Radio România Internațional

Tag: EIB

August 3, 2023

Investments. In todays session, the Romanian Government has adopted the financing contract with the European Investment Bank for the support of the A7 Ploieşti (south) – Paşcani (northeast) highway project, worth 600 million euros. It is estimated that the work will be ready in 2025, one year earlier than the deadline assumed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Also, the executive is to adopt the program for schools by means of which students will receive milk, vegetables and fresh fruit at school. Funded by European money, it will continue for the next six years, the main goal being to teach the little ones healthy eating habits. Also today, a draft decision will be discussed regarding the establishment of the national registry for the collection of information on all types of cancer, in order to monitor the incidence at the national level, for the evaluation and control of the impact of the disease and the development of public health policies.

Budget. The Bucharest government is preparing an extensive plan to reduce state spending and to meet the deficit target of 4.4% of the GDP. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the Minister of Finance, Marcel Boloş, have presented a package with 50 measures. These aim, among other things, to reduce management positions in public institutions, the number of secretaries of state, undersecretaries of state and similar positions by 20%, capping the income up to which vacation vouchers and food allowances can be granted, merging some institutions public bodies with similar responsibilities or the abolition of vacant positions in the budgetary apparatus. Norms will also be introduced for staff, per diem, transport, accommodation or mobile phone expenses for public companies, public institutions or autonomous institutions subordinate to Parliament. According to information appearing in the public space, the package also includes measures regarding the increase in taxes for small and medium enterprises, as well as changes in the VAT rates. Marcel Ciolacu has announced that, regarding the increase in revenues, the measures will be discussed at the Ministry of Finance, together with the budget adjustment, but also with decisions aimed at reducing tax evasion and digitizing the public sector. The opposition criticized the plan of measures assumed by the governing coalition, which it says will not help maintain the deficit target.

Air Force. A ceremony dedicated to the end of the mission of the Italian Air Force, deployed in Romania to carry out reinforced Air Policing missions, takes place today, at the 57 Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base (south-east). Representatives of the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense from Bucharest, of the Italian Ministry of Defense, as well as of the Italian Embassy in Romania are participating. The approximately 150 soldiers (pilots and technical personnel) and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft that formed the Italian detachment performed, together with soldiers of the Romanian Air Force, Enhanced Air Policing missions under NATO command. “It is the third rotation at Mihail Kogălniceanu of the Italian Air Force, after those carried out in 2019 and 2021 and the present one, which took place between 01.12.2022-31.07.2023”, reads a press released issued by the Defense Minsitry. The joint air policing missions contributed to increasing the reaction and deterrence capacity, as well as to strengthening the interoperability between the Romanian and Italian Air Forces.

Evacuation. The four Romanian citizens in Niger, who requested support for evacuation were picked up by two flights organized by the French authorities and arrived safely in Paris, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed. The ministry says there are currently no other requests for consular assistance and protection. According to the data available at the moment, there are another 20 Romanians on the territory of Niger who carry out their activities within the framework of two EU economic and military cooperation missions, and their evacuation procedures are managed by each mission separately. In order to avoid special situations in which Romanian citizens could find themselves, the MAE reminds that a travel warning has been issued for Niger. The United States has ordered the partial evacuation of its embassy in Niger following last weeks coup. Hundreds of foreign citizens have already been evacuated from the country, and the French embassy was attacked by protesters on Sunday.

Pope. Today, in Lisbon, Pope Francis participates in the World Youth Day, a major event within the Catholic Church. About one million pilgrims from all continents are expected to participate. On Wednesday, the Sovereign Pontiff, who is on a five-day trip to Portugal, met with victims of sexual abuse committed by clerics of the Catholic Church and spoke about the need for its purification. Nearly 5,000 minors have been abused in Portugal by Catholic clergy over the past seven decades. Pope Francis also made a plea for peace and specifically referred to the war in Ukraine.

UNTOLD. The 8th edition of the UNTOLD Festival, one of the largest in Europe, begins today in Cluj-Napoca (north-west Romania) and brings, for four days, on its eight stages, over 250 top Romanian and international artists. The theme of this years edition is “Phoenix Light, inspired by the legend of the Phoenix bird. The epicenter of the festival is the Cluj Arena stadium, where the main stage is set up. One of the best DJs in the world, Brazilian Alok, was chosen to officiate the opening ceremony. More than 400 thousand spectators are expected to attend UNTOLD. Among them are also music enthusiasts from Argentina, Germany, the USA or Great Britain, to enjoy artists such as Armin Van Buuren, Goran, David Guetta or Imagine Dragons. The organizers have taken special measures to ensure the safety of all participants.

Football. Several Romanian teams are playing today in the Europa Conference League preliminaries. Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe (center) plays, at home, with ŢSKA Sofia from Bulgaria, after winning away from, with a score of 2-0. The Romanian champion, Farul Constanța (south-east), meets the Armenian team Urartu, after winning 3-2 a week ago. CFR Cluj (north-west), faces, also away from home, the Turks from Adana Demirspor, after the match ended in a draw in the first leg. Finally, FCSB takes on another team from Bulgaria, CSKA 1948 Sofia, after the Romanians won 1-0 the first match. (MI)

3 August 2023
June 22, 2023

AID In today’s
Cabinet meeting, the government is to pass a resolution concerning emergency
aid granted to the citizens affected by extreme weather conditions this year. The
emergency aid totals EUR 1.4 million. Households in the centre, south-west and
south of the country have been hit by heavy rainfalls and other extreme weather
conditions this month, requiring the intervention of military firefighters.

VISIT Economic cooperation and handling the crises
caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine were the main topics on the agenda of the
talks held in Chişinău on Wednesday by the PM of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, and
of Moldova, Dorin Recean. The latter thanked Bucharest for the support given to
Moldova in its EU accession efforts, and mentioned that bilateral relations are
consolidated through the construction of roads, bridges and energy networks. During
his visit to Chișinău, Marcel Ciolacu was accompanied by the Senate speaker
Nicolae Ciucă.

NATURAL GAS The manager of OMV Petrom, Christina Verchere, Thursday
said that in 2027 the first amounts of natural gas would be extracted through
the Neptun Deep project, turning Romania into the largest natural gas producer
in the EU. The statements were made at the government’s headquarters in
Bucharest, where OMV Petrom and Romgaz made an announcement concerning the
development of Neptun Deep, the largest natural gas project in the Romanian
part of the Black Sea. Spanning 2 decades, the project is expected to generate
a gas output 30 times higher than the annual demand, which covers 4.3 million
households. The estimated revenues to the Romanian state will be around EUR 20
bln. Neptun Deep is a major step for our 2030 strategy, aimed at supporting
Romania’s and the region’s energy transition, the OMV Petrom executive added.

INVESTMENT The European Investment Bank Thursday announced new
funding for Romania. The total EUR 675 mln will go into transport, urban
development and small enterprises. EUR 600 mln will be earmarked for the
transport sector, to add to the EU recovery and resilience funding. The EIB
Group and Romania mark 30 years of partnership, with over EUR 17 bln granted by
the bank in more than 170 financing projects since the start of its operations
in the country. Given the progress of Romania’s economy over the past 30 years,
I am proud that the EIB Group was able to help, providing financing for better schools,
hospitals, public infrastructure, universities and transport, and supporting
climate action and small enterprises, said the EIB vice-president, Lilyana
Pavlova, in an event in Bucharest. In turn, Marjut Falkstedt, chief executive
of the European Investment Fund, emphasised that so far the EIF provided
financial support to more than 56,000 Romanian enterprises.

