Radio România Internațional

Tag: drugs

  • November 10, 2024 UPDATE

    November 10, 2024 UPDATE

    FLOODS – According to the Spanish authorities, another three Romanian citizens are reported dead following last week’s devastating floods in Valencia, after previously been reported missing. So far, seven Romanians died and three are still missing, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reports. The Spanish authorities remain in permanent contact with representatives of Romania’s diplomatic missions. We recall that on Saturday, thousands marched on the streets of Valencia to protest the local authorities’ chaotic and slow response to the floods in southeastern Spain, which have so far killed 220 people.

     

    DRUGS – Tons of drugs have been seized by Romanian law enforcement in the first nine months of 2024 – nearly 170 kilos of high-risk drugs and 800 kilos of drugs, four tons of cannabis, seven tons of illegal substances seized from an illegal factory, and 16 tons of cocaine, concealed in fruit pulp, seized at the Port of Constanța. 33 crime groups comprising 240 people have been dismantled, and a total of 3,000 individuals were prosecuted. Over 21 million tons of cigarettes and 6 tons of contraband tobacco were also seized during the interval. 119 individuals were subject to pre-trial measures, and 29 were arrested. Some 1.4 million EUR was handed out in fines.

     

    VISIT – Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to the United Kingdom starting Tuesday, where he will meet his counterpart, Keir Starmer, and attend the Romania-Great Britain Economic Forum. Ahead of the visit, the Romanian government earlier this week adopted a memorandum, updating the convention signed by the two countries in the field of taxation and tax evasion.  “The updated document factors in the legislative modifications operated in Romania over the course of 2023, as well as other measures linked to Romania’s OECD accession”, the government reports.

     

    GAZA – Qatar has suspended all efforts to mediate the conflict between Israel and Hamas until both parties will show willingness to negotiate in good faith, the Qatari Foreign Ministry reports. Along with the USA and Egypt, Qatar has for months been trying to end the war in Gaza and get all Israeli hostages released. Hamas and Israel accuse each other of blocking any peace settlement, refusing terms for a ceasefire. The conflict erupted on a large scale on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack on Israel. On the other hand, in a report published on Saturday, the UN warns that famine threatens to sweep northern Gaza amidst a resurge in Israeli military operations and the near total blocking of humanitarian aid. The IDF responded, saying the report relies on “partial and biased data”.

     

    REPORT – National Bank Governor, Mugur Isărescu, is expected to present a quarterly inflation report on Monday. The inflation rate will go up slightly at the end of 2024, and the National Bank expects price hikes over the coming period. Starting the first half of 2025, the inflation rate will fluctuate and will remain above Central Bank estimates. Bank officials expect the annual inflation rate to stabilize in 2026 and start going down to the 3.5% set target, a National Bank board of directors report reads. The National Bank also decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate to 6.5% per year, as also agreed in October’s meeting.

     

    FOOTBALL – National football squad members have called on fans to display civilized behaviors for the Nations League match against Kosovo in Bucharest, scheduled for November 15. Romania, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Slovakia are yet to recognize the independence of the former Serbian province with a majority Albanian population. At the September 6 match in Pristina, won 3-0 by Romania, Romanian footballers were treated with hostility by fans in the stands. “Leave geopolitics out of it. I am certain nothing can make us happier than winning this match in the field, without incidents and without penalties from UEFA’s disciplinary committees. Victory is the sweetest revenge”, footballers have told fans. Romania tops the C2 group in Nations League with 4 wins in 4 matches and 12 points, followed by Kosovo with 9 points, Cyprus with 3 points and Lithuania with 0 points. The best four winners of Nations League groups will qualify to the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada. (VP)

  • September 14, UPDATE

    September 14, UPDATE

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    FLOODING – More than 5,000 households in several localities in Galati county (eastern Romania) were affected by floods, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations announced on Saturday. At least four people died and several hundred were evacuated. Also, in Vaslui County (east) there were floods in several localities, and dozens of people were evacuated. In several eastern counties, road and rail traffic were disrupted, and the electricity supply was interrupted. The authorities have announced that several camps will be set up for the citizens evacuated following the floods. The government specified that the residents of the flooded areas in Galati county, the most affected by the episode of severe weather and the consequences of the heavy rains, will receive water and food immediately, for a period of 7 days.

     

    WEATHER – The heavy rain created problems in the Republic of Moldova, in several districts near the border with Romania, as well as in the capital Chisinau, where a number of main streets in the city center were flooded, the authorities being forced to suspend the circulation of several public transport lines. There are also problems in other states in Central and Eastern Europe, after days of heavy rainfall. In the Czech capital, Prague, which suffered catastrophic flooding in 2002, flood barriers were erected. In the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, there is a state of emergency following heavy rains. In Poland, due to the overflow of a river, the authorities decided to close a border crossing point with the Czech Republic, and it is not possible to drive on several national roads.

     

    DEFENSE – The U.S. State Department on Friday announced it has approved the sale of 32 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Romania in a deal worth roughly $7.2 billion. Romania’s deal for the Lockheed Martin-made F-35s will also include F135 engines made by Pratt & Whitney for each jet and a spare engine, the Pentagon announced. The Romanian Defense Ministry hailed the decision and specified that, in addition to the jets, the purchase would also provide logistics and maintenance support, navigation, communications and cryptographic equipment, ammunition and weapons, training for pilots and other personnel, and simulators. “Romania is a key NATO Ally in promoting security and stability in the Black Sea region and beyond. The F-35As will provide Romania with unparalleled air defense capabilities and enhance interoperability among NATO air forces”, U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec said.

