Tag: cultural

  • A better social and economic protection for independent artists

    A better social and economic protection for independent artists

    The Romanian Government in early April issued
    an emergency ordinance regulating the status of the professional cultural worker.
    The normative act has been worked and reworked on for almost two years now. The set of regulations seeks to bring to normal
    the fiscal and socio-economic condition of all artists, writers, actors who
    work in an atypical way, who are not like the usual employees. Concurrently, the
    bill seeks to give an impetus to cultural workers so they can make the most of their
    creative potential, at once being able to stay active on the labor market.


    Romanian representative
    Delia Bădoi has been mandated by the
    Ministry of Culture to become a member of the working group the European Commission
    has created, with a view to elaborating a European set of regulations for the
    artist. Delia Badoi has also participated in the elaboration of the normative
    act in Romania. Here she is, briefing us on the circumstances they have been working
    on until recently.


    The basic
    idea was that in Romania, as well as in other countries, cultural workers,
    artists, could work under the general legislation. Practically, there was a series
    of laws still valid, as we speak, laws we can find in the Labor Code
    legislation and the copyright law and suchlike. Yet apart from that, we have obviously the independent forms, for
    instance, the authorized self-employed person, plus the fact that some of the artists
    work through their own firms, they are legal persons. Our legislation is quite fragmented
    as regards the working conditions, meaning we do not have a unitary legislative
    document that can include a series of stipulations capable of preventing a series
    of economic vulnerabilities regarding the activity of the cultural sector workers.
    And then this set of regulations, just as it had been stipulated as early as the 1980s when
    we practically had a UNESCO directive issued for us to compose it, has the clear purpose of render
    the intermittent, atypical activity of the cultural sector more unitary, an activity
    which is at once very specific. So the necessity was quite impending, to place
    under the same umbrella a series of measures we labelled as benefits, rights, enabling
    cultural sector workers to have a normal status.


    Actor Doru Taloș is also the initiator of
    the Cluj-Napoca-based Reactor cultural independent project. His professional
    experience so far has made him aware of the risks posed by a profession which
    is not clearly recognized and regulated from a fiscal point of view. With
    details on that, here is Doru Talos himself.


    I have been working, for
    the last nine years, in Romania, carrying a workload that sometimes was much larger
    than average. And yet, my
    employment record includes one year and a half. So I do not have accumulated service
    in my field of activity, I have not contributed to the pension fund so far and
    these needs are getting more and more serious once we get older. Up until last
    year I did not have health insurance because I could not afford it. And I also
    hope that, once a legislative framework is implemented, once a series of fiscal
    benefits is implemented or awareness is raised about the specific needs at
    that level, things can improve and we can reach a formula by means of which we can
    also cover these absolutely important needs and expenses.


    Therefore, the passing
    of the bill of the cultural worker status can only be viewed as an auspicious
    sign, as one first step towards the status of Romania’s freelance artists becoming
    normal.

    Doru Taloș once again:


    We are extremely vulnerable,
    in the long run, and we expose ourselves to certain risks since we fail to ensure
    some sort of sustainability capable of offering a series of long-term guarantees
    as well. This normative act, I hope it would bring some sort of clarification
    for the people working in the field, at once making them responsible, so that
    by assuming this status we can have a form of long-term survival, which means
    it should take us to the point where we can feel we carry our activity as a
    long-term job. For the time being, my feeling is that all those working in the
    sector are willing to work as long as they are ready to make a series of
    sacrifices, while, sometimes, such sacrifices, you can make them only at a
    certain stage of your life. The needs I had when I was 25 have nothing to do
    with the needs I have at the age of 35. And then clarifications are needed, so
    that it can become a long-term profession or a kind of commitment that can work
    on a long-term basis.


    Here is Delia Badoi
    once again, this time speaking about the content of the law proper:

    It is important to specify that, under this status, a cultural
    activity contract will be created. In effect, it will be a type of standardized
    contract we will be working on, as the very moment the worker is registered,
    the registration will be submitted to two institutions. First off, the incomes
    will be declared to the inland revenue service by filling in the standardized
    form by May 25th and submitting an affidavit specifying the incomes
    and the cultural activity fall within the activities stipulated by the status
    of the cultural worker. Then another type of registration will be submitted, to
    the Ministry of Culture, in a specific register, where the names of the workers
    proper are included. It will most likely be a little experiment for the next
    three years, when it is clearly obvious what the specific interest is for that
    area, how much people understood what they had to do, how much they wanted to
    have that set of regulations or how much good or bad we do. Yet, the worst-case
    scenario would be for that set of regulations to be inexistent, as it is through
    that set of regulations the improvement is pursued, and the plight of the
    intermittent work is eased, for the work in the cultural sector. And then, through
    the cultural activity contract, the legal status of that specific activity is
    acquired.


    Just like any other category of legislation,
    the set of regulations targeting the professional cultural worker is
    perfectible. However, as we speak, the envisaged categories are happy an important
    step has been taken, so that such workers’ vulnerable status is overcome.



  • November 29, 2022

    November 29, 2022

    NATO The foreign ministers of NATO member countries, partner countries
    and of the 2 candidate countries are in Bucharest for a 2-day meeting. It is
    the first meeting of this kind hosted by Romania since it joined the Alliance and the
    first event held in a NATO eastern flank country since the start of the war in
    Ukraine, Romania’s foreign ministry highlighted. The meeting comprises 3
    working sessions, 2 of which will be attended by the Allies together with
    Sweden and Finland. Taking part in the third session will also be the foreign
    ministers of Bosnia – Herzegovina, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. The
    first day of the meeting will conclude with a working dinner attended by the
    foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and the EU foreign policy chief,
    Josep Borrell. The agenda of the meeting in Bucharest includes the
    implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO summit in Madrid. The war in
    Ukraine and the provision of long-term political and practical support from the
    Allies will be the main topic of discussion. Other topics include energy security,
    China, the strategic importance of the Black Sea region. NATO’s secretary
    general Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Bucharest on Monday, and had meetings with
    president Klaus Iohannis, PM Nicolae Ciucă and the foreign minister Bogdan
    Aurescu.


