Radio România Internațional

Tag: aid

  • Support for Ukraine

    Support for Ukraine

    With the number of casualties on the rise, ammunition and troops in short supply, with US financial aid stalled and the prospect of Donald Trump’s presidency on the horizon, Ukrainians are fearful, after two years of war, of what the future may have in store for them. Kyiv recognizes that the situation is extremely difficult for its forces but remains equally determined to win. “Ukraine will succeed” President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, on February 24, with the same conviction as in the first days of the conflict, from Hostomel airport, captured by the Russian troops in the first hours of the invasion and the scene of violent fights. The EU remains just as determined in its support for Kyiv. More than ever, we strongly support Ukraine – financially, economically, militarily, and morally. Until the country is finally free, said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who welcomed the extraordinary resistance of the Ukrainian people. Going to Kyiv together with the Italina Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, the head of the EC announced the transfer to Ukraine, in March, of a first tranche of the macro-financial aid worth 50 billion Euros offered to Kyiv from the EU budget until 2027.

     

    At the end of a G7 video conference summit led from Kyiv by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the leaders of the seven most developed countries promised on Saturday that they would support Ukraine as long as needed, adding that they would look for ways to make Russia pay for the damage caused by the invasion. The G7 countries also committed “to act against third parties that materially support Russia’s war, including by imposing new measures against entities in third countries”. ‘We urge the approval of additional aid to cover Ukraine’s outstanding budget needs in 2024’ the G7 statement also said, alluding to the blocking by the Republicans in the US Congress of the additional 61.4 billion dollars financial assistance package requested by the Democrat President Joe Biden.

     

    On Saturday, in Kyiv, President Zelenski signed, on the other hand, bilateral security agreements with the Italian and Canadian prime ministers. Italy and Canada thus joined Great Britain, Germany, France and Denmark in concluding a 10-year security agreement with Kyiv – agreements meant to strengthen Ukraine’s security until it becomes a NATO member. Also on Saturday, one day after the EU approved its 13th package of sanctions against Russia, Britain announced a 245-million-pound-sterling worth of financial package to help Ukraine rebuild its ammunition stocks. (LS)

  • February 9, 2024 UPDATE

    February 9, 2024 UPDATE

    FARMERS The government of Romania has approved a support package for
    farmers, including loans with lower interest rates and electricity subsidies.
    On the other hand, the European Commission Friday approved a EUR 241 mln aid
    scheme, requested by Romania to support farmers in the context of Russia’s war
    against Ukraine. The aid will be provided as direct grants not exceeding EUR
    280,000 per beneficiary. Romania also benefits from EUR 34 mln from the EU’s Solidarity
    Fund, in support for the damages suffered as a result of the drought of 2022.
    The money was already transferred in December of last year, and Romania has one
    and a half years to implement the scheme.




    ELECTIONS Merging European Parliament elections and local elections
    on June 9 is on the agenda of the ruling coalition in Bucharest. According to
    some political sources, the Social Democrats also proposed combining the
    elections for the national Parliament with the first or second round of the
    presidential elections, which would complement the first scenario. The opposition
    is firmly against these initiatives. Save Romania Union has announced it has
    started proceedings to ask the Venice Commission for a point of view on merging
    European Parliament and local elections less than six months before the
    election date. This year all four types of elections are scheduled in Romania -
    parliamentary, European, local and presidential.




    EXPORTS Romania’s
    exports last year exceeded EUR 93 bln, 1.3% more than in 2022, according to the
    National Statistics Institute. Imports on the other hand reached EUR 122 bln, 3.2%
    below 2022. The trade balance deficit amounted to roughly EUR 29 bln, more than
    EUR 5.1 bln less than in 2022. The automotive industry and transport equipment
    sector accounted for important shares in the structure of both imports and
    exports.






    WASTE Romania is the country generating the smallest amount of waste
    in the EU, the Eurostat announced. According to data released by the EU
    statistics office, 513kg of municipal waste were generated in average by each
    EU inhabitant in 2022, which is 19kg less than in the previous year. The
    largest amounts are generated in Austria (827kg per capita), followed by
    Denmark and Luxemburg (over 700kg). At the opposite pole, Romania generates 300kg
    per capita. Although it generates the smallest amounts of municipal waste,
    Romania also recycles the least in the EU-around 36kg out of the 300kg per capita,
    as against the EU average of 249kg per capita. Malta, Greece and Cyprus also
    recycle less than 100kg per capita, as compared to Austria, where the average
    is 510kg per capita.




    UKRAINE President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appointed General
    Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
    replacing General Valery Zaluzhny. Ukraine’s head of state said it was time for
    changes, and explained that the dismissed general should remain in his team.
    After the failure of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the summer, Zaluzhny
    warned that the war had reached a stalemate, turning into a war of attrition,
    and that in order to win his country needed technologically superior weapons to
    the Russian ones and more troops. International media note that Valery Zaluzhny
    is more popular among Ukrainians than Zelensky. In another move, the Russian
    president, Vladimir Putin, has threatened the United States with a global war, which
    would bring the whole of humanity to the brink of extinction, if
    Washington sends troops to Ukraine. In an interview to the controversial
    American journalist Tucker Carlson, Putin claimed Russia will fight to
    the end to defend its interests.






