Radio România Internațional

Tag: defence

  • Romania and Poland to step up cooperation

    Romania and Poland to step up cooperation

    The Prime
    Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki on Tuesday paid a visit to Bucharest
    where he was received by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and held talks with
    his Romanian counterpart Nicolae Ciuca and Defence Minister Angel Tîlvăr.




    We want that our close relations in term of security and
    defence be doubled by a robust and fruitful economic cooperation according to
    the potential offered by the two economies, the Romanian President said after
    the meeting he had with the Polish official. Iohannis has added that Poland is
    one of the most important trade partners Romania has in the region, with trade
    exchanges, which last year reached an all time high, standing at roughly 11
    billion euros.




    In turn, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said the
    Tuesday’s joint session of the two governments, Polish and Romanian, offered an
    opportunity for the two sides to confirm their 2022-2026 action plan agreed
    upon in the previous sittings. So, new bilateral goals and action plans have
    been established for every ministry in fields like research, digitization,
    SMEs, demographic growth, youth, sport, defence and transports.




    According to Ciuca, the field of research,
    development and digitalization is a major one and both countries have shown special
    potential and common interests in identifying the solutions, which should
    ensure its consolidation and development. The Romanian official has also
    referred to the common interest in finding solutions for carrying on the
    process of digitalization to the benefit of both the citizens and the small and
    medium-sized enterprises.


    Ciuca has also added that opportunities for continuing
    the process of developing the road, rail and sea transportation infrastructure
    have also been tackled.


    The Romanian official has underlined the
    importance of this infrastructure also known as Via Carpathia and the Rail-2-Sea
    project, which is connecting two ports – the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanţa
    and the Polish port of Gdansk at the Baltic Sea. There are elements, which we
    are convinced they will continue to help not only our countries, Romania and
    Poland but other countries as well, such as Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria in
    the south, linking the southern part of Europe. And there are infrastructure
    elements, which will help Ukraine as well Ciuca also said. He also referred to
    the very good talks in the field of defence and the decision of setting up a
    technical committee to operate in the defence field under the commitments
    assumed in Warsaw last year. In turn, Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz
    Morawiecki, has described the mutual cooperation as very good adding that the
    economic growth in the two countries has made that the voices of Warsaw and
    Bucharest to be better heard in Europe and around the world.


    (bill)

  • March 28, 2023 UPDATE

    March 28, 2023 UPDATE

    VISIT The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, received the
    PM of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki in Bucharest on Tuesday. Klaus Iohannis said
    Poland was a close and long-standing friend, a key strategic partner and a
    reliable ally for Romania. We are connected by sound shared strategic and
    security interests, which are further consolidated by today’s rather tense
    regional security context, the Romanian official said. Mr. Iohannis added that
    the 2 countries will maintain their unequivocal support for Ukraine for as long
    as necessary, and will boost their support for the most vulnerable and most
    severely affected partners in the region, especially the Republic of Moldova.
    In turn, PM Morawiecki said Romania and Poland were the pillars of the
    North-Atlantic Alliance in this part of Europe and highlighted the Allies’
    willingness to reinforce it through improved military cooperation. Previously,
    the PM of Romania Nicolae Ciuca had a meeting with his Polish counterpart, and
    together they attended the Romania-Poland Economic Forum organised by the
    Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Ciuca said bilateral trade had
    increased by 20% in 2022 compared to the previous year, reaching EUR 11bln.


    MOLDOVA The EU will
    prepare a support package for the Rep. Moldova before summer, the president of
    the European Council Charles Michel said in Chişinău on Tuesday, at a joint
    press conference together with Moldova’s president Maia Sandu. Chişinău has a
    lot of strong friends in Brussels, who want the Republic of Moldova to become a
    part of the EU family as soon as possible, Charles Michel also said, and added
    that this is a historic opportunity for Moldova and for its people. In turn, president
    Maia Sandu emphasised the importance of Moldova’s EU integration. European
    integration is the only path that ensures the survival of Moldova, its becoming
    a free and prosperous country. It is the only chance for its citizens to live
    in peace at home. We must withstand the hybrid attacks targeting our determination
    to be part of the free world, Maia Sandu said.


    DEFENCE The Romanian
    state secretary for defence policy, planning and international relations,
    Simona Cojocaru, is on an official visit to India until March 31, at the
    invitation of defence secretary Giridhar Aramane. According to the Romanian
    defence ministry, the two parties Tuesday signed an inter-governmental defence
    cooperation agreement. The document creates the framework for the development
    and consolidation of bilateral relations, through enhanced cooperation. The
    Romanian defence ministry also notes that it is for the first time in the
    history of the 2 countries’ bilateral relations that a cooperation agreement in
    this sector has been signed.


    PENSIONS The Senate’s
    specialist committees Tuesday issued a positive report on the bill on special
    pensions. The amendments tabled by the ruling coalition made up of the Social
    Democratic Party, National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic
    Hungarians in Romania were passed, although USR in opposition voted against and
    AUR party’s MPs abstained from voting. One of the changes accepted by the
    committees was that beneficiaries of multiple special pensions must choose only
    one of them within 30 days after the law takes effect. Other provisions in the
    bill are that pension benefits will be adjusted to inflation on a yearly basis,
    and that special pensions cannot be higher than the salary received while in
    office. As of Wednesday the bill will be discussed in plenary session by the
    Senate, the first parliamentary chamber to vote on it. (AMP)

  • March 9, 2023

    March 9, 2023

    BILLS Government in Bucharest will today hold talks on the final draft laws
    on education to be submitted for Parliament approval. The government believes
    that the laws, which have sparked off heated debates in society, will significantly
    curb school dropout, improve the country’s education system and allow the young
    people to adjust to the labour market requirements. However, the opposition has
    lashed out at the amendments announced by field minister Ligia Deca, describing
    the bills as faulty, superficially made and prone to creating imbalances. The
    bills have also been criticized by all those involved in the educational
    process, students, teachers and parents.










