Radio România Internațional

Tag: Economic Forum

  • March 2, 2019 UPDATE

    March 2, 2019 UPDATE

    FORUM – The Black Sea region presents huge investment opportunities
    for the development of infrastructure, including for the transport and
    production of energy, Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Ana Birchall said on the
    sidelines of the Economic Forum in Delphi, Greece, held over February 28 -
    March 2. Ana Birchall pointed out that the escalation of trade tensions,
    political uncertainty, the gap between the rich and the poor, the worsening of
    global finance, the prospect of a Brexit without an agreement, are risk factors
    that can destabilize an already slowed down global economy. The fourth edition
    of the forum has brought together political leaders, diplomats, economic
    experts and representatives of the most important international think tanks.
    Talks focused on the current economic challenges.




    GOVERNMENT – Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Monday will
    appear before the Chamber of Deputies upon the request of the Liberal
    opposition, who demands explanations over the controversial decree 114,
    bringing new taxes in the fields of banking, telecommunications and energy. The
    decree was passed tacitly by the Senate, without a proper debate and a vote,
    considering the deadline was March 1. A debate and a vote are scheduled for
    this week in the Chamber of Deputies. On Thursday, the European Commission
    winter report showed that the measures stipulated by decree 114 are weakening
    the second pillar of private pensions. The measures, EU experts warn, will have
    a negative impact on pensions, the capital market and future investment,
    increasing uncertainty and making Romanian economy less attractive for both
    Romanian and foreign investors.




    VISIT – Minister for Romanians Worldwide Natalia Intotero has paid
    a visit to Chisinau, where she met with the Minister of Culture, Education and
    Research, Monica Babuc. According to a press release, the two officials
    discussed the possibility of intensifying joint projects in the field of
    education and culture. A major topic on the agenda for talks was preserving and
    promoting tradition, considering both states have cooperated for the
    recognition of the Martisor symbol by UNESCO. The two parties discussed the
    promotion of the cross-border project The traditional blouse – an element of
    cultural identity in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, the nomination for
    UNESCO’s Representative List of the Immaterial World Cultural Heritage.




    EP ELECTION – The European Parliament has made public a new estimate
    regarding its future structure after the European Parliament election due in
    May. The estimate is based on surveys carried out in individual Member States.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, the new Parliament will
    have less MPs, 705 as compared to 751 right now, as a result of Brexit.
    Estimates show that the European People’s Party is expected to secure 181
    seats, Socialists 135, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats 75 followed by
    the Green Party with 49 seats. Figures also point to a slight decrease in the
    number of seats obtained by anti-European and Eurosceptic parties. Of the 73
    seats left vacant by British MEPs, 27 will be shared by some 14 member states,
    considered fairly underrepresented in the European Parliament. Romania will get
    one seat and will total 33 seats. Of these, 13 are expected to go to the
    Social-Democrats, 13 to the European People’s Party representatives, three to the
    Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, one each to the Conservatives and European
    reformists and three seats to other groups. The document also highlights voting
    intentions in Romania: the Social-Democratic Party in power is expected to win
    29.9% of the vote, followed by the Liberal Party in opposition with 24.4%, the
    Alliance of Liberals and Democrats with 9.1% and the Save Romania Union with
    9%.




    LCK – Former Anticorruption Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi
    on Saturday said the Romanian judiciary is experiencing a difficult moment,
    which is the signal sent by the latest magistrates’ protests. Kovesi said the
    fact that prosecutors and judges ended up suspending their activity due to laws
    violating the recommendations of the Venice Commission and GRECO is a very
    serious issue. Hundreds of magistrates again protested on Friday in Bucharest
    and other large cities against the modifications brought to the justice laws. A
    candidate for the position of European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi
    on Wednesday grabbed the most votes in the Committee on Civil Liberties,
    Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Budgetary Control in the European
    Parliament. The latter’s vote is purely consultative. The upcoming European
    Chief Prosecutor will be appointed following negotiations between the European
    Parliament and the Council of the EU.




