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)