    MEETING Bucharest is the capital of European and Euro-Atlantic diplomacy
    and even beyond these regions, the Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu
    said. Apart from the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Romania is hosting
    these days, for the first time ever, a Munich Leaders Meeting. 75 top-level
    governmental officials and foreign policy and security experts are discussing
    the consequences of the war in Ukraine as well as other security issues in the
    region. The 11th Aspen Forum also begins in Bucharest today, with
    participants including the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. The 2022 edition
    of the Forum takes place in the context of the war in Ukraine, which has
    affected the entire world both in economic and security terms, and which is not
    expected to come to an end soon, therefore it will only deepen multiple crisis,
    the Aspen Institute says in a news release posted ahead of the meeting. Also in
    Bucharest, a new energy coordination task force is scheduled to convene. The
    group comprises officials of G7 and other Allied countries, and is working to
    mobilise or plan the supply of equipment to Ukraine as soon as possible.


    PARTNERSHIP Ahead of the US secretary of state Antony Blinken’s visit to
    Bucharest to take part in the NATO Council, the US Department of State hailed
    the celebration of 25 years since the Strategic Partnership with Romania was
    signed. A US Department of State news release mentions Bucharest’s contribution
    to NATO and multinational operations, the fact that the country hosts several
    NATO and American military structures, including the missile defence system in Deveselu.
    I am very happy and proud to say that our strategic partnership has reached the
    highest level in its quarter-century history, the Romanian PM Nicolae Ciucă
    said in his turn, after the meeting with the US official in Bucharest. Twenty-five
    years is a very important benchmark, which makes us aware that in 1997 a
    generation was born which grew up and reached maturity concurrently with the
    strategic partnership. I am confident that this generation will do everything
    in their power to safeguard the freedom and rights we have secured and
    democratic values, Mr. Ciuca also said. We have an unshakeable alliance, built
    on shared values, and strong relations in the economic sector, including the
    energy sector, Antony Blinken said, and also mentioned the academic and
    cultural exchanges between the 2 countries.


    NATIONAL DAY The Romanian Cultural Institute organises 50 events until December
    10, to celebrate the National Day of Romania in 31 cities abroad. According to
    the president of the Institute, Liviu Jicman, the events held in emblematic
    locations in the respective countries place the works of Romanian artists among
    the most important cultural landmarks of today and contribute to raising
    awareness among foreign cultural and arts communities and the general public
    with respect to the Romanian culture. On December 1, the National Day of Romania, a parade will be
    organised in Bucharest and another one in Alba Iulia. On Monday the Parliament
    celebrated 104 years since the Great Union in a special meeting. (AMP)

  • Cultural community centers in rural areas

    Cultural community centers in rural areas



    The Culture Atlas is the title of a volume that has been recently launched. The volume re-topicalizes a problem that needs to be solved as soon as possible. Specifically, it is about the reactivation of the cultural community centers in the rural regions across Romania, crucial elements of public infrastructure, education and culture. The volume seeks to assess the state of culture in the countrys rural area, looking into such aspects as the level of distribution of the infrastructure elements or the specificity of the cultural events, among many other issues. The National Institute for Cultural Research and Training affiliated to the Ministry of Culture is the initiator of the volume. The book was completed with the assistance of the National Statistics Institute. The Manager of the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training, Carmen Croitoru, was one of the guests in our program.



    Carmen Croitoru:



    “It is an initial endeavor, it is part of the program we started a couple of years back, actually we sought to count what happens in culture, and had it not been for the most precious help we got from the National Statistics Institute, we wouldnt even have dared to initiate such an undertaking, but we began to investigate and map those elements of cultural infrastructure, which are the first consumption barrier and also the first barrier of access to culture, in Romania.”



    Carmen Croitoru went on to provide a couple of data on the making of the volume, on the prospective solutions to the problem, reminding everybody of the founder of Romanian sociology, Dimitrie Gusti (1880-1955).



    “Allow me to give you a couple of technical pieces of info about the team of the Atlas: it is a research study with a two-year timeframe, when it was initiated and completed, those were years of data collection, of documentation, of statistics, they were field years, the field work that we did was just like in the time of Dimitrie Gusti, and we were very happy because of that, we could see for ourselves how that kind of sociological research could be reenacted. And yet, come to think of it, we were not necessarily brimming with joy, because all that was a giveaway for a rather worrying state of things. In Romania, we have several institutions based in the rural regions that ought to provide culture. As for what happens afterwards, youre about to see for yourselves in this book, since what the institutions are tasked with, that doesnt always come through. Basically, it is one of the widest-scope mapping initiatives were also trying to expand to other categories of institutions. Weve accomplished that also with a view to implementing a public policy proposal targeting the cultural community centers, because solutions still exist for that. There still are a great many NGOs that have already taken cultural intervention initiatives, all they need is a wee bit of support so that they can meet their task.”



    The president of the National Statistics Institute, Tudorel Andrei, spoke about the perks of that kind of research, touching upon a couple of relevant statistical data:



    “If you want the things you do to come along the proper way, you need to have a correct measurement, you need to have a reflection of reality, nay, you need to have a database that can be updated on a daily basis. Otherwise, were about to be going back to square one every time, we start building up and we dont know where we stand and were not going to know where we will eventually end either. And what can I say, as a statistician? What do we notice? That the population of Romania, beginning with the 1970s, in the rural areas, its proportion has decreased very little. The ratio we have is pretty much the same, accounting for 46 to 50%. Our neighbors ratio stands at less than 20%. So the proportion of our rural population is twofold. There is another truth revealed by the statistical figures, many children want to leave, but, sadly, the population we have in the rural regions is ageing. There are many counties, especially those around Bucharest, but also those around the big cities, where the population is over 48, maybe 50 years old, on average. So what is that particular cultural service the local community or the Romanian state must offer to an ageing population? Which is also a big problem: the cultural service must be tailored according to the age bracket of the people inhabiting a certain region. “



    Another guest in our program, the manager of the National Romanian Peasant Museum, Virgil Nițulescu, shared his views on the issue.



