Radio România Internațional

Tag: digitization

  • May 30, 2024

    May 30, 2024

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

     

     

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

     

     

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

     

     

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

     

     

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

     

     

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

  • September 6, 2023 UPDATE

    September 6, 2023 UPDATE

    Drone — Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, said that he was informed “in real time” by the Defense Ministry about the discovery on Romanian territory of some components that appear to be of a drone. At the opening of the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, which is taking place in Bucharest, Iohannis said that he requested an urgent and professional investigation of the origin of these components, as well as the moment and circumstances in which they arrived on Romanian territory. If it is confirmed that these elements belong to a Russian drone, the Romanian president said, then the situation is “unacceptable” and is “a serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Romania, a NATO ally state”. He showed that the Romanian authorities are in permanent contact with the other NATO allies and emphasized that Romania benefits from extremely strong security guarantees, the strongest in its entire history. Previously, the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, stated that in Tulcea county (south-east) fragments were found of a piece of equipment “that could be assimilated to a drone”. The elements in question were identified near the village of Plauru, at a distance of 70-80 meters from the Danube, in an area very difficult to access, with abundant vegetation.



    Summit — The Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, a political platform of the member countries of the European Union from Central and Eastern Europe, started in Bucharest. At this 8th edition, Greece will become the 13th participating country, while Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, neighbors of Romania, will receive the status of associated states. In the opening of the proceedings, when the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski also spoke via video conference, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that granting the status of an associated participating state to the Three Seas Initiative will allow Ukraine to get involved in all the tools of the organization, respectively to access investments for strategic interconnection projects. The Romanian president believes that, in this way, “Ukraine will be closer to the EU and will prepare better for reconstruction and recovery”. Currently, the Three Seas Initiative includes 12 member states of the European Union between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas. The organization also benefits from the support of the United States, whose delegation in Bucharest is led by the White House special envoy for climate, former Secretary of State John Kerry.



    Schools – With school starting in Romania on 11th September, the authorities are planning tougher measures to prevent trafficking in and consumption of psychoactive substances among pupils. They also aim to crack down on bullying and reduce the risk of pupils exposure to crime, especially violence. These are some of the most important elements of a national safety plan signed on Tuesday by a number of cabinet ministers. Referring to the controversial issue of pupils drug testing, education minister Ligia Deca said a system would be devised to provide and finance such tests in the event of reasonable suspicion, but only with parental approval and avoiding the stigmatization of children.



    IT – Romanians have been waiting for modern and efficient public services for a long time, and the digital reform is the most important component of the administrative reform that the Romanian Government intends to undertake, the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Wednesday during the meeting with the representatives of the Apple, Amazon and IBM companies. The three American giants in the technology industry will participate in the Business Forum organized on Thursday, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative. Besides the digitization of the administrative system, the discussions also focused on the development of research and innovation projects in fields such as artificial intelligence, data analysis and cyber security. Present at the meeting, the Romanian Minister of Research, Bogdan Ivan, said that the future collaborations with the three companies will make a real difference in the daily life of Romanians, allowing the development of the IT sector in Romania and bringing the citizen to one click away from the public administration. (LS)


  • Changes in the structure of the school year

    Changes in the structure of the school year

    It has become almost impossible to evaluate the successive reforms in the Romanian education system. Some of the reform projects promised to improve the system but were not completed because the reform promoters were the victims of political change. Not to mention the recent pandemic that has turned everything upside down. Now, the education ministry has announced changes in the structure of the school year.



    As of autumn, the current semesters will be replaced by five learning modules, which will be separated by the same number of holidays. Courses are scheduled to begin earlier on September 5 and end on June 16. The announcement was made by education minister Sorin Cîmpeanu, who gave assurances that the decision was made after consultations with experts and following dialogue with the representatives of teachers, parents and students.



    Sorin Cîmpeanu: “The agreed proposal was for school to begin on September 5, with a first learning module. After a period of a several weeks, on October 24, students will go on holiday, between October 24-30, this being their first holiday, a holiday for all students. This holiday is followed by the second learning module, which will run until around the winter holidays, so the second holiday will start on December 23rd and end on January 8th. Then follows module three, which will start on January 9th. And, for the first time, this module will run until February, when we will have the 3rd holiday; so, it’s a mobile one-week holiday in February, either on the second, third, or fourth week. After the February holiday follows the fourth module, which will run until around the Easter holidays. The holiday is scheduled for the period April 8-23. The last learning module is the 5th, which runs until June 16.