    POLO Romania’s national water polo team was defeated by Italy, 16-10,
    in its last match in Group D of the World Championship in Doha, Qatar. In the
    first two matches, the Romanians lost to Hungary and outclassed Kazakhstan
    25-3. Romania ranks third in the group, after Hungary and Italy. Group winners move
    straight into the quarter-finals, while the second and third-ranking teams are
    in for a play-off for the quarters. Last month, Romania finished in the 8th
    place at the European Championship in Croatia. (AMP)

  • Romania supports Ukraine

    Romania supports Ukraine

    The Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, on Tuesday had the first conversation of this year, via video conference, with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov. The two discussed the evolution of Russia’s war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine, almost two years after the outbreak of the conflict. According to a Defense Ministry communique, the officials discussed the status and perspectives of the main topics of bilateral interest. Angel Tîlvăr assured his Ukrainian counterpart that Romania remains committed both within the European Unions EUMAM Ukraine mission (EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine) and within Great Britains INTERFLEX operation. I told Minister Umerov that Romania condemns in the harshest terms the Russian aggression, the attacks on the Ukrainian population and civil infrastructure, actions that have intensified in recent weeks, and I assured him that Romania continues to support Ukraine, alongside allies and partners, said Angel Tîlvăr, according to the communique.



    In this context, the two officials discussed concrete measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of defense, with focus on the importance of training Romanian and Ukrainian pilots at the European F-16 Training Center in Romania. The center was inaugurated in Feteşti (south-east) at the end of last year and can train both Romanian pilots and those from allied and partner countries, including Ukraine. In fact, President Volodymyr Zelenski announced at the end of the official visit he paid to Romania last October that Ukraine had obtained important agreements, including regarding the military support that Bucharest will continue to offer to Kyiv. In addition, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmitro Kuleba, repeatedly thanked Bucharest, including for the military aid, which President Klaus Iohannis himself labeled as “important military support”.



    However, it should be mentioned, that, in support of Ukraine, Romania emphasized the humanitarian dimension, the granting of medical assistance and air medical evacuation actions to other states for the injured Ukrainian patients. Since the beginning of the war, Romania facilitated the transfer of humanitarian aid and the operationalization of a HUB in Suceava (north). Moreover, even from the first days of the war, Romania announced that it had prepared hospitals to provide care and treatment for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Romania also took steps to facilitate, during these two years of war, the transit of tens of millions of tons of cereals from neighboring Ukraine to the areas where they were needed. Last but not least, Bucharest is a firm supporter of the European path of both Kyiv and Chisinau, support that materialized last December in the opening of the EU accession negotiations for the two states. (LS)

  • January 11, 2024 UPDATE

    January 11, 2024 UPDATE

    Vacancies — More than 7,600 vacancies in the healthcare system were unblocked, on Thursday, by the Romanian government and vacancy-filling contests will be organized in the medical units that have a staff shortage. Of these, 2,500 positions are for doctors. Also, 365 people can be employed in the ambulance services, said the Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila. As a result, all major hospitals that need doctors, nurses and orderlies will be able to quickly hire staff. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated that there will be no financial problems, especially since this year the Health Ministry has a budget higher by 40% than in 2023. The Romanian healthcare system is facing a serious shortage of specialized staff, doctors and nurses.



    Ports — The European Commission approved a state aid worth 126 million Euros for investments in Romanian ports through which Ukrainian exports pass. The measure comes against the background of the increase in the transit of goods exported from Ukraine, which poses logistical problems for the activity in the Romanian ports on the Danube and the Black Sea. The financial aid for each company in these ports cannot exceed 10 million Euros or 65% of the eligible costs of the projects. The executive vice-president of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager, says that the 126 million Euros will help Romania eliminate the blockages created in ports by the large volume of goods exported from Ukraine. Since last year, most of the Ukrainian export has been made through Romania, after Russia blocked its transit through the Black Sea.



    STRIKFORNATO – Romania and Lithuania have joined the NATO Striking and Support Force (STRIKFORNATO). Romania thus became the 15th member of the most powerful NATO naval force, the Defense Ministry reports. The accession is “all the more important as this year marks two decades since Romania joined NATO”, Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr says. Cooperation between the Romanian Naval Forces and STRIKFORNATO started over a year ago, as Romanian officers took part in activities and missions carried out by the STRIKFORNATO Command. The NATO Striking and Support Forces Command focuses on high-precision strikes, carrier battle groups, expedition units and strike groups made up of cruisers, destroyers and frigates. Its mission is to ensure security in the Black Sea region, an area of strategic importance to NATO.



    MCM Black Sea — Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria signed, in Istanbul, the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the establishment of a Task Force to Counter the Sea Mines in the Black Sea, MCM Black Sea. The Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, emphasized that the aggressiveness and contempt of the Russian Federation towards the norms of international law make the Black Sea not only a regional problem, but also one with global consequences. He also said that it is the responsibility of the three countries, as riparian states and NATO members, to make every effort for the safety of this sea, with the support and involvement of the allies. The establishment of a group was initiated by Turkey last year, in August. The activities are completely peaceful and are not directed against any country.



    Protests — The representatives of the Romanian transporters who protested, on Wednesday, on several roads in the country, were received, on Thursday, at the Government, for discussions. Their grievances are mainly related to the prices of Liability Car Insurance policies and the increase in excise duties for fuel. The protest was not assumed by any professional organization, but the Federation of Romanian Transport Operators offered to mediate the dialogue between truck drivers and the authorities. Farmers also joined the transporters Wednesday protest. Discussions will continue next week.

