Radio România Internațional

Tag: drills

  • February 23, 2025

    February 23, 2025

    UKRAINE The interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan takes part on Monday in an online summit on ‘Defence and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan’, organised in the neighbouring Russia-invaded Ukraine, the Romanian presidency announced. On Wednesday, Bolojan took part in a meeting on Ukraine and the security challenges in Europe in Paris. The interim president stated that participants in the meeting in Paris concluded that the best way to solve the crisis is collaboration between European countries and the United States of America, so that there is a ceasefire and a just peace, which cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations.

     

    ELECTIONS In Romania, the electoral alliance supporting Crin Antonescu as a presidential candidate in May has been officially registered with the Central Electoral Bureau. The alliance, called  “Romania Forward”, comprises the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), in the ruling coalition, and is also backed by the group of ethnic minorities in the Romanian Parliament. A former education minister, Daniel Funeriu, and the incumbent mayor general of Bucharest, Nicuşor Dan, have also announced plans to run for president. The election campaign begins on April 4 and ends on May 3, with the vote scheduled on May 4 and the second round on May 18. In December the Constitutional Court cancelled the presidential election over foreign interference in the electoral process.

     

    AIRCRAFT US aircraft deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base (southeastern Romania) are performing low-altitude training flights in and around Constanţa County these days, the Romanian Air Forces announced. They say the exercises will continue until February 28 and promised that all safety measures have been taken to reduce the noise impact on civilians. Officials say that these trainings aim to increase the response capacity of aeronautical personnel.

     

    FILM The Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude was awarded the Silver Bear for best screenplay at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The distinction was awarded for his latest film, “Kontinental ’25”, the story of a female bailiff in the grips of a moral crisis, filmed with a phone in just 10 days. In his acceptance speech, Radu Jude thanked his team and said that the award proves that there is a lot of talent in Romania. The Golden Bear for best film went to ‘Dreams (Sex Love)’/'(Drommer’), directed by the Norwegian Dag Johan Haugerud. The second most important trophy of the Berlinale, the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, was awarded to the Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro for the production ‘The Blue Trail’ (‘O último azul’), and the Silver Bear for best director went to the Chinese filmmaker Huo Meng for ‘Living The Land’ (‘Sheng xi zhi di’).

     

    GERMANY Germany is holding elections for the next Bundestag. The Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz, the most likely to become the country’s next chancellor, said at a rally in Munich that he would be a strong voice in Europe in these “troubled times.” The campaign was overshadowed by the rise of the far-right party Alternative for Germany, which is expected to come in second place, ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, however, the fragmented political landscape requires complicated negotiations at a crucial moment for the strongest EU member state. Following a reform of the electoral law, the 21st Bundestag will have 630 MPs, 103 fewer than at present. The campaign was generally focused on hot topics such as illegal migration and, more recently, the challenges to NATO posed by the US President Donald Trump.

     

    HANDBALL  The Romanian women’s handball team Rapid Bucharest play away from home today against Buducnost, in a decisive match for the round of 16 of the Champions League. Whoever wins will play against the Romanian champions CSM Bucharest. Also today, Dunarea Braila play at home against Larvik for qualification in the quarterfinals of the women’s handball competition EHF European League. On Saturday evening, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea were defeated by the Danish team Ikast Handbold 36-34, in their last match in the competition’s Group B. On Saturday evening, CS Minaur Baia Mare qualified for the quarterfinals of the EHF European Cup men’s handball competition, although they were defeated by the Finnish team BK-46, 32-31 in Karis, in the second leg of the round of 16. (AMP)

  • September 9, 2024 UPDATE

    September 9, 2024 UPDATE

    Drones – Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated, on Monday, in relation to the Russian drones that entered the national airspace, that Romania had a real-time reaction and monitored the situation with F16 planes, noting that these drones had no targets on Romanian territory. On the night of Saturday to Sunday, a Russian drone entered Romania’s airspace, after which it headed towards Ukraine, the Romanian Defense Ministry reported. In response, two F-16 fighter jets took off urgently from a military base in the southeast of the country to monitor the aerial situation. At the same time, the institution informed that it had deployed ground teams and aerial means in the area of ​​Periprava, in Tulcea county, where pieces of the drones used by Russia in the attack on port facilities in Ukraine, located near the border with Romania, fell. Following this incident, the Romanian authorities protested against the repeated violation of the country’s airspace, as well as against the repeated attacks against the Ukrainian population and civil infrastructure.

     

    School – Schools must be absolutely safe for students, the teaching staff and the rest of the education staff, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday, at the opening ceremony of the new school year at a college in Bucharest. Attending the event together with the education minister, Ligia Deca, the head of state emphasized that one of the priority objectives of the “Educated Romania” project, transposed into the education laws of 2023, was the creation of a school and university environment that is not only conducive to educational development, but it is also a space where all those involved feel protected and respected. Approximately three million Romanian preschoolers and pupils started a new school year on Monday. The government promises that the 2024-2025 school year will be the last in which students go to school in three shifts. Currently, there are only 19 such units in Bucharest and in Ilfov county (near Bucharest). According to the Education Ministry, at the beginning of the school year, 800 schools are relocated for reasons of rehabilitation, modernization or construction out of the total of over 6,000 schools in Romania.

     

    Order – The presence of law enforcement was ensured, on the first day of school, at every educational unit in Romania, in order to maintain the climate of order and public safety, the spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry, Monica Dajbog, announced. She specified that approximately 25,000 employees of the ministry were mobilized at the national level within the framework of public order and security corps, and, distinctly, approximately 8,000 people from the ministry were present at the pre-university education units. Also, the traffic police intensified their activities in the area of ​​educational institutions. Road crews acted to streamline traffic and prevent accidents, paying special attention to situations that may endanger children. Monica Dajbog also said that actions to prevent and combat drug trafficking and consumption among young people remained a priority.