    RATING – The International Standard and Poor’s financial rating
    agency has confirmed Romania’s rating at BBB minus/A-3 for long- and short-term
    debt in national and foreign currency. Romania’s rating reflects a moderate
    level of external and public debt as well as the current economic growth
    forecast, which remains robust, the agency writes. Standard and Poor’s however
    says Romania’s institutional efficiency remains weak, and the growing deficit
    could affect the country’s financial reserves in time.




    HANDBALL – Romanian handball team CSM Bucharest on Saturday lost
    22-23 to RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana of Slovenia on Saturday as part of
    Champions League Group 2. This is the second consecutive defeat for CSM after
    losing last week’s match against Gyor. The Romanian champions have already
    secured qualification to the Champions League quarterfinals, with two more
    games left to play in the group phase. In the group standings, the Romanians
    are ranked 2nd, after the title holders Hungary’s Gyor. CSM will
    next play Thuringer of Germany on March 8.




    RUGBY – Romania’s national rugby team
    is playing Spain on Sunday in its third fixture as part of the 2019 Rugby
    Europe Championship. In the first two games of this competition, Romania lost
    to Georgia 9-18 and won against Germany 38-10. In the upcoming fixtures,
    Romania will play Russia at home on March 9 and Belgium away from home on March
    17. Rugby Europe Championship is the second-tier of the famous Six Nations Cup.
    Romania is ranked 18 in international rugby standings, its lowest ranking in
    the past six years.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • March 2, 2019

    March 2, 2019

    FORUM – The Black Sea region presents huge investment opportunities
    for the development of infrastructure, including for the transport and
    production of energy, Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Ana Birchall said on the
    sidelines of the Economic Forum in Delphi, Greece, held over February 28 -
    March 2. Ana Birchall pointed out that the escalation of trade tensions,
    political uncertainty, the gap between the rich and the poor, the worsening of
    global finance, the prospect of a Brexit without an agreement, are risk factors
    that can destabilize an already slowed down global economy. The fourth edition
    of the forum has brought together political leaders, diplomats, economic
    experts and representatives of the most important international think tanks.
    Talks focused on the current economic challenges.




    GOVERNMENT – Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Monday will
    appear before the Chamber of Deputies upon the request of the Liberal
    opposition, who demands explanations over the controversial decree 114,
    bringing new taxes in the fields of banking, telecommunications and energy. The
    decree was passed tacitly by the Senate, without a proper debate and a vote,
    considering the deadline was March 1. A debate and a vote are scheduled for
    this week in the Chamber of Deputies. On Thursday, the European Commission
    winter report showed that the measures stipulated by decree 114 are weakening
    the second pillar of private pensions. The measures, EU experts warn, will have
    a negative impact on pensions, the capital market and future investment,
    increasing uncertainty and making Romanian economy less attractive for both
    Romanian and foreign investors.




    VISIT – Minister for Romanians Worldwide Natalia Intotero has paid
    a visit to Chisinau, where she met with the Minister of Culture, Education and
    Research, Monica Babuc. According to a press release, the two officials
    discussed the possibility of intensifying joint projects in the field of
    education and culture. A major topic on the agenda for talks was preserving and
    promoting tradition, considering both states have cooperated for the
    recognition of the Martisor symbol by UNESCO. The two parties discussed the
    promotion of the cross-border project The traditional blouse – an element of
    cultural identity in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, the nomination for
    UNESCO’s Representative List of the Immaterial World Cultural Heritage.




    EP ELECTION – The European Parliament has made public a new estimate
    regarding its future structure after the European Parliament election due in
    May. The estimate is based on surveys carried out in individual Member States.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, the new Parliament will
    have less MPs, 705 as compared to 751 right now, as a result of Brexit.
    Estimates show that the European People’s Party is expected to secure 181
    seats, Socialists 135, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats 75 followed by
    the Green Party with 49 seats. Figures also point to a slight decrease in the
    number of seats obtained by anti-European and Eurosceptic parties. Of the 73
    seats left vacant by British MEPs, 27 will be shared by some 14 member states,
    considered fairly underrepresented in the European Parliament. Romania will get
    one seat and will total 33 seats. Of these, 13 are expected to go to the
    Social-Democrats, 13 to the European People’s Party representatives, three to the
    Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, one each to the Conservatives and European
    reformists and three seats to other groups. The document also highlights voting
    intentions in Romania: the Social-Democratic Party in power is expected to win
    29.9% of the vote, followed by the Liberal Party in opposition with 24.4%, the
    Alliance of Liberals and Democrats with 9.1% and the Save Romania Union with
    9%.




