too, where she will go up against Ana Konjuh of Croatia. Monica Niculescu, 51 WTA and Marius Copil, 85 ATP, were eliminated from the competition. (Translated by V. Palcu)