    It all started from the need to alternate learning modules of 6-7-8 weeks with rest modules, as required by modern pedagogy, says the minister. And the changes go on. Minister Sorin Cimpeanu added that the regulations on the organization and functioning of pre-university education would be revised in the sense of eliminating the compulsory written semester test papers. In another development, the minister announced that approximately 1,400 schools would be financed with 190 million Euros through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.



    They finalized the selection process of the schools that would benefit, in a first stage, from funding through the National Program for Reducing School Dropout, an important component of the ‘Educated Romania’ project, minister Sorin Cimpeanu explained. Most of the funded schools will be in the rural areas. Digitization will play a key role in the teaching-learning process; the classic style, of writing with chalk on the board will be replaced by smart, interactive boards, which is a radical change in Romanian schools, the education minister concluded. (LS)

  • Changes in the structure of the school year

    Changes in the structure of the school year

    It has become almost impossible to evaluate the successive reforms in the Romanian education system. Some of the reform projects promised to improve the system but were not completed because the reform promoters were the victims of political change. Not to mention the recent pandemic that has turned everything upside down. Now, the education ministry has announced changes in the structure of the school year.



    As of autumn, the current semesters will be replaced by five learning modules, which will be separated by the same number of holidays. Courses are scheduled to begin earlier on September 5 and end on June 16. The announcement was made by education minister Sorin Cîmpeanu, who gave assurances that the decision was made after consultations with experts and following dialogue with the representatives of teachers, parents and students.



    Sorin Cîmpeanu: “The agreed proposal was for school to begin on September 5, with a first learning module. After a period of a several weeks, on October 24, students will go on holiday, between October 24-30, this being their first holiday, a holiday for all students. This holiday is followed by the second learning module, which will run until around the winter holidays, so the second holiday will start on December 23rd and end on January 8th. Then follows module three, which will start on January 9th. And, for the first time, this module will run until February, when we will have the 3rd holiday; so, it’s a mobile one-week holiday in February, either on the second, third, or fourth week. After the February holiday follows the fourth module, which will run until around the Easter holidays. The holiday is scheduled for the period April 8-23. The last learning module is the 5th, which runs until June 16.



    It all started from the need to alternate learning modules of 6-7-8 weeks with rest modules, as required by modern pedagogy, says the minister. And the changes go on. Minister Sorin Cimpeanu added that the regulations on the organization and functioning of pre-university education would be revised in the sense of eliminating the compulsory written semester test papers. In another development, the minister announced that approximately 1,400 schools would be financed with 190 million Euros through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.



    They finalized the selection process of the schools that would benefit, in a first stage, from funding through the National Program for Reducing School Dropout, an important component of the ‘Educated Romania’ project, minister Sorin Cimpeanu explained. Most of the funded schools will be in the rural areas. Digitization will play a key role in the teaching-learning process; the classic style, of writing with chalk on the board will be replaced by smart, interactive boards, which is a radical change in Romanian schools, the education minister concluded. (LS)

  • April 9, 2019 UPDATE

    April 9, 2019 UPDATE

    EUROPEAN COUNCIL – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday
    will attend the European Council meeting in Brussels devoted to Brexit.
    According to the presidency, heads of state and government will discuss in the
    EU27 format the latest developments in the Brexit file, as well as Theresa
    May’s latest request for a new deadline. European Council President Donald Tusk
    said the EU might extend the deadline for Brexit, provided the British
    Parliament ratifies the agreement with the EU.






    CAMPAIGN – The Government supports Romanians worldwide to help them
    understand their rights and obligations, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said
    Tuesday at the launch of the third edition of the national campaign
    Information at home! Safety everywhere!. The campaign addresses Romanians who
    study, work and live abroad. The program is run in every city and will help
    present the most important elements of legislation of countries of destination,
    regarding work conditions and consular assistance services, the Prime Minister
    said. According to Viorica Dancila, the campaign also comprises information
    programmes the Government is currently running, such as Diaspora start-up,
    Start-up Nation, Homecoming bonuses. Launched in 2017 in three counties and
    extended last year at national level, the campaign has proved very efficient, Prime
    Minister Dancila added. Official data points to a drop in the number of victims
    of human trafficking, as a result of the effort to inform citizens over the
    risks they expose themselves to when working as seasonal or illegal workers
    abroad.