    RATING – The International Standard and Poor’s financial rating
    agency has confirmed Romania’s rating at BBB minus/A-3 for long- and short-term
    debt in national and foreign currency. Romania’s rating reflects a moderate
    level of external and public debt as well as the current economic growth
    forecast, which remains robust, the agency writes. Standard and Poor’s however
    says Romania’s institutional efficiency remains weak, and the growing deficit
    could affect the country’s financial reserves in time.




    HANDBALL – Romanian handball team CSM Bucharest is today playing RK
    Krim Mercator Ljubljana of Slovenia away from home in Group 2 of women’s
    Champions League. The Romanian champions have already secured qualification to
    the Champions League quarterfinals, with two more games left to play in the
    group phase. In the group standings, the Romanians are ranked 2nd,
    after the title holders Hungary’s Gyor.




    RUGBY – Romania’s national rugby team
    is playing Spain on Sunday in its third fixture as part of the 2019 Rugby
    Europe Championship. In the first two games of this competition, Romania lost
    to Georgia 9-18 and won against Germany 38-10. In the upcoming fixtures,
    Romania will play Russia at home on March 9 and Belgium away from home on March
    17. Rugby Europe Championship is the second-tier of the famous Six Nations Cup.
    Romania is ranked 18 in international rugby standings, its lowest ranking in
    the past six years.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • November 7, 2018 UPDATE

    November 7, 2018 UPDATE

    Doha — The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila on Wednesday presided over an economic forum held in Doha, on the occasion of her official visit to Qatar. In this context, the PM presented the main projects and business opportunities that can be implemented by means of public-private partnerships as well as the intention of the Romanian authorities to cooperate more closely with businesspeople from Qatar. PM Dancila encouraged them to come and invest in Romania in key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and healthcare. She highlighted Romania’s geostrategic position and economic growth reported in the past years.



    Cooperation — The European company Airbus and the Romanian company IAR Ghimbav have signed a contract of exclusive cooperation for a period of 15 years for the production, in Romania, of the twin-engine multirole helicopter H215M. Airbus and IAR have been, for more than a decade, partners in the Airbus Helicopters Romania company, a successful center specializing in maintenance and repair work services for a wide range of civil and military helicopters from Romania and other countries. Export contracts account for 75% of the Airbus Helicopters Romania’s turnover. In 2016, Ghimbav saw the inauguration of the Airbus Helicopters Industries factory specialized in the production of H215M helicopters. IAR, a company with majority state-owned assets, is one of Romania’s leaders in the aeronautics field, being specialized in the production and maintenance of helicopters. Airbus is a world leader in aeronautics and services in the space domain.



    CCR — Romania’s Constitutional Court (CCR) on Wednesday admitted, with a majority of votes, the government’s notification regarding the existence of a juridical conflict of a constitutional nature between Parliament and the High Court of Cassation and Justice regarding the setting up of panels of judges. Thus, the High Court of Cassation and Justice is bound to take the necessary measures, as soon as possible, to appoint all the 5 members of the panels by drawing of lots, not only 4 judges as has happened since 2014. The panels of 5 judges with the High Court judging criminal cases are dealing with important cases in which politicians such as the PSD leader L. Dragnea, the leader of ALDE C. P. Tariceanu and the former head of the government’s general secretariat, Toni Grebla, a former judge with the Constitutional Court are also involved. Following the decision of the CCR many cases handled by the High Court of Cassation and Justice might be re-judged from scratch.