     

    Drills – Between September 9-13, troops of the Romanian Land Forces will carry out joint exercises with foreign soldiers near the town of Sfântu Gheorghe in Covasna county (center). The leaders of the 22nd Mountain Hunter Battalion ‘Cireşoaia’ informs that the maneuvers are aimed at training the soldiers on the ground in carrying out actions in the NATO context and validating the techniques, tactics and procedures in the execution of actions in mountainous-wooded terrain. During the activities, the military will use practice ammunition. Both last year and this year, several training exercises took place in Covasna county, in which both land and air troops from military structures of the Defense Ministry and from NATO countries participated.

     

    Film – The New Year That Never Came, directed, written and produced by Bogdan Mureşanu, won awards at the Venice International Film Festival, including the jury award of the International Federation of Film Critics and the award for best script from the independent critics. The film’s cinematographer Boróka Biró won a special mention. This is Bogdan Mureşanu’s first feature film and the story takes place in one day, on the day before the anticommunist Revolution of 1989. (LS)

  • May 6, 2024

    May 6, 2024

    EASTER Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Easter Monday, the second day of Bright Week. Easter Monday is also known as Bright Monday and it is said to be the day when the gates of Heaven and forgiveness are opened. As for specific traditions, on this day young girls and homes are sprinkled with holy water, and people visit their parents and godparents, bringing Easter cake and eggs.

     

    STATISTICS Romania has the 3rd-lowest life expectancy in the EU, 76.6 years, according to a report released by Eurostat. The only 2 countries in the European bloc with poorer rates in this respect are Bulgaria and Latvia (below 76 years). Spain has the longest life expectancy in the European Union, 84 years, followed closely by Italy and Malta. According to Eurostat data, lower rates are reported in Eastern Europe and in the three Baltic states, whereas in Mediterranean, Scandinavian and Central European countries people live longer. On the other hand, the EU statistics office said, Romania sees the steepest increase in life expectancy, with one year gained between 2019 and 2023.

     

    MILITARY A multinational exercise called Swift Response 24 takes place until May 24 in Romania and other countries. Thousands of troops and hundreds of vehicles and other equipment from 7 Allied and partner states are taking part. The exercise is organised by the US Army Europe and Africa, and according to the Romanian defence ministry it will include one of the largest air assault operations conducted in Europe since WWII, with around 2,000 paratroopers from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the US and the Netherlands taking part. Romania contributes 2,300 troops, several air bases and 3 firing ranges. The drills on Romanian territory are coordinated by the German Armed Forces jointly with the Romanian Land Forces, with support from the Romanian Air Forces.

     

    RUSSIA Russia’s president Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear weapons drills “in the near future,” involving in particular troops deployed close to Ukraine, France Presse and Reuters report. According to the Russian defence ministry, the drills are designed to keep the Army trained, following “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.” Missile units from the Military District South and naval forces will take part in the drills. Russia currently has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin led to the worst deterioration of Russia’s relations with the West since the Cuban missile crisis, both US and Russian diplomats said. While Moscow claims the war is a response to NATO’s attempts to control Ukraine while expanding its military presence eastwards, the West and Ukraine define Putin’s war as intended to occupy new territory and bring Ukraine under Moscow’s control, Reuters says.

     

    VISIT The war in Ukraine and economic relations between China and the European Union are the main topics on the agenda of today’s talks in Paris, held as part of a 2-day state visit by China’s president Xi Jinping to France. The Chinese official called for a consolidated strategic coordination between China and the EU, as major world powers, at the start of a 3-party meeting with president Emmanuel Macron and with the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen. President Macron pleaded in turn for “fair rules for all” in the trade between China and Europe. “The future of our continent will very clearly depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced manner,” Macron said, and added that “coordination” with Beijing on “major crises” including Ukraine and the Middle East was “absolutely decisive.” In turn, the EC president Ursula von der Leyen said that China and the EU have a shared interest in peace and security, and emphasized the determination to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to achieve just and long-term peace.

     

    GAZA On Monday the Israeli armed forces started to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah, ahead of a planned military move in this town in the south of Gaza, an Israeli radio station, Army Radio, has announced. The Israeli Army said it “encourages” residents in eastern Rafah to move to an extended humanitarian area close by. Seven months since the start of its attack on Hamas, Israel says Rafah is hosting thousands of Islamist Palestinian fighters and that the town is critical for its victory. But with over one million Palestinian civilians relocated to Rafah, the prospect of a military operation with a large number of victims is a concern for the West and for neighbouring Egypt, Reuters reports. (AMP)

  • April 1, 2024 UPDATE

    April 1, 2024 UPDATE

    Deepfake – The National Cyber Security Directorate Romania published a “Guide to Deepfakes”, aimed at protecting and educating the general public on cyber security risks. The Guideline provides detailed information on deepfake production and identification. The authors are confident that by understanding these concepts, users are more aware of the related risks and may take adequate protection measures. Deepfake is a form of digital manipulation using advanced AI techniques to create false images or audio-video materials. According to the institution, this may have a severe impact on society, as it erodes public confidence in online information.

     

    Banking – The consumer credit reference index (IRCC) dropped to 5.90% per year, from 5.97% 3 months ago, the National Bank announced. This is the first significant decrease of the index in the past 12 months, and will lead to smaller interest rates as of this month. In June the IRCC is expected to decrease further, to 5.84%. The downward trend will help bring down interest rates for mortgage loans for nearly half a million Romanians. Meanwhile, the 3-month ROBOR index which influences the costs of variable-rate loans in the national currency has reached 6.06% per year, as opposed to 6.05%. IRCC is the index used for setting the interest rates for variable-rate loans in the national currency since May 2019, when it stood at 2.36%. It was designed by the government as a solution to offset the effects of the ROBOR index, which had been rising from one month to the next at the end of 2018.