     

    ENERGY – Romania’s natural gas deposits are full and the coal stocks are are at the required level. This is the conclusion of Friday’s meeting of the National Energy Command, convened by Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja. He specified that the problem is the significant fluctuation of energy prices in the short term, and one cause is the lack of interconnectivity between Austria and Hungary. The energy ministers from Romania, Bulgaria and Greece will present in about 10 days, to the Council of Ministers of the European Union, a preliminary plan for accelerating investments in interconnections, so that when energy is cheaper in one part of ​​Europe, the other part can also benefit similar prices. Romania continues to be the second largest gas producer in the EU.

     

    GERMAN BORDER – The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns its citizens traveling to Germany to prepare for longer waiting times, because the government in Berlin has decided to extend temporary checks at all land borders to reduce illegal migration. As of Monday, in addition to the temporary checks already in place at the land borders with Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Poland, there will also be checks at the borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, for a period of six months. Romanians facing special situations can call the embassy’s hotlines in Berlin, as well as the Romanian consulates in Germany.

     

    FARMERS – Romanian farmers will receive a bigger advance from the European funds, the Agriculture Ministry in Bucharest announced. According to the institution, advances will be granted in the amount of 70% from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund for direct payments and 85% from the European Fund for Rural Development, as a result of a derogation approved by the European Commission. The Romanian Agriculture Minister, Florin Barbu, has said that this will help farmers cope with the liquidity problems they face, in order to prepare for the new agricultural year. The Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture specified that a budget of approximately 1 billion euros was allocated to cover these amounts and that it is making efforts to start payments on October 16.

     

    DRUGS – Three Albanian and three Romanian drug traffickers were detained by the Romanian law-enforcement agency DIICOT, after they were caught with approximately 4.5 kg of heroin. The drugs were prepared in a house in Ialomiţa county (south) and were intended for the Romanian market. The value of the heroin is approximately 50,000 euros. According to the Romanian Police, investigations began after two Albanian citizens entered the country on September 9, with the aim of trafficking a large amount of heroin. They then met with other members of the group in a house in Ialomiţa, where the drugs were mixed with additives, portioned and packaged. Later, the narcotics were distributed among the members of the group, according to DIICOT.

     

     

  • January 28, 2024

    January 28, 2024

    IMF An International Monetary Fund mission
    headed by Jan Kees Martijn will be in Bucharest
    between January 29 and February 1, to review the latest economic and financial
    developments. The previous IMF visit to Romania was last autumn, when IMF
    experts conducted their annual analysis of the Romanian economy. At that time, Jan
    Kees Martijn said estimates were pointing to a budget deficit of 6% of GDP for
    the end of 2023, and of 5% in 2024, as well as to an economic growth rate of 2.3%.
    Romania has no ongoing agreements with the IMF at present, but the Fund
    conducts regular visits to review financial and economic indicators. The PM Marcel Ciolacu voiced optimism with
    respect to the IMF’s assessment. He explained that Romania still has problems
    meeting a benchmark in the National Recovery and Resilience Programme, as the
    EC believes Romania has too low SME taxation levels.


    DRUGS The Romanian justice minister Alina Gorghiu requested the
    emergency endorsement of the bills against drug trafficking and drug use. A
    first bill concerns the set-up of the Drug Trafficking Register and of regional
    rehab centres for drug addicts. A second bill eliminates suspended sentences
    for drug trafficking. On Friday, after the Justice and Home Affairs Council,
    the interior minister Catalin Predoiu announced that Romania set up a task
    force integrating several institutions involved in the fight against drug
    trafficking. He said Romania is on the front line of the crackdown on
    international drug trafficking networks, and welcomed the Council’s decision to
    include Romania’s and Bulgaria’s air and maritime borders in the Schengen area.
    According to the Romanian official, EU member countries should focus on curbing
    drug trafficking in ports, through an integrated international platform.


    PRICES In Romania, the mark-up for basic foodstuff prices may be capped
    for another 3 months. The announcement was made by Marcel Ciolacu recently, as
    the capping scheme is due to come to an end soon. According to the PM, a
    decision will be made following talks with all stakeholders. The agriculture
    minister told Radio Romania that a discussion in this respect will be held on
    Monday. He explained that according to data made public by the National
    Statistics Institute and the Competition Council, the measure has been
    effective. The agriculture minister added that the introduction of further
    products in the list is being considered. The emergency order passed by the
    government last summer in order to contain the effects of inflation saw the
    temporary capping of mark-ups for several basic foodstuffs, including bread,
    milk, yogurt, flour, eggs, chicken and pork. The measure was subsequently
    extended and further products were included.


    UN The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, Sunday called on the
    countries that have suspended funding for the UN agency for Palestinian
    refugees (UNRWA) to ‘ at least guarantee’ the continuity of UNRWA operations,
    which are vital for 2 million people, AFP reports. The UN body, which is the
    main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, Friday announced firing a number of
    employees accused of involvement in the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7,
    2023. In turn, the director of the UN body, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that the
    vital assistance granted by UNRWA is about to end because of funding issues. Israel
    demands the resignation of Philippe Lazzarini and the termination of the
    agency’s work in Gaza after the war. A number of countries, including the US, Canada,
    UK, Italy and Germany, have suspended all future funding the UNRWA. (AMP)

  • Drugs, in the attention of the Supreme Defense Council

    Drugs, in the attention of the Supreme Defense Council

    For decades, Romania was said to be immune to the scourge of drugs, which were already wreaking havoc in Western Europe and North America for a long time. Until 1989, the police state created by the communist dictatorship was invulnerable to drug trafficking. Later, socio-economic theories emerged, according to which Romanians were too poor, when they escaped communism, to afford spending money on drugs. This illusion was gradually shattered and today, in the poorest neighborhoods of Bucharest, which residents themselves call ghettos, drugs are sold on the street, in broad daylight. The large festivals of techno music and related genres, such as Untodl (in Cluj, in the northwest) or Neversea (in Constanța, southeast), give the police, every time, the opportunity to announce how many consumers they catch and how many dealers they detain.