    ACCUSATIONS – Romania’s Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar on
    Tuesday dismissed public accusations claiming he denied parole to several
    anti-communists dissidents during his time as a member on the Parole Committee
    of the prison in Aiud. Lazar said he did not handle cases investigating crimes
    against the communist regime. He added he is not an officer, agent or informer
    of intelligence services. The attacks were launched to coincide with my
    candidacy for a new mandate of prosecutor general, Augustin Lazar went on to
    say.






    CITIZEN INITIATIVE – Romania’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday
    ruled that the citizen initiative to revise the Constitution, under which
    people who receive final sentences should no longer be allowed to occupy public
    positions, is in line with the fundamental law. The initiative was signed by approximately
    1 million people and will be submitted to Parliament for debate and vote. To
    modify the Constitution, a referendum must be staged and meet the required
    quorum, whereas the citizen initiative must pass in Parliament.






    DIGITIZATION – Romania supports development and innovation in the
    field of agriculture and culture, and women’s participation in digital economy,
    Romanian Minister of Communications, Alexandru Petrescu said on Tuesday at the
    third edition of the Digital Day. The event is organized in Brussels by the
    European Commission. Minister Petrescu has said that the signing, on Tuesday,
    of joint declarations on the digitization of agriculture and of the cultural
    heritage and also opportunities for women to make a career in the digital
    sector are important topics on the agenda of the Romanian Presidency of the
    Council of the EU.






    DRILL – Sea Shield 2019, a military drill involving the
    participation of more than two thousand servicemen from six countries, is
    underway in Constanta, Romania’s main Black Sea port. Participants will be
    training in order to be able to respond to various types of attacks, coming
    from submarines, battleships or warplanes in the Black Sea. According to
    Vice-admiral Alexandru Mîrşu, the Romanian Navy Chief of Staff, the structure
    coordinating the exercise, the drill’s scenario is a fictional one being by no
    means provocative. NATO has beefed up its presence in the Black Sea from 80 to
    120 days per year and the NATO Mine Countermeasures Group made up of ships from
    the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania is proof of the
    Alliance’s commitment to protecting the eastern flank, preventing conflicts and
    keeping peace in the region.






    EXERCISE – Vigorous Warrior 19, the most complex multinational
    medical exercise in the history of NATO, continues until Friday in three
    locations in Romania, namely, Bucharest, Cincu and Constanta. The purpose of
    the exercise is joint training to provide multinational medical support in NATO
    operations, thus practicing the necessary procedures to provide continuous
    medical care, strategic medical evacuation, increasing the level of training
    and response to a possible chemical, biological or improvised device incidents.
    The exercise, organized by Romanian Defense Ministry in collaboration with the
    Medical Department of the National Defense Ministry and the NATO Center of
    Excellence for Military Medicine, is attended by representatives from 38
    countries, most of them NATO members.






    IMF – The IMF has downgraded its economic growth forecast for
    Romania this year to 3.1% and to 3% for 2020, also estimating an increase in
    the inflation rate and the current account deficit. As regards consumer prices, the IMF estimate
    has gone up for 2019, to an annual inflation rate of 3.3% as compared to the
    previous 2.7% estimate. The inflation rate is expected to stand at 3% in 2020. The
    IMF also downgraded its estimate regarding Romania’s current account deficit to
    5.2% as compared to the original estimate of 3.4%. The IMF has also downgraded
    its global economic forecast to 3.3% this year.






    MEDALS – Romanian athletes Loredana Toma and Irina Lepsa on Tuesday
    won six medals, three gold, two silver and one bronze in the 64-kg category at
    the European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi, Gerogia. Romania has so far
    grabbed 12 medals in this year’s edition, of which six gold, two silver and
    four bronze. 14 Romanian athletes are taking part in the championships, which
    counts as a preliminary qualifying stage for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

    (translated by V. Palcu)

  • April 9, 2019 UPDATE

    April 9, 2019 UPDATE

    EUROPEAN COUNCIL – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday
    will attend the European Council meeting in Brussels devoted to Brexit.
    According to the presidency, heads of state and government will discuss in the
    EU27 format the latest developments in the Brexit file, as well as Theresa
    May’s latest request for a new deadline. European Council President Donald Tusk
    said the EU might extend the deadline for Brexit, provided the British
    Parliament ratifies the agreement with the EU.