    TALKS Defence Ministers from EU member countries on Wednesday convened in
    Stockholm for talks over a two-billion euro plan of providing howitzer shells to
    Ukraine so that the country will improve its fighting capabilities against Russia.
    A final decision on the aforementioned project is expected during a similar
    conference due on March 20th. According to press agencies, Ukraine
    has cautioned that the quantity is not enough to make the difference in the war
    against Russia. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who also attended
    the conference in Stockholm, says that his country needs at least one million 155mm
    artillery shells, which would cost 4 billion euros, double than the plan
    presented in Stockholm. The total EU support for Ukraine presently stands at 12
    billion euros.








    COVID-19 The number of COVID-19 infections is on the rise in Romania and
    according to the latest reports, the figures doubled last week as compared to
    February. Physicians believe though that the present situation should not
    create concern, whereas experts say that the real number of infections could be
    higher than officially announced. At the same time, the number of respiratory
    infections is dropping under 100 thousand cases confirmed in late February.




    ENERGY Italian electricity and gas provider Enel has today announced the transfer
    of its operations in Romania towards Public Power Corp (PPC) of Greece, in
    exchange for 1.26 billion euros as part of a plan focusing on green energy
    production and cutting debts. Enel has made public its intention to focus on
    countries with growth potential like Italy, Spain, the United States, Brazil,
    Chile and Columbia. The Enel-PPC deal is expected to complete in the third
    quarter of this year. The Italian group has been a major player on Romania’s
    energy market since 2005 and currently boasts 3 million customers in three
    major regions of this country.








    VISIT Presently on a Far East tour, which also took him to Japan, Romanian
    president Klaus Iohannis is today paying a two-day visit to the Republic of
    Singapore. Boosting cooperation in fields such as education, research, food
    safety, fighting climate change and green transition are high on his agenda.
    Romania is the third biggest EU provider of IT services to Singapore and
    Bucharest is interested in boosting this cooperation through fresh bilateral
    projects. Romania’s interest in attracting Singaporean investment will also be
    promoted. President Iohannis is expected to underline Romania’s contribution to
    global food safety and the potential of the Romanian Black Sea and Danube ports
    in connecting to Central Europe.






    (bill)

  • February 15, 2023

    February 15, 2023

    MOLDOVA President Klaus Iohannis says Romania has stood and will
    stand by the R. of Moldova and firmly condemns any foreign attempt at destabilising
    this country. It is highly alarming to see public signs of attempts by the
    Russian Federation to step in illegitimately and upset the democratic and
    constitutional order of the R. of Moldova, a sovereign state that has chosen
    its political direction through a free vote, the Romanian president said in a statement
    issued on Wednesday. Klaus Iohannis reiterated that Moldova is not alone in facing
    these challenges, and reconfirmed Romania’s unwavering support for the
    sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country, within its
    internationally recognised borders, and for its pro-European future. The
    Romanian official also pointed out that Moldova belongs in the EU family, and
    that this path is irreversible and must be followed with determination, courage
    and ambition. The statement comes after on Monday the pro-Western president of
    Moldova Maia Sandu announced Moscow was planning to force a change of the
    political power in Moldova, using violence to destabilise the country.


    AID Romania is sending further humanitarian
    aid to Turkey and Syria in the wake of last week’s devastating earthquakes that
    killed some 40,000 people. A new humanitarian flight by 3 Romanian Air Forces
    aircraft today takes around 22 tonnes of goods donated by the Romanian
    government to the people affected by the tremors in the 2 countries. Another 2
    trains with basic necessity products have been already sent to Turkey, and 2
    planes with humanitarian aid were sent to Syria on Tuesday. According to the UN,
    9 million Syrian and 2.2 million Turkish nationals need aid. The Turkish Confederation
    of Enterprises and Businesses says the disaster might cost the country 84 billion
    US dollars.


    UN The Romanian foreign minister
    Bogdan Aurescu Tuesday had talks with the UN secretary general António
    Guterres. The Romanian official was at the UN headquarters in New York, where
    he was a speaker at the UN Security Council debate on Threats to international peace and
    security: Sea-level rise: implications for international peace and security.
    According to the foreign ministry, the 2 officials discussed climate change and
    its consequences, as well as the situation in Ukraine one year after the start
    of Russia’s illegal war of aggression. Bogdan Aurescu pointed out
    that Russia’s irresponsible conduct, which violates the core principles of international
    order, must end, and that it is particularly serious for a member of the UN
    Security Council to have started this war. The Romanian foreign minister also
    highlighted Romania’s support efforts, including the receiving of over 3.5
    million Ukrainian refugees who have transited Romania. Current developments in
    the R. of Moldova were also discussed.