    A dismantled drug network in a prestigious high school in Bucharest had among its members the offspring of an employee with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of one with the Prosecutors Office. This week, a judge with the Criminal Section of the Court in Suceava has been arrested for 30 days, on charges of bribery, drug possession and disclosure of information not intended for the public, which she apparently gave traffickers. However, the strongest shock felt in society took place in August, when a young drug-driver, from a very rich family, killed two people in a car accident, in a Black Sea resort.



    Following these terrible events, Romania’s Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis, decided, on Thursday, to set up an inter-institutional working group to effectively prevent and combat the risks generated by drug trafficking and consumption. It will be made up of state secretaries, representatives of the Romanian Intelligence Service, prosecutors and anti-drug specialists, all coordinated by the Government. This is, according to the media, the first time that drug trafficking and consumption are approached as major risks to individual and national security.



    The group will draw up a joint action plan, with clear objectives, measures and responsibilities, for the effective prevention and combating of the risks generated by drug traffic and consumption. Operational working groups will also be established at county level, given that this problem is present everywhere in Romania. The Government will analyze the legal framework related to drug trafficking and consumption and will formulate proposals regarding the revision of normative acts, in order to eliminate loopholes. Also on Thursday, the Government announced that the number of prosecutors with the Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) will be increased by another 25, tasked with combating drug trafficking in Bucharest, Ilfov county and other sensitive locations across the country. (EE)

  • October 3, 2023 UPDATE

    October 3, 2023 UPDATE

    NOBEL – Researchers Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne LHuillier are the winners of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. They were awarded for “experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter”, according to a press release by the Nobel Committee. In 2022, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to researchers Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for revolutionary discoveries in the field of quantum mechanics.




    EXERCISE – The Valahia 2023 exercise is taking place as of Tuesday at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (south-eastern Romania). The exercise, which simulates a nuclear accident, is organized by the National Commission for the Control of Nuclear Activities and benefits the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority. By simulating a nuclear accident at the Cernavodă power plant, the emergency intervention capacities of all actors involved will be tested, as well as the assistance received from international partners. Valahia 2023 aims to improve nuclear security and safety in Romania, increase resilience to disaster and prepare to respond to nuclear and radiologic events. The exercise is funded through the Norwegian financial mechanism.




    KYIV – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, emphasized in Kyiv, the importance of continuing the European Unions multidimensional support for Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian troops, including through the creation of a military fund within the European Peace Facility. She expressed her strong dissaproval of Russias attacks on the civil infrastructure in Ukraine, in the close vicinity of Romania, and emphasized the need for a long-term strategic regional approach, in which the Republic of Moldova would be included. Luminiţa Odobescu participated, on Monday, in the informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU member states – the Council of Foreign Affairs (CAE), organized in Kyiv.




    DRUGS – The Interior Ministry has drawn up special measures to combat drug trafficking in schools, Minister Cătălin Predoiu said Tuesday, in Parliament. He was invited to the Government Hour, at the request of the opposition party USR, to present the actions taken to combat the consumption of high-risk substances. Predoiu also said that the fight against drug and human trafficking and organized crime is a priority of his mandate, and that, during the last three months, 44 organized groups were dismantled and hundreds of kilograms of prohibited substances were confiscated. USR MPs, however, were unsatisfied with the answers received, arguing there are drugs in schools and no large network is being destroyed. They also told Minister Predoiu that he had corrupt people under his command. The Liberal minister responded to these accusations by saying that USR uses the drama caused by drug use for their election agenda.




    GYMNASTICS — The Romanian womens gymnastics team qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, after coming out 8th in the qualifications of the 52nd edition of the World Championships in Antwerp (Belgium). Romania thus returns to the Olympic Games after a 12-year break, its last participation being in London in 2012. As many as 12 gymnastics teams will take part in the 2024 Olympics. The US, Britain and Canada already had their participation secured. Romania now has 60 athletes qualified for next year’s Olympic Games. (EE)



  • September 11, 2023

    September 11, 2023

    School — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced that the issue of drug consumption among young people will be included on the agenda of the next meeting of the country’s Supreme Council of National Defense. Attending today the opening of the new pre-university year at a school in Bucharest, he has emphasized that this phenomenon represents a serious challenge to national security. Klaus Iohannis has also said that he continues to support the increase in teachers salaries as of January 1, 2024. He has given assurances that he remains firm and will support all measures to make the commitments made by the Government this summer come true. The new school year started, today, in Romania, for approximately 3 million pupils and preschoolers. It will have 36 weeks of courses, and it is organized in five modules, just like the previous one. “The Green Week” and “Doing School Differently” will take place between September 11, 2023 – April 26, 2024 and can be set by schools in any of modules 1, 2, 3 or 4, in intervals of 5 consecutive working days. The school year will end on June 21, 2024. The pupils entering the 5th grade will be the first to take an additional high school entrance exam in the summer of 2027.