    Washington — The Romanian interior minister Carmen Dan will be the US on Thursday and Friday to participate in the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting. At this high level meeting, which is also going to be attended by the US Attorney General, the Romanian minister will present the home affairs priorities of Romania’s future presidency of the EU Council. The meeting is organized by the Austrian presidency of the EU Council in Washington DC, according to a preset timetable, namely in the first half of the year, the venue of the meeting is in the state holding the presidency of the EU Council, while in the second half of the year, the venue is in the US capital. The EU is represented in Washington by the interior and justice ministers of the Austrian presidency of the EU Council, by Romania’s delegation, a country that will take over the EU Council presidency on January 1, 2019 and by the EU Commissioners for migration, home affairs and security.



    Ashgabat — The Romanian athlete Nicolae Onica on Wednesday won the bronze medal in the total event, the 96 kg category, at the World Weightlifting Championships held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. In the final classification he was outperformed by Iranian Sohran Moradi and Chinese Tao Tian. (new translated and updated by L. Simion)

  • September 5, 2018

    September 5, 2018

    CONSULTATIONS – President Klaus Iohannis has invited the PM Viorica Dancila to consultations on Thursday concerning the forthcoming state budget adjustment. The invitation comes after on Tuesday the head of state suspended the meeting of the Supreme Defence Council on this topic and explained that an agreement had not been reached with the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. The President criticised the cuts in the budgets of the intelligence services. In response, the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici says the Presidents decision will obstruct the payment of salaries, investments and compensations for the African swine fever cases.




    PARLIAMENT – The Chamber of Deputies Wednesday rejected a request by the right-wing Opposition to set up 2 inquiry committees, one on the Governments handling of the African swine fever crisis, and another one on the intervention of riot police at the anti-government protests in Bucharest on August 10th. The authors of the request said they wanted to identify the causes for the quick spreading of the disease in Romania and to find out whether certain public institutions were involved in activities beyond their legally defined powers. At present swine fever outbreaks are reported in 11 counties in Romania, triggering the culling of over 140,000 pigs and spreading further, in spite of the measures taken by authorities. On Tuesday the Senates defence committee cancelled the hearings on this topic, at the request of the Social Democratic Party in power. Scheduled to be heard in Parliament were the Interior Minister, Carmen Dan, the coordinator of the gendarme intervention Laurenţiu Cazan, and the Prefect of Bucharest, Speranţa Cliseru. So far 770 people affected by the brutal police intervention during the protests have filed criminal complaints.




    ANTI-CORRUPTION – A nomination for the new chief of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate will be announced on Thursday, said the Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader. On Tuesday he interviewed the last 3 candidates for the post, after the interviews of another 3 candidates on Monday. The Justice Minister is to send his proposal to the Higher Council of Magistracy, which is to communicate an official opinion on the candidate, and then the nomination is to be approved by President Klaus Iohannis. The former chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, was dismissed in July, under a presidential order imposed by the Constitutional Court of Romania. The dismissal had been requested by the Justice Minister, further to a report that had not been approved by the Higher Council of Magistracy.




    SPORTS MINISTER – The Romanian media hail the appointment of Romanian-born swimmer Roxana Mărăcineanu as the new sports minister in France. She has been living in France since 1984, when her parents fled communist Romania. Aged 43, the athlete born in Bucharest won a silver medal at the 200-m backstroke event of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, when the Romanian Diana Mocanu won the gold. “I felt it was my anthem as well, she said after hearing the Romanian national anthem played at the award ceremony. Two years before, Roxana Maracineanu had won the first world champion title for France, and in 1999 she had won the European swimming championship.




    FESTIVAL – Over 100 artists, representing the music and culture of some 70 countries, are taking part in World Experience Festival, held these days in Bucharest. The main theme of the event is World Music, promoted through concerts and workshops such as the ones focusing on Irish dances, the tea ceremony or the kimono dressing ceremony. Music instruments from 30 countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia and so on are also presented. The main stage of the festival is located in one of Bucharests parks.