  • December 28, 2023 UPDATE

    December 28, 2023 UPDATE

    Schengen – The Romanian Interior Ministry has reached a political consensus with its counterparts in Vienna and Sofia for the partial extension of the Schengen Area to include air and maritime borders with Romania and Bulgaria starting March 2024. Negotiations are expected to continue in 2024 for the two countries full Schengen accession. On Tuesday and Wednesday, diplomatic talks were held at the level of the Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries, with the participation of diplomatic missions to the EU, regarding a Justice and Home Affairs Council resolution that would make this political agreement legally binding. A positive decision on the two countries Schengen accession requires a unanimous vote in the Justice and Home Affairs Council. We recall that last year the decision was postponed due to lack of unanimity in the Justice and Home Affairs Council regarding the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria, due to opposition voiced by Austria and the Netherlands.




    Budget — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis promulgated, on Thursday, the State Budget Law and the State Social Security Budget Law for next year. The laws were approved by the Government on December 15 and adopted by the Parliament, through an accelerated procedure, five days later. In 2024, Romanias budget will focus on investments worth about 7% of the GDP, as well as on an economic growth of 3.4%, while the deficit is estimated at 5% of the GDP.



    Aid – The United States has announced the disbursement of an additional 250 million USD in military aid for Ukraine. International media writes this will be the last military aid package for Ukraine before a new vote in Congress, where the Republican majority has shown reluctance towards the initiatives of the Biden administration, which has promised Ukraine over 61 billion dollars. “It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. This aid package includes air defense munitions, other components for air defense systems, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition, according to a US Department of State release. “Thank you for your help. We will win”, the former head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andrii Yermak wrote on X.



    Szeklerland — Romania’s Chamber of Deputies rejected on Thursday, with 260 votes for and 16 against, the three initiatives of the opposition Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania – UDMR regarding the autonomy of the so-called Szeklerland (centre), made up of Harghita and Covasna counties and part of the Mureş county. During the debates, all other political parties emphasized that the three documents violate several articles of the Constitution and harm the rule of law. The legislative proposals concern the status of autonomy of the area, the status of the cultural autonomy of the Hungarian community in Romania and a framework law on the cultural autonomy of the national communities. Thus, the said Land was meant to be an autonomous region with legal personality within Romania, with its own president. The law also provides that regional autonomy is exercised by an administrative council, while the Hungarian language would have the same status as the official language of the Romanian state. The Social Democratic leader, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, welcomed the vote of the deputies by which “those toxic initiatives related to the autonomy of the Szeklerland and the cultural autonomy based on ethnic criteria were rejected”. The three documents will be debated on Friday by the Senate, which is a decision-making body. (VP, LS)

  • Assistance for the families evacuated from Gaza

    Assistance for the families evacuated from Gaza

    About 250 people, Romanian citizens and their families, have been evacuated from Gaza, since the start of the conflict in the region. On Thursday, the Romanian government decided to grant to all of them financial aid from the reserve fund for current expenses. As of December 1, for four months, the repatriated persons will benefit from a support package for reintegration or social integration, i.e. money for food, accommodation and other needs. For food, each person, alone or from a family, will receive 600 lei, the equivalent of 120 euros. For accommodation, families with up to five members will receive 2,000 lei, about 400 euros, and the families with more than five members will receive 3,000 lei (600 euros) for accommodation. Romania repatriated most of the people with Romanian citizenship and their families, who had requested repatriation, although the process was and remains complicated, being hampered by technical problems.



    The evacuation was carried out following the complex efforts of the Interinstitutional Crisis Cell, through the Romanian Embassy in Cairo and the Romanian Representative Office in Ramallah. Those who want to leave Gaza, need an approval. Once obtained, they leave Gaza crossing to Egypt through the Rafah border crossing point. According to the Romanian diplomacy, the Romanian citizens and their families are taken from the border between Gaza and Egypt by a team from the Rapid Reaction Unit of the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) Crisis Cell and representatives of the Romanian Embassy in Egypt and are accompanied to Cairo by another mobile team of the MAE Crisis Cell. Afterwards, they are repatriated by plane.



    The Romanian authorities have given assurances that none of those who want to leave Gaza will be left there. According to the spokesman for the Romanian Foreign Ministry, quoted by Euronews, the Romanians in Gaza who have not asked, so far, to be evacuated, but could do so if the conflict were to move to the south of the Gaza Strip, will be supported by the authorities from Bucharest.



    On the other hand, Romania also gets involved in helping the civilian population in the region. A cargo aircraft made available by the European Commission transported aid offered by the Romanian state to the population of the Gaza Strip. The aid consists of barrack equipment items taken from the state reserves, such as tents, beds, mattresses, pillows and bedding. On October 19, the National Committee for Emergency Situations approved a decision that provided for the granting of free international assistance to the affected civilian population in the Gaza Strip, consisting of food products and barrack equipment. (LS)

  • Romanian competent aid for Ukrainian refugees

    Romanian competent aid for Ukrainian refugees


    The Workshops without Frontiers Association this past weekend organized a Jobs market for Ukrainian refugees. The event was hosted by the Viilor Economic College in Bucharest. Among other things, participants were offered help in composing their CVs and letters of intention. Also available were interpreters/translators for those Ukrainian refugees who were in need of that, as well as mediations between candidates and employers.



    The Workshops without Frontiers Association has made public the fact that they were among the first such associations to have accepted the employment of refugees from Ukraine, in their own workshops but also via a string of services meant to facilitate the refugees access to jobs in Romania. In 2022, the Association organized free-of-charge Romanian language courses for 224 people, as well as workshops focusing on facilitating the understanding of the legal framework of the work environment in Romania. The Association also organized CV writing workshops, labor market counselling and assessment activities, but also community events for the Ukrainian refugees. The aforementioned event was part of a project financed by the United Nations High Command for Refugees. The event was carried with the support from Ilfov Countys Employment Agency.