     

    Parliament – The Parliament of Romania convenes on Tuesday in a joint meeting to mark 20 years since the country joined the North Atlantic Alliance and 75 years since the establishment of NATO. Parliament will adopt a declaration on this occasion. Also this week, the Chamber of Deputies is scheduled to give its final vote on a government bill introducing penalties for breaches of the EU regulation on the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases in appliances such as refrigerators or AC systems. The penalties may reach EUR 20,000 in fines, and 6-month to 3-year prison sentences. Deputies in the specialist committees are also to discuss as of this week new draft regulations on the compulsory motor insurance, stipulating fines 15 times higher than in the past for uninsured drivers and a ceiling of EUR 400 on self-paid car repairs. Also this week, the Senate is to discuss the merger of local elections with the European Parliament elections, scheduled for June 9th.

     

    Protests – The Romanian Post Workers’ Union went on an all-out strike on Monday, but the postal offices’ activity is taking place normally in most counties of Romania, as the management of the institution claims. The protesters demand an increase in salaries by a net amount of 400 lei (approx. 80 euros) and an increase in the loyalty bonus. They draw attention to the fact that the pay of 90% of the employees will be, as of this summer, at the level of the minimum wage. According to the authorities, it will increase to 3,700 lei (approx. 740 euros) from July 1. The company management announced that the demands of the employees are justified, but that there have already been significant salary increases. The Romanian Post is a national operator and is owned by the state.

     

    Drills – Joint exercises of the Moldovan, Romanian and American military are taking place in the Republic of Moldova until April 19. The Moldovan Defense Ministry announced that they would train, will exchange experience and increase the level of interoperability. The drills will take place in the training centers of the National Army of the Republic of Moldova.

     

    Visit – The special representative of the United States of America for the economic recovery of Ukraine, Penny Pritzker, arrives in Bucharest in two days. She will visit the UN Refugee Agency Center at the Romexpo Exhibition Compound, together with Romanian officials and the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec. She will talk about the life of refugees in Romania and their role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. At the same time, Penny Pritzker will meet with members of the Romanian Government and private sector leaders to discuss regional cooperation, including emergency energy assistance for Ukraine and the long-term benefits of infrastructure investments. (AMP, LS)

  • April 26, 2023 UPDATE

    April 26, 2023 UPDATE

    Schengen — The migration situation in the EU, especially border protection and the perspective of Romanias Schengen accession were examined, on Wednesday, in Bucharest, by the Romanian and Austrian interior ministers, Lucian Bode and Gerhard Karner. The latter stated that Austria could not provide a definite date for Romanias accession to Schengen. The Austrian official repeated the same figures with which he motivated the vote against Romanias accession to the free travel area: last year, over 110,000 people entered Austria illegally, of whom over 80,000 were unregistered, with the border protection system being still non-functional. He told Romanians that he had a “deep understanding” of their expectations, that the authorities had made progress in securing the borders and managing migration, but that there was still a “long way to go”. In turn, minister Lucian Bode said that it was unnatural for Romania to only have obligations and not to benefit from the rights it is entitled to. We remind you that, at the end of last year, at the JHA Council, Romania was not admitted to the Schengen area, due to the opposition of Austria and the Netherlands. The Austrians voted against, and the Dutch decided to accept Romanias accession, but not Bulgarias, the two countries being analyzed on a common file. At the same time, Croatia received the green light to join Schengen.



    Bucharest–9 – The Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, co-chaired, on Wednesday, together with his Polish counterpart, Mariusz Blaszczak, a new meeting of the defense ministers in the Bucharest 9 Format, held in Warsaw, Poland. According to a Romanian Defense Ministry press release, the activity represents an opportunity for harmonizing the positions of the B9 states on the eastern flank of the Alliance in order to promote and reflect common security interests on the allied agenda, including in the perspective of the NATO Summit due in Vilnius this summer. Also, the participants in the meeting approached aspects regarding the current security challenges generated by the latest developments of the war in Ukraine and the regional and Euro-Atlantic consequences, as well as the need to continue supporting the most vulnerable partners in the region, subject to hybrid threats from Russia, namely the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.



    Gopo – The Gopo Awards Gala – the most important event dedicated to cinematography in Romania – awarded, on Tuesday evening, the best films in the industry released in cinemas or on View on Demand platforms in 2022. The film “Metronome” won the biggest number of prizes, and the audience award went to the film “Teambuilding”. The Gopo Awards Gala ceremony was also marked by special moments, such as the 100th birthday anniversary of the renowned filmmaker Ion Popescu Gopo. Ion Popescu Gopo (1923-1989) established himself, through his artistic creations, as a great personality of Romanian cinema, winning, in 1957, the “Palme dor” award at the Cannes International Film Festival.



    Debates — The debate on the draft Education Laws was resumed in the Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest on Wednesday. They were scheduled to end on Thursday, but the deadline could be extended. The vote in the plenum could be delayed by one week, due to the large number of amendments submitted. These days, the document aimed at pre-university education is being analyzed. The Social Democrats (in the governing coalition) proposed a series of amendments with a budgetary impact, among which the granting of disability pensions in the case of the teaching staff that lost their ability to work as a result of an occupational disease. Instead, an amendment by the opposition Save Romania Union – USR regarding teachers pay was rejected by vote.



    Drills — At the Capu Midia shooting range, in Constanța county (south-east), live fire exercises took place on Wednesday – “EAGLE SHIELD” and “EAGLE ROYAL”, led by the French soldiers from the NATO Battle Group stationed in Romania. Soldiers from Romania, the US, Luxembourg and the Netherlands also participated in the two training exercises, the objective being the joint training of the allied troops. The exercises focus on capitalizing on and practicing anti-aircraft defense capabilities through combat firing with rocket launcher systems and anti-aircraft artillery guns against aerial targets. After the launch of the Russian invasion in neighboring Ukraine, on February 24, 2022, France deployed a MAMBA air defense system at Capu Midia, which can launch medium-range surface-to-air missiles that can hit targets at a distance of up to 100 km.