MAYOR The former
mayor of Bucharest’s districts 4 and 5, Cristian Popescu-Piedone, was released
from prison on Wednesday, after the supreme court admitted his appeal for
cancellation. The former mayor has served 1 year out of a 4-year prison
sentence for abuse of office in the Colectiv investigation. He is now entitled
to resume his office as mayor of district 5. The High Court of Cassation
however dismissed the appeals of the other individuals sentenced in the same
case. The head of the Colectiv Association, Eugen Iancu, said the release of
the ex-mayor was not surprising, given that the officials who authorised the
operation of the Colectiv night club had also been freed. Justice in Romania is
an overpaid embarrassment, Iancu said. On the night of 30 October 2015, 64 youth
died in a fire during a rock concert in the Colectiv night club. After legal
proceedings spanning several years, prison sentences were given to mayor
Piedone, the club owners, the firefighters who inspected the club without
taking the required fire safety measures and the pyrotechnicians in charge of
the fireworks during the show.

UKRAINE The US will provide USD 1.3 million worth of
additional aid for the Ukrainian economy, particularly its essential
infrastructure, the US State Secretary Antony Blinken announced at the
International Ukraine Recovery Conference in London. In turn, the European
Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, promised the bloc would create a
EUR 50 bln fund for Kyiv in the next 4 years. Scores of high-ranking
politicians and business people from around the world take part in the
conference. Romania is represented by its new foreign minister, Luminiţa
Odobescu.

FOOTBALL Romania lost 3-0 to Spain in Bucharest on Wednesday night, in the Under-21
European football championships that the country is hosting jointly with Georgia. Romania plays in B, alongside
Spain, Ukraine and Croatia. The final tournament takes place between 21 June
and 8 July and brings together 16 teams, divided into 4 groups. Two of them
play in Romania, in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, and the other 2 in Georgia. Romania
is also hosting 2 quarter-finals and a semi-final. The top 3 ranking teams in
the tournament qualify into the Olympic Games due in Paris next year. (AMP)

22 June 2023
February 28, 2022

MEETING -
Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Monday met with the president of the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud-Basso, on
the sidelines of the European Investment Bank Group Forum in Luxembourg.
According to the Presidency, Klaus Iohannis praised the activity of the EBRD in
Romania, in particular its support to the private sector by means of a wide
array of financial and technical assistance instruments. Additionally, the
president underscored the EBRD’s key role in funding investment at local level
as well, including to boost the absorption of EU funds. President Iohannis
praised the EBRD’s support to the development of Romania’s capital markets.
Klaus Iohannis also met with the president of the European Investment Bank
Group, Werner Hoyer, and hailed the substantial contribution of this
institution to the implementation of EU objectives and policies, particularly
as regards investment in the public and private sectors. President Iohannis
spoke of the excellent cooperation between the EIB and Romania, highlighting
the fact that the Bank has been Bucharest’s strategic partner for over 32
years, providing specialized technical assistance in a number of fields and
funding major reform projects.

AGREEMENT -
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the European Commission president
Ursula von der Leyen have reached an agreement that is expected to end trade
disputes in Northern Ireland in the wake of Brexit. The two officials said the
agreement marks a fresh start in bilateral relations. According to Radio
Romania’s London correspondent, Sunak and von der Leyen used an unprecedented
cordial tone to announce the impossible: a new deal that would simplify trade
with Northern Ireland at UK level, and that would also protect the EU’s single
market. Should the new agreement be ratified, trading with Northern Ireland
will become easier, cheaper and faster. Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has
hailed the new agreement on Twitter, stating that the EU and the UK remain key
allies, devoted to tackling global challenges together.

UKRAINE – Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr
Zelensky, has admitted that the situation in Bakhmut, a city sieged by Russian
invasion forces, is getting more difficult by the day. The enemy is
systematically destroying anything that can be used to reinforce our defenses,
Zelensky said, who labeled Ukrainian servicemen involved in this battle true
heroes. As early as last summer, Moscow’s troops have been trying to take
Bakhmut, a key strategic settlement, that has become a symbol of the battle for
the entire Donbas region. In a statement to the Russian television, the head of
pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, claims that all access
routes to the Ukrainian fortress in Bakhmut are in firing range. Previously,
the owner of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced his mercenaries had
captured the village of Yahidne, just north of the city.

VISIT – New projects in the energy
sector are high on the agenda of the official visit paid by Romanian Chamber of
Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu to Azerbaijan. Marcel Ciolacu met in Baku with
the Azeri president Ilham Aliyev. Talks focused on the contract for the
delivery of 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Romania over a year. The
contract is also meant to support the Republic of Moldova as well, Marcel
Ciolacu said. The project for the
transport of LNG and the ROMGAZ-SOCAR partnership for the construction of two
terminals in the Black Sea have also been examined by the two officials. The
underwater cable will be 1,200 km long and will transport as much as 1,000
megawatts, carrying electricity via Georgia under the Black Sea to Romania and
then to Hungary and the rest of Europe. Azerbaijan is Romania’s first partner
in the South Caucasus, Marcel Ciolacu said.

WIZZ AIR – The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air will suspend all
flights in and out of Chișinău starting March 14 due to an elevated risk of
crossing the Moldovan airspace, in the context of the war in Ukraine. The
safety of passengers and operating crews remains the number one priority for
Wizz Air, and the company did not take this decision easily, a press release
reads. Starting March 14, Wizz Air will offer additional flights out of Iași,
in the north, to support passengers from the Republic of Moldova. A new
Iași-Berlin route will be established, while Wizz Air will supplement flights
to Barcelona, Milan, Bergamo, Bologna, Rome, Dortmund, Larnaca, London and
Treviso. (VP)

28 February 2023
February 28, 2022

MEETING -
Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Monday met with the president of the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud-Basso, on
the sidelines of the European Investment Bank Group Forum in Luxembourg.
According to the Presidency, Klaus Iohannis praised the activity of the EBRD in
Romania, in particular its support to the private sector by means of a wide
array of financial and technical assistance instruments. Additionally, the
president underscored the EBRD’s key role in funding investment at local level
as well, including to boost the absorption of EU funds. President Iohannis
praised the EBRD’s support to the development of Romania’s capital markets.
Klaus Iohannis also met with the president of the European Investment Bank
Group, Werner Hoyer, and hailed the substantial contribution of this
institution to the implementation of EU objectives and policies, particularly
as regards investment in the public and private sectors. President Iohannis
spoke of the excellent cooperation between the EIB and Romania, highlighting
the fact that the Bank has been Bucharest’s strategic partner for over 32
years, providing specialized technical assistance in a number of fields and
funding major reform projects.

AGREEMENT -
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the European Commission president
Ursula von der Leyen have reached an agreement that is expected to end trade
disputes in Northern Ireland in the wake of Brexit. The two officials said the
agreement marks a fresh start in bilateral relations. According to Radio
Romania’s London correspondent, Sunak and von der Leyen used an unprecedented
cordial tone to announce the impossible: a new deal that would simplify trade
with Northern Ireland at UK level, and that would also protect the EU’s single
market. Should the new agreement be ratified, trading with Northern Ireland
will become easier, cheaper and faster. Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has
hailed the new agreement on Twitter, stating that the EU and the UK remain key
allies, devoted to tackling global challenges together.