    DEFENCE Romania’s defence minister Angel Tîlvăr and the chief of
    general staff Daniel Petrescu Tuesday took part in a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, held in Brussels
    on the sidelines of the meeting of NATO defence ministers. According to the
    Romanian defence ministry, since the start of Russia’s war of aggression
    against Ukraine, Romania has provided shelter and aid to over 3.5 million
    Ukrainian nationals who have transited the country, and has taken part in facilitating
    the transit of nearly 12 million tonnes of grains from Ukraine to global
    markets. Romania has stated repeatedly that the scope and regularity of the support
    given to Ukraine must be maintained. Also on the sidelines of the meeting of
    NATO defence ministers, Angel Tîlvăr had bilateral talks with his counterparts
    from the UK, Ben Wallace, and Spain, Margarita Robles Fernandez. They discussed
    the security situation in the Black Sea region and emphasised the need for
    substantial Allied contribution to ensuring the effectiveness and credibility
    of NATO’s defence posture on the eastern flank.


    INFLATION The National Bank of Romania has revised its inflation
    forecast for the end of this year from 11.2% estimated previously to 7%. According
    to the Quarterly Inflation Report made public today by the central bank
    governor Mugur Isarescu, at the end of 2024 the indicator will stand at 4.2%. Romania
    has consolidated its position in the EU in terms of inflation, with the 9th
    highest rate in the Union. Mugur Isărescu also said a balance must be achieved
    between fighting inflation and avoiding a possible recession, and added that
    the inflation forecast is marked by many uncertainties.


    FOOTBALL CFR Cluj, the only Romanian team still
    playing in the European competitions, Thursday takes on the Italian side Lazio Rome, away from home, in the
    playoffs for the Conference League’s eighth-finals. The second leg of this
    round is scheduled next week in Cluj-Napoca. According to a UEFA poll, the
    Romanians are most likely to win. This season CFR Cluj finished the group stage 2nd in a group that also
    included Sivasspor (Turkey), Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) and Ballkani
    (Kosovo), while Lazio ended up in the Conference League playoffs after
    finishing 3rd in its group, after Feyenoord (the Netherlands) and
    Midtjylland (Denmark). (AMP)

  • The second Patriot system for Romania

    The second Patriot system for Romania


    Romania has purchased the most modern Patriot system hardware and software in operation, tested in combat and able to engage with all types of existing aerial threats. The purchase of these US-made systems was established in a law from 2017 providing for the creation of a “ground-based air-defence system” as part of the essential endowment programme “High Surface-to-Air Missiles” (HSAM). Bucharest has already received a second of a total of four contracted systems as part of the first stage of the programme to equip the Romanian army.



    These latest-generation systems contribute “robust, credible, interoperable and flexible capability meant for the accomplishment of the missions of the Romanian Army”, said defence minister Angel Tîlvăr, who visited, together with the chief of defence staff Daniel Petrescu, the 74thMihai Bravu PatriotRegiment. The two officials met the troops operating the two systems. Angel Tîlvăr added that the four systems are part of the first stage of creating a latest-generation ground-based air-defence system capability that was tested in combat against tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles and which is fully compatible with the NATO system.



    The two army officials were presented with the level of training of the units operating and maintenance staff, who will continue their training this year at the Air Defense Artillery School in the US, as well as in Romania. The defence minister said after this presentation:



    “We need specialists, they are undergoing training programmes, have completed such programmes and we are taking care that this occurs at a frequency and pace that allows us not to have dysfunctionality from this point of view. In fact, this is one of our constant concerns and also of other NATO armies, not to be short of specialists, because the modern way of approaching this field requires high specialisation.”



    The second Patriot system was delivered, according to schedule, during 2022, with its acceptance testing and reception taking place in December. The delivery of the next two began last year, with their testing and reception to take place by the end of April. The first system was delivered to the Romanian air forces in 2020 and has been carrying specific missions for the air and missile defence of the Romanian and NATO air space since 2021. (CM)


  • November 23, 2022 – UPDATE

    November 23, 2022 – UPDATE

    JUDICIARY The Romanian
    President Klaus Iohannis has hailed the conclusions of a European Commission report saying that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in Romania’s judicial
    sector would be lifted. A stage has
    ended, but further efforts must be made as reforms are vital, Iohannis said. In
    turn, PM Nicolae Ciuca said the European Commission’s report encourages the government
    to stay on the path of supporting the independence of the judiciary and the
    fight against corruption to the benefit of the Romanian society.


    VISIT The joint
    effort to support Ukraine and the strength of the Romanian-Latvian cooperation
    were highlighted in Riga by the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, in a joint
    press conference with his Latvian counterpart, Egils Levits. The Romanian
    official’s visit to Riga takes place in the context of the celebration of 100
    years of diplomatic relations between the 2 countries. The two presidents also
    discussed Romania’s Schengen accession. Klaus Iohannis emphasised that Romania
    has never been and will never be a country that allows uncontrolled migration
    through illegal border crossing. The president of Latvia highlighted the common
    approach of the two countries with respect to the future of the EU and welcomed
    Romania’s participation in the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic states
    in 2023. On Thursday, Klaus Iohannis will be on an official visit to Lithuania,
    in Vilnius, while on Friday he will take part, jointly with his counterparts
    from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, in a summit devoted to strengthening NATO’s
    eastern flank and to supporting Ukraine and the R. of Moldova.