    Drone — The Romanian Defense Ministry announced that the presence of drone fragments in a different area than those investigated previously was not confirmed. The armed forces remain on alert and will continue investigations in the areas of the national territory located in the vicinity of the areas where the Russians are carrying out attacks on the Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday. According to the quoted source, in the last 48 hours, forces and equipment of the Naval Forces, the Land Forces and other structures acted with research teams in the field and with aerial surveillance devices on an area of ​​more than 80 square kilometers in three localities of Tulcea and Galati counties, on the Romanian bank of the Danube, near the port of Reni in Ukraine. On the other hand, the Defense Ministry strongly condemns the attacks carried out by the Russian Federation against some objectives and elements of civil infrastructure in the Ukrainian ports on the Danube. These attacks are unjustified and in serious violation of the rules of international humanitarian law, being war crimes, the Defense Ministry emphasizes. Previously, the chargé daffaires of the Russian Federation Embassy in Bucharest was urgently summoned to the Foreign Ministry where he was informed that Romania protests the violation of Romanias airspace. NATO, through Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, expressed its solidarity with Romania. The official stated that there are no indications of Russia’s intention to attack NATO, but that the attacks are destabilizing.



    Volleyball — Today, the Romanian national team faces France, the defending Olympic champion, in the quarter-finals of the European Mens Volleyball Championship. The Romanians reached this stage after a dramatic victory over Croatia. Romania also met France in the groups stage, managing to defeat it surprisingly, score 3-1. The national volleyball team has not been among the top eight teams of the continent for 40 years, after finishing on 8th place in 1983. The European Championship takes place in Israel, Italy, Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The record of the Romanian players includes a European title, two silver and two bronze medals.



    Exercise — The Romanian and US Naval Forces are jointly organizing, as of Monday until Friday, September 15, a multinational exercise called Sea Breeze. It will take place in the area of ​​responsibility of the Romanian Naval Forces in the Black Sea and the Danube Delta and aims to develop teamwork between the participating countries in the field of combating explosive devices, especially sea mines, so that navigation can take place freely. Soldiers from Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, France and the UK are also taking part in the exercise.



    Rowing – Romania won five medals, of which two gold, at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, and finished the competition on fourth place in the overall ranking. The gold was won by the womens double scull team and the women’s eight plus one. The Romanian rowers won one silver and two bronze medals. Also, 11 of the 13 Romanian crews that participated in the world championships in Serbia qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.



    Earthquake – Rescue teams from Morocco, supported by colleagues abroad, continue to race against time to find survivors and provide aid to hundreds of people left homeless after Friday nights earthquake, which killed more than 2,100 people and wounded more than 2,400, according to the most recent official toll. Four countries received favorable answers to their aid offers: Great Britain, Spain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The Romanian Foreign Ministry announced that, from the information it has, there are no Romanians among the victims of the earthquake in Morocco. (LS)

  • Changes in the Romanian Police

    Changes in the Romanian Police

    The Romanian Police will be reorganized. The announcement was made by the Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu on the occasion of the presentation of the conclusions of the Inspection Body in the case of the tragedy in the seaside resort of 2 Mai, where a 19-year-old drugged driver killed two young people and injured three others who were walking on the side of the road. He had been stopped in traffic by the police about three hours before the road accident and taken to the police station where, after having been tested for alcohol and the result came out negative, he was allowed to go. In this context, Cătălin Predoiu stated that the change will start from the Constanța Police Inspectorate, where the battle with crime “has been lost” in recent years. In this context, he announced that a preliminary investigation was ordered for negligence in the case of several officers involved in the mishandling of the 2 Mai case. Among those targeted is also the head of the County Police, Adrian Glugă, who has actually requested his release from office. The minister promises a complete resetting of the entire law enforcement apparatus within the structures of the Interior Ministry and of the structure of the Ministry per se.



    “We will start this resetting not through strategies and theories, but through concrete measures applied on the ground, from the street, where the citizen must be protected. We will start from Constanţa county and gradually expand it throughout the country. Constanţa County, alongside Bucharest, is one of the most difficult communities from the point of view of law enforcement and the challenges posed by the crime phenomenon, minister Cătălin Predoiu emphasized. At the same time, the minister wants more changes to the road traffic legislation, saying that he intends to militarize all the educational institutions of the Interior Ministry and that he will rethink the National Anti-Drug Agency, in relation to the evolution of consumption in Romania. In this sense, Cătălin Predoiu promises to co-opt the best specialists. Thus, the Police Academy and the school for police officers of the Romanian Police, the Border Police, the Gendarmerie, the centers for the training and application of the status of military personnel at the level of all these educational institutions will be reorganized.



    In this context, the Justice Minister Alina Gorghiu said that the fight against the drug phenomenon requires a joint effort and added that the number of prosecutors currently dealing with drug cases is very small. She also referred to the tightening of punishments for those who get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs, and to the part of education related to the prevention of drug consumption. According to the Justice Minister, almost 4,700 drug-related cases were resolved this year in Romania, although only 14 prosecutors are active in the section for combating drug trafficking in the central structure of DIICOT — the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism. Currently, they are working on 7,000 drug-related cases, of which 2,700 were opened in the first six months of the year. (LS)

  • April 29, 2023 UPDATE

    April 29, 2023 UPDATE

    UDMR — Deputy Prime Minister in the Romanian government, Kelemen Hunor, was re-elected, on Saturday, to the position of president of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania – UDMR, for a fourth term. At the Congress of the Union, which took place in Timisoara (west), he was the only candidate for that position. Of the 835 delegates attending, 653 voted for his re-election, seven votes were invalid, and the rest did not vote. Kelemen said that he wanted to keep UDMR in the government coalition with the Social Democratic Party – PSD and the Liberal Party — PNL. The liberal leader, the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, and the Social Democrat leader and speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, who attended the congress, expressed their support for continuing this partnership. Present, for 33 years, in all the post-communist Romanian Parliaments, since 1996 UDMR has been part of numerous coalition governments in Bucharest, either right-wing or left-wing.