    “This kind of work, we should have had it for many years now. Tis a pity it is only now that we have such a data base at our fingertips, and such an analysis, cause thats what the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training does: it carries surveys and paves the way for the launch of various public policies. The Institute has offered an exhaustive survey, I daresay, or a very well-structured one, at any rate, a thoroughgoing analysis on the state of the cultural community centers in the rural regions. So this is the point we need to start from, in a bid to see what we next need to do, because the current situation is rampant on a national scale. It is only in a limited number of communities countrywide where the cultural centers are in a very good condition, having a remarkable activity, they are, I daresay, thriving, yet the overwhelming majority of Romanias rural settlements are deprived of a functional cultural infrastructure and we should not forget that some of our fellow citizens live there. And the Romanian state, and, apart from the Romanian state, the public local authorities, should offer equal opportunities to all Romanian citizens, irrespective of the place people live in.”



    The Manager of the National Library of Romania, Adrian Cioroianu, highlighted the two main causes of the current situation. Dr Cioroianu revisited sociologist Dimitrie Gustis contribution, yet he presented it as a lesson for our times.



    “There are two things I should like to remind you of: in history, as a rule, any given effect has more than one cause. What we have, as we speak, concerning this disastrous situation of the cultural involution in the rural areas, is the outcome of several causes. On one hand, the causes are political, or rather, what we have is the excessive politicization of certain things that should not be politicized, such as education, culture, healthcare or safety. Ageing is another cause of all that. This is a real cause scientists or statisticians speak about, yet not only do we not do anything about it, we do not even discuss what measures could be taken against it. We speak about Gusti and about that auspicious year 1921, when Romanias condition was critical in certain respects, yet it was thriving as regards the countrys birthrate. Honestly, Europe is ageing on a large scale, perhaps that is the main problem of the modern world. And yet, does not the very type of society we live in changes? The solution for that, from my point of view is not the return to Gusti. Gusti, for the 1920s, was a visionary, but we need to identify todays visionaries for tomorrows world.”


    (EN)




  • The State of Alert extended in Romania

    The State of Alert extended in Romania

    Returning to the normality
    prior to the pandemic has been put on hold in Romania. Upon a request from the National Committee for
    Emergency Situations, the government of Romania has decided to postpone for
    another 30 days the state of alert in this country. Periodically renewed, this
    state has been in force since May last year, after two months of emergency caused
    by the raising concern about the novel coronavirus. So, people over 5 years old
    must still wear masks in indoor and outdoor spaces, in the streets, parks, offices,
    shops and public transportation.

    Social distancing and personal
    hygiene rules remain highly recommended. Interdictions concerning meetings,
    street rallies and concerts are still in place and so do the rules over staging
    cultural, artistic and sporting events. People are banned from attending
    sporting events while cinemas and theatres are allowed to function only at 50% of
    their capacity.

    Cinemas and theatre halls remain
    closed if the rate of infection in a certain region exceeds three to one thousand
    inhabitants in 14 days. Outdoor and indoor religious services are allowed with
    the observance of prevention rules.

    In the following 30 days, interdictions
    regarding celebrations and parties in indoor and outdoor facilities remain in
    place, and so does the night curfew limiting travels between 23 and 5 hours.

    People going to jobs or to offer
    assistance to the elderly and handicapped are exempted from the curfew
    regulations provided they can produce a sworn statement.

    After a first stage of the national
    vaccination campaign destined for the medical personnel, a second stage is
    expected to kick off later this week involving the elderly, people with chronic
    conditions and employees in Romania’s key sectors of activity. Experts believe
    that collective immunity cannot be obtained unless 60-70% of the country’s
    population is immunized.







  • October 17, 2020

    October 17, 2020

    VOTING The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu called on all Romanians living abroad to vote by mail, and reminded them that October 22 is the deadline for registration for this type of voting for the December 6 parliamentary election. Bogdan Aurescu warned that postal voting is the best way to protect Romanians health in the current pandemic. The foreign minister also says the full list of the documents required for voting is available on the ministrys home page in the section devoted to this years general election. The Foreign Ministry warned several times that some countries have restrictions in place, which will affect the number of polling stations that the Romanian authorities will be allowed to open abroad.



    COVID-19 In Romania, a new record-high number of coronavirus infections in 24 hours has been reported—4026, according to the Strategic Communication Group. The overall number of cases is 172,516. Also, 75 more people died, taking the death toll to 5,749. A new negative record was also reported in terms of ICU patients—726. The authorities are seeking solutions to make sure as many hospitals as possible are involved in the fight against the pandemic. The head of the Department for Emergencies, Raed Arafat, said that according to experts this second wave of the pandemic may last throughout the winter. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, over 1,000 schools in the country operate exclusively online. The Education Ministry says over 11,300 schools still work in the face-to-face teaching system, while 5,235 schools use both in-person and online classes.



    PANDEMIC The World Health Organisation warns that several European cities are facing a surge in the number of COVID-19 patients that require intensive care, and that ICUs may reach their full capacity in the coming weeks. NATO is prepared to provide assistance to Europe. According to the deputy secretary general of the Alliance, Mircea Geoană (Romania), NATO already has a special fund and logistical support plans in place for member and partner states. He explained that NATOs main concern is for the current healthcare crisis not to turn into a security crisis. France Press reports new restrictions introduced across Europe. In London, a ban on households mixing indoors came into force on Saturday, after on Friday 15,000 new infections were confirmed in the UK. In 10 major cities in France, including Paris and its suburbs, a curfew is in place as of Saturday between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The measure will be in place for at least 4 weeks, amid a rise in the number of daily new cases to over 25,000. New restrictions are also introduced in Warsaw and other Polish cities included in a “red-zone: high-schools and colleges are switching to the online mode, restaurants will only be open until 9 PM, weddings are banned and the number of people entering shops, churches and public transport will be restricted.



    DATATHON Romania won the first prize in the 4th challenge, “A Europe fit for the digital age, in the EU Datathons online final. The Romanian teams submission, which also won a check for 12,000 euro, is called Digital Dryads, and is designed to protect forests from illegal logging using spectral analysis, machine learning and state-of-the-art satellite imagery produced under the EU Copernicus programme. The EU Datathon is an annual competition inviting original ideas on how to exploit EU Open Data.