    The Municipality of Brasov, a city located in central Romania on October the 2nd inaugurated a services hub for the refugees from Ukraine. Involved in the undertaking were 10 associations or foundations from across Brasov municipal city. Attending the event was the representative in Romania of the United Nations High Command for Refugees, Pablo Zapata. The associations involved in the hub labelled KATYA offer educational services for children, support for the job seekers as well as mental health assistance and psycho-social support. Also, the associations provide facilitators for translations in the case of the Ukrainian refugees who intend to access healthcare services in Romania. The hub is a project of Brasov Metropolitan Agency for Sustainable Development Hub-ul, carried in partnership with the Terre des Hommes Foundation in Romania. The hub has the support of the United Nations High Command for Refugees. As present, KATYA has roughly 500 beneficiaries. The Ukrainian citizens who need the services of the hub can ask for help or additional info accessing an email address, at katyahub@metropolabrasov.ro.



    Tulcea County Employment Agency, in the south-east, on September 27 staged an event themed The Entrepreneurial and digital competencies in the context of todays labor market current demands. The event targeted a group of 13 Ukrainian high-school students from the town of Izmail. Accompanying and guiding the group of high-school students was an information, communication and selection officer of Suceava Cross-Border Regional Cooperation Office. As part of the event, the young pupils got info on the free-of-charge services offered by the Tulcea County Employment Agency, for job seekers. Basically, the information focused on the required labor market competencies, with a view to enhancing productivity and providing decent jobs, as well as on the importance of entrepreneurial and digital skills. Also, the pupils visited the entrepreneurial consultancy Centre and were given detailed info on howe to access and use the CREDA-DEBUS portal. CREDA -DEBUS is a communication platform providing info on the improvement of quality and access to entrepreneurial education. CREDA-DEBUS seeks to develop at least 75 business plans, for a 12-month timeframe.



    Border policemen in western Romanias Timis County this past weekend stopped nine citizens of Nepal and Pakistan, in their attempt to illegally cross the Romanian-Serbian border. Aged 25 to 46, the foreign citizens trespassed the Romanian territory having a work permit, yet they stated they intended to reach western Europe. The case is definitely not a one-of-a-kind one. On September 29, Timis County border policemen caught other 11 citizens from Nepal and Egypt, aged 22 to 38, in their attempt to cross Romanias Serbian border illegally. Just as in the aforementioned illegal border crossing case, those citizens had entered Romanian territory illegally having work permits, yet they intended to reach countries in Western Europe.



    Every week, dozens of foreign workers arriving in Romania and having a labour contract are caught at the countrys western border, in their attempt to flee Romania illegally. They are detained for fraudulent crossing of state border. In such cases, legal sentences range from a fine to imprisonment from 6 month to 3 years.




  • Romanian – American Defense Cooperation

    Romanian – American Defense Cooperation

    The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, was among the allied political leaders with whom the head of the White House, Joe Biden, had a teleconference on Tuesday. Like most such discussions that have taken place since the start of the war, the talks focused on aid for Ukraine and pressing issues related to defense and security. The White House leader, who was joined by the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, assured the allies that the support of Ukraine will continue as long as necessary.



    Even if the latest financial allocations do not include funds for Kyiv, due to the opposition of the conservative camp, Joe Biden keeps putting pressure and says that the Republican Party, which dominates the House of Representatives, must keep its word and ensure the vote of the necessary aid to Ukraine so that it can defend itsfel. The United States, Reuters recalls, leads the Western coalition that supports Ukraine and is the main provider of aid for it, in the form of heavy and sophisticated weaponry.



    In another move, President Biden reiterated the commitment of the United States to the security of Romania and the other allies on the eastern flank, including the recent deployment of additional American F-16 fighter jets in our country. According to the presidential administration in Bucharest, the discussions also focused on ensuring food safety and critical supply chains.



    President Iohannis stressed that Russia must stop the attacks on the Ukrainian ports on the Danube, in the immediate vicinity of Romania, which are war crimes and aim to destroy grain warehouses and critical supply infrastructure, affecting also transport on the Danube. He presented the lines of action undertaken so far at the national and allied level, by strengthening surveillance measures, increasing vigilance, monitoring and aerial policing in the Black Sea region and thanked NATO, as well as the United States of America and other allies for the help provided in this regard.



    Romanias president called on the leaders attending to intensify efforts to ensure the deterrence and defense posture on the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea, more efficiently and better calibrated to the current security situation. Klaus Iohannis stressed that at this moment, increased capabilities are needed for the detection and interception of drones, as well as for a stronger air defense, in accordance with the decisions made at the Vilnius Summit. Romania, assured the head of state, will maintain, in solidarity, as long as necessary, its support for Ukraine, on all relevant levels – including grain transit. The US President and the participating leaders appreciated the efforts made by Romania in support of Ukraine, including, among other things, the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots. (MI)


  • September 19, 2023

    September 19, 2023

    UN The president of Romania
    Klaus Iohannis takes part in the UN General Assembly in New York, and is
    to attend the summit on Sustainable Development Goals. In his address, Mr.
    Iohannis will reiterate Romania’s firm support for efficient multilateralism,
    compliance with international law and a rule-based international
    order. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, the General Assembly
    session is affected by global divisions, deepened by recurrent crises and in
    particular by Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr
    Zelenskyy will attend the meeting for the first time since the war in his
    country started, and is to address today leaders from around the world present
    in New York. The US president Joe Biden will also give his traditional speech
    before the Assembly and will plead for stronger action to fight global warming,
    and for continuing support to Ukraine for as long as necessary.