    Eurostat — The average electricity prices for household consumers in the EU continued to rise significantly in the second half of 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021, from 23.5 Euros/100 kWh to 28.4 Euros/100 kWh — show data published on Wednesday by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat). Romania is the EU member state with the most significant advance, in the national currency (112%), followed by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Lithuania and Latvia. The average prices for natural gas for household consumers in the EU also increased in the second semester of 2022, as compared to the similar period in 2021, from 7.8 Euros/100 kWh to 11.4 Euros/100 kWh. The most significant advance, expressed in the national currency, was in the Czech Republic (231%), Romania (165%), Latvia (157%), Lithuania (112%) and Belgium (102%).



    Handball — Romania’s national mens handball team was defeated, on Wednesday, in Bucharest score 30-35, by the Austrian national team, in its penultimate match in the 4th group of the EHF EURO 2024 preliminaries in Germany. In the decisive round, Romania will face Ukraine on Sunday, and if they win, they can reach the final tournament in Germany scheduled for January 2024. In the group ranking, the Austrians are on first place (10 points) being followed by the Romanians (four points). The Faroe Islands and Ukraine have two points each. The top two teams in each group qualify for the final tournament. Besides them, the best four teams on the 3rd places will go to the European Championship. Romania’s national team last participated in a European Championship in 1996. (LS)

  • August 4, 2022 UPDATE

    August 4, 2022 UPDATE


    INTEREST The 3-month ROBOR index, based on which the cost of consumer loans in lei with variable interest is calculated in Romania, rose on Thursday from 8.05% to 8.11% per annum, the highest level in the last 12 years. In early 2022, the index was 3% per year. Rates on mortgage loans and “First house” loans have increased by 50% since the beginning of the year and almost doubled as compared to a few years ago. IRCC, the reference index for consumer loans, is 2.65% p.a., up from 1.86% three months ago. In the last three months, more than 10,000 beneficiaries of the “First house” programme have requested to switch from ROBOR to IRCC for calculating loan interests.



    AIR FORCES As of August 4, the Canadian Royal Air Force is conducting an air policing mission in Romania. According to the defence ministry, a unit of 180 troops and 6 CF-188 Hornet aircraft, will operate under NATO command in the next 4 months, jointly with Romanian Air Force units, while another 2 aircraft will take part in drills organised jointly with NATO allies. This is the 6th rotation of Canadian troops at Romanias Mihail Kogălniceanu air base since 2017. Canadian forces were also deployed in Câmpia Turzii in central Romania in 2014. The presence of the CF-188 Hornet aircraft in Romania is part of the action plan for ensuring NATO operational capability in the eastern flank, and proves the Alliances unity and determination in response to recent security challenges, the Romanian defence ministry said.



    COVID-19 Three military hospitals in Romania have reopened wards for treating COVID patients. In Sibiu (centre), patients have five beds available, with another five available in Cluj Napoca (north-west). The Emergency Military Clinical Hospital in Timisoara (west) also reopened the Modular Medical Isolation and Treatment System, where patients have already been admitted. More than 4,000 people infected with coronavirus are currently hospitalised in Romania, and the number of those in Intensive Care is around 300. On Thursday, more than 8,600 new infections with SARS-COV-2 were announced in 24 hours. The authorities also reported 27 deaths.



    TAIWAN The Chinese army Thursday fired missiles towards the Taiwan Strait, shortly after the start of military drills around the island, France Presse and Reuters reported. China initiated large-scale live-fire drills around Taiwan in response to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei. Pelosi is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in the last 25 years. She assured Taipei of the USs commitment to supporting the democracy of the self-governed island claimed by Beijing. Taiwan has condemned the Chinese drills.



    UNTOLD Cluj-Napoca, in north-western Romania, is hosting until August 7 the UNTOLD electronica festival, currently at its 7th edition. For the opening night on Thursday, the organisers have brought to Romania, for the first time ever, a unique show by the German DJ and producer duo Claptone and 100 dancers and animators. The crowd will be welcomed by fantastic characters, international acrobats, animators, cheerleaders, dancers from Romania, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and Ukraine, with parades, fireworks and laser shows. UNTOLD takes place in several locations, with the main stage placed in the Cluj Arena. The line-up includes the worlds best DJs, and the organisers expect nearly 400,000 people to attend. UNTOLD is one of the largest music festivals in the world. (AMP)

  • February 10, 2022 UPDATE

    February 10, 2022 UPDATE

    MILITARY President Klaus Iohannis and NATO’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg
    will visit the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base 57, the Romanian Presidency
    announced. The 2 officials will also discuss with the troops deployed to the
    military base and subsequently will have a joint press conference. Military
    equipment for the US Task Force (TF) Cougar has already reached Romania. TF
    Cougar will primarily consist of a
    Stryker squadron relocated from Germany to Romania to protect the region in the
    context of the Russia-Ukraine standoff. President Iohannis said
    after a visit to the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South-East on Thursday
    that the US and France deciding to strengthen their military presence in Romania
    is a ‘firm sign of the coherence and consistency of Euro-Atlantic solidarity’ and
    invited other Allied countries as well to consider contributing troops to the
    multinational structures in Romania.


    DRILLS Russia and Belarus Thursday began 10 days of military exercises near
    the border with Ukraine and Poland. According to the Russian defence ministry, the drills are aimed at the tasks of repelling
    external aggression while conducting a defensive operation, countering
    terrorism and protecting common interests.
    NATO is concerned that the Russian military build-up in Belarus is part of a
    plan to attack Ukraine. Moscow denies plans to invade Ukraine, and says it will
    pull out its troops from Belarus as soon as the drills are over. According to Radio
    Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Russia relocated troops and equipment from
    as far as Siberia and the Far East, 10,000 km away, for the exercise in
    Belarus.