    COOPERATION Romania and Spain are pleading for a more capable and
    responsible European Union, one which is able to provide support and play a
    relevant role in implementing the Strategic Compass, fully complementary to
    NATO and avoiding redundancies, including in the current security context,
    marked by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, reads a joint statement
    signed on Wednesday in Castellón de
    la Plana, Spain, by the heads of the Romanian and Spanish governments. Bucharest and
    Madrid have also reiterated their commitment to a strong NATO, focusing on the
    full implementation of the Strategic Concept adopted in Madrid, with special
    emphasis on consolidating defence and deterrence on the eastern flank. The PM
    of Romania, Nicolae Ciucă, was received with military honours in Castellon de
    la Plana by the head of Spain’s government, Pedro Sanchez. According to Ciucă, bilateral relations are even stronger
    thanks to the nearly one-million strong, highly integrated and active Romanian
    community contributing to the development of Spain’s economy and society.


    NATO – A meeting of NATO
    foreign ministers will be held in Bucharest on November 29-30, 2022. The
    meeting will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.
    Attending will also be the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and
    Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the foreign ministers of Finland and Sweden.


    DRILL NATO troops
    Wednesday conducted a military exercise to test the air and missile defence in
    Romania, one week after a stray missile crashed in Poland and revealed
    weaknesses in the Alliance’s air shield, Reuters reports. The French air defence
    system deployed to Romania repelled a simulated attack by Allied fighter jets,
    NATO’s Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany said. Taking part in the
    exercise were Turkish F-16 fighter jets, Spanish Eurofighters, US growler
    aircraft designed for electronic warfare and French Rafale jets.


    FOOTBALL Japan produced the second big surprise of the Qatar football World
    Cup, after defeating 4-times Cup winners Germany 2-1, on Wednesday in Group
    E. Also on Wednesday, world vice-champions Croatia drew against Morocco,
    0-0, in Group F. Another former world champion, Spain, takes on Costa Rica, and
    Belgium plays against Canada. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia stunned football fans
    with one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Cup, defeating
    2-times champions Argentina 2-1. Also on Tuesday, the defending champions, France,
    defeated Australia 4-1, while Denmark and Poland drew against Tunisia and
    Mexico, respectively, 0 – 0. (AMP)

  • November 18, 2022

    November 18, 2022

    ENERGY Romania will secure its energy independence in 2027 and will even become a provider of security in the region, including for
    the neighbouring Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, said the president of the
    National Energy Regulatory Authority, Dumitru Chiriţă.
    He added that over the past few years Bucharest invested EUR 3 bln in natural
    gas and electricity transport and distribution systems. On the other hand,
    investments in production operations only amounted to EUR 30 mln, but this will
    change as massive funding will be channelled in this sector. According to the Authority, new production
    units will be operational in 3-4 years’ time, with a combined output of over 10,000
    MW, and investors are quite interested in the projects, some of which are
    funded from loans and others from private sources.


    BUDGET The
    government of Romania Thursday approved this year’s second public budget
    adjustment, with approx. EUR 100 million in additional funding. According to
    the government, the budget adjustment covers compulsory spending, operating
    expenses and social assistance expenses. According to the finance minister
    Adrian Câciu, the budget deficit is reduced from 5.84% to 5.74%. A majority of
    funds will be earmarked for the finance, labour, agriculture and economy
    ministries. Also, under the new budget, the energy, transport, public
    healthcare and interior ministries are set to lose part of their funding.


    DEFENCE The
    Romanian defence minister Angel Tîlvăr took part this week in a meeting of
    South Eastern European defence ministers, held in Sofia under the Bulgarian
    presidency of the initiative. The participants analysed the progress in the
    projects organised by this initiative and approved a number of documents
    concerning the planning of SEDM operations. Angel Tîlvăr reiterated Romania’s
    commitment to contribute even more actively to the implementation of the
    initiative’s projects. On the sidelines of the meeting in Sofia, the Romanian
    official had bilateral meetings with his Moldovan, Bulgarian and Georgian
    counterparts.


    UKRAINE
    Over 10 million Ukrainians were left without electricity, especially in the
    Kyiv region, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. Several
    Ukrainian cities, including the capital, were hit by Russian attacks on
    Thursday, concurrently with the first snow in a country affected by blackouts,
    where temperatures may drop to negative 10°C, AFP reports. The resumed shelling
    targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure constantly deprives millions of
    Ukrainians of electricity and water supplies.


    MISSILE The
    missile launched by North Korea on Friday had enough range to hit the US, and a
    range capability of 15,000 km, said Japan’s defence minister Yasukazu Hamada,
    quoted by Reuters. The intercontinental ballistic missile reached an altitude
    of 6,000 km and landed roughly 200 km west of a Japanese island. Over the past
    2 months North Korea has tested over 50 missiles, most of them in the
    short-range class. Medium and long-range missiles are a direct threat to the US,
    as they are designed to carry nuclear warheads to the US mainland, the BBC says.


    FOOTBALL
    Romania’s national football team lost 2-1 a friendly game played last night in
    Cluj-Napoca against Slovenia. On Saturday, Romania is to play another friendly
    against the Republic of Moldova, in Chişinău. Romania has failed to qualify to
    the Qatar World Cup and is training for the Euro 2024. The national team will
    play in Group I against Switzerland, Israel, Kosovo, Belarus and Andorra. Meanwhile,
    Romania’s Under-20 football team was defeated by Italy, 2-1, in a friendly
    match hosted by the Romanian city of Arad. (AMP)

  • CSAT decisions

    CSAT decisions

    Summoned by Romanian president Klaus Iohannis and with
    Nicolae Ciuca in double capacity, as Prime Minister and the country’s interim
    Defence Minister after the resignation of Vasile Dincu, the country’s Higher
    Defence Council’s proceedings on Tuesday focused on the war in the neighboring
    Ukraine and its implications for Romania.