UKRAINE – Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr
Zelensky, has admitted that the situation in Bakhmut, a city sieged by Russian
invasion forces, is getting more difficult by the day. The enemy is
systematically destroying anything that can be used to reinforce our defenses,
Zelensky said, who labeled Ukrainian servicemen involved in this battle true
heroes. As early as last summer, Moscow’s troops have been trying to take
Bakhmut, a key strategic settlement, that has become a symbol of the battle for
the entire Donbas region. In a statement to the Russian television, the head of
pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, claims that all access
routes to the Ukrainian fortress in Bakhmut are in firing range. Previously,
the owner of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced his mercenaries had
captured the village of Yahidne, just north of the city.

VISIT – New projects in the energy
sector are high on the agenda of the official visit paid by Romanian Chamber of
Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu to Azerbaijan. Marcel Ciolacu met in Baku with
the Azeri president Ilham Aliyev. Talks focused on the contract for the
delivery of 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Romania over a year. The
contract is also meant to support the Republic of Moldova as well, Marcel
Ciolacu said. The project for the
transport of LNG and the ROMGAZ-SOCAR partnership for the construction of two
terminals in the Black Sea have also been examined by the two officials. The
underwater cable will be 1,200 km long and will transport as much as 1,000
megawatts, carrying electricity via Georgia under the Black Sea to Romania and
then to Hungary and the rest of Europe. Azerbaijan is Romania’s first partner
in the South Caucasus, Marcel Ciolacu said.

WIZZ AIR – The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air will suspend all
flights in and out of Chișinău starting March 14 due to an elevated risk of
crossing the Moldovan airspace, in the context of the war in Ukraine. The
safety of passengers and operating crews remains the number one priority for
Wizz Air, and the company did not take this decision easily, a press release
reads. Starting March 14, Wizz Air will offer additional flights out of Iași,
in the north, to support passengers from the Republic of Moldova. A new
Iași-Berlin route will be established, while Wizz Air will supplement flights
to Barcelona, Milan, Bergamo, Bologna, Rome, Dortmund, Larnaca, London and
Treviso. (VP)

28 February 2023
Nachrichten 22.10.2020

Rumänien hat am Donnerstag neue Corona-Rekordzahlen gemeldet: 4.902 Neu-Infektionen von über 34.000 durchgeführten Tests sowie 98 Todesfälle. Rund 10.360 Menschen sind im Krankenhaus untergebracht, 778 davon auf der Intensivstation. Seit Beginn der Pandemie in Rumänien hat die Gesamtzahl der Fälle 196.004 erreicht, die Zahl der Todesfälle liegt bei 6.163. Die Regierung änderte am Donnerstag das Quarantäne-Gesetz per Eilverordnung, um eine Überfüllung der Krankenhäuser zu verhindern. Patienten mit leichten Formen der Krankheit und Corona-Infizierte ohne Symptome sollen zu Hause behandelt werden, es sei denn, sie leiden an Vorerkrankungen, erklärte Gesundheitsminister Nelu Tătaru. Der Entwurf ist von Hausärzten bereits kritisiert worden. Sie sagen, dass eine Untersuchung der Patienten zu Hause nicht in Frage kommt, da die Ärzte gefährdet wären.

Am Donnerstag ist die Frist für die Einreichung der Kandidaturen für die Parlamentswahlen in Rumänien abgelaufen. Der Urnengang soll am 6. Dezember stattfinden. Die umfragestärksten Parteien hatten ihre Listen mit den Bukarester Kandidaten bereits beim Stadtwahlbüro eingereicht. Der Donnerstag war auch der letzte Tag, an dem sich im Ausland lebende rumänische Staatsbürger zur Briefwahl anmelden konnten. Der Leiter der Ständigen Wahlbehörde, Constantin Mituleţu-Buică, sagt, dass die Briefwahl im Zusammenhang mit der Coronavirus-Pandemie eine sichere und bequeme Alternative biete, die keine Reisen, Kosten und Risiken nach sich zieht. Präsident Klaus Iohannis bezeichnete die Parlamentswahlen als entscheidend, da sie die einzige demokratische Option darstellten, die es einem repräsentativen Parlament ermöglichen würde, die gegenwärtige Krise im Gesundheitswesen zu bewältigen.

Hunderte rumänische Unternehmen sollen von einer Finanzhilfe der Europäischen Investitionsbank (EIB) profitieren. Die Fördermittel in Höhe von 190 Millionen Euro stünden der von der Pandemie am stärksten betroffenen Sektoren zur Verfügung, die aus wirtschaftlicher, sozialer und gesundheitlicher Sicht litten. Laut einer Mitteilung des Finanzinstituts ist das Förderprogramm ab sofort verfügbar, Unternehmen können sich über Tochterunternehmen im ganzen Land bewerben. Die Unterstützung der EIB für Rumänien ist Teil eines weltweiten Hilfspakets in Höhe von 20 Milliarden Euro zur Verringerung der wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen der Pandemie.

Zwei rumänische Soldaten sind am Mittwochabend in Afghanistan bei einem Patrouilleneinsatz verwundet worden. Nach Angaben des Verteidigungsministeriums seien sie stabil und würden im Krankenhaus auf dem Luftwaffenstützpunkt Kandahar medizinisch betreut. Die beiden gehören zum 191. Truppenschutzbataillon Goldene Löwen und wurden im August für einen 6-monatigen Einsatz nach Afghanistan entsandt. Rumänische Truppen sind seit 2003 in Afghanistan stationiert, dem Jahr vor der Aufnahme Rumäniens in die NATO. Fast 30 rumänische Soldaten wurden in diesem Land getötet.

Der rumänische Verteidigungsminister Nicolae Ciucă hat am Donnerstag an den Arbeiten des Nordatlantikrates teilgenommen. Der erste Sitzungstag der NATO-Verteidigungsminister fand im Rahmen eines Videokonferenzschaltung statt. Der rumänische Minister betonte dabei die Bedeutung einer effizienten und dauerhaften Anpassung an aktuelle und zukünftige Sicherheitsherausforderungen. Dabei beharrte er auf der Notwendigkeit einer kohärenten Reaktion der Alliierten auf die Sicherheitskoordinaten in der Schwarzmeerregion. Das Ministertreffen wird am Freitag fortgesetzt.

Der rumänische Diplomat Cosmin Boiangiu ist kürzlich zum Leiter der Europäischen Arbeitsbehörde gewählt worden, einer neuen ständigen Struktur der Europäischen Union. Laut der Website des Europäischen Rates besteht eines der Ziele der Behörde darin, die grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit zu verbessern, die Freizügigkeit der Arbeitnehmer und die Freiheit der Erbringung von Dienstleistungen innerhalb der EU zu gewährleisten. Zu den Hauptaufgaben dieses Gremiums gehört die Unterstützung der Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Mitgliedstaaten bei der Bekämpfung nicht angemeldeter Erwerbstätigkeit und die Unterstützung der Behörden der Mitgliedstaaten bei der Beilegung grenzüberschreitender Streitigkeiten.