    FORUM – The International Economic Forum carries on in the Polish town of Krynica. Romania is represented by some 50 politicians, analysts and business people. Participants from 60 countries in Europe, Asia and North America are looking at the prospects of world economy, and discuss topics such as the future of Europe, the energy field, international cooperation between EU member countries, the state of the European agriculture, as well as continental security. According to the Radio Romania correspondent, special attention will also be paid to the Black Sea region, where security has been vulnerable since 2014, when Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.




    FOOTBALL – Romanias national football team carries on its preparations for the first game in the newly created League of Nations, which it is to play on home turf in Ploiesti against Montenegro on Friday night. On Monday the national team will play against neighbouring Serbia in Belgrade, and in October they will take on Lithuania, also away from home, in Group 4 of the competition. The results in the League of Nations are counting towards the preliminaries of the 2020 European Championship.


    (translated by Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • September 20, 2016

    September 20, 2016


    CORRUPTION Romanias President Klaus Iohannis is deeply disappointed with the Senates vote concerning the former Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea and warns that the politicians who hamper justice will never gain citizens trust and respect, a spokesperson for the presidency has stated. The head of state believes that some senators have again proven they have never understood that somebodys quilt or innocence cannot be established by a vote in parliament, but in a court of justice and has reiterated that a rule of law state cannot be above the law. Yesterday, the Senators rejected the request filed by the National Anti-corruption Directorate for the prosecution of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea, accused of manslaughter. A police officer died last year in a motorcycle accident while part of Opreas official police motorcycle escort. When the accident occurred, Oprea was actually driving to a private destination, which did not entitle him to benefit from an official motorcade.



    UN SUMMIT New York is playing host to the first summit for refugees and migrants called by the UN, during the annual UN General Assembly meeting. Romanias delegation at the summit is headed by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu. The leaders attending the summit are analyzing the causes of migrant influxes and are trying to find solutions for the future. The Romanian officials are also promoting Romanias candidacy for a new term as non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2020-2021. On the sidelines of the event, Dacian Ciolos will meet with the UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon and the presidents of Finland and Egypt. On Monday, Lazar Comanescu attended an informal meeting with his Bulgarian, Croat and Greek counterparts on European issues and also met with Victoria Nuland, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State. The two officials talked about the bilateral strategic partnership, regional security, migration and means of approaching it.



    BREXIT Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country is holding the rotating presidency of the EU, has stated that the Union will make Brexit extremely painful, according to the British newspaper “The Independent”. Fico says Brussels will use Brexit to prove to the other member states how important it is to remain part of the EU. The Slovak Prime Minister has also stated that Great Britain will not be allowed to turn the EU workers into second-class workers, while still benefiting from the advantages of the single market. The British PM Theresa May has refused to guarantee the status of the EU citizens in Great Britain, but has stressed the fact that she wishes they stayed, provided the British citizens are respected in the EU member countries.



    ECONOMIC FORUM Romanias capital Bucharest is hosting the 3rd Annual Economic Forum for Central and Eastern Europe. The event has brought together the Forbes editors-in-chief from the entire region, but also authorities and business people. This year, talks are focusing on development, innovation and investment, both at macroeconomic level and by business sectors. The forum is intended as a platform for business models and investment directions.



    PROTEST Health-care trade unionists are today picketing the Labour Ministry in Bucharest. The action is part of a string of protests triggered by the staff in the sector being unhappy with their salaries. Protesters are requesting, among other things, higher incomes for social workers. At the latest negotiations, authorities said that, in order for such claims to be resolved, a unitary salary law was needed. Talks on the new draft law are due to start this week.



    TENNIS Three Romanian tennis players are taking part in the WTA tournament in Seul, with 250,000 USD in prize money. Irina Begu, ranking 23rd in the WTA classification, the first seed and holder of the title, is today playing against the South-Korean Su Jeong Hang in the first round of the competition. 55th ranked Monica Niculescu and Patricia Tig, number 135, have already qualified for the second round. Monica Niculescu will take on the Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, and Patricia Tig will try to defeat the winner of the match between Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium and the Czech Kristyna Pliskova. Monica Niculescu and Irina Begu may have to play against each other in the quarter finals.