    TAXES The
    Romanian finance ministry has released for public review a draft law on new tax
    and budget related measures, after nearly 2 months of negotiations between the
    2 members of the ruling coalition, the Social Democrats and the National
    Liberals. Under the bill, micro-enterprises will have to pay a 1% tax on
    revenues under EUR 60,000, and 3% if their turnover is above this threshold. The
    same tax will be levied on software development companies, judicial activities
    or healthcare assistance firms. The employees in constructions and in the food
    industry will have to pay healthcare insurance contributions, while IT staff
    will pay a tax on revenues for all amounts over EUR 2,000. A minimum tax on
    revenues is also introduced for large companies, while banks will have to pay
    an additional 1% tax. The government will take responsibility for this set of
    measures by the end of this month, so that the bill may take effect on October
    1. According to the authorities, the new provisions will help narrow the budget
    deficit and avoid losing billions of Euros in EU funding.


    CANNABIS The Senate of Romania Tuesday
    voted against a bill to decriminalise possession of up to 3 grams of cannabis
    for personal use, and to replace criminal penalties with fines ranging from EUR
    200 to 600. The bill was tabled by a group of non-affiliated MPs, and is next
    to be voted on in the Chamber of Deputies.


    GRAINS Bulgarian
    farmers carry on protests against resuming the imports of Ukrainian grains,
    accepted by the Bulgarian government after the European Commission decided not
    to extend the ban on such imports. In turn, Bucharest continues to allow the
    transit of Ukrainian grains, but has introduced one-month import restrictions
    until Kyiv comes up with a plan for its exports. The measure persuaded Romanian
    farmers to give up their protests. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary unilaterally
    banned imports of Ukrainian grain, prompting Kyiv to complain against them at
    the World Trade Organisation. We have more on this after the news.


    AID
    Romania has sent a second installment of aid to flood-devastated Libya. Two C-130
    airctaft of the Romanian Air Forces have 6 trips planned to deliver 55 tonnes of
    food products and other emergency aid. Libya will also receive over EUR 5 mln
    for shelters, food, water, and medicines. The death toll so far is over 11,000,
    while another 10,000 people are still missing.


    FESTIVAL
    The George Enescu International Music Festival in Bucharest has reached its
    final week. Until Sunday, the public are invited to attend free of charge
    classical music concerts held in the Festival Square near the Romanian
    Athenaeum, where celebrated orchestras from Romania and the Republic of Moldova
    will accompany famous soloists and instrumentalists. The Radio Romania Big Band
    conducted by Simona Strungaru, will give a concert on Friday. On Sunday, the last
    performance in the Festival will be given by the Camerata Regală orchestra with
    the percussionist Zoli Toth. (AMP)

  • September 12, 2023 UPDATE

    September 12, 2023 UPDATE

    Welfare. Some
    2 million vulnerable households in Romania will benefit from fresh financial
    aid starting this week. It’s the second instalment, worth 140 euros, for the
    payment of bills for electricity, heat, gas and other fuels that can be
    used to heat homes. The first tranche was disbursed at the beginning of the
    year. In total, the amount received in 2023 by a family with financial problems
    is 1,400 lei, from European funds. In another move, starting next month,
    pensioners with incomes lower or equal to 3,000 lei (around 600 euros) will
    benefit from the second instalment of the aid granted by the state.
    Moreover, this year, the Romanian citizens belonging to vulnerable categories
    are getting from the state social cards, which means 50 euros every two months
    for food and warm meals. According to the Labour Minister, this measure
    benefits approximately 2.5 million people.






    Poetry. The
    13th International Poetry Festival got under way in Bucharest on Monday. For
    one week, the event, appreciated by specialists as one of the most watched in
    Europe, brings together over 170 poets from 27 countries on four continents.
    The programme includes meetings with poets, translators and publishers, public
    readings, debates, round tables, poetry marathons or performances, but also theatre
    shows, film screenings and concerts, exhibitions and events dedicated to
    professionals. As part of the International Poetry Festival, a well-known and
    popular project is also organised, the National Poetry Book Fair, which brings
    to the fore recently published books of poetry.




    NATO. The
    Deputy Secretary General of NATO, the former Romanian foreign minister Mircea
    Geoană, has stated that there are no indications that the Russian Federation
    intends to attack a member state of the Alliance, but the concern of the
    Romanian citizens who live near the Danube border with Ukraine is understandable.
    My message, as a Romanian, is to try to have faith in the fact that the
    North Atlantic Alliance has all the measures in place to ensure the protection
    of the entire allied space, including Romania, Geoană also said. He
    welcomed the US’s decision to add air policing missions in the Black Sea
    area. In another development, a joint military exercise is taking place, until
    Friday, in the Black Sea and the Danube Delta. 227 soldiers, including 164
    Romanian and 63 foreign, are participating in the multinational exercise Sea Breeze,
    organised by the United States of America for the first time in Romania. The training
    contributes to increasing stability in the Black Sea region and ensuring
    freedom of navigation, as a result of the Russian aggression against
    Ukraine.




    Schengen.
    The growth of extremism should not be neglected but counteracted by showing
    that the EU matters, said European Parliament president Roberta Metsola. She
    said a decision to block the entry of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen
    free-movement area risks leading to
    multiplying those wishing to destroy Europe. Roberta Metsola also called on the EU to
    prepare for a restart and reform. She also said that a bigger Europe is
    stronger and safer in both political and economic terms. Her statements come 9
    months after the Austrian government voted against the Schengen accession of
    Romania and Bulgaria.