    GOVERNMENT The governments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova will hold their
    first joint meeting in Chişinău on Friday, with the Romanian PM Nicolae Ciucă scheduled
    to also have talks with president Maia Sandu and the Moldovan parliament
    speaker Igor Grosu. A joint action and solidarity plan for the energy sector
    will be put together within 6 months of signing a joint memorandum on energy
    security, which is scheduled for Friday, the Romanian government spokesman Dan
    Cărbunaru said. He added that a bill was passed on the mutual recognition of
    diplomas. Over 12,000 students and 2,000 pupils from Moldova are currently
    attending Romanian schools. The 2 governments are also to sign an agreement on
    Friday concerning the building, maintenance, repair and use of a cross-border
    bridge in Ungheni. Another agreement between the 2 states will concern roaming
    and international call tariffs.


    ECONOMY Romania’s economy went up by 6.3% in 2021, thanks to a
    sound domestic demand, but the pace will slow down to 4.2% this year, to reach
    4.5% in 2023, according to the winter economic forecast released by the
    European Commission on Thursday. Last autumn the EC estimated Romania’s GDP
    would grow by 7% in 2021, with rates of 5.1% and 5.2% forecast for 2022 and
    2023 respectively. The most recent data concerning confidence in the economy
    indicate positive, although moderated economic growth prospects, especially in services,
    retail, constructions and industry. Private consumption is also expected to
    recover in the second half of the year, when restrictions will be eased out and
    inflation will slow down. Meanwhile, the EC substantially adjusted its 2022
    inflation forecast for Romania, from 4% estimated in November to 5.3% this
    winter, after a 4.1% inflation rate in 2021.


    TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Irina Begu Thursday managed a
    spectacular win against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-0, which
    secured her a place in the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 tournament in Sankt
    Petersburg, Russia. Another Romanian, Jaqueline Cristian, lost to Aleksandra
    Sasnovich of Belarus, 6-2, 6-3, and left the competition. (A.M.P.)

  • September 14, 2020

    September 14, 2020

    COVID-19 The Government of Romania is to extend today for the 4th time the state of alert triggered by the COVID 19 pandemic. The National Committee for Emergency Situations is due to make final proposals on the measures to be implemented. The relevant government order will include measures concerning the local elections due on September 27. PM Ludovic Orban said authorities were considering bigger locations for polling stations and outdoor waiting areas, in order to comply with physical distancing requirements. Meanwhile, the Government is looking at easing some restrictions in the forthcoming period. The state of alert was introduced on May 15, after a 2-month state of emergency. The total number of coronavirus infections in Romania is over 104,000, with the death toll standing at 4,185.



    SCHOOLS An atypical school year has begun in Romania today, with special coronavirus protection measures in place. Education is a vital prerequisite for a civilised society, and children are returning to schools with one more lesson to learn—how to take care of ones health and of the health of others, said PM Ludovic Orban in a message on this occasion. He warned that the danger posed by the disease is not over and that the new school year is a challenge for children, their families, teachers and authorities.



    DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu had telephone talks with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, following the political consultations held during his visit to Israel this month. According to the Foreign Ministry, the 2 officials reviewed the preparations for a new joint government meeting due next year. They also looked at the arrangements for the set up of a new expert group preparing the meeting, which will focus on mutually relevant topics like agriculture, water management, IT, cyber security and AI. The talk also occasioned an exchange of opinions on the Middle East peace process. “Romania supports the resolution of this problem based on international law and on the 2-state solution, Israel and Palestine, living next to each other in peace and prosperity, the Romanian foreign minister said. On September 2-3, minister Aurescu discussed with high-level political officials both in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and in Ramallah.



    PANDEMIC Many countries are reintroducing lockdowns in the context of a so-called “second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic. The World Health Organisation Sunday reported nearly 308,000 new infections for the last 24 hours, a new global record, Reuters reports. The most significant increases were in India, the USA and Brazil. The total number of cases worldwide is nearing 29.2 million, and the number of COVID-related deaths is 928,000. Israel reintroduced a 3-week lockdown in a move to contain the new wave. Strict restrictions regarding groups larger than 6 people have come into force in the UK today. And also as of Monday, face masks, already compulsory in supermarkets and public transportation, must be worn in all public buildings and shops in Austria.



    BELARUS The president of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has a meeting in Russia today with his counterpart Vladimir Putin. This is the first meeting of the 2 officials since the start of large-scale anti-presidential protests in Minsk. Russia sent troops to Belarus to take part in joint military exercises. Scheduled to last until September 25, the drills take place amid extensive protests in Belarus following the August presidential election. The ballot was won by Lukashenko, but the opposition claims the election was rigged. Western countries have asked for a new election. On Sunday, tens of thousands took to the streets once again, across the country, asking for the resignation of Belaruss strongman of 26 years, largely seen as the last dictator in Europe.



    TENNIS The Romanian player Patricia Ţig won the first WTA title in her career on Sunday, in the tournament in Istanbul. She defeated Canadas Eugenie Bouchard, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) in the final, after a dramatic match. For Ţig (26, no 88 WTA), this was the 3rd WTA final, after the ones in Baku (2015) and Bucharest (2019). The Romanian player has also won the 2019 tournament in Karlsruhe. Meanwhile, the Romanian Irina Begu has qualified into the main group of the Rome tournament. She beat the German Anna-Lena Friedsam, 6-1, 6-1 in the qualifying round 2. Simona Halep is also seed no 1 in this tournament. She is to take on the winner of the match pitting Latvian Anastasija Sevastova against the Italian Jasmine Paolini. The Rome tournament begins today.