22 October 2020
October 22, 2020 UPDATE

EIB
Hundreds of Romanian companies are going to benefit from a new funding scheme
devoted to the private sector, a 190 million euro package made available by the
European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the most affected sectors during the
pandemic. According to a communiqué issued by the aforementioned institution,
the package will be made available immediately and companies can apply at its
branches across the country. The EIB support to Romania is part of its 20
billion euro global response aimed at reducing the pandemic’s economic impact.

NATO
Romanian Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Thursday attended the North Atlantic
Council’s proceedings held in a video-conference format on the first day of NATO
ministers meeting. The Romanian minister highlighted the importance of an effective
adjustment to the present and future security challenges. The need for
providing a coherent allied response in terms of security in the Black Sea
region was also underlined. The meeting is due to continue on Friday as well.

MILITARY Two Romanian peacekeepers were wounded on Wednesday night in
Afghanistan, during a patrol mission. According to the Defence Ministry, they are
stable, under medical supervision at the hospital within the Kandahar Air Base.
The 2 are members of 191st Golden Lions Force Protection
Battalion, and were deployed to Afghanistan in August, for a 6-month mission.
Romanian troops have been present in Afghanistan since 2003, one year before
Romania was admitted into NATO. Nearly 30 Romanian servicemen have been killed in that country.

COVID-19 Romania reported on Thursday new record-high figures
in terms of COVID-19 infections: 4,902 cases out of over 34,000 tests conducted, and 98
deaths. More than 10,354 people are hospitalised, 778 of them in intensive
care. Since the start of the epidemic in Romania, the total number of cases has
reached 196,004and the death toll stands at 6,163. The Government
will amend the Quarantine Act today, in an emergency order, in view of
preventing hospital overcrowding. Patients with mild forms of the
disease and those without symptoms are to be treated at home, unless they
suffer from previous conditions, the health minister Nelu Tătaru explained. The
bill has been criticised by family physicians, who say examining patients at
home is out of the question because physicians would be at risk.

(bill)

22 October 2020
The Week in Review 29 September – 5 October

No-confidence motion against the Cabinet

The Cabinet headed by Viorica Dancila is facing a new motion of no-confidence, the first since the ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats fell apart in August. The text of the motion against the Social Democrats minority government was read in Parliament on Thursday. The document, entitled “In order to rebuild Romania, the Dancila Cabinet must be dismissed immediately! will be discussed next Thursday, on October 10. The motion signatories argue that although the country has seen a favourable economic period, with significant economic growth, the Government has failed to start even one major infrastructure project. Confidence in the Romanian economy is dwindling, first of all because the business legislation changes almost on a weekly basis, the Opposition also says. The Social Democratic PM Viorica Dancila says on the other hand that the Government will not fall. The motion was signed by 237 MPs, from across the political spectrum, 4 more than the number of votes required for the document to pass.

Romanias new nominations for European Commissioner

The Romanian Government had to come up this week with new nominations for European Commissioner for Transport, after the European Parliaments legal affairs committee rejected Rovana Plumb on grounds of a conflict of interests. Convening in Bucharest on Tuesday night, the National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party decided that MEP Dan Nica, a former telecoms minister, was the Governments new nomination for the post. They also chose Gabriela Ciot, a state secretary with the Foreign Ministry, as a back-up candidate, in case the European Commission wanted a woman for this position. Disgruntled with both Rovana Plumbs candidacy, and with the 2 subsequent alternatives, the Opposition called on PM Viorica Dancila to no longer make any nominations without consultations with the President and without a vote in Parliaments specialised committees. The president of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, warned that otherwise more candidates will be rejected, damaging Romanias international reputation.

EIB triples funding for Romanian SMEs

The European Investment Bank triples the funds granted to Romanian small and medium sized enterprises. The announcement was made on Thursday by the EIB vice-president Andrew McDowell. The funding, increased from 500 million to 1.38 billion euros, can support 5,000 small and medium companies. McDowell added that the EIB Group provides not only financial resources, but also consulting services for preparing and implementing complex projects. He signed new contracts and changes in the existing agreements with the Romanian banking institutions interested in facilitating the access of Romanian companies to funding. According to the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, over 2,000 Romanian SMEs have benefited from such funding so far.

Anti-mafia chief prosecutor resigns

The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis Wednesday signed a decree dismissing Felix Banila as chief prosecutor of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism. The latter had previously announced he would step down, although he claimed that he had not failed to do his duty. On Monday the President called for Banilas resignation, criticising him for the way in which the institution handled the investigations in the Caracal killings, a case with a heavy emotional impact on the public. Prosecutors are trying to determine whether 2 under-aged girls were killed by a presumed people trafficker, Gheorghe Dinca. The President argued that in both cases he saw delayed and outrageous responses from certain authorities, proving their disregard for both the victims and their families.

Romania, guest of honour in Europalia International Art Festival

The 50th edition of the Europalia International Art Festival, with Romania as a guest of honour, continues in Brussels, after it opened to the public on Wednesday. The official opening was on Tuesday, when King Philippe of Belgium, Queen Mathilde and the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis visited a Brancusi exhibition organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute at the Bozar Centre. This is the most important exhibition devoted to the Romanian sculptor in decades, and the highlight of the Festival. For the coming 4 months, events will be organised as part of Europalia in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and Britain, including over 250 visual art, music, theatre, literature and performing arts projects.

Media 2020 Conference in Bucharest

Radio Romania organised the 5th edition of the Media 2020 Conference, jointly with Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. The event in Bucharest brought together more than 40 representatives of the most important public media organisations in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Attending the event, the ABU president Javad Mottaghi emphasised that public media services need independent, unbiased and reliable news produced by professionals. The debates focused on the future of public media in the digital era, on strategies to protect copyright and on fighting fake news. Radio Romania and BBC Radio signed a bilateral partnership agreement. Similar agreements have been signed by Radio Romania with Radio France and RAI, as part of the Romanian public broadcasters strategy to collaborate with Europes most prestigious media institutions.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

5 October 2019
October 3, 2019 UPDATE

MOTION – A motion
of no-confidence initiated by the opposition against the Social Democrat
minority government was read in Parliament on Thursday. Titled To rebuild
Romania, the Dancila government must be urgently dismissed!, the motion
will be debated and put to a vote next Thursday, October 10. The government is
described as one of missed chances, because, although the country’s economy is
going through a favorable period, with significant growth rates, no major
infrastructure project was started, the motion reads. Trust in the Romanian
economy is diminishing, mainly because the legislation governing the economic
sector changes almost every week, the document also says. The leader of the
Social Democratic Party and Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dancila says the
opposition does not have the necessary number of votes to bring down the
government. The motion was signed by 237 MPs from across the political
spectrum. 233 votes are needed for the government to fall. We recall that at
the end of August, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats walked out of the
governing coalition with the Social Democratic Party.