    Tennis.
    The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep on Tuesday received a four-year ban
    from professional tennis from the International Tennis Integrity Agency, the
    independent body that assessed her case. The decision is not final and can be
    appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. A former
    world no. 1, Halep played her last match a year ago before being suspended provisionally
    for doping. The International Tennis Integrity Agency
    postponed a ruling several times. Her hearings took place in London in July.
    According to the Agency, Halep was charged with two separate doping offences.
    The first was using a banned substance, roxadustat, at the US Open last year and the second relates to
    irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport. (CM)

  • European support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

    European support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

    European and Euro-Atlantic structures, Romania included, will continue to support Ukraine with everything necessary, President Klaus Iohannis said in Brussels. He added that, in the speech delivered at the ongoing European Council meeting, he also mentioned the need to help the Republic of Moldova, a state which, in turn, is affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to President Iohannis, it is vital for the Ukrainians, and for the European Union and NATO states to preserve the unity and solidarity between the two institutions, and for Kyiv to continue to be supported ‘unconditionally, with everything we have. He also said that it’s clear to everyone that we have to try to do everything to stop Russia, to stop this illegal war. In order to help Ukraine, President Iohannis says, we also need to help them in their European journey, adding that it is extremely important to help those who suffer from this war and need a chance. Romanias president said he explicitly referred to the Republic of Moldova, which needs Romanias support to increase its resilience and to become a member of the European Union.



    Neighboring both ex-Soviet republics, Romania helped them from the first day of the war started by the Russians, on February 24, 2022. More than 4.5 million Ukrainians fled the invaders through Romania. Without Romanias support, the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova could not have been overcome. The most recent polls confirm the massive adherence of the Moldovan citizens to the European path. Almost 60% of the respondents voted for joining the European Union, while only 37% would vote for joining the Eurasian Union, controlled by Russia, show data of a survey quoted by Radio Chisinau.



    Joining NATO is supported by 33.4% of the survey participants. The pro-Western president Maia Sandu remains the most popular political figure in the Republic of Moldova, and her party, Action and Solidarity (PAS), would get the most votes in the event of early parliamentary elections. If presidential elections were held next Sunday, almost 38% of the respondents would vote for Maia Sandu. The former pro-Russian president, the socialist Igor Dodon, would be voted by only 14.2% of the voters, and the current mayor of the capital, Chisinau, the ex-socialist Ion Ceban, would get 6.2% of the votes. The criminal fugitive Ilan Şor, who is in Israel, being considered the main vector of Moscow’s interests in the Republic of Moldova, would get 2.5 % of the votes. About 43.5% of the respondents said that they do not trust any political figure. In the case of the parliamentary elections, PAS would obtain 44.3% of the votes, the pro-Moscow Bloc of Socialists and Communists 21.5%, and the recently dissolved populist party of Ilan Şor – 13.6%. (LS)

  • June 27, 2023 – UPDATE

    June 27, 2023 – UPDATE

    RECOVERY The European Commission Tuesday endorsed a positive preliminary
    assessment of the second payment request submitted by Romania under the
    National Recovery and Resilience Facility, and found 49 out of the 51 targets
    and milestones to be completed. Two
    milestones, concerning investments in the energy sector, are deemed as not satisfactorily
    fulfilled, and therefore the Commission activated a ‘payment suspension’
    procedure. The EC acknowledged the first steps already taken by Romania to
    fulfil these outstanding milestones, but emphasised that important work remains
    to be done. Romania is to submit its observations within one month, and has an
    additional 6 months to fulfil the outstanding milestones. If and when they have
    been completed, the Commission will lift the payment suspension. In this
    context, the EC chief Ursula von der Leyen stated that Romania has progressed
    well in the implementation of its recovery and resilience plan, for instance
    carrying out reforms on road safety, renewable energy and public sector cloud
    services. PM Marcel Ciolacu says the
    two delayed milestones will be recovered quickly, so that the country may
    receive all the funds earmarked for them. The total amount in the second
    payment request is EUR 2.8 billion, but Romania will receive EUR 53 million
    less. The USR leader in opposition, Cătălin Drulă, says the money will only
    arrive in September and the 3rd and 4th payments, also
    scheduled for this year, stand no chances of being received


    PROTEST About 700 employees with the police and penitentiary systems,
    as well as court clerks protested in front of the Parliament building on
    Tuesday, against the revision of the military and service pension system.
    Protesters also asked for the elimination of all wage inequities, ceilings and
    postponements imposed by the Government since 2010. According to protesters,
    the increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 is unjustified and will turn
    Romania into the country with the most unfavourable retirement terms in the
    NATO bloc. On Monday, the Romanian MPs passed a bill on the reform of all
    special pensions received by some professional categories in Romania. The
    changes concern, among other things, the increase in the retirement age for
    some beneficiaries and the taxation of amounts that exceed the net average
    salary. On the same day, Parliament eliminated the special pensions of senators
    and deputies.


    BACCALAUREATE Romanian high school graduates Tuesday sat the
    compulsory test in their respective majors as part of the Baccalaureate exam. The
    last test of the exam for most students is scheduled for Wednesday, with only
    ethnic minority students left to sit a mother tongue test on Thursday. During
    the examinations all classrooms are subject to audio and video surveillance,
    and access with electronic devices or any other materials may lead to expulsion.
    The grades will be announced on 3 July, and they may be appealed on the same
    day, with the final results to be announced on 7 July.