    The consequences of the conflict initiated by the Russian
    Federation against a sovereign country are also being felt in the entire Black
    Sea area, affecting the countries in the region, as well as the Euroatlantic
    and global security per se, says a communiqué issued by the Romanian presidency
    at the end of the meeting. Members
    of the aforementioned council have tackled the support Romania continues to
    give to Ukraine and the proposals to deal with potential threats so that peace may
    be kept in the Black Sea region and an expanded conflict be avoided.




    The proposals are mainly focused on ways of
    implementing the decisions adopted at the NATO summit in Madrid, strengthening
    the armed forces, increasing the number of Allied exercises on the Romanian
    territory, stepping up dialogue with Turkey, Bulgaria and Georgia over security
    as well as capitalizing on opportunities in the field of economy and
    interconnectivity in the enlarged Black Sea region.




    The CSAT has also
    approved the updating of the ‘Armata 2040’ programmes on its main directions: providing
    funds to personnel, reconfiguring equipment programmes and streamlining the
    country’s defence industry. Participants have also endorsed the proposals
    presented by the Ministry of Energy on strengthening the country’s energy resilience
    and assuring the continuity of electricity and natural gas supplies at prices
    that shouldn’t be a burden for the Romanian citizens.




    Also high on the latest CSAT agenda have been ways of
    encouraging short and medium term investment in developing the onshore and
    offshore production of natural gas, as well as the short-term use of coal
    resources in order to overcome the present energy crisis, boosting the capacity
    of extracting and storing local resources as well as the dialogue with foreign
    partners to get access to alternative gas resources from countries like Azerbaijan,
    the United Arab Emirates, the USA and Saudi Arabia. The CSAT members have mentioned the importance
    of the medium-term introduction of the fourth-generation of small and medium nuclear
    reactors as well as the consolidation of the transport infrastructure for electricity
    and natural gas.


    (bill)

  • October 25, 2022 UPDATE

    October 25, 2022 UPDATE

    ARMY DAY The Romanian Army Day was celebrated on Tuesday with a
    series of events staged all over Romania and in other regions around the world
    where Romanian troops are stationed now. Wreath laying ceremonies took 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. The Army has been and will always be a
    symbol of resilience and an essential element in the development of Romania,
    president Klaus Iohannis
    said on this occasion. He added that Romania has a distinct place within NATO
    and is an indisputable provider of security at the Black Sea and on NATO’s
    eastern flank. According to the Romanian Defence
    Ministry, during WWII, out of roughly 540,000 servicemen deployed, 90,000 were
    KIA, 60,000 MIA and over 330,000 were wounded. After freeing the Romanian
    territory on October 25th, 1944, the Romanian army continued to
    fight in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria alongside the allied troops,
    contributing to the May 9th 1945 victory, which marked the end of WWII in
    Europe.


    DEFENCE The Supreme Defence Council, convening on
    Tuesday in Bucharest, approved updates to key directions of the Army 2040
    programme, including the budgeting for personnel needs,
    reconfiguring equipment procurement programmes and revamping the defence
    industry, as well as measures to better retain skilled military personnel. Army
    2040 aims to help develop national military capabilities that enable the
    government to fulfil its constitutional obligation to safeguard the territorial
    integrity of Romania. To this end, the country will earmark 2.5% of its GDP to
    defence as of 2023.The Council also
    reviewed and approved the Energy Ministry’s plan to improve Romania’s energy
    resilience, so as to protect citizens and to secure continuing supplies of
    electricity and natural gas, for prices that are not a burden to households. The
    Council also discussed the support Romania will continue to provide to Ukraine,
    and looked at ways to counter prospective threats.


    DECREE Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis Tuesday signed a
    decree acknowledging the resignation of Defence Minister Vasile Dincu and
    designating Prime Minister Ciuca as the country’s interim defence minister. The
    Social-Democrat Dincu stepped down on Monday, two weeks after he made a number
    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.


    COAL Romania has increased its coal output in order to cope
    with the energy crisis. According to the National Statistics Institute, the output
    went up by 1.7% and imports by 13.5% in the first 8 months of the year. The
    National Strategy and Forecast Commission estimates for this year a coal output
    10% bigger than in 2021 and imports 2.8% higher, with the coal production expected
    to grow by 8% next year.


    REFUGEES According
    to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine,
    over 2.6 million Ukrainian nationals have transited Romania and over 86,500
    have chosen to stay here. Eight months on from the beginning of the conflict on
    February 24th, Bucharest highlights its active involvement in facilitating 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 aid shipments from countries like Italy, France
    or Germany.


    ECLIPSE A partial solar eclipse was visible in Romania on Tuesday.
    According to the Astronomic Observatory in Bucharest, the sun was covered up to
    44% and the eclipse lasted for two hours and a half. (AMP, DB)

  • Common defence of the European sky

    Common defence of the European sky

    The initiative of a joint air defence system has been championed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who sees it as “a security gain for all of Europe”. In a speech delivered in Prague in August, he said that such system would be more economical and efficient than national systems. The idea was welcomed especially by East European countries, which are concerned about a possible escalation of the conflict started by the Russian Federation in the neighbouring Ukraine.