    DEFENCE The Romanian Defence Ministry welcomes the approval by the US State Department of Romanias application for purchase of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence Systems. The clearing has been forwarded to the US Congress. The Naval Strike Missile is a sea-skimming, over-the-horizon anti-ship missile, and Romania wants to buy two of the systems under one of the 5 programmes in the Romanian Armys upgrade plan. The proposed sale will improve Romanias capability to meet current and future threats by improving Romanias maritime defence capabilities in the Black Sea.



    LITERATURE A Romanian-British literature festival is held online and in London as of today until November 13. Entitled Romania Rocks, the event brings together Romanian and British authors and translators, and is designed to promote Romanian literature around the world. All events may be accessed free of charge on the communication channels of the Romanian Cultural Institute and the European Literature Network. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • April 20, 2019 UPDATE

    April 20, 2019 UPDATE

    EASTER Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Palm Sunday, commemorating Christs arrival in Jerusalem prior to the Crucifixion. On Saturday many believers and priests took part in processions in Bucharest and other cities. Palm Sunday marks the start of the last week of Lent, known as Passion Week, which marks the most dramatic events in the life of Jesus. On the other hand, Catholic and Protestant believers Sunday celebrate the Easter, the biggest holiday in the Christian world.




    HOLIDAYS In Romania, over 10,000 police and 8,000 gendarmes will be deployed on the Orthodox Palm Sunday and Catholic Easter Sunday, to ensure the safety of the citizens taking part in the events related to these holidays. Traffic police and over 300 radar units will also be on duty, to prevent accidents and to ensure smooth road traffic. Meanwhile, many Romanians working abroad are beginning their Easter visits home, and checkpoints are getting increasingly crowded. Over 4,000 border police will work every day to ensure efficient border controls during this period. The Romanian Border Police has also called on the authorities of Bulgaria, Hungary and the Republic of Moldova to increase the number of staff available in checkpoints, if necessary.




    RESHUFFLING President Klaus Iohannis will announce early next week his decision on the new nominations in the Dancila Cabinet. The Social Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition, has nominated the deputy speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Eugen Nicolicea to replace Tudorel Toader as justice minister. The Social Democrats withdrew their political support for Toader after he refused to pass new controversial changes in the criminal codes, and consequently Tudorel Toader stepped down. The Prime Minister also forwarded to the Presidency the resignations of Rovana Plumb as Minister for European Funds and of Natalia Intotero as Minister for Romanians Abroad. The 2 are running for the European Parliament in the upcoming elections. Nominated to replace them are Deputy Oana Florea, for the Ministry for European Funds, and Senator Liviu Brăiloiu for the ministry in charge of the diaspora. The President has hinted that he disapproves of these proposals. In his opinion, this government reshuffling strengthens what he called “the Social Democrats siege of the judiciary.




    CULTURE As part of the 2019 Romania-France Cultural Season, the French Film Festival started on Saturday in 10 cities in Romania. Launched in November 2018, in France, the cultural dialogue between the 2 countries continues in Romania with scores of theatre shows, dance performances, concerts, film screenings, literature-related events, exhibitions and debates held in over 30 towns and cities. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, pointed out that this was an important landmark in the arts and cultural life in Romania and France. The event strengthens the economic, scientific, cultural and social ties between the 2 states. The official closing of the 2019 Romania-France Cultural Season, which overlaps the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will be on July 14, Frances National Day.




    TENNIS Romania and France are tied, 1-all, in the Fed Cup semi-finals, after Simona Halep (2 WTA) beat Kristina Mladenovic (66 WTA) in Rouen, and Mihaela Buzărnescu (30 WTA) was defeated by Caroline Garcia (21 WTA). Three other matches are scheduled on Sunday: Caroline Garcia vs. Simona Halep, Kristina Mladenovic vs. Mihaela Buzărnescu and Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic vs. Irina Begu / Monica Niculescu. For the second time in history, 46 years apart, Romania is playing a Fed Cup semi-final. Frances performance in this competition is much better: the French tennis players were twice champions, in 1997 and 2003, finalists in 2004, 2005 and 2016, and semi-finalists several times, including last year. Should Romania get past France this weekend, it will play the final in November against the winner of the match pitting Australia against Belarus.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The Week in Review, 13-19 April 2019

    The Week in Review, 13-19 April 2019

    The May 26 referendum


    The Romanian Parliament, convened in joint session on Wednesday, approved President Klaus Iohanniss request to hold a referendum on May 26, at the same time with the European Parliament elections. The point of the referendum is to ban amnesty and pardon for corruption offences and to prevent the government from passing emergency decrees related to criminal offences, convictions and judicial organisation. The head of state also wants to know the voters opinion as regards allowing public authorities, other than the Ombudsman, to notify the Constitutional Court directly, about emergency decrees. The Presidents move comes against the background of numerous legislative changes in the field of the judiciary, contested at home and criticised by Romanias European partners.




    Reshuffling of Dancilas cabinet


    Prime Minister Viorica Dancila sent president Klaus Iohannis proposals for the appointment of new ministers for the Ministry of European Funds, the Ministry for the Romanians Abroad and the Justice Ministry. The previous holders of these positions have resigned – Rovana Plumb and Natalia Intorero in order to run for the European elections, and Tudorel Toader after the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main party in the ruling coalition, withdrew its political support and the PM asked for his resignation. Toader was left without the Social Democrats support for having delayed the adoption of some controversial emergency decrees modifying criminal codes. President Klaus Iohannis will announce early next week his decision about the appointment of the new ministers, but he has pointed out that, in his opinion, the new government reshuffle is aimed at strengthening what he calls “the PSD siege on justice. Romania must urgently get back on the track of reforms and continue the battle against corruption, European Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jurova, said at a European Parliament debate on the rule of law in Romania.




    Report on the first 100 days of Romanias presidency of the Council of the EU


    During the first three months of Romanias presidency of the Council of the EU, 90 difficult legislative dossiers have been closed, with Bucharest having coordinated over 1,100 events and meetings in the last three months, the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila said. Speaking about some of the dossiers finalised recently, Dancila welcomed the Councils formal adoption, as a final stage of the legislative procedure, of rules for the natural gas market, copyright and contracts for the sale of goods and the provision of online digital content. Bucharest has also been actively involved in the Brexit negotiations, Dancila went on to say. She also spoke about the importance of the elections for the European Parliament, held in Romania on the 26th of May, and pointed out that Romania has worked towards creating an environment in which free and fair elections can be held. Clearer rules were established for the protection of personal data, including penalties for the use thereof to manipulate the running and the outcome of the elections.