    FARMERS Romania will receive EUR 30 million from the European
    Commission in aid for farmers affected by the import of cheap grain from
    Ukraine. The support package, the second approved by Brussels after the one in
    March, is worth a total EUR 100 million and is granted to five border countries
    – Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia. Poland, with almost EUR 40
    million and Romania with EUR 30 million are the biggest beneficiaries of this
    aid. The deadline for payments to farmers is 30 September. After the Ukrainian
    Black Sea ports were blocked following the Russian invasion, the Romanian port
    of Constanţa has become the most important alternative shipping route. (AMP)

  • The Week in Review

    The Week in Review

    Romanias Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, and Foreign Minister, Luminița Odobescu, visited Chișinău



    Romania supports the start of EU accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible, the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Wednesday in Chişinău, on his first foreign visit since he took office. He emphasized that the future of the Republic of Moldova is in the community bloc. The Romanian side showed availability to provide expertise to the Moldovan partners. In his turn, the Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean thanked Romania for all the support given to the Republic of Moldova in the process of joining the European Union, as well as in the economic and social fields. He emphasized that the relations on the two banks of the Prut River are increasingly being strengthened through the construction of bridges, roads and energy networks. Dorin Recean mentioned the existence of nine projects for the second installment of the aid provided by the Romanian Government. They are worth 28 million Euros and are aimed at investments for the development of localities in the Republic of Moldova, the Moldovan PM said. Early this week, the Romanian FM, Luminița Odobescu, paid a visit to the Republic of Moldova, her first external visit since taking-over her mandate. She was received by the pro-Western president Maia Sandu and had discussions with her counterpart Nicu Popescu. The two emphasized the support which Romania offered to the Republic of Moldova, consisting in humanitarian aid, energy resources and support for increasing resilience. Last but not least, the Romanian FM said that opening the EU accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova in the shortest possible time is a priority of Romania’s foreign policy.



    Romanian magistrates protested, discontented with the prospect of being left without special pensions



    Magistrates from several courts and prosecutor’s offices across Romania suspended their activity on Wednesday, showing discontent with the Governments intention to change the conditions under which they can obtain special pensions. Judges and prosecutors argue that changing the special pension scheme would violate the independence of the judiciary. The ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party – PSD and the National Liberal Party – PNL wants to gradually increase the retirement age for judges and prosecutors up to 65 years, and for the pension to be calculated based on their income from several years, not just from the last year of activity. The Justice Minister, Alina Gorghiu, said that she respects the magistrates’ right to free expression, but insisted that dialogue, not protest, is the solution to any problem of the judicial system. The reform of the legislative framework regarding the special pensions scheme is a promise made to the European Union by the Romanian authorities under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. On the other hand, on Thursday, the draft law on the abolition of special pensions for senators and deputies received a favorable opinion, gathering a majority of votes, in the specialized Parliament committee. The president of the committee, the Social-Democratic MP Eugen Bejinariu explained that, if unconstitutional elements of the bill are identified, other solutions will be found to reduce or eliminate the special pensions of parliamentarians.



    Measures announced by the Romanian Government



    The prices of some basic food products may decrease in the next period, the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Thursday. He claims that this decrease will not put pressure on Romanian producers. Marcel Ciolacu stated that he received a response from the large store chains regarding the scheme for reducing markup percentages. It is a list that contains basic foodstuffs such as bread, dairy products, meat, eggs, flour, corn flour, oil, vegetables and fruit. Also on Thursday, the Government discussed, in a first reading, the state aid scheme for Romanian producers of construction materials. In principle, the authorities want more materials produced in the country to appear on the internal market at competitive prices, which will lead to a reduced import of construction materials. Now, over 70% of the materials used are imported, and the Government wants to reduce this percentage. This years budget for the aid scheme could be 150 million Euros, but the Finance Ministry will have the final say. The Executive also approved the granting of emergency aid to support the population affected by floods, landslides and dangerous meteorological phenomena, up to the amount of 1.4 million Euros. Households in the center, south-west and south of the country were affected, this month, by heavy rainfalls. The support and intervention of the military firefighters was needed to remove the negative effects generated by the bad weather.



    Development plan for gas deposits in the Romanian area of ​​the Black Sea



    OMV Petrom and Romgaz have approved the development plan for the Domino and Pelican Sud commercial natural gas fields in the Romanian area of ​​the Black Sea. The National Agency for Mineral Resources is to confirm this plan. The investment amounts to 4 billion Euros for the development phase, and the total production will be 100 billion cubic meters, the equivalent of the annual demand for natural gas for 4.3 million households. According to the management of OMV Petrom, in 2027, the first amounts of gas are to be extracted through the Neptun Deep project, and Romania will become the largest producer of natural gas in the European Union. The project will last approximately two decades, and the revenues brought to the state budget will support Romania’s development. OMV Petrom states that the estimated revenues of the Romanian state would be 20 billion Euros. (LS)

  • The Week in Review

    The Week in Review

    Romanias Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, and Foreign Minister, Luminița Odobescu, visited Chișinău



    Romania supports the start of EU accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible, the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Wednesday in Chişinău, on his first foreign visit since he took office. He emphasized that the future of the Republic of Moldova is in the community bloc. The Romanian side showed availability to provide expertise to the Moldovan partners. In his turn, the Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean thanked Romania for all the support given to the Republic of Moldova in the process of joining the European Union, as well as in the economic and social fields. He emphasized that the relations on the two banks of the Prut River are increasingly being strengthened through the construction of bridges, roads and energy networks. Dorin Recean mentioned the existence of nine projects for the second installment of the aid provided by the Romanian Government. They are worth 28 million Euros and are aimed at investments for the development of localities in the Republic of Moldova, the Moldovan PM said. Early this week, the Romanian FM, Luminița Odobescu, paid a visit to the Republic of Moldova, her first external visit since taking-over her mandate. She was received by the pro-Western president Maia Sandu and had discussions with her counterpart Nicu Popescu. The two emphasized the support which Romania offered to the Republic of Moldova, consisting in humanitarian aid, energy resources and support for increasing resilience. Last but not least, the Romanian FM said that opening the EU accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova in the shortest possible time is a priority of Romania’s foreign policy.