    Drugs – 11 people who were participating in a festival in the resort of Mamaia, on the Black Sea Coast (south-eastern Romania) are being investigated for drug trafficking, as various banned substances were found on them. According to the police, the 11 persons were caught red-handed while selling such substances. They also promoted the sale of drugs through messaging applications, specifying the prices for each type of drug. Six of the persons, foreign citizens, were held on remand for 30 days.



    Handball — Romania’s mens national handball team meets, on Sunday evening, in Gummersbach, Germany, the Ukrainian national team, in its last match in Group 4 of the preliminaries of the European Mens Handball Championship – EHF EURO 2024. The hosts are the Ukrainians, who, after their country was invaded, last year, by the Russian troops, play their home matches abroad. In the same group, the match Austria — the Faroe Islands is also played. In the ranking, Austria is on first place, with 10 points, followed by Romania, 4 points (goal average +5), the Faroe Islands, 4 points (-5), and Ukraine, 2 points (-21). The top two ranking teams in the eight preliminary groups qualify for the final tournament, together with the four best teams on third place. The European Mens Handball Championship will take place in Germany, between January 10 and 28, 2024. World champion four times in the 1960-70s, Romania has not qualified for a European Championship since 1996, when it ranked 9th.



    Book – Romania is attending the Leipzig Book Fair, in Germany, with over 150 new titles: fiction, childrens literature and non-fiction, as well as numerous events hosted at the national stand, with the direct participation of famous writers, such as Gabriela Adameșteanu, Ioana Pârvulescu and Mircea Cărtărescu. The 2023 edition is enjoying great success, as the event has not been organized since 2019, due to the pandemic, and the public is particularly interested in meeting the world of books and their authors – writer Ioana Pârvulescu told Radio Romania.



    Moldova – The Moldovan Foreign Ministry officials say they will not comment on what they call the absolutely unacceptable language used in their statements by some Russian officials, but announce that the ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet republic with a majority Romanian-speaking population), Oleg Vasnetsov, will be summoned to the ministry to give explanations. The former Russian president Dmitri Medvedev, today the vice-president of the Security Council in Moscow, said that the Republic of Moldova does not even exist as a state anymore, because “it was sold” to Romania. And the spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitri Peskov, states that the Republic of Moldova is about to be “absorbed” by Romania. They made these statements after the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, the pro-Western Dorin Recean, announced that several Russian officials, responsible for the invasion of neighboring Ukraine, including President Vladimir Putin, have been denied entry into Moldova. Created on part of the eastern Romanian territories annexed by Stalin’s Soviet Union, following an ultimatum, the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence from Moscow in 1991.



    Veterans — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis sent a message on the occasion of War Veterans Day, emphasizing that love of the country, belonging to the nation and courage guided their deeds of arms on the battlefield. Romania currently benefits from “the most solid security guarantees in history”, and the unity and solidarity within NATO “increase the strength of the collective defense”. The “substantial” presence of the allies on the national territory is proof thereof, the president added. “Romania owes its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity to the war veterans and it remembers their heroism” the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă also said. The PM stated, in his message, that it is an act of national conscience to honor the people on whose bravery Romania relied in difficult times for the entire world. (LS)

  • Of drugs and violence in the Romanian schools

    Of drugs and violence in the Romanian schools

    The consumption of psychoactive substances in schools is on the rise among the Romanian teenagers with bad consequences both for them and their families.


    Anti-drug policemen have recently annihilated a major network of consumers and traffickers of banned substances. Most of these consumers were minors and communicating via the message network Telegram.


    Early this week numerous search operations were carried out in Bucharest and other localities like Mures, in central Romania, Braila and Galati in the south-east and Dambovita in the south. Significant quantities of drugs and money have been seized on this occasion. Here is Catalin Tone, the head of the Antidrug service with the Brigade of Combating Organized Crime in Bucharest.


    Catalin Tone: “This is an atypical case, which shows us again the serious dimension of the phenomenon of drug abuse and trafficking in Romania. 11,000 people have been active on a chat group suggestively entitled Sweet Grass, where 30-40 thousand daily messages have been reported. Talks here have mainly been about drugs, distribution, consumption, cocktails and blends. Also very serious is the fact there were 15-20 hundred minors in the aforementioned group, very young and not very responsible at their age.”


    The Romanian society is in great need of initiatives for the education and information of the young people, the anti-drug expert says. Catalin Tone also believes Romania needs more clinics for the treatment of drug addiction. Another dangerous phenomenon which is gaining momentum in schools across Romania is violence and its negative impact on all those involved in the educational process.


    The Ministry of Education estimates that within two weeks it will come up with a procedure for the management of violent cases in schools, which will enable teachers and any other employee in the countrys education system to promptly and properly deal with school violence. Education Minister Ligia Deca said that together with the ministries of Justice and the Interior, they are identifying the necessary law amendments, including in the areas of fines and obligations for parents. In turn, the trade unions representatives in education have announced their intention to table a legislative initiative in Parliament aimed at discouraging violence acts in schools. The decision was made after a series of events in several Romanian schools, which involved the physical aggression and humiliation of some teachers. An initiative aimed at discouraging school violence was voted by the Chamber of Deputies in 2018 but failed to get the Senate approval.