    Conference on security challenges on the eastern flank of NATO


    A conference on security challenges on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance, organised in Bucharest, has once again highlighted the need to strengthen NATOs capacity in the Baltic and Black Sea areas. Romanias President Klaus Iohannis has pleaded for a unitary, consolidated and coherent allied presence along the entire eastern flank. The president has stated that the Black Sea area is still marked by frozen conflicts and dormant tensions, and that is reason enough for such a presence, which is needed to ensure an effective defence and deterrence posture. At the conference, the US and Germany hailed the way in which Bucharest fulfils its commitments within NATO.




    The Romania-France Cultural Season


    The 2019 Romania-France Cultural Season has opened this week in Bucharest. Meetings, exhibitions, festivals and concerts will be held as part of this event in the capital Bucharest and many other cities across Romania. The French Ambassador in Bucharest, Michele Ramis, has mentioned that this is the first time her country organises the Season jointly with another EU country, which clearly reflects the nature of the Romanian-French relationship. In turn, the Romanian Culture Minister, Daniel Breaz, has evoked aspects related to the cultural connection between the two countries, and pointed out that for generations France has been a model, mirror and trustworthy friend of Romanians. The first part of the Cultural Season was held in 100 cities in France over the course of 5 months, and enjoyed great success, with the French people rediscovering Romania and its artists. The event is meant to consolidate economic, scientific, cultural and social ties between the two countries.



    (translated by: Elena Enache)

  • Romania-France Cultural Season

    Romania-France Cultural Season

    The start of the Romanian section of the 2019 Romania-France Cultural Season was shadowed by the Notre Dame disaster. President Klaus Iohannis spoke about the fire that destroyed part of the famous cathedral in Paris, and emphasised that the incident was particularly shocking and painful as it involved a UNESCO World Heritage site, a treasure of European civilisation and spirituality offered by France to the world.



    For the next 4 months, scores of cities in Romania will host meetings, exhibitions, festivals and concerts as part of the Romania-France Cultural Season. The event, which is unfolding concurrently with the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is excellent proof of the creative potential of Romanian artists, as well as of the cultural dialogue between the 2 countries, President Iohannis added, and urged the Government to invest in culture. The head of state added that the Season will remain an important landmark for the artistic life and for the cultural institutions in Romania and France, while at the same time providing new insight in a Europe undergoing multiple changes.



    Klaus Iohannis: “The Season is the shared expression of the common political values that France and Romania embrace. It is the expression of the success of our strategic partnership and of our effort to consolidate the European project, which needs the contribution of Romania, as a fully pro-European state and society in this part of the Union.



    The Ambassador of France in Bucharest, Michele Ramis, mentioned that this is the first time that her country organises the Season together with another EU member state, and this is a good illustration of the special nature of the relationship between France and Romania. In turn, the Romanian Culture Minister Daniel Breaz reviewed the cultural ties between the 2 countries:



    Daniel Breaz: “The Romanian culture encompasses fundamental confluences, dialogues, advancements and migrations of artistic values, sophisticated paradigms and, above all, an internal protocol of feeling comfortable with its own European path. Among the vicinities that have been the most constant, elevated and uninterrupted by history, the culture of France has remained, throughout generations, a model, a mirror and a friend for Romanians, and the French language has been for centuries the guiding language of the Romanian elites.



    The France-Romania Cultural Season was held between November 28 and April 5 in over 100 cities in France, and was quite successful, enabling the French people to rediscover Romania and its artists. The programme is designed to strengthen the economic, scientific, cultural and societal relations between the 2 countries.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Romania-France Cultural Season

    Romania-France Cultural Season

    The start of the Romanian section of the 2019 Romania-France Cultural Season was shadowed by the Notre Dame disaster. President Klaus Iohannis spoke about the fire that destroyed part of the famous cathedral in Paris, and emphasised that the incident was particularly shocking and painful as it involved a UNESCO World Heritage site, a treasure of European civilisation and spirituality offered by France to the world.



    For the next 4 months, scores of cities in Romania will host meetings, exhibitions, festivals and concerts as part of the Romania-France Cultural Season. The event, which is unfolding concurrently with the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is excellent proof of the creative potential of Romanian artists, as well as of the cultural dialogue between the 2 countries, President Iohannis added, and urged the Government to invest in culture. The head of state added that the Season will remain an important landmark for the artistic life and for the cultural institutions in Romania and France, while at the same time providing new insight in a Europe undergoing multiple changes.



    Klaus Iohannis: “The Season is the shared expression of the common political values that France and Romania embrace. It is the expression of the success of our strategic partnership and of our effort to consolidate the European project, which needs the contribution of Romania, as a fully pro-European state and society in this part of the Union.



    The Ambassador of France in Bucharest, Michele Ramis, mentioned that this is the first time that her country organises the Season together with another EU member state, and this is a good illustration of the special nature of the relationship between France and Romania. In turn, the Romanian Culture Minister Daniel Breaz reviewed the cultural ties between the 2 countries:



    Daniel Breaz: “The Romanian culture encompasses fundamental confluences, dialogues, advancements and migrations of artistic values, sophisticated paradigms and, above all, an internal protocol of feeling comfortable with its own European path. Among the vicinities that have been the most constant, elevated and uninterrupted by history, the culture of France has remained, throughout generations, a model, a mirror and a friend for Romanians, and the French language has been for centuries the guiding language of the Romanian elites.



    The France-Romania Cultural Season was held between November 28 and April 5 in over 100 cities in France, and was quite successful, enabling the French people to rediscover Romania and its artists. The programme is designed to strengthen the economic, scientific, cultural and societal relations between the 2 countries.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • April 18, 2019 UPDATE

    April 18, 2019 UPDATE

    CABINET The Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader Thursday announced his resignation, and said he would stay in the Ministry until the name of his replacement was published in the Official Journal. On Wednesday, PM Viorica Dăncilă sent President Klaus Iohannis the proposal for his replacement. The main partner in the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party, nominated Deputy Eugen Nicolicea to replace him. The SDP decided to withdraw political support for the Justice Minister after he refused to pass controversial changes to the criminal codes. PM Viorica Dancila also made new nominations for the positions of Minister for Romanians Abroad and Minister for European Funds, along with the resignations of the Minister for European Funds, Rovana Plumb, and of the Minister for Romanians Abroad, Natalia Intotero. The two are running for the European Parliament in the upcoming elections. Deputy Oana Florea was nominated for the Ministry for European Funds, and Senator Liviu Brăiloiu for the Ministry for Romanians Abroad.