    (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • Major Earthquake Drill in Romania

    Major Earthquake Drill in Romania

    Dubbed “Earthquake 2018”, the drill has mobilized all state structures that activate in case of a 7.5 Richter-scale earthquake, which could have multiple aftershocks and result in numerous deaths, primarily in the capital-city Bucharest. As part of the simulation scenario, rescue teams are tested to deal with thousands of deaths and injuries and people left destitute.



    On Saturday, President Klaus Iohannis declared a state of emergency. In one of its bases, the army set up a field hospital. The city’s stadiums and satellite towns also hosted refugee centers. On Sunday, the focus was laid on international cooperation. Israel, Italy and Norway set up state-of-the-art field hospitals with intensive care units, while Austria and Hungary dispatched several ambulances.



    On a visit to Bucharest, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, was impressed by the participants and the amount of resources involved. According to the scenario enacted by the authorities, a toll-free crisis hotline was opened where relatives of people who are reported missing or injured can get more information. Authorities advise people remain calm and follow the appropriate safety instructions in case of an earthquake of this magnitude.



    Interior Minister Carmen Dan: “I want people to comply with this drill and understand how they need to react. It’s crucial that citizens know what to do in a situation like this, even the basic actions”.



    State Secretary Raed Arafat, the Head of the Department of Emergency Situations, said the drill provides a good opportunity for the authorities to see what’s at fault and improve standard procedures.



    Raed Arafat: “There are lots of things you can’t predict, things that haven’t been carefully planned for, so that everyone knows what to do and how to react, and this allows us to learn and identify the deadlocks and issues. For instance, we have come across certain decision-making procedures that could hinder our actions in case of a natural disaster. All that needs changing, we have taken it under advisement”.



    Although highly ridiculed by the media and social networks, the drill’s utility is undeniable. In the last 200 years, Romania has seen seven earthquakes of magnitude 7 and above. The one on March 4, 1977 killed 1,570 people, mostly in Bucharest, and caused material damage worth over 2 billion dollars at the time. Some 230,000 homes were severely damaged, while 760 businesses were decommissioned.



    The earthquake was followed by an economic and social crisis which, historians argue, the communist dictatorship at the time could never overcome until its demise in 1989. Experts warn that thousands of buildings in Bucharest are at risk in the event of a similar seismic event. (Translated by V. Palcu, edited by D. Vijeu)

  • July 6, 2016 UPDATE

    July 6, 2016 UPDATE

    RULING – Romanias Constitutional Court has unanimously endorsed the notification sent by President Klaus Iohannis on the unconstitutional character of a law. According to this law, mayors and local county councillors indicted for corruption deeds, and who got suspended prison sentences, can further be maintained in their public positions. Iohannis challenged this law at the Constitutional Court, on grounds of hindering the fight against corruption. Also on Wednesday, the Court decided to postpone until September 13th issuing a ruling on the bill challenged by almost 100 parliament members. The bill, passed two weeks ago, stipulates that MPs who had hired their relatives at their parliamentary cabinets before August 21, 2013, can no longer be accused of conflict of interests. The MPs who are now challenging this bill say it could create a legal conflict of constitutional nature between Parliament and the High Court of Cassation and Justice, as it introduces a new interpretation of the conflict of interests. Moreover, the signatories to the bill also say that the law applies retroactively, which runs counter to a principle established by the Constitution.



    RESHUFFLE – The new ministers nominated by Romanias technocratic PM, Dacian Ciolos, following the cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday, will be sworn in on Thursday, a communiqué issued by the Presidential Administration reads. The ministers who have been replaced are transport minister, Dan Costescu, education minister, Adrian Curaj, the minister delegate for the relation with the Romanian diaspora, Dan Stoenescu, and communications minister, Marius Bostan. The names of their successors have already been made public. This is the most extensive government reshuffle made by PM Dacian Ciolos since he took office, in November 2015.



    VISAS – The Canadian migration minister will have talks with members of the European Commission next week on mutual visa exemption. The meeting is held in the context in which Romania and Bulgaria might vote against the EU-Canada Agreement, in response to the Canadian governments refusal to lift visas for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens. The EU intends to endorse the document in October.



    NATO SUMMIT – Polands capital, Warsaw, is preparing to receive over 2,200 participants in the NATO Summit that starts on Friday. Alongside NATO members, European Union officials and leaders of Georgia, Ukraine and Afghanistan are also expected to attend the summit. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said the Alliances leaders will be making key decisions for the consolidation of NATOs defence and deterrence capabilities. Also, a Romanian brigade will be turned into a multinational force. Moreover, multinational battalions will be dispatched to the three Baltic states and Poland.



    HUNGARIAN BORDER SECURITY – The Hungarian authorities have stopped over 1,000 people from illegally crossing the border into Hungary as of Tuesday, when the new border security regulations were enforced, on an 8 km wide strip, on the countrys southern frontier. The measures have been criticised by the UNHCR for violating the immigrants rights. Also on Tuesday, Budapest announced that Hungary will organise, on October 2, a referendum on the European plan regarding the refugee distribution quota across the EU.



    THE OSCE – Victor Paul Dobre, a member of the Romanian Parliaments delegation at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been elected vice-president of this organisation, at its 25th annual meeting held in Tbilisi, Georgia, between July 1 and 5. The OSCE addresses a wide range of security-related issues, including arms control, security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratisation, counter-terrorism as well as economic and environmental matters. It is made up of 57 participating states that span the globe, encompassing three continents – North America, Europe and Asia – and more than a billion people. Romanias Parliament has been part of the OSCEs Parliamentary Assembly since its establishment, in 1991, with a standing delegation made up of seven MPs.



    DRILLS- Divers from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the US, Turkey and Ukraine are taking part, until Saturday, in a multinational exercise in Romanias territorial waters. This joint exercise, currently at its 6th edition consists in finding, neutralising and destroying underwater-improvised explosives devices and naval mines. We remind you that also these days the town of Targu-Mures, in central Romania, is playing host to a NATO exercise, enjoying the participation of 17 teams from such countries as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Serbia, Sweden, the US, Switzerland and Turkey. The exercise was organized by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre jointly with Romania, and is a computer simulation of an large-scale disaster situation, resulting in multiple victims and the evacuation of thousands of people.