Media2020 – The
audience of public broadcasters needs independent, unbiased and trustworthy
news created by professionals, the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Secretary
General Dr. Javad Mottaghi said on Thursday in Bucharest on the sidelines of
the 5th edition of the Media2020 Conference organized by Radio
Romania. This year’s theme is Crossing Borders in the Digital World. The
event brought together 40 representatives of some of the most important media
outlets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Debates focused, among other
things, on the future of public radio in the digital era, ways to protect copyright,
how to combat fake news and the promotion of cultural diversity through the use
of new digital technologies. Radio Romania and BBC Radio signed a bilateral
agreement to develop a creative cooperation partnership. Radio Romania has
signed similar agreements with Radio France and RAI as part of its strategy of
collaboration with the most prestigious media institutions in Europe.

EIB – The
European Investment Bank will triple its support for Romanian enterprises, from
500 million to 1.38 billion euros, EIB vice-president Andrew McDowell said
Thursday in Bucharest, where he attended the signing of new contracts modifying
existing agreements with Romanian financial intermediaries aimed at increasing
the amount of financing. According to the EIB official, the initiative for SMEs
combines structural funds with other EU and EIB resources in order to provide
loans to 5,000 Romanian SMEs in favorable terms, thus contributing to creating
new jobs in the private sector. This has
worked well in the last year, which is why we are increasing the amount of
funds to almost double the amount previously allocated, Andrew McDowell went on
to say. Attending the event, Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici said over 2,000
Romanian SMEs have benefitted from this initiative, and 500 million euros have
already been allocated.

NAVY – Romanian
border police officers, the crew of a surveillance coast guard ship, on
Thursday returned home after a three-month mission in the Aegean Sea under the
aegis of FRONTEX. As part of the Poseidon 2019 mission, the Romanian officers
carried out over 930 hours of patrolling on the EU’s external maritime borders,
saving 484 people. The two crews, operating on a rotation basis onboard the
Romanian Border Police officers, carried out patrol, surveillance, search and
rescue operations in the Aegean Sea, alongside other EU member states.

MOLDOVA – The EU
will withhold its financial support for the Republic of Moldova unless this
country continues its reforms and fulfills its commitments, the EU High Representative
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini said in Chisinau on
Thursday. The EU official stated her visit marks a strong signal of support for
Moldova and its line of reforms. Federica Mogherini held talks with Prime
Minister Maia Sandu regarding the reform of the judiciary and ensuring the
independence of state institutions. This is the first visit paid by Federica
Mogherini to Chisinau in the last five years.

BREXIT – EU leaders
have reacted with caution to the UK’s new Brexit proposals. The president of
the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said the proposed deal contains
both positive advances and problematic aspects. The EU chief Brexit negotiator
Michel Barnier said a lot of work still needs to be done to reach a deal on the
backstop mechanism proposed by the European Union to avoid a hard border with
Ireland. On Wednesday, the British government made public its proposals on the
Irish border, but the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said they are not enough
to maintain an open border.

EUROPALIA – The
EUROPALIA International Arts Festival has got under way in Brussels, with
Romania as the guest of honour this year. The official opening was held on
Tuesday, and it was attended, among others, by King Philippe of Belgium, Queen
Mathilde and Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis. They visited the exhibition
devoted to the Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi entitled Brancusi. Transcendence
of Form and hosted by the Bozar center and organized by the Romanian Cultural
Institute. This is the most important exhibition devoted to the Romanian artist
in recent decades and the highlight of the festival. Over the next four months,
Europalia events will be held in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg
and Great Britain, featuring some 250 different visual arts, music, theatre,
cinema, literature and performing arts projects.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

3 October 2019
February 19, 2018 UPDATE

PARLIAMENT – The Chamber of Deputies Monday discussed a simple motion tabled by the Liberals in Opposition against the Labour Minister, Lia Olguta Vasilescu. The Liberals criticise the drop in salaries for certain employee categories further to the introduction of the unified wage scheme and the transfer of social security payments from employers to employees. In turn, the Labour Minister says there are no statistical data to verify the claims that 2 million Romanians have seen their incomes drop further to the “fiscal revolution. MPs will vote on the motion on Wednesday.

EIB – Romania is interested in further benefitting from the variety of financing instruments offered by the European Investment Bank, especially those that help improve the absorption of non-reimbursable EU funding, the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici said in Bucharest on Monday, after a meeting with the EIB vice-president Andrew McDowell. In turn, the EIB official pointed out that the banks products are designed to reduce the investment deficit in Romania, to contribute to the countrys economic growth and to help create new jobs. According to an EIB report made public on Monday in Bucharest, over the past 25 years the group has granted loans of over 13 billion euros to Romania. Official data indicate that in 2017 alone, the EIB Group, which comprises the EIB and the European Investment Fund, provided support to Romania amounting to 1.9 billion euros.

TRANSPORT – The European Commission announced on Monday that 1.3 billion euro in cohesion funds will be invested in upgrading a section of the railway corridor connecting Curtici, on the Romanian – Hungarian border, to Constanta on the Black Sea Coast, reads a news release issued by the EC Representation in Bucharest. The works will target a significant improvement of speed and safety on the segment between Curtici and the town of Simeria, where 13 railway stations will be upgraded, the improvement of the signalling and passenger information systems and the building of related infrastructure, such as bridges and tunnels.

FLU – Another 3 people died from the flu in Romania, with the death toll reaching 35, and more than 500 cases reported, the authorities announced on Monday. Most of the cases are reported in Bucharest, followed by the counties Constanta (in the south-east), Olt (south), Brasov (centre) and Iasi (north-east). The authorities recommend vaccination, and the Healthcare Ministry announces around 80,000 shots are still available. So far more than 920,000 people have got flu shots. The Healthcare Minister Sorina Pintea says Romania is not facing a flu epidemic. She added that prevention measures are of the utmost importance, while hospitals and public health authorities must implement all the necessary measures.

JUDICIARY – The High Court of Cassation and Justice will pass a final ruling on March 5 in a case where Ludovic Orban, the president of the main Opposition party, the right-wing National Liberal Party, was tried for influence peddling with a view to obtaining undue benefits. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate is seeking a one-year imprisonment sentence in the case. Orban was found not guilty by the court of first instance, but an appeal has been filed. According to prosecutors, in March 2016 Orban contacted a businessman requesting financial support for the local election campaign, in which he was running for Mayor General of Bucharest.

DEFENCE – The Senate of Romania Monday endorsed a bill on the procurement of multiple rocket launchers for the Romanian Army. Under the document, the Government of Romania is awarding to the US Government the contracts for the procurement of 3 sets of 18 launch systems each, including the ammunition, control elements, sensors, logistic support as well as personnel training. The funds will be taken from the Defence Ministry budget. The Chamber of Deputies is to make the final decision on this bill.

AmCham – Investments must be a priority in this years public budget, the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania states in a report made public on Monday. According to AmCham, it is only through investments that economic growth can translate into wellbeing, modern infrastructure, high performance administration and high quality public services. The report says that in 2017 compliance with the deficit target was the main concern in public budget execution, but this was at the expense of investments, which hit a 12-year low. AmCham argues that authorities have sacrificed public investments in order to be able to increase public sector salaries and pensions. AmCham also recommends better absorption of European funds, fiscal stability, increased productivity and a focus on high value-added economic activities.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

19 February 2018
October 19, 2017 UPDATE

EIB – Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose discussed on Thursday in Bucharest with the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Andrew McDowell. The Romanian PM said that his country appreciates the fruitful collaboration with the European Investment Bank, especially as regards the financing of public investment. The meeting marked 25 years since the institution’s first operation in Romania. The EIB has recently approved 13 billion euros worth of financing and advisory services for Romania.