    CANNES The latest feature film by the Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu, “La Gomera / The Whistlers, has been included in the official competition of the Cannes International Film Festival. The film will have its world premiere in the 72nd edition of the Festival, to be held on May 14th to 25th. Cristi, a Romanian corrupt policeman involved in a 30-million euro deal with the mafia, gets to La Gomera Island, in Spain, to learn ‘El Silbo’, a whistling language used by the locals. The code will help him release a criminal arrested in Bucharest, the only one in the gang who knows where the money is kept. Corneliu Porumboiu has been awarded several times in Cannes, his “Police, Adjective having won in 2009 the Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI award in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section.




    ROMANIA – FRANCE Exhibitions at the National History Museum and the Museum of Art Collections, the 5th edition of Spotlight – the International Light Festival, and a Theo Lawrence & The Hearts concert, were included on Thursday in the opening programme for the Romanian section of the 2019 Romania – France Cultural Season. Romanias National Art Museum opens an exhibition entitled “Species of Spaces: the Societe Generale Contemporary Art Collection, in the presence of the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, the Culture Minister Valer-Daniel Breaz, his French counterpart Franck Riester and the Ambassador of France to Bucharest, Michele Ramis. Launched in November in France, the cultural dialogue between the 2 countries will continue in Romania until July 14th, with scores of performances, concerts, film screenings, literature-related events, exhibitions and roundtables held in more than 30 cities. The Cultural Season ended in France on April 16th and included events held in over 100 cities.




    MASS MEDIA Hatred towards journalists has triggered violence and an intense climate of fear, reads the 2019 World Press Freedom Index released on Thursday by Reporters without Borders NGO. The organisation warns that the number of safe countries for journalists continues to decline. According to the report, only 24 out of the 180 countries covered by the barometer are safe. First ranks Norway, for the 3rd year in a row, followed by Finland, Sweden and Netherlands, whereas the countries that rank the lowest in terms of press freedom are China, Eritrea, North Korea and Turkmenistan. Romania is placed 47th in the World Press Freedom Index, which says that part of the Romanian mass media have been gradually turned into propaganda tools, are under political control, with obscure funding mechanisms and editorial policies subordinated to the interests of their owners.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Oradea, o destinaţie culturală, de spa şi de agrement

    Oradea, o destinaţie culturală, de spa şi de agrement

    Destinaţia pe care v-o propunem în
    această ediţie este Oradea, unul din marile oraşe ale României, situat la mică
    distanţă de frontiera cu Ungaria.
    În cursul anului trecut, la
    Oradea au venit circa 163 de mii de turişti,
    în creştere semnificativă faţă de anul anterior.


    Începuturile oraşului se leagă de istoria
    regatului maghiar, aflat în expansiune spre est, spre Transilvania, în secolul
    al 11-lea, când regele Ladislau I a ridicat o mănăstire, pe locul în care
    astăzi se află cetatea medievală. De-a lungul timpului, Oradea a fost o aşezare
    în care au locuit preponderent români, maghiari, austrieci, italieni, slovaci
    şi evrei. Comunitatea maghiară a avut o mare influenţă asupra istoriei
    oraşului, aici fiind ridicate mai multe lăcaşuri de cult. O construcţie
    impresionantă este Catedrala romano-catolică, construită între 1751 şi 1759, în
    stil baroc austriac şi care are o orgă impresionantă, funcţională şi astăzi,
    donată de împărăteasa Maria Tereza.

    Pe lista obiectivelor
    de vizitat în Oradea trebuie trecută şi Sinagoga Zion, construită în anul 1878,
    după scindarea comunităţii evreieşti din oraş în ortodocşi şi neologi. De
    menţionat că înaintea celui de-al doilea război mondial, evreii constituiau
    circa 35% din populaţia oraşului Oradea, însă cei mai mulţi au fost deportaţi
    şi au dispărut în lagărele naziste, astfel încât comunitatea are în prezent
    doar 700 de membri. De aceea, Sinagoga Zion nu a mai fost folosită pentru
    oficierea slujbelor însă, reabilitată recent de municipalitate, a devenit un
    centru cultural.


    Oradea se remarcă şi prin foarte multe
    construcţii de secol 19 şi început de secol 20 în stil Art Nouveau. Tot
    municipalitatea s-a implicat în reabilitarea Casei Darvas – La Roche, ai cărei
    proprietari au avut un destin tragic. Această clădire a devenit astăzi un
    spaţiu muzeal în care este prezentat curentul Art Nouveau. Un alt reper
    turistic, situat în zona centrală a oraşului este Palatul Vulturul Negru,
    ridicat în 1907 – 1908. Este format din trei corpuri de clădiri şi are un pasaj
    în formă de Y. În apropiere întâlnim şi Biserica cu Lună, un lăcaş de cult
    ortodox finalizat în anul 1832, biserică numită astfel după mecanismul din
    turn, care indică fazele lunii.


    Mihai Jurcă este directorul Asociaţiei
    pentru Promovarea Turismului din Oradea şi Regiune şi s-a implicat în multe
    proiecte care au ca scop atragerea de vizitatori, între care o aplicaţie pentru
    telefoanele mobile şi un pachet numit Oradea City Card: O
    aplicaţie pe care am
    lansat-o anul trecut conţine
    de la informaţii,
    imagini, tot ceea ce înseamnă transport în comun, un GPS integrat,
    restaurante, hoteluri, spital, service auto, toate informaţiile de care are nevoie un turist
    care vine în oraş, chiar şi toate ATM-urile din oraş. Dacă
    eşti într-o locaţie şi vrei să ajungi altundeva, din locaţia respectivă vei
    vedea traseul de transport în comun care este disponibil. Pe lângă asta, am
    creat şi Oradea City Card care este, tot aşa, un pachet oficial, care conţine
    un card de transport de 48 de ore, o hartă turistică şi o broşură cu reduceri
    la peste 45 de parteneri: hoteluri, cafenele, restaurante, centru comercial.
    Avem şi reducere de 50% la toate muzeele, la toate obiectivele turistice.