    The European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) entered a new stage on Thursday, when 14 NATO countries, Romania included, and Finland signed a letter of intent with a view to carrying out this project. The signatory countries plan to first purchase Patriot medium-range defence systems produced by the United States, and then the Arrow 3 system, manufactured by Israel and the US, designed to neutralise longer-range threats such as intercontinental missiles and even satellites. Installing these systems in several countries would provide complete and efficient defence of the European airspace.



    Costs would also be smaller for each participating country, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said in Brussels: “It aims to enable European allies to procure these much needed capabilities better and faster, and to optimize their costs. It should also bring synergy among allies with similar urgent requirements, covering the full spectrum of the air and missile defence needs. It should promote interoperability and their integration with each other and with NATO’s integrated air and missile defence. It is an important effort to generate more resources and to ensure that the needed capabilities are procured and deployed quickly.”



    The new assets, “fully interoperable and seamlessly integrated within the NATO air and missile defence, would significantly enhance our ability to defend the Alliance from all air and missile threats,” Mircea Geoana explained. The signing of the letter of intent by Romania, alongside Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and Finland will facilitate further procedures. Any other state may join the European Sky Shield Initiative, as the project takes shape. (EE)

  • October 13, 2022 UPDATE

    October 13, 2022 UPDATE

    AIR DEFENCE Germany and 14 other NATO member states, Romania
    included, Thursday agreed on a common initiative regarding the acquisition of
    air and missile defence systems, after the war in Ukraine exposed weaknesses in
    this respect. The initiative, spearheaded by Germany, is called European Sky
    Shield, and the 15 NATO signatories intend to procure, in a first stage, medium-range
    defence systems such as the US-manufactured Patriot, already used by several
    NATO countries, including Romania. In a subsequent stage, they may purchase the
    Israeli-American Arrow 3 system, able to intercept and destroy longer-range
    threats. The initiative comes as the war in Ukraine shows that NATO states
    themselves need more equipment to secure their air space. Apart from Germany
    and Romania, the countries that signed the initiative are Belgium, Bulgaria,
    Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway,
    Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.


    ELECTRICITY The Republic of Moldova will be able to import 100 MW of
    electricity from Romania as of Friday, the Romanian energy minister Virgil
    Popescu announced. The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, thanked Romania, after
    Ukraine was forced to suspend electricity deliveries following Russia’s strikes
    on its energy infrastructure earlier this week. In related news, Romania will
    transfer over EUR 25 mln for Moldova to start implementing projects in
    strategic sectors like education and public utilities. The funds are part of a
    EUR 100 mln non-reimbursable aid package stipulated in a bilateral technical
    and financial assistance agreement.


    REFUGEES The
    number of Ukrainian refugees coming to Romania from Western Europe is on the
    rise, the International Organization for Migration reports. Lower living costs
    and proximity to Ukraine are some of the reasons, the report also states.
    According to the Romanian Border Police, some 70,000 people entered Romania on
    Wednesday, of whom 9,000 were Ukrainian nationals, accounting for a 15%
    increase compared to the previous day. Over 2.5 million Ukrainians have entered
    Romania since February 10.


    SCHENGEN In principle, the Netherlands does not oppose Romania’s
    Schengen accession, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Wednesday
    during a visit to Brașov, central Romania. The Dutch official pointed out,
    however, that any discussion on this matter will factor in Romania’s fulfilment
    of all accession criteria. President Klaus Iohannis expressed confidence Romania
    will join the travel-free area, whereas Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă in turn
    said that Schengen accession will spell numerous benefits for Romania’s
    economy.


    UKRAINE Romania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu,
    hailed the UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s illegal
    annexation of Ukrainian territories. 143 UN members voted in favour, including
    Romania. Meanwhile, Russia launched new attacks on Ukraine on Thursday. Drone
    strikes targeted critical infrastructure in Kyiv, while the city of Mykolaiv
    was hit by shelling, authorities say. In recent weeks Ukraine has been the
    target of air strikes carried out by Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Tehran
    denies having delivered such drones to Russia, while Moscow refused to comment.
    The Kremlin has also intensified its attacks on civilian targets in response to
    the Crimea bridge attack, which Moscow claims is the work of Ukrainian
    intelligence. Described as war crimes by a number of Western countries, the
    shelling continues despite significant losses sustained by the Russian army.
    Bombing focused particularly on residential areas and civilian infrastructure,
    damaging 30% of the country’s energy infrastructure. In Brussels, over 50
    countries promised to provide military assistance to Ukraine, including air defence
    systems. (V.P, A.M.P.)

  • France supports the bolstering of NATO’s eastern flank

    France supports the bolstering of NATO’s eastern flank

    In the coming weeks, France will deploy further troops and
    equipment to Romania to bolster NATO’s eastern flank, in the context of Russia’s
    massive strikes recently on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, the
    French defence minister, Sébastien Lecornu told a Senate panel.


    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Paris,
    he spoke about deploying a company, usually comprising 100 to 250 troops, to
    Romania. France leads the NATO battle group in Romania, which currently
    includes 350 French troops, in addition to Belgian and Dutch ones.