    CAMPAIGN – The Government supports Romanians worldwide to help them
    understand their rights and obligations, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said
    Tuesday at the launch of the third edition of the national campaign
    Information at home! Safety everywhere!. The campaign addresses Romanians who
    study, work and live abroad. The program is run in every city and will help
    present the most important elements of legislation of countries of destination,
    regarding work conditions and consular assistance services, the Prime Minister
    said. According to Viorica Dancila, the campaign also comprises information
    programmes the Government is currently running, such as Diaspora start-up,
    Start-up Nation, Homecoming bonuses. Launched in 2017 in three counties and
    extended last year at national level, the campaign has proved very efficient, Prime
    Minister Dancila added. Official data points to a drop in the number of victims
    of human trafficking, as a result of the effort to inform citizens over the
    risks they expose themselves to when working as seasonal or illegal workers
    abroad.






    ACCUSATIONS – Romania’s Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar on
    Tuesday dismissed public accusations claiming he denied parole to several
    anti-communists dissidents during his time as a member on the Parole Committee
    of the prison in Aiud. Lazar said he did not handle cases investigating crimes
    against the communist regime. He added he is not an officer, agent or informer
    of intelligence services. The attacks were launched to coincide with my
    candidacy for a new mandate of prosecutor general, Augustin Lazar went on to
    say.






    CITIZEN INITIATIVE – Romania’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday
    ruled that the citizen initiative to revise the Constitution, under which
    people who receive final sentences should no longer be allowed to occupy public
    positions, is in line with the fundamental law. The initiative was signed by approximately
    1 million people and will be submitted to Parliament for debate and vote. To
    modify the Constitution, a referendum must be staged and meet the required
    quorum, whereas the citizen initiative must pass in Parliament.






    DIGITIZATION – Romania supports development and innovation in the
    field of agriculture and culture, and women’s participation in digital economy,
    Romanian Minister of Communications, Alexandru Petrescu said on Tuesday at the
    third edition of the Digital Day. The event is organized in Brussels by the
    European Commission. Minister Petrescu has said that the signing, on Tuesday,
    of joint declarations on the digitization of agriculture and of the cultural
    heritage and also opportunities for women to make a career in the digital
    sector are important topics on the agenda of the Romanian Presidency of the
    Council of the EU.






    DRILL – Sea Shield 2019, a military drill involving the
    participation of more than two thousand servicemen from six countries, is
    underway in Constanta, Romania’s main Black Sea port. Participants will be
    training in order to be able to respond to various types of attacks, coming
    from submarines, battleships or warplanes in the Black Sea. According to
    Vice-admiral Alexandru Mîrşu, the Romanian Navy Chief of Staff, the structure
    coordinating the exercise, the drill’s scenario is a fictional one being by no
    means provocative. NATO has beefed up its presence in the Black Sea from 80 to
    120 days per year and the NATO Mine Countermeasures Group made up of ships from
    the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania is proof of the
    Alliance’s commitment to protecting the eastern flank, preventing conflicts and
    keeping peace in the region.






    EXERCISE – Vigorous Warrior 19, the most complex multinational
    medical exercise in the history of NATO, continues until Friday in three
    locations in Romania, namely, Bucharest, Cincu and Constanta. The purpose of
    the exercise is joint training to provide multinational medical support in NATO
    operations, thus practicing the necessary procedures to provide continuous
    medical care, strategic medical evacuation, increasing the level of training
    and response to a possible chemical, biological or improvised device incidents.
    The exercise, organized by Romanian Defense Ministry in collaboration with the
    Medical Department of the National Defense Ministry and the NATO Center of
    Excellence for Military Medicine, is attended by representatives from 38
    countries, most of them NATO members.






    IMF – The IMF has downgraded its economic growth forecast for
    Romania this year to 3.1% and to 3% for 2020, also estimating an increase in
    the inflation rate and the current account deficit. As regards consumer prices, the IMF estimate
    has gone up for 2019, to an annual inflation rate of 3.3% as compared to the
    previous 2.7% estimate. The inflation rate is expected to stand at 3% in 2020. The
    IMF also downgraded its estimate regarding Romania’s current account deficit to
    5.2% as compared to the original estimate of 3.4%. The IMF has also downgraded
    its global economic forecast to 3.3% this year.