Bucharest — Romania has a lot to offer in areas such as agriculture, information technology and industrial production, prime minister Mihai Tudose said on Thursday in Bucharest at the Trade Winds 2017 US trade mission. He mentioned Romania’s sustained economic growth, its partnership with the European Union and NATO and its 20-year long strategic partnership with the United States. The US ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm said Romania is Washington’s best ally and friend in the region and pointed out this country needs to ensure a predictable and transparent business environment to attract investors. Trade Winds 2017 is the biggest trade promotion event organised by the US government aimed at bringing together American and foreign businesses. Its tenth edition, which is under way until the 24th of October in South-Eastern Europe, has at its centre the Romanian capital, which is also hosting a business forum.

EU – The Romanian president Klaus Iohannis is attending the European Council meeting held on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. Talks focus on migration, security and defence, the relations between the European Union and Turkey and the North-Korean situation. A meeting of the EU 27 will also be held to discuss the UKs leaving the Union and evaluate the progress made so far in the negotiation process. According to the presidents office, Klaus Iohannis will emphasise, among others, the need to monitor the flow of migrants on the Eastern Mediterranean route. As to the latest developments related to the North Korean dossier, Klaus Iohannis is expected to say that Romania will support the efforts of the international community to achieve a peaceful solution to the crisis, with the major goal being the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

Healthcare – Romania has made some progress in the field of healthcare, said the European commissioner for health and food safety Vytenis Andriukaitis in Bucharest, noting however that the area is facing some big funding problems. He said European funds are a key instrument that can make the system work better. Also on Thursday, a rally was held in central Bucharest to protest against the legislative changes to come into force in January 2018. Trade unions say these changes will lead to a decrease in salary incomes for healthcare and social assistance employees in Romania. The protest actions began in mid September.

Ukraine – Members of the ethnic Romanian community in Cernauti, western Ukraine, are to meet the Ukrainian education and science minister Lilia Grinevich this weekend to discuss Ukraines new education law that drastically restricts the access of ethnic minorities to education in their languages. The meeting comes after the ethnic Romanians in Cernauti held protests against this law. On Wednesday, in a telephone talk with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis strongly conveyed his discontent with the new education law in the neighbouring country. Ukraine is home to almost half a million ethnic Romanians.

Tennis — Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (WTA’s 57th seed) qualified on Thursday to the semi-finals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, worth almost 800 thousand dollars. Begu will be up against Russian Daria Kasatkina, no. 28 WTA for a place in the final.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

19 October 2017
Nachrichten 01.03.2017

Der rumänische Staatspräsident, Klaus Iohannis, hat am Mittwoch den maltesischen Ministerpräsidenten, Joseph Muscat, empfangen. Zur Zeit hat Malta die sechsmonatige turnusmäßige EU-Ratspräsidentschaft inne. Der rumänische Staatschef sprach sich entschlossen gegen die jüngst geäußerten Ideen über ein Europa der zwei Geschwindigkeiten aus. Solche Modelle von unterschiedlichen EU-Integrationsprozessen könnten zum Zerfall des europäischen Projektes führen, so Iohannis. Bei den Gesprächen mit dem maltesichen Ministerpräsidenten Joseph Muscat betonten Präsident Klaus Iohannis und Ministerpräsident Sorin Grindeanu die Notwendigkeit einer einheitlichen Position innerhalb des EU-Rates betreffend die Bewahrung des Gemeinschaftsmarktes und der Rechte der EU-Bürger in Großbritannien nach dem Brexit. Weitere Themen der Gespräche waren die Prioritäten der maltesischen Ratspräsidentschaft in Bezug auf die Zukunft der Europäischen Union, die Migration, die Konsolidierung des Einheitsmarktes, der Nachbarschaftspolitik und der EU-Erweiterung. Die zwei Ministerpräsidenten diskutierten auch über die Vorbereitung Rumäniens auf die Übernahme der EU-Ratspräsidentschaft im Jahr 2019.

Rumäniens Finanzminister hat die Differenzen bei den Defizitprognosen der Europäischen Kommission und der Regierung in Bukarest auf unterschiedliche Methoden zurückgeführt. Das steht in einer Mitteilung des Finanzministeriums vom Mittwoch. Das Ministerium versichert darin, dass die rumänischen Behörden einen Regierungsplan entworfen hätten, der die Einhaltung der Defizitgrenze von 3% des Bruttoinlandsproduktes berücksichtigt. Zuvor hatten die EU-Kommissare Valdis Dombrovskis und Pierre Moscovici die rumänische Regierung in einem Schreiben aufgefordert, bis zur Frühjahrsprognose im April glaubwürdige Maßnahmen für die Nichtüberschreitung der Defizitgrenzen anzukündigen. Die Schätzungen der Kommission zur Entwicklung des Haushalts in diesem und nächsten Jahr weichen signifikant von den Prognosen der rumänischen Regierung ab – für 2017 gab die Regierung ein Defizit von 2,96% vom BIP vor, während die Kommision aufgrund der Steuerentlastungen von 3,6% in 2017 und 3,9% in 2018 ausgeht.

Die Europäische Investitionsbank EIB hat 2016 Rumänien Darlehen von über eine Milliarde Euro gewährt, und der Europäische Investitionsfonds EIF hat Operationen in Wert von 61 Millionen Euro durchgeführt. Die EIB finanzierte Prioritätsprojekte für die öffentliche Infrastruktur, im Rahmen mehrerer operationellen Programme der Europäischen Union fur die Zeit 2014-2020, unterstützte die kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen und die Programme zur Wärmedämmung der Bukarester Hochhäuser und Wohnblocks. Ferner gewährte die EIB Darlehen für die Landwirtschaft und Beratung für das Gesundheitsministerium beim Bauen von drei Regionalkrankenhäusern in Iasi, Cluj und Craiova.

Der Oberste Richterrat wird kein Disziplinarverfahren gegen den Oberstaatsanwalt Augustin Lazăr eröffnen. Ferner soll auch nicht untersucht werden, unter welchen Bedingungen die Antikorruptionsbehörde DNA die Ermittlungen im Fall der umstrittenen Eilverordnung 13 aufgenommen hat. Die Verordnung, die das Strafgesetzbuch abändern sollte, wurde im Nachhinein von der Exekutive aufgehoben und im Parlament für nichtig erklärt. Die Entscheidung des Richterrates sei ein Vertrauensvotum für den Oberstaatsanwalt und ein Beweis für die Unabhängigkeit der Justiz, erklärte Lazăr. Indes sollen die Emittlungen gegen die aus Sozialdemokraten und ALDE gebildete Koalitionsregierung auch nach dem Beschluss des Verfassungsgerichts weitergehen. Das Gericht hatte am Montag einen Rechtskonflikt zwischen den Staatsgewalten festgestellt. Die Antikorruptionsbehörde DNA habe nämlich die eigenen Befugnisse überschritten, indem sie die Rechtmäßigkeit der Eilverordnung von amtswegen prüfte, hieß es in der Begründung des Verfassungsgerichts. Diese Zuständigkeiten würden allein dem Parlament und dem Verfassungsgericht selbst obliegen. Dennoch könnte die DNA im Falle direkter Straftaten ermitteln. Die Antikorruptionsbehörde hatte in diesem Fall die Strafakte an die Generalstaatsanwaltschaft übermittelt, aufgrund des Verdachts auf bestimmte Straftaten, wie etwa die Begünstigung des Straftäters, Urkundenvernichtung und bewusste falsche Tatsachenbehauptungen.