    The decision to increase these forces was made by the
    president of France, Emmanuel Macron, at the suggestion of the chief of staff
    of the French Army. In fact, Macron had emphasised his country’s support for
    strengthening NATO’s eastern flank as far back as in June, during an official
    visit to Bucharest, when he also pledged additional assistance to Romania. You
    have our support should your country come under threat, Emmanuel Macron said
    at the time.


    Sébastian Lecornu explained now what this support
    would actually consist of:


    Sébastian Lecornu: The president of the Republic
    decided to raise our defensive posture on the eastern flank of Europe, by
    deploying a reinforced company of armoured infantry fighting vehicles and a
    squadron of Leclerc tanks to Romania. So as part of our defence, deterrence and
    protection mission on the eastern flank, we continue to support those countries
    to which we owe solidarity, and particularly Romania, a friendly nation. We
    have also continued to boost our presence in Lithuania, where Rafale aircraft
    will be deployed, and a light infantry company will also be deployed to Estonia.


    The Romanian president Klaus Iohannis welcomed
    president Emmanuel Macron’s decision to strengthen the French military presence
    in Romania. As Iohannis posted on a social network, this is An important
    gesture for NATO’s Eastern Flank, a sign of Allied solidarity.


    In February, France and Belgium announced they would
    deploy military units to Romania to set up a tactical NATO group.The chief of staff of the French Armed Forces said at
    the time that as part of the rapid response force, France will send to Romania
    as many as 500 troops with armoured vehicles and combat equipment. And in March,
    president Klaus Iohannis said, NATO has approved the battle group to be
    stationed in Romania.


    Given Russia’s recent threats and attacks, the NATO secretary
    general Jens Stoltenberg announced that the Allies would enhance security
    around key institutions and would take additional measures to increase
    resilience and protect critical infrastructure. A deliberate attack against
    allies’ critical infrastructure will be met with a united and determined
    response, the NATO chief has warned. (A.M.P.)

  • June 25, 2022

    June 25, 2022

    SUMMIT Romanian president
    Klaus Iohannis has attended the European Council in Brussels during which the
    Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have been granted the status of EU-candidate
    countries. The European leaders have also tackled the ways in which the EU
    members can avoid a major energy crisis in winter. High on the summit agenda
    was the situation in Ukraine, the bloc’s relation with the Western Balkans as well
    as a series of economic issues. Iohannis has reiterated Romania’s consistent
    support for Kiev and presented the efforts to facilitate the exports of
    Ukrainian cereals adding that Romania’s ports and transport corridors are
    functioning at full capacity. During the Euro summit in Brussels, president
    Iohannis has reiterated his conviction for the European future of the countries
    in the Western Balkans and the support for the opening as soon as possible of
    the talks with North Macedonia and Albania and the identification of solutions
    for the process of bringing Bosnia-Herzegovina closer to the union.






    ATTACK The alleged
    assailant on Friday night in Oslo is a Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin who
    is known to the intelligence services, a police official said on Saturday. He
    didn’t reveal the identity of the suspect, but mentioned the assailant’s previous
    brushes with the law for carrying weapons and drug possession. The attack in
    downtown Oslo left two dead and 21 wounded, out of whom 10 severely. According
    to police sources, the suspect was being held on suspicion of murder, attempted
    murder and terrorism, based on the number of people targeted at multiple
    locations.








    NATO At the NATO summit in
    Madrid next week, the Black Sea region will be acknowledged as having a
    strategic importance in the collective defence and battle groups in Romania and
    other eastern countries could be given the status of brigades. The alliance’s
    deputy secretary general, Mircea Geoana said the summit would bring good news
    for Romania, but also for Ukraine for the transatlantic relation and the
    alliance per se. ‘From the military and security viewpoints’, Geoana says ‘and
    because Russia is an unpredictable and aggressive player, Romania will have the
    same quality in terms of national security as Germany and Belgium. There will
    be no difference in what NATO has on the eastern flank and in Western Europe.
    Next week we are going to attend the NATO summit in Madrid and we are expecting
    historic news for Romania’. The talks in Madrid will also be focusing on the
    requests from Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, although no decision is
    expected in this respect because of Turkey’s opposition.










    FESTIVAL Until July 3rd, the city of Sibiu in central Romania is
    seeing the International Theatre Festival currently at its 29th
    edition. The festival, which is unfolding under a theme simply entitled
    Beauty, includes productions of theatre, dance, circus, film, musical and
    opera. Street performances, concerts, book launches and exhibitions have also
    been included in the festival’s agenda. For ten days artists of the world stage
    are offering the public the possibility of enjoying live performances that have
    been acknowledged at international level being also recipients of prestigious
    awards.








    (bill)

  • June 15, 2022

    June 15, 2022

    Visit. Romania and France have increased their
    security cooperation recently amid the crisis generated by Russia’s military
    aggression in Ukraine, said Romanian president Klaus Iohannis after talks with
    his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base in
    Constanţa county, in south-eastern Romania. During a joint press briefing,
    Iohannis again thanked France for the deployment of military and its
    coordination of NATO’s new battle group in Romania. The two presidents talked
    about the need to consolidate the deterrence and defence posture on the NATO
    eastern flank, especially in the Black Sea, NATO’s new strategic concept and
    the accession of Finland and Sweden. Emmanuel Macron said Romanian-French
    relations are based on a friendship that goes back two centuries. He added that
    the two countries wish to further boost bilateral cooperation and that an
    ambitious plan is being worked on, at the request of the Romanian authorities,
    to support the Romanian Navy. The agenda of talks also included Romania’s
    accession to the Schengen free movement area and its active involvement in the
    protection of the EU’s external borders. Emmanuel Macron’s next stop is the
    Republic of Moldova, where he will be received by president Maia Sandu.