    Cea mai mare investiţie a municipalităţii este însă Aqua
    Park-ul, care va fi inaugurat în cursul
    lunii iulie. Cu o capacitate de peste 1500 de persoane, complexul are bazine
    interioare şi
    exterioare, tobogane, zone destinate copiilor, zonă de spa şi de
    wellness, restaurante, baruri şi
    terenuri de sport. Un alt obiectiv pentru a cărui
    reabilitare au fost accesate fonduri europene este cetatea medievală. Deşi lucrările nu au fost încheiate
    în totalitate, cetatea medievală a devenit un loc prietenos, în care anul trecut a fost organizat Târgul de Crăciun.


    Oradea poate şi punctul
    de plecare pentru descoperirea atracţiilor zonei, după cum am aflat de
    la Mihai Jurcă, directorul
    Asociaţiei pentru Promovarea Turismului din Oradea şi Regiune:
    În afară de oraş, în apropiere de zona metropolitană există
    mai multe lucruri pe care oamenii le pot face şi există
    câteva companii locale
    care oferă servicii, de
    la ture de mountain biking pe dealurile din apropierea oraşului, pescuit. Există foarte multe lacuri în apropierea oraşului, care sunt folosite pentru
    pescuit. Avem o zonă la vreo
    15 minute de condus cu maşina,
    prin Ineu, care e tot în
    zona metropolitană a oraşului, există un complex amenajat unde poţi face de la pescuit, mers cu
    hidrobicicleta, până la sky diving, avem şi un aerodrom mic, echitaţie, golf, deci în apropierea oraşului există lucruri de făcut. Dacă vorbim de zonă, vorbim de tot ceea ce înseamnă Munţii
    Apuseni, care sunt la două
    ore de condus de aici. Acolo avem Parcul Natural Apuseni, cu peşteri, avem tot ceea ce înseamnă zona aceasta de munte, arii protejate, avem vadul Crişului, cu rafting, drumeţii, via ferată în zona de la Padiş,
    platoul Padiş, deci zona
    este foarte ofertantă
    din punct de vedere turistic.


    Să menţionăm că la doar câţiva km de Oradea se află una dintre
    cele mai importante staţiuni balneoclimaterice din România, Băile Felix. Această staţiune dispune de circa 6 mii de locuri de cazare, de mai multe
    baze de tratament şi de piscine acoperite sau în aer liber, alimentate de
    izvoare termale.

  • Europa noastră – 12.09.2015

    Europa noastră – 12.09.2015

    Parlamentul European a votat raportul intitulat Către o abordare integrată a patrimoniului cultural european. Prin acest raport, europarlamentarii solicită Comisiei Europene o mai bună gestionare a patrimoniului cultural european.


  • Oradea în sărbătoare

    Oradea în sărbătoare

    Astăzi mergem în nord-vestul ţării, la Oradea, la numai 20 de kilometri de graniţa cu Ungaria, la o distanţă aproape egală faţă de Viena, Praga sau Bucureşti. Oradea a fost şi a rămas un oraş cosmopolit, cu o populaţie eterogenă, cu o mare varietate culturală şi religioasă.



    De secole, Oradea este un important centru cultural şi comercial. Oraşul a fost atestat documentar în anul 1113, iar cetatea, ale cărei vestigii pot fi văzute şi astăzi, apare menţionată pentru prima oară în anul 1241. De-a lungul Evului Mediu, aceasta a fost un adevărat mozaic etnic: români, maghiari, austrieci, slovaci, evrei, ruteni şi turci.



    L-am invitat alături de noi pe Mircea Oaie, director executiv în Primăria Municipiului Oradea, să ne spună de ce merită să vizităm acest oraş în această perioadă: “Cu siguranţă, Oradea în prezent este un oraş care atrage turişti, dată fiind reabilitarea centrului istoric. Aici intră şi Cetatea Oradea care a fost reabilitată în sensul prezentării istoriei ei. Tototdată suntem în faza în care, începând din data de 20 septembrie, pe raza municipiului are loc Festivalul internaţional de teatru scurt de la Oradea. Iar în data de 3 octombrie, până în 12 octombrie, când este ziua oraşului, vom avea manifestări şi evenimente dedicate Zilei oraşului.”



    Nu puteţi să mergeţi la Oradea, fără să vizitaţi Catedrala “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” sau Biserica cu lună, cum a mai fost denumită. Biserica cu lună este o realizare arhitectonică în stil baroc, din 1784-1790, interesantă prin turnul său în vârful căruia se află o sferă, care, printr-un mecanism executat de către ceasornicarul Georg Rueppe, indică fazele lunii. Mecanismul este şi azi în stare de funcţionare.



    De asemenea, nu puteţi rata Catedrala Romano-Catolică, care este cea mai mare biserică în stil baroc din România. A fost înălţată în perioada 1750-1780 şi atrage prin masivitatea ei şi prin frumuseţea decoraţiunilor interioare. Şirul Canonicilor este o altă construcţie în stil baroc, înălţată în 1773, având la faţadă un coridor lung de 100 m ce dispune de 25 de arcade susţinute de piloni cu secţiune pătratică. Palatul Baroc a fost destinat să fie sediul Episcopiei Romano-Catolice de Oradea. Este un palat în forma de U, ridicat pe trei nivele şi terminat cu un acoperiş frânt, specific barocului austriac. Piatra de temelie i-a fost pusă în 1762, iar constucţia lui a durat 15 ani. Palatul Baroc, Bazilica Sf. Maria şi Şirul Canonicilor reprezintă cel mai important complex baroc din România, precum şi unul dintre cele mai reprezentative ale Europei.



    Un alt edificiu de interes în Oradea este clădirea teatrului de stat. Începută în 1899, clădirea teatrului este una din cele mai reuşite exemple ale eclectismului în Oradea. Faţada principală este neoclasică, cu coloane cu capiteluri care susţin un fronton triunghiular decorat cu basoreliefuri.