    Romanian magistrates protested, discontented with the prospect of being left without special pensions



    Magistrates from several courts and prosecutor’s offices across Romania suspended their activity on Wednesday, showing discontent with the Governments intention to change the conditions under which they can obtain special pensions. Judges and prosecutors argue that changing the special pension scheme would violate the independence of the judiciary. The ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party – PSD and the National Liberal Party – PNL wants to gradually increase the retirement age for judges and prosecutors up to 65 years, and for the pension to be calculated based on their income from several years, not just from the last year of activity. The Justice Minister, Alina Gorghiu, said that she respects the magistrates’ right to free expression, but insisted that dialogue, not protest, is the solution to any problem of the judicial system. The reform of the legislative framework regarding the special pensions scheme is a promise made to the European Union by the Romanian authorities under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. On the other hand, on Thursday, the draft law on the abolition of special pensions for senators and deputies received a favorable opinion, gathering a majority of votes, in the specialized Parliament committee. The president of the committee, the Social-Democratic MP Eugen Bejinariu explained that, if unconstitutional elements of the bill are identified, other solutions will be found to reduce or eliminate the special pensions of parliamentarians.



    Measures announced by the Romanian Government



    The prices of some basic food products may decrease in the next period, the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Thursday. He claims that this decrease will not put pressure on Romanian producers. Marcel Ciolacu stated that he received a response from the large store chains regarding the scheme for reducing markup percentages. It is a list that contains basic foodstuffs such as bread, dairy products, meat, eggs, flour, corn flour, oil, vegetables and fruit. Also on Thursday, the Government discussed, in a first reading, the state aid scheme for Romanian producers of construction materials. In principle, the authorities want more materials produced in the country to appear on the internal market at competitive prices, which will lead to a reduced import of construction materials. Now, over 70% of the materials used are imported, and the Government wants to reduce this percentage. This years budget for the aid scheme could be 150 million Euros, but the Finance Ministry will have the final say. The Executive also approved the granting of emergency aid to support the population affected by floods, landslides and dangerous meteorological phenomena, up to the amount of 1.4 million Euros. Households in the center, south-west and south of the country were affected, this month, by heavy rainfalls. The support and intervention of the military firefighters was needed to remove the negative effects generated by the bad weather.



    Development plan for gas deposits in the Romanian area of ​​the Black Sea



    OMV Petrom and Romgaz have approved the development plan for the Domino and Pelican Sud commercial natural gas fields in the Romanian area of ​​the Black Sea. The National Agency for Mineral Resources is to confirm this plan. The investment amounts to 4 billion Euros for the development phase, and the total production will be 100 billion cubic meters, the equivalent of the annual demand for natural gas for 4.3 million households. According to the management of OMV Petrom, in 2027, the first amounts of gas are to be extracted through the Neptun Deep project, and Romania will become the largest producer of natural gas in the European Union. The project will last approximately two decades, and the revenues brought to the state budget will support Romania’s development. OMV Petrom states that the estimated revenues of the Romanian state would be 20 billion Euros. (LS)

  • Constant support for the Republic of Moldova

    Constant support for the Republic of Moldova

    Top-ranking Romanian officials visited Chișinău this week to reiterate once again that Bucharest fully supports the European accession process of the neighboring Republic of Moldova. Recently installed at the head of the new coalition government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party (PSD-PNL), the Social-Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu, accompanied by the former Liberal prime minister, currently the speaker of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, made their first joint external visit to Chișinău, where they had talks with the president of the Republic, Maia Sandu, with the Prime Minister Dorin Recean and the President of Parliament, Igor Grosu.



    The Government of Romania will remain the guarantor of the security and stability of the Republic of Moldova and will continue to support with all its strength the countrys EU accession process said Marcel Ciolacu. He particularly appreciated the progress that Chișinău has registered in applying the reforms in the field of justice and in fighting corruption. And, equally, he spoke about the continuation of bilateral economic cooperation.



    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu: We are obliged to put a special emphasis on the economic area together. Trade relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, last year, increased by 50%, standing at almost 3.6 billion dollars and I think this is the right way.



    Since everything must be done for the benefit of the citizens on both banks of the River Prut, the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, invited economic companies from Romania to invest in the Republic of Moldova: Today, we discussed the nine projects for the second installment of the aid provided by the Government of Romania, worth 100 million. These nine projects are worth 28 million Euros and they will go to investments, providing opportunities to our companies, and will develop the localities of the Republic of Moldova.



    In parallel with managing the crises caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, from the immediate vicinity, Bucharest and Chișinău must emphasize the development of infrastructure – bridges, roads and energy networks.



    Marcel Ciolacu has more: I guarantee you that in the next Government meeting, money will be earmarked for projects regarding drinking water and sewage, which are necessary to support the villages in the Republic of Moldova, to be European villages.



    Romania is willing to share its legislative experience in Moldovas European integration project, said the Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Nicolae Ciucă. Earlier this week, also in Chișinău, the new Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, pointed out that Bucharest was taking consistent diplomatic steps to advance the EU integration process of Moldova, with particular emphasis on the objective of opening the accession negotiations as soon as possible. (LS)