1 March 2017
March 1, 2017 UPDATE

POST- BREXIT SCENARIOS On Wednesday, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker presented 5 potential scenarios regarding the future of the EU after Brexit. He said that the EU summit due in Rome on March 25th, when the EU will celebrate its 60th anniversary, must be marked by the start of a new chapter for the European Union and called on the leaders of the member countries to show unity and leadership. The so-called white paper marks the beginning of a process through which the 27 EU members will decide together the future of the Union. The charter analyses the way in which Europe will change in the next ten years, from the impact of new technologies on society and jobs, to doubts concerning globalization, security threats and the rise of populism. The five scenarios include the possibility of a multi-speed Europe, with the member countries developing faster together, without forcing the community bloc to follow the same pace. The option has already raised concern in the east, including in Romania.

VISIT On Wednesday, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis received the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat, whose country is holding the rotating presidency of the EU. The Romanian head of state voiced his opposition to the idea of a multi-speed Europe, saying that such a reconfiguration formula might lead to the dismantling of the EU. Both the president and PM Grindeanu stressed the need for a common stand of the EU regarding the domestic market and the rights of the European citizens in Great Britain after Brexit. The talks focused on the priorities of the Maltese presidency, in particular the future of Europe, the management of migration, strengthening the single market, the neighborhood policy and the enlargement process. The two prime-ministers also talked about preparations for Romanias taking over the presidency of the EU in the first half of 2019.

INVESTIGATION The Supreme Council of the Magistracy has decided not to start a disciplinary investigation against the Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar and not to verify the conditions in which the National Anti-Corruption Directorate decided to investigate the drafting of the controversial emergency decree no.13. The emergency government decree amending the criminal law was later repealed by the government and rescinded by Parliament. According to Lazar, the decision by the Superior Council of the Magistracy is tantamount to a vote of confidence in the Prosecutor General and comes as a proof that the judiciary is independent. He said the investigation into the way in which the government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats issued the emergency decree will continue even after the Constitutional Court has ruled on the matter. On Monday, the Court noticed the existence of a legal conflict between the state powers generated by the fact that the National Anti-Corruption Directorate reportedly assumed prerogatives to verify the opportunity and legality of issuing the ordinance, prerogatives which belong only to Parliament and the Constitutional Court. The Court has said however that investigation into potential direct criminal acts is permitted. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate, which sent the file to the General Prosecutors Office, suspects the law might have been broken in this case, by means of aiding the offender, destroying documentary evidence and the ill-intended presentation of imprecise data.

BUDGET DEFICIT The difference between the estimates made by the European Commission and those made by the Romanian Government on the countrys budget deficit in 2017 is the result of applying different estimation methodologies, reads a communiqué issued by the Romanian Finance ministry. The line ministry has given assurances that the Romanian authorities have assumed responsibility for a governing program which will observe the 3% budget deficit target. The communiqué was issued shortly after the European Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis and Pierre Moscovici had sent a letter to the Romanian Finance Ministry, following the European Commissions issuing country reports on the economic and social situation of the member states. According to the winter economic forecast made public in mid February, the public deficit in Romania might reach 3.6% of the GDP in 2017, as compared to 3.2%, the figure estimated in autumn, to then go up to 3.9% of the GDP in 2018.

FISCAL MEASURES The Romanian Labour Ministry announced on Wednesday that the minimum guaranteed social pension was increased, as of March 1, from some 90 Euros to 115 Euros. The measure, which benefits some one million pensioners, will have a budgetary impact of over 225 million Euros, according to data released by the Fiscal Council. However, a number of fiscal measures which should have taken effect on March 1st were postponed. These include zero VAT for advertising and for selling dwellings with a market value below 100,000 Euros. Also, a VAT cut for raw materials and services provided in agriculture is no longer enforced and healthcare employees will not receive a series of payment bonuses.

FUEL PRICE The Competition Council in Romania has started a sectoral investigation on the fuel market, to see why prices in Romania exceed the EU average. The president of the Competition Council Bogdan Chiritoiu says the evolution of prices is surprising and clarifications should be made to see whether there are legislation-related problems, if there are errors made by the Romanian state, or problems caused by the conduct of companies, which might lead to sanctions. Romania is among the few countries in Europe which extract oil, boasts big refining capacities and exports fuels to the neighbouring countries. Despite all that, the prices of gas and diesel in Romania exceed the EU averages, although the extra excise duty on fuel was eliminated and the VAT was cut early this year.

EIB In 2916, the European Investment Bank provided Romania with more than 1 billion Euros in loans, and the European Investment Fund, also part of the EIB Group, ran operations worth 61 million Euros. According to a communiqué issued by the Bank, the loans were used to fund projects of utmost importance for the public infrastructure, under several EU operational programmes within the 2014-2020 framework, supported SMEs and thermal rehabilitation programs for apartment buildings in Bucharest. Also, the EIB granted loans to agriculture and provided consultancy to the Ministry of Health for the building of three regional hospitals in Iasi, Cluj-Napoca and Craiova. The European Investment Bank ensures long-term loans and advice with a view to promoting the EU objectives. It supports both EU projects and other projects from outside the Union.

ISIS PROPAGANDA Two German citizens, both ISIS sympathizers, of whom one Syrian-born, have been declared personae non grata on Romanian soil for a period of 10 years, as they were running activities seen as a threat to national security, reads a communiqué issued on Wednesday by the Romanian Intelligence Service. The two came to the attention of the service in 2016, when they were carrying out religious propaganda with the aim of attracting adepts to Jihadist ideology. Also, the two looked into ways of getting to Syria and join Daesh.

SPRING CELEBRATION The Romanians on Wednesday celebrated the “Martisor”, the main symbol of spring. Small amulets, tied to a white and red thread are offered to the beloved ones on this day. The word “martisor” is of Latin origin and is the popular name given to the month of March. According to the old Roman calendar, March 1 was the first day of the year, when the God Mars was celebrated. Martisor is a tradition kept in Romania, the Republic of Moldova and the neighbouring regions inhabited by Romanians and Aromanians. Similar customs are also observed in Bulgaria, Albania and Macedonia.

1 March 2017
Nachrichten 17.06.2016

Der deutsche Bundespräsident Joachim Gauck unternimmt am Montag einen Staatsbesuch in Rumänien. Dabei wird der rumänische Präsident Iohannis das Interesse der rumänischen Seite an einer Intensivierung der strategischen Beziehungen zu Deutschland und zu den einzelnen Bundesländern signalisieren. Iohannis wird zudem beim gemeinsamen Dialog auf die Notwendigkeit der Konsolidierung der Wirtschaftskooperation eingehen. Deutschland ist der grö‎ßte Handelspartner Rumänien und der drittgrö‎ßte Investor in der rumänischen Wirtschaft. Am Mittwoch beteiligen sich Iohannis und Gauck an einer Begegnung mit deutschen und rumänischen Geschäftsleuten. Auf dem Besuchsprogramm von Bundespräsident Gauck stehen auch Gespräche mit Vertretern der deutschen Minderheit, der auch der rumänische Präsident Klaus Iohannis angehört.