    NATO.
    Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday had talks in The Hague with the
    prime ministers of Belgium, Latvia, Poland and Portugal and with NATO secretary
    general Jens Stoltenberg on the preparation of the upcoming NATO summit hosted
    by Madrid at the end of the month. Iohannis emphasised the need for consolidated
    and effective allied presence on the NATO eastern flank, saying collective
    defence is and must remain NATO’s priority fundamental task. The participants
    also discussed the latest security developments, further assistance to Ukraine
    and the prospects of Sweden’s and Finland’s joining NATO. A joint declaration
    was adopted at the end of the meeting reaffirming the solidarity of the
    signatory countries with Ukraine and again calling on Vladimir Putin to stop the
    war in Ukraine and withdraw his troops.






    Defence.
    NATO defence ministers are today meeting in Brussels to discuss additional
    weapons deliveries to Ukraine and Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO. The
    Russian offensive in Donbas and its territorial gains have prompted Ukrainian
    officials to request more weapons from the West. The US and Britain have
    already promised to deliver several rocket launchers, but Ukraine says it needs
    more to stage an effective counteroffensive. The meeting is Brussels is chaired
    by the US defence secretary Lloyd Austin.




    Protest.
    More than 10,000 members of healthcare employees and social workers are today staging
    a protest outside the government headquarters. They are mainly requesting
    higher pay, bonuses, holiday vouchers and eliminating a 30% cap on bonuses,
    compensations and other salary rights for healthcare and social workers.
    Protesters say the Romanian government in the last two years has systematically
    violated the salary law by blocking salary increases.




    Football.
    Romania lost to Montenegro 3-nil on Tuesday evening in Bucharest in the UEFA
    Nations League. Romania had also lost their away match, 2-nil. In their four
    matches in this competition so far, Romania suffered three losses, two to
    Montenegro and one to Bosnia and Herzegovina, having only won against Finland.
    They are now bottom of the group, while Bosnia and Herzegovina are in the lead. (CM)

  • May 28, 2022 UPDATE

    May 28, 2022 UPDATE


    TALKS The prime minister of Romania Nicolae Ciucă Saturday received a delegation of the US Senate headed by Senator Robert Portman. PM Ciucă presented the situation of Ukrainian exports and of Romanias efforts to support the food security of the affected countries, particularly those in the Middle East and Northern Africa, and the viability of Ukraines economy. He mentioned support options including the ports of Constanţa and Galaţi, navigation on the Danube to central Europe, railway and road transport. A large part of the talks was devoted to Russias invasion in Ukraine and the need for concrete support for this country. Senator Robert Portman thanked Romania for its efforts and highlighted his interest in the country, considering that the state he is representing, Ohio, is home to a large community of Romanians and an important Ukrainian community.



    DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu was received on Friday by the president of Tukey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the sidelines of a trilateral security meeting that brought together the foreign ministers of Romania, Poland and Turkey in Istanbul. Erdogan commended Romanias and Polands management of the humanitarian crisis entailed by Russias aggression in Ukraine, while Bogdan Aurescu highlighted Turkeys role at the Black Sea. The Romanian foreign minister also voiced support for NATOs open door policy and for the accession of Sweden and Finland. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bogdan Aurescu also emphasised the relevance of the bilateral strategic partnership signed in 2011, in the current geopolitical circumstances.



    CYBER ATTACK The English version of the website of the Romanian defence ministry has been attacked by hackers. The DDOS cyber-attack took place on Friday night, and experts with the ministrys cyber defence unit managed to restore the website in around 30 minutes. The ministry says the website does not contain sensible or classified databases and the attack did not affect other services or networks of the institution. Investigations are under way to identify the source of the attack. A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of Internet traffic.



    RADIO CHIŞINAU The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation issued a news release stating it was confident the decision to ban the use of the name “Chişinău” in the name of the radio station Radio Chişinău was a misunderstanding and it has reasons to believe the situation will be resolved. Radio Romania mentions that at Fridays meeting of the Chişinău City Council, a draft decision on the use of the name Chişinău was dismissed by a majority of Council members. The name of the city Chişinău was used by Radio Chişinău, a Radio Romania station, between 2011 and 2021, based on a similar validation procedure. Radio Romania emphasized that, should the situation continue, it will have to take all the necessary administrative and judicial steps to address it, to the benefit of its listeners in the Republic of Moldova. Previously, the Romanian foreign ministry said the decision of the Chişinǎu Council was unjustified, ungrounded and driven by political considerations.



    FESTIVAL “Mogoşoaia Classic Fest” takes place this weekend at the Brâncovenesc Palace (near Bucharest), under the title “Cultures of the world.” The festival includes exhibitions, film screenings and performances, concerts. The music, fine arts, dance, images and traditions of 8 countries are showcased in the festival: Armenia, Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, Peru, Mexico, China and Romania.



    TENNIS The Romanian Irina Begu Saturday qualified into the 8th-finals of the Roland Garros tournament, after defeating Leolia Jeanjean of France 6-1, 6-4, in the 3rd round. The round of 16 is the best performance for the Romanian player in Grand Slams. Begu is the only Romanian player left in the singles competition of this years tournament in Paris. (AMP)