    MEDALS – Romanian athletes Loredana Toma and Irina Lepsa on Tuesday
    won six medals, three gold, two silver and one bronze in the 64-kg category at
    the European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi, Gerogia. Romania has so far
    grabbed 12 medals in this year’s edition, of which six gold, two silver and
    four bronze. 14 Romanian athletes are taking part in the championships, which
    counts as a preliminary qualifying stage for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

    (translated by V. Palcu)

  • October 31, 2017

    October 31, 2017

    MOTION — The National Liberal Party, the People’s Movement Party and the Save Romania Union in opposition today filed a simple motion in the Senate against Finance Minister Ionut Misa. The opposition criticizes the Government’s fiscal measures, saying they will negatively impact the economy and all social classes. The Government wants to transfer the payment of social security contributions from employers to employees and to introduce the so-called “employment insurance tax” for employers. Liberal leader Ludovic Orban said this new contribution will increase taxation. In another development today, the Senate passed a draft law on adopting the Government’s emergency decree on the spaced-out payment of VAT. The plenary session paid heed to a report of the Senate’s Budget and Finance Committee, which modified the text of the decree, stipulating the measure applies only for insolvent companies or any companies with outstanding VAT-related debts at the end of 2017. The draft law will be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body.



    DIGITIZATION — The future of Europe will be digital or “there won’t be one”, and Romania will hold the upper hand in this context due to its very active network of startups, European Commissioner for Economy and the Digital Society, Mariya Gabriel, said today in Bucharest. According to the EU official, Southeastern Europe will have a great impact on the development of this field. Mariya Gabriel is attending a conference hosted by Bucharest titled “Digital Romania International Forum — Startups in 4.0 Industries”. The forum brings together leaders from the industry, entrepreneurs, investors, European decision-makers, authorities and academia with a view to finding solutions for Romania to contribute and benefit from the digitization of the industry, the economy and society at EU level. According to an analysis of the PwC audit and consultancy group, Romania has a very high development potential in the IT sector, despite ranking last at EU level as regards the degree of digitization.



    UKRAINE — Venice Commission experts are in Kiev for the next couple of days to examine the tensions prompted by the adoption of the new education law in this country. Attending the meeting with ethnic minorities will also be a delegation of Romanian nationals from the region of Cernauti. According to minority representatives, the new education law severely restricts the minorities’ rights to education in their native language. Recently, representatives of the Romanian community in Ukraine have referred the matter to the Venice Commission, demanding the new education law be examined to check its compliance with Ukraine’s commitments before the Council of Europe to safeguard the rights of national minorities to education in their own languages. Bucharest has repeatedly criticized the law.



    INVESTIGATION — A United States judge has warranted the house arrest of Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman to Donald Trump. Paul Manafort and his associate have been indicted on 12 counts, including conspiracy against the United States, failure to disclose overseas bank accounts and money laundering. These are the first accusations stemming from the investigation into Russia’s alleged ingressions into Donald Trump’s campaign for the presidential election of 2016, whose purpose was to swing the vote to Trump’s favour. Manafort ran Trump’s campaign in June-August 2016, when he was forced to step down in light of revelations that he secretly lobbied for a pro-Russian party in Ukraine in exchange for millions of dollars. The indictment however makes no reference to Donald Trump’s election campaign nor any other suggestion linked with a secret understanding between Donald Trump’s campaign staff and Russian authorities that might have illegally influenced the result of the vote. Trump denied accusations regarding his purported involvement with Russian officials and has labeled the investigation as “a witch hunt”.



    FOOTBALL — Romania’s football vice-champions FCSB on Thursday are playing Hapoel Beer Sheva of Israel at home in the fourth round of the Europa League main group phase. Two weeks ago, Nicolae Dica’s trainees won 2-1 in Israel. FCSB ranks first in the Group G with 9 points in 3 matches, followed by Lugano of Switzerland, Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic and Hapoel Beer Seva of Israel, each with 3 points. FCSB can secure qualification to the next phase with a draw on Thursday. (Translated by V. Palcu)