    (Translated by D. Vijeu and E. Enache)

  • March 8, 2016 UPDATE

    March 8, 2016 UPDATE

    ECONOMY– Romania last year reported 3.7% in economic growth as compared to the previous year and an estimated GDP of 158 billion euros, the National Institute for Statistics has announced. All economic sectors have contributed to the GDP growth with the exception of agriculture, forestry and fishing. Several sectors, such as trade, car mending, transport and storage, hotels and restaurants, constructions, IT&C and industry have made a significant contribution to the GDP growth. The National Forecast Committee has revised up its outlook for the GDP to 4.2% this year. A 4.3% economic growth is expected for the next year.



    VISIT-Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, has announced he will plead for the setting up in Bucharest of a museum dedicated to Jews and the Holocaust and that he will have talks on this issue with government representatives. The announcement was made during his official visit to Israel, after he signed in the Guest Book of the “Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. At the end of the talks he held on Tuesday with the Knesset Speaker, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, the Romanian President said the “Holocaust tragedy is a painful page in the history of mankind. We have the moral duty to keep alive the memory of the millions of Jews who fell victim to murderous ideologies and we have the obligation to categorically oppose intolerance, based on ethnic, racial or religious criteria, for this to never repeat again. On Monday, during the official talks with his Israeli counterpart, Reuven Rivlin, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Iohannis underlined that in order to ensure Israels security, there couldnt be any compromise. After Jerusalem, President Johannis will visit the Palestinian territories, where he will have official talks with President Mahmoud Abbas.



    DIPLOMACY – Romanian Prime
    Minister Dacian Ciolos held talks in Brussels on Tuesday with NATO Secretary
    General, Jens Stoltenberg, on NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe, the Black Sea
    area and on the EU-NATO strategic relationship. Dacian Ciolos has underlined
    that the Romanian government has pledged to increase the defence budget, which
    will stand at 2% of the GDP in 2017. Jens Stoltenberg said Romania is a very
    appreciated NATO member, which actively contributes to the alliance’s missions in
    Afghanistan and Kosovo and to Black Sea security. The NATO Secretary General
    has also said Romania is the host of NATO active equipment and of a large part
    of the anti-missile defence system, placed in Deveselu. The meetings with the President
    of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and with representatives of the Romanian
    communities in Belgium brought to an end the visit paid by PM Dacian Ciolos to
    Belgium. Also in Brussels, Dacian Ciolos on Monday attended the EU-Turkey
    Summit on the joint plan regarding the refugee crisis. After the meeting, the
    Romanian prime minister hailed Turkey’s proposals on managing the flow of
    migrants and said their implementation would deter illegal migration to the EU.



    MILITARY EXERCISES-Almost 120 multinational exercises have been planned in Romania and abroad this year, a Romanian Defence Ministry communiqué reads. On Monday, the Mihail Kogalniceanu base in Constanta County, south-eastern Romania, saw the opening ceremony of a joint drill involving the air forces of Romania and Canada. Until April 10, close to 200 Romanian soldiers from the countrys air forces backed by MIG-21 fighters and Puma gunships will be training together with their Canadian colleagues backed by F 18 Hornet fighters. The drills are aimed at improving interoperability and cooperation inside the North-Atlantic Alliance.



    WOMENS DAY– The International Womens Day is usually celebrated in Romania by most of the population, shows a survey conducted by the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy. For almost two thirds of the Romanians, March 8 is a day of celebration, 85% of Romanian women say they have received flowers, jewels or perfumes on that day. On this occasion Romanians are mainly making presents to their wives, mothers and girlfriends, acknowledging their qualities of being hardworking, beautiful and sympathetic.



    TENNIS– The world famous Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova announced on Monday night that she had tested positive for a recently banned drug called Meldonium, at the Australian Open. The Russian athlete admitted to having been taking the drug for 10 years before being banned on January 1st. Sharapova admitted to her mistake and to badly disappointing her fans, adding that she didnt want her career to end in such a way. Suffering from injuries at present, when shes ranking 7th in the world standings, Sharapova shot to international fame back in 2004, after winning the Wimbledon tournament at the age of 17. She has also reaped other Grand Slam titles ever since, such as the Australian Open, US Open and Roland Garros. Her prize closet includes no less than 35 titles in womens competitions. She won Fed Cup with the Russian side in 2008 and reaped a silver medal in the single contest of the London Olympics in 2012.

    (Translated by Daniel Bilt and Diana Vijeu)

  • December 12, 2015 UPDATE

    December 12, 2015 UPDATE

    COUNTRY RATING– Moodys has changed the outlook on Romania’s Baa3 government ratings to positive from stable, a communiqué issued by the Romanian Finance Ministry on Saturday shows. According to the same source, the decision made by the agency reflects Romania’s significant progress in correcting its macroeconomic imbalances, reducing the economy’s vulnerability to external shocks and paving the way for robust economic growth. Moody’s forecasts Romania’s economic recovery to gain further momentum in 2016, thanks to a robust expansion of private consumption and investment as well as solid public consumption growth, which will allow real GDP growth to accelerate to 4.1% in 2016, from 3.5% in 2015. Moodys has also taken note of Romania’s sizeable fiscal adjustment in the recent past, leading to a significant reduction of the government’s fiscal deficit and contributing to a stabilization of the government’s debt-to-GDP ratio. In August, Fitch Ratings reconfirmed Romania’s Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at ‘BBB-‘ and ‘BBB’, respectively, with a stable outlook.