    (bill)

  • Increased penalties for drug trafficking

    Increased penalties for drug trafficking

    The Romanian legislators have tightened the penalties for drug trafficking. According to a draft law adopted on Wednesday by the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, cultivating, producing, manufacturing, offering, selling, distributing, transporting, procuring, buying, possessing or other operations regarding the circulation of dangerous drugs, without having the right to, are punished with imprisonment from 3 to 10 years and the prohibition of certain rights. If the respective acts involve high-risk drugs, the penalty is 5 to 15 years in prison, and if the victim dies, the penalty would be 15 to 25 years in prison.



    Also, introducing or taking out of the country, as well as importing or exporting dangerous drugs, are acts punished by imprisonment from 5 to 15 years and the prohibition of certain rights. The law mentions that the goods and means used in the illicit manufacturing of drugs can be used for educational purposes, by making them available to training units of the law enforcement staff or by using them in campaigns for raising awareness of the risks associated with drug use.



    The draft law also provides that the act of the person who intentionally carries out illegal operations with products likely to have psychoactive effects, claiming that they are authorized according to the law, or whose sale is permitted by law, is a crime and is punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 7 years, if the act does not represent a more serious crime. At the same time, the advertising of any products, credibly claiming that through consumption they produce psychoactive effects, represents a crime and is punishable by one to 5 years in prison.



    The draft law was also adopted by the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies is the decision-making body in this case. It had been re-examined at the request of President Klaus Iohannis, who had requested a clearer regulation regarding the substances newly mentioned in the law, such as ethnobotanical substances.



    The state has the greatest responsibility in combating drug trafficking, believes Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania – UDMR deputy Szabó Ödön: Indeed, children are among the victims, and we should have centers for the recovery of these children and provide support for families. The competent state institutions must fight this crime throughout Romania .



    The age at which young people in Romania are tempted to use drugs is decreasing, and this is one of the major concerns of specialists in the field. According to them, the consumption of narcotic substances at young ages is influenced by their entourage and curiosity. They propose, among other things, adapting the institutional response to the new trends of the drug consumption phenomenon and co-opting the civil society in the specific activities. (LS)

  • Romania is facing a shortage of medicines

    Romania is facing a shortage of medicines

    The
    number of people diagnosed with respiratory infections is on the rise in
    Romania just like in most of the European countries in this cold season. A
    higher number of people than usual have requested assistance from family
    physicians and hospitals around the country. Doctors have lately reported cases
    of double infection with both Covid and flu viruses, as well as patients
    infected with the new strain known as Kraken.




    Experts
    believe the new flu wave is going to reach its peak in the following weeks and
    will begin to diminish in the second half of February. They have again urged
    people to refrain from getting random treatment and call for professional assistance
    instead, as the growing number of infection has recently caused a shortage of some
    medicines.




    Pharmacies
    across the country have reported a shortage of drugs used in pediatric
    treatment such as those based on ibuprofen, paracetamol or even some antibiotics.
    According to Health Minister Alexandru Rafila,
    parents have complained about the absence on the market of several types of anti-fever
    syrups used in the treatment of children. On the other hand, patients have complained
    about the higher prices in the replacements of these products.




    Minister
    Rafila has again given assurances that Romania isn’t facing a crisis of inflammatory
    drugs as there are factories producing these types of medicine here and
    explained the shortage was caused by the delayed supplies of raw materials from
    China.


    Late
    last year the ministry proposed a temporary suspension in the exports of
    anti-fever drugs and antibiotics. In turn, producers have complained that prices
    in some medicines do not cover the production costs adding that their small prices
    and latest price hikes in electricity will lead to the disappearance of several
    types of drugs.




    The
    situation is even more complicated when it comes to the treatment of cancer. According
    to the president of the Federal Association of Cancer Patients, Cezar Irimia, 7
    oncology drugs have been missing since last year.




    Cezar Irimia: These drugs have been missing since last
    year. And we have reported the issue to the ministry and they pledged a
    solution to the situation. We have even produced evidence these drugs are being
    exported, but to no avail. Our call-center has signaled the absence of 7
    oncology drugs since the beginning of the year.




    However, the ministry
    says only three medicines are missing out of which, two are present in storage
    facilities. Here is Health Minister Alexandru Rafila




    Alexandru Rafila: We have checked and found out that of these three
    medicines, two are in storage in large quantities now. Of course, as a ministry,
    we cannot replace hospital managers who haven’t ordered these medicines. There
    is only a single issue with this one product, an older oncology drug. This is
    the only problem that we are having now with this drug.




    Alexandru
    Rafila says that he is waiting for a solution in the case of the aforementioned
    drug from a specialized committee with the Health Ministry.


    (bill)

  • The flu season in Romania

    The flu season in Romania

    Nearly a thousand
    cases of flu reported per week, overcrowded pediatric hospitals and drug stores
    running short on key supplies – this is what the start of the flu season looks
    like in Romania. This is the first winter after the COVID-19 pandemic when
    health safety restrictions are lifted. As medics had expected, a wave of
    respiratory infections, some of them with complications, has been reported this
    month, affecting children in particular. The number of people reporting
    symptoms has gone up alarmingly in recent weeks, and patients sometimes wait
    for hours in emergency wards or in family physician practices before getting a
    consultation.