    Începutul secolului XX aduce un stil nou la Oradea, diferit de cele academice, lăsând loc originalităţii, şi anume, stilul Secession. O astfel de clădire este palatul Vulturul Negru, care în prezent gazduieşte hotelul cu acelaşi nume. Tot atunci a fost construit Palatul Apollo – actualul magazin Unic, construcţie realizată în stilul Secession Berlinez, cu decoraţii ce amintesc de stilul Empire.


    Oradea vă invită într-o atmosferă în care trecutul trăieşte în acelaşi timp cu prezentul. În privinţa cazării, nu veţi întâmpina probleme. Oradea dispune de numeroase hoteluri clasificate cu trei, patru şi chiar cinci stele, precum şi de numeroase pensiuni agroturistice, în apropiere.



    L-am întrebat pe interlocutorul nostru ce surprize ni se pregătesc în cadrul Festivalului Toamnă Orădeană: “Dintre cei care vor fi prezenţi la Oradea pentru a susţine concerte, amintim formaţia Mezzoforte din Islanda, totodată din Ungaria va fi prezent Brody Ianos şi Pasărea Colibri, cu invitatul special, Dan Andrei Aldea, care nu a mai fost în România şi revine după 33 de ani la Oradea, pe scenă. Totodată, sunt evenimentele care vor avea loc în Parcul 1 Decembrie, parc semnificativ pentru Oradea datorită dimensiunii şi poziţionării centrale. Pe 11 octombrie vor mai fi prezente la Oradea patru din formaţiile militare de la Constanţa, Bucureşti, Bistriţa şi Oradea, care vor susţine pentru prima dată aici un Festival al muzicii militare, o noutate pentru Oradea. Iar în 12 octombrie va concerta Culture Beat, formaţie cunoscută a anilor 90. Între festivalurile pe care noi le organizăm, va fi Târgul pălincalilor, va fi Festivalul de vin. Vă aşteptăm la Oradea, în speranţa că veţi descoperi un oraş nou, un oraş mai viu, un oraş în care să vă simţiţi ca şi acasă.”



    Fără a impresiona prin opulenţă, Oradea se remarcă prin frumuseţe, iar hotelurile, cafenelele şi restaurantele de cea mai bună calitate de aici vă aşteaptă să le călcaţi pragul.

  • Dzuua a Cultural’ei Români

    Dzuua a Cultural’ei Români

    Comparabilă, până tru un punctu, cu sărbâtorli a Francofoniil’ei icâ a Hispanitatil’ei, Dzuua a Culturâl’ei Naţionale pi cari, tru 15 di yinar, u yiurtusescu român’il’i s-faţi, nu fârâ di thimel’’iu, unâoarâ cu yiurtusearea a poetlui Mihai Eminescu. Cu unâ banâ ţi s-tindi maşi pi ilikia di 39 di an’i, 1850-1889, ama cu unâ posteritate fără preacl’e, Eminescu easti aţel ti cari criticlu literar Titu Maiorescu scria tru epocă că va s-hibâ punctul di nchisitâ tră tutâ dezvoltarea yinitoari a cugetaril’ei româneşti.



    Lugursitu, ca poet, aţel dit soni mari exponentu a romantismului european, promotor, tru publicistică, a conservatorismului şi a naţionalismului lun’inat, Eminescu agiumsi s-hibâ, tu secolu dit soni, nai cama popularlu brandu cultural românescu. Eara, aestâ turlie, unâ tin’isearea ţi âl’I si câdea, dimec tru 2010, câ Parlamentul di Bucureşti s-aleagă, aproapea tru unanimitate, tamam dzua a lui di amintari ca dzuuă a Culturâl’eii Naţionali. Aestâ, spunea atumţea promotorl’ii a proiectului di nom, va s-hibâ unâ dzuuâ tru cari nu maşi câ yiurtusim un mari creator, ama şi unâ dzuuâ di mindueari tră cultura română, dimec şi a proiectilor culturali di interes naţional.



    Ma amânat, autorităţli dit Ripublica Moldova viţină (ex-sovietică, majoritar romanofonă) apufusirâ, tru arada a lor, tru numa a comuniunil’ei di limbă şi di istorie cu România, s-apufuseascâ tut 15 di yinar ca sărbătoari a culturâl’i. Tru vâsilie şi tru xeani, Bucureşti şi tru provinţie, Chişinău şi Bruxelles, tru muzee şi săli di concerte, tru sculii şi locâri di cultu, tutâ suflarea culturală românească s-ascumbusi ti yiurtusearea a aiştei dzuuâ unâ turlie ahoryea. Filialili dit xinâtati a Institutlui Cultural Român câlisirâ numi cu anami a culturâl’i dit vâsilie. Directorlu a Teatrului Naţional di Bucureşti, actorlu Ion Caramitru, andrupâtu di artişti instrumentişti, ndreapsi unâ alidzeari di poezie Paris.



    Berlin, fu programat un spectacol di teatru după un scenariu inspirat dit Jurnalu a scriitorlui interbelic Mihail Sebastian. Stockholm, protagoniştil’i a manifestărlor di la ICR suntu scriitoarea Gabriela Melinescu şi naista Dana Dragomir, doauă reprezentanti a culturâl’ei române ţi bâneadzâ tru Suedia. Spiritualitatea românească easti yiurtusitâ nu maş tru Occidentu, câ ş-tru vâsiliili viţini. Tru Ungaria, la ICR Budapesta suntu spusi ti videari lucrări simnati di pictori contemporani români.



    Deapoa tru Vârgârie, Sofia, fu vernisată expoziţia di caduri şi carti Vâsiloan’ia Maria – istorie şi mirâ, ndreaptâ ti marea suvearanâ di aoa şi un secol, nicuchira a Vâsil’elui Ferdinand, sum a curi stâpugâ s-feaţirâ unâ cu România, după primlu polim mondial, tuti provintiili româneşti ţi eara, până atumţea, sum stăpuirea a imperiilor multinaţionali viţini.




    Autor: Bogdan Matei


    Armânipsearea: Tascu Lala