    DRAFT BUDGET-The President of the Social Democratic Party, the major parliamentary party in Romania, Liviu Dragnea, publicly called on Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to announce until Tuesday, the moment when he estimates to increase the minimum wage per economy. Dragnea said he didnt agree with a sine die postponement of the pay-rise, proposed by the former left wing government. The Ciolos cabinet has announced an increase in the minimum wage from approximately 233 Euros to some 266 Euros cant be made in the absence of a survey meant to measure the impact of such a decision on the economy and the budget. The state budget bill for 2016 is being debated by the relevant parliamentary committees. A final vote is expected in a plenary session of Parliament, next Wednesday. The draft budget is based on a 4% growth rate and a maximum deficit of 3%.



    CORRUPTION– Businessman Paul Lambrino has been placed under home arrest in a file on illegal return of property. He was taken into custody by the anti-corruption prosecutors on Friday. Lambrino, alongside other business people, among whom a well known journalist and political advisor, Dan Andronic, is accused of having set up a criminal group which allegedly brought a 136 million Euro prejudice to the Romanian state. A number of politicians are being investigated for involvement in cases of illegal return of property or illegal compensation granted by the National Authority for Property Restitution.



    DRILLS– The Queen Marie Frigate of the Romanian Naval Forces is participating, until December the 16th, in a Black Sea military exercise, alongside ships from the US, Turkey and Ukraine. The action is part of a NATO package of measures designed to boost confidence among allies. The Queen Marie Frigate, with over 220 military onboard, the USS Ross US destroyer, a Turkish frigate and a Ukrainian auxiliary ship are making military exercises against multiple air, maritime and submarine threats, of imposing maritime embargo and surveillance of sea traffic. The drills are held in the context in which the security situation in the Black Sea area requires increased interoperability between the Romanian Naval Forces and the partner ones.



    HANDBALL– The Romanian womens national handball team on Monday will face the defending world champions, Brazil, in the eighth finals of the World Championships in Denmark. The Romanian players on Friday lost their last Group D match to Russia, after having sustained defeat by reigning European and Olympic champions Norway and Spain, respectively. Romania has qualified for the eighth finals after outclassing Puerto Rico and Kazakhstan. Romania is the only country to have participated in all final tournaments of the World Championship since 1957. It boasts three medals on its record: gold in 1962 and silver in 1973 and 2005, respectively.

  • October 16, 2015

    October 16, 2015

    EU STATISTICS – 17 of the 28 EU member states have reported negative inflation rates in September 2015 as compared to the same month of 2014, and Romania had the 2nd negative inflation rate in the EU, show data published on Friday by Eurostat. The annual inflation rate both in the euro zone and the EU stood at minus 0.1% in September, after the 0.1% growth in August. The countries reporting the highest annual inflation rate were Malta (1.6%), Belgium, Portugal and Sweden (all reporting an annual price increase of 0.9%). The lowest annual inflation rates were reported in Cyprus (minus 1.9%), Romania (minus 1.5%) and Spain (minus 1.1%). According to data provided by the Romanian National Institute of Statistics the annual inflation rate remained at a negative level in September, namely minus 1.7%, up from minus 1.9% reported in August. The monthly inflation rate was 0.26%.



    CHISINAU — The Alliance for European Integration, the governing coalition in the Republic of Moldova, made up of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Party and the Democratic Party will not be dismantled following the arrest of the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vlad Filat, the former prime minister, who resigned his position within the party on Thursday. The statement was made by the president of the Liberal Party, Mihai Ghimpu, on a local TV station. Vlad Filat was taken into custody for 72 hours, on Thursday, after the Parliament voted for the lifting of his immunity. He is accused of corruption and influence peddling in the case of the disappearance of one billion dollars from the country’s banking system.



    BUCHAREST — The Romanian defense minister, Mircea Dusa, is taking part today in Campia Turzii (northwestern Romania) in the training of the Romanian and American pilots. On the occasion he will have talks with the NATO Deputy Secretary General, ambassador Alexander Vershbow. The drill “Dacian” Viper started on Tuesday and will come to an end on October 30th. The Romanian Air Force is participating in the drill with as many as 200 military pilots and technical staff, six MiG-21 LanceR planes and three IAR-330 helicopters while the Alabama National Air Guard is participating with 200 soldiers, eight F-16 planes and related military equipment. This is the 3rd such drill after the ones held in 2012 and 2014 and it is aimed at increasing the Alliance’s interoperability level, at boosting experience exchanges and improving the training level of the Romanian and American military through joint flights in accordance with NATO standards.



    WASHINGTON — The US is waiting for the allies’ contribution to the military presence in Afghanistan, said Thursday in Washington the head of the Pentagon, Ashton Carter, as quoted by France Press. The statement follows the announcement made by President Barack Obama according to whom the pullout of American soldiers from Afghanistan would be postponed in 2016, thus extending a military intervention that began 14 years ago. At present 12,500 soldiers of whom 10,000 American, are participating in the NATO mission in Afghanistan. After 2016 only 5,500 soldiers will be maintained in several bases in that country. The American president explained that the Afghan forces are not yet strong enough to ensure the country’s stability. One of the promises made by Barack Obama when he won the 2008 elections was to put an end to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Romania has 640 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. At the latest meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense it was decided that in 2016 Romania would contribute 200 officers to the Allied mission to train the Afghan soldiers.



    SOFIA — The Afghan refugee shot Thursday night by the Bulgarian border police after illegally crossing the border with Turkey, was hit by a bullet that rebounded from the warning shot fired by the police, say the representatives of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry. The warning shot was fired after a group of 54 migrants who had illegally entered the country was heading towards the meeting venue of traffickers. None of the migrants had valid travel documents, prosecutors said. The incident, the first one reported after the migrant waves started to come to Europe, is being investigated by Bulgarian prosecutors. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has condemned the use of force against migrants and has called on the Bulgarian authorities to start a transparent and detailed investigation.