    At the same time, the number of children requiring admission due
    to complications has also gone up, doctors say. In this context, earlier this
    month, the Health Ministry announced the setup of 59 centers for medical evaluation
    of children with respiratory infections, a measure designed to facilitate
    children’s access to medical assistance and to reduce waiting times in emergency
    wards. In turn, pharmacists say they have run out of anti-inflammatory drugs
    and antipyretics, which are demanded particularly for treating children. The
    Association of Industrial Producers of Medicine in Romania has confirmed that
    the use of ibuprofen-based drugs and paracetamol has gone up by 50% compared to
    2021. The same employers’ association says that drug stores are however
    equipped with alternatives to the best-known medicine brands, arguing the
    problem is likely to be solved early next year, when approximately 200 thousand
    such pain relief drugs, made in both Romania and abroad, are expected to
    arrive. Health Minister Alexandru Rafila says the situation is the same in
    other countries and is a consequence of growing drug consumption. The Minister
    recalls, however, that the authorities have presented alternatives to the
    best-known medicine that are currently unavailable. Furthermore, drug shelves
    are empty also due to mispricing, the Health Minister argued, adding that a new
    methodology for setting prices is now being considered, in addition to possibly
    introducing a temporary restriction on exporting certain drugs.


    Over the coming
    period we will consult with the National Health Insurance Agency in terms of
    introducing a new methodology for setting prices, which should prevent drugs
    from becoming unavailable due to commercial reasons. We are also examining the
    possibility of restricting the export of certain drugs, particularly
    antibiotics for children and other types of medicine, including oncology
    drugs.


    Doctors say the best
    ways to prevent seasonal flu include taking the anti-flu vaccine, observing
    hygiene regulations and avoiding crowded areas. Moreover, authorities say, the
    new anti-COVID serum adapted to combat the Omicron strains of the virus is also
    available on the market. (VP)

  • Europe and Drug Consumption

    Europe and Drug Consumption

    Despite sharp criticism from
    the center-right opposition, medical associations and the church, Malta’s
    Parliament endorsed, in mid-December, a law allowing adults to carry up to 7
    grams of cannabis and grow no more than four plants at home. Malta has become
    the first EU country to legalize the cultivation and personal use of cannabis.
    The decision comes in the context of a wider trend in the EU, as in October,
    Luxembourg forwarded similar measures, though they haven’t been endorsed by the
    Legislature yet. Germany, where the use of cannabis on medical grounds has been
    legal since 2017, has announced its intention to have a regulated cannabis
    market, following similar announcements from the governments of Switzerland,
    Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In Italy, cannabis fans have gathered enough
    signatures to be able to stage a referendum on the issue.


    Europe has changed its stand on drugs after a 2020 UN decision,
    which removed cannabis from its list of dangerous substances. A survey made
    public by the Institute for Competition Economics in November shows that
    legalizing cannabis would bring Germany 4.7 billion Euros in annual revenues,
    including savings of 1.3 billion Euros in funds allotted for law enforcement.
    Besides, it would create no less than 27 thousand new jobs. But what are the
    chances for these measures, taken or considered by various countries, to keep
    drug consumption at bay – as this is a growing phenomenon in Europe whose
    market relies on both domestic production and drugs trafficked from outside.


    South America, Western Asia and North Africa are major suppliers
    of illegal drugs that find their way to Europe whereas China has become a
    source for the new psychoactive substances. The European report on drugs,
    presented in June 2021, cautions over the public health risks posed by the
    availability and use of a wider range of substances, oftentimes very strong and
    of great purity. According to the report, 15% of Europe’s adults, accounting
    for 18 million, have used cannabis in the past year and over 25% people aged between
    15 and 64, that is 7.6% of this group of Europeans, consumed cannabis in the
    past year.


    The report also describes the way in which organized crime groups
    have stepped up their production of illegal drugs in Europe and points to the
    emergence of new, harmful and strong psychoactive substances. In 2019, 1.5
    million drug offenses were reported in the EU, 82% of which were related to
    personal use or possession. At the same time, 370 illegal laboratories were
    dismantled. According to the European Observatory, more than half of the 45
    cities that have data on cocaine residues in wastewater, for the years 2018 and
    2019, reported increases. Centralized data also show that large amounts of
    cocaine and heroin are still seized in the EU, which raises concerns about the
    possible impact on consumption levels.


    Specialists in Romania also point out that the consumption of
    cannabis and substances with psychoactive properties has increased recently,
    and the age of consumers is decreasing. In the first 11 months of 2021, the
    police officers with the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime seized in
    Romania almost a ton and a half of heroin, almost 900 kg of cocaine and over
    400 kg of cannabis – ​​higher amounts as compared to the past years. Most of
    these substances do not remain in the country, Victor Nistor, Police Chief
    Commissioner explained to Radio Romania:


    Victor Nistor: All the large amounts seized in Romania,
    in recent years, have actually transited Romania, they were not destined for
    the Romanian market. Like other European countries, Romania is targeted by
    trafficking routes, since it has access to the Black Sea port and is located on
    the classic Balkan route of heroine, which departs from Afghanistan, Iran, and
    continues through Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, to western Europe. If we
    compare ourselves with the surrounding countries, strictly in terms of fighting
    drug trafficking, I believe that we are doing very well. The amounts destined
    for the Romanian market are constantly increasing, as all the drug trafficking
    monitoring reports show that all types of drugs are much more present in the
    market and the number of consumers is constantly growing. said Victor
    Nistor


    Victor Nistor believes that Romania is not ready for the
    legalization of soft drugs, even if some associations are asking for it. He
    says that these measures could be taken gradually, to get the health and
    education systems prepared for it, and people should become aware of the danger
    of exposure to drug consumption. Only then could Romania adopt legislation, not
    necessarily to legalize drugs but mainly to decriminalize consumption for some
    categories of soft drugs.


    (bill & Lacra)

  • May 23, 2021 UPDATE

    May 23, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID-19 The PM of Romania Florin Cîţu said the vaccine rollout must be stepped up so that the relaxation measures planned for the forthcoming period may be implemented as soon as possible. Several vaccination marathons are held this weekend in various towns in the country, and drive-thru centres are operational. Since the end of December, over 7.3 million vaccine doses have been administered in Romania, with nearly 3.2 million people receiving the booster dose as well. Meanwhile, the number of new Covid-19 cases in Romania continues to drop, with 307 new cases reported on Sunday out of nearly 18,500 tests. This is the lowest number in nearly 11 months. In hospitals, the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care is 590. Also, 56 COVID-related deaths were reported for the past 24 hours.



    COUNCIL The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis takes part on Monday and Tuesday in a special European Council meeting to be held in Brussels. According to the presidency, the head of state will plead for quick and consistent implementation of the digital green certificates at European level, but will reiterate that these must not affect citizens freedom of movement. Iohannis will also call for a European mechanism to be put in place as soon as possible to ensure vaccine donations to non-EU countries. the main topics on the agenda of the European Council are the EU-wide coordination of COVID-19 measures, fighting climate change, and the Unions relations with Russia and the UK.



    MIGRANTS Romanian border police in Borş Sunday found 30 Syrian and Iraqi nationals trying to cross the border illegally into Hungary. According to the police, the migrants, aged between 3 and 34, were hiding in a truck registered in Turkey, with a Turkish driver, heading for France.



    EUROVISION The lead singer of the Italian band Maneskin, winner of the 65th edition of the Eurovision song contest, will take a drug test upon their return to Italy, following drug use speculations, announced the European Broadcasting Union, which organized the competition. The allegations were sparked by competition footage showing Damiano David leaning over and touching a table with his nose. The band firmly denies the accusations. The Italian band won this years Eurovision contest with the rock song that had previously won them the San Remo competition as well. Romania failed to qualify into this years Eurovision final. Over the years, Romanias best performances in this competition were two 3rd places (in 2005 and 2010) and a 4th place in 2006.



    ARREST Belarus forced a Ryanair aircraft to land in Minsk, so as to arrest a dissident journalist on board. Roman Protasevich played a key role in the protests against the re-election of Aleksandr Lukashenko. According to independent media, the Athens-Vilnius flight was diverted over an alleged bomb scare. Roman Protasevich, the founder of the Nexta online news channel, which covered the police brutality during the protests against Aleksandr Lukashenkos election, was arrested at the airport and faces capital punishment.



    ROWING Romania won 6 medals on Sunday (one gold, one silver and 4 bronze) at the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland. In the country ranking Romania came 7th, after the UK, China, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland and Germany. Romanian athletes won the gold in the womens double sculls and silver in the lightweight womens double sculls. The 4 bronze medals were in the womens pair, mens pair, mens four and womens four races. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • June 26, 2020 UPDATE

    June 26, 2020 UPDATE

    Coronavirus RO — Latest figures published by the Strategic Communication Group show more than 25,600 cases of coronavirus infection. More than 400 cases have been reported over the past 24 hours, for the 2nd consecutive day. Most of the cases were reported in Bucharest and the Suceva county, in the north east. Almost 18,200 contaminated people have recovered. In this context, the Liberal PM Ludovic Orban has asked the authorities to mobilize and undertake more checks. He has pointed out that in the context of the danger posed by the coronavirus being questioned by some politicians, the current public information campaign must convince citizens to observe protection rules.



    Floods — Hundreds of people have been evacuated and hundred of households, plots of land and roads in the southwest of Romania have been flooded by Jiu River which outburst its banks. A flooding alert is also in place for Prut River, in the north east, but the authorities say the high flood is not a danger for the population.



    National Flag Day – Romanians celebrated the National Flag Day on Friday. Military and religious ceremonies as well as cultural events were held on this occasion. According to the Romanian Constitution, the flag of Romania has three colors, blue, yellow and red, arranged vertically from the flagpole. On June 26, 1848, the revolutionary government in Bucharest established, through its first decree, the Romanian flag.



    Coronavirus world — The coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 491 thousand people globally since its emergence in December in China, according to worldometers.com. The total number of coronavirus infections at global level exceeded 9.7 million, with at least 5.2 million people having recovered. The US and Brazil are the countries reporting the highest virus spread rate. In the US the number of infections stands at 2.5 million while over 126 thousand people have died. The number of infections has also increased in Europe. Italy has reported two new hotbeds in the centre and south of the country. New cases have also been reported in Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova.



    Repatriations — The Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced that 187 Romanian citizens and 4 British citizens were repatriated from the UK on Thursday. The move is part of the Romanian authorities’ efforts to facilitate the return of its citizens from abroad, who could not return home earlier because of the restrictions imposed on air transport. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, among the citizens repatriated are people who could not extend their stay abroad. The repatriation was made with an aircraft owned by a private company.



    Drugs — The head of the Bulgarian department for combating drug trafficking within the institution fighting organized crime Ţvetan Pankov has been arrested on suspicion of bribe taking and collaboration with the traffickers, news agencies report. Another two employees of the same department have been equally arrested, on suspicion of protecting several drug trafficking groups that were operating both on the Bulgarian territory and abroad. Bulgaria is a key country on the east European route of drug traffickers linking Turkey to Western Europe, and in the past years it has become a transit country for the transportation of cocaine. (translation and update by L. Simion)