Die Entwicklung des Tourismus in der Donauregion ist am Freitag in Ruse das Hauptthema eines Treffens zwischen rumänischen und bulgarischen Verantwortlichen gewesen. Auch die EU-Kommissarin für Regionalpolitik Corina Creţu und der rumänische Vizepremierminister Vasile Dîncu nahmen daran teil. Die Kommissarin unterstrich dabei, dass einer von fünf Europäern in der Donauregion arbeitet und lebt. Ein Viertel der Bewohner des Gebiets lebt aus dem Tourismus, und von 600 Millionen Touristen, die Europa jährlich besuchen, entscheiden sich 125 Millionen für Donauländer. Vor diesem Hintergrund nehmen Rumänien und Bulhgarie sich vor, aus ihrem Donaugebiet ein attraktives Reiseziel zu machen.

Der rumänische Au‎ßenminister Lazăr Comănescu und der Staatssekretär für Europaangelegenheiten im französischen Au‎ßenministerium Harlem Désir wurden in Chişinău vom Staatschef Nicolae Timofti und vom Premier Pavel Filip empfangen. Dabei betonte Comănescu die Bereitschaft Bukarests, Chişinău auf seinem proeuropäischen Kurs zu unterstützen. Die Republik Moldau müsse weiterhin Reformen in einem beschleunigten Rhythmus umsetzen, insbesondere im Justizbereich und in der öffentlichen Verwaltung, die Wirtschaft stabilisieren, die Korruption bekämpfen und das Geschäftsumfeld verbessern, sagte Au‎ßenminister Lazăr Comănescu bei Gesprächen in der moldauischen Hauptstadt. Dieses Thema behandeln wir ausführlich später im Journal.

Die europäische Investitionsbank gewährt Rumänien einen Kredit in Höhe von 300 Millionen Euro für den Ausbau von Projekten im Rahmen des Finanzierungsprogramms für gro‎ße Infrastruktur und Umwelt im Zeitraum 2014 — 2020. Das Bukarester Finanzministerium teilte mit, dass daraus der Eigenbeitrag des rumänischen Staates zu Projekten im Bereich Abfallwirtschaft, Schutz und Wiedervernetzung von Ökosystemen sowie für die Anpassung an den Klimawandel gedeckt werden soll. Laut dem Vizepräsidenten der Europäischen Investitionsbank Cristian Popa, soll das Darlehen die Kofinanzierung von Projekten im Wert von 4,5 Milliarden Euro ermöglichen.

Am Freitag hat auf der griechischen Insel Kreta das erste Konzil der Vertreter der orthodoxen Kirchen seit mehr als 1.000 Jahren begonnen. Am Konzil nehmen nur zehn der 14 orthodoxen Kirchen teil. Rumänien wird dabei durch eine Delegation unter Führung von Patriarch Daniel vertreten. Angereist sind zudem au‎ßer der Delegation des federführenden Ökumenischen Patriarchates von Konstantinopel auch die Vertretungen der serbischen Kirche, des Patriarchats von Jerusalem, der orthodoxen Kirchen von Tschechien und der Slowakei, Polen, Griechenland, Albanien sowie von Zypern. Die Patriarchate von Antiochia und von Moskau sowie die Kirchen von Bulgarien und Georgien haben ihre Teilnahme abgesagt. Diese stellen mit 250 Millionen Gläubigen fast die Hälfte der orthodoxen Gemeinschaft dar.

17 June 2016
Nachrichten 29.02.2016

BUKAREST: Die rumänischen Behörden setzen die Justizreform fort und haben die Einhaltung der Empfehlungen aus dem letzen Bericht der Europäischen Kommission im Rahmen des Überprüfungs- und Zusammenarbeitsmechanismus als Priorität gesetzt. Dies erklärte am Montag in Bukarest Justizministerin Raluca Prună, nach dem Treffen mit der Europäischen Kommissarin für Justiz, Verbraucher und Geschlechtergleichstellung, Věra Jourová. Raluca Prună sagte au‎ßerdem, dass Rumänien bereit sei, sich für eine eigene Bewertung im Rahmen interner Mechanismen zu verpflichten. Diese seien hauptsächlich die Entwicklungsstrategie des Justizsystems und die neue Strategie zur Korruptionsbekämpfung. Zuvor war Věra Jourová mit Premierminister Dacian Ciolos zusammengekommen. Die beiden diskutierten über die Zusammenarbeit mit der Europäischen Kommission im Justizbereich, Korruptionsbekämpfung, die Aufhebung des Überprüfungs- und Zusammenarbeitsmechanismus, aber auch über Verbraucherschutzrichtlinien, Geschlechtergleichstellung, soziale Eingliederung der Roma und den Vorschlag zur Einführung des Amtes des europäischen Generalstaatsanwaltes.

BUKAREST: Eine Mission des Internationalen Währungsfonds wird zwischen dem 2. und 15. März für die jährliche Bewertung der rumänischen Wirtschaft in Bukarest erwartet. Die Mission wird von dem neuen IWF-Chef für Rumänien, Reza Baqir, geführt. Die IWF-Mission wird mit Vertretern der rumänischen Zentralbehörden, der Parteien, der Gewerkschaften, der Geschäftswelt, des Universitätsbereiches und des Bankenwesens zusammentreffen. Die Bewertung der Wirtschaft aufgrund des Artikels IV der IWF-Satzung ist eine obligatorische Überwachungsübung für alle Mitgliedsstaaten. Nach Bewertung des Landesstandes werden allgemeine Empfehlungen bezüglich der Währungs-, Finanz- und Wirtschaftspoltik verfasst, um die Stabilität und eine positive Entwicklung der Wirtschaft zu gewährleisten. Zur Zeit gibt es kein laufendes Abkommen zwischen Rumänien und dem Internationalen Währungsfonds.

BUKAREST: Der ehemalige stellvertretende Gouverneur der rumänischen Zentralbank, Cristian Popa, ist zum Vizevorsitzenden und Mitglied des Führungsrates der Europäischen Investitionsbank (EIB) ernannt worden. Er soll dieses Amt am 1. März übernehmen. Die EIB ist die Finanzanstalt der Europäischen Union. Aktionäre sind die 28 Mitgliedsstaaten. Der Gouverneurrat der EIB umfasst die Finanzminister der 28 EU-Staaten. Die Einrichtung gewährt Darlehen zu sehr günstigen Zinsen, hauptsächlich an die EU-Staaten, für Investitionen in Bereichen wie Verkehrswesen, Kommunikationen, Industrie, Landwirtschaft, Energie, Bildung, Gesundheit und kleine und mittlere Unternehmen. Der rumänische Vizepräsident koordiniert die Finanztätigkeiten für Rumänien, Bulgarien, Griechenland, Zypern, Mazedonien und die Mitgliedsländer des Europäischen Freihandelsabkommens.

BUKAREST: Ein Kind von denen, die mit hämolytisch-urämischem Syndrom in das Bukarester Marie Curie“ Krankenhaus eingeliefert wurden, befindet sich weiterhin auf der Intensivstation. Sein Zustand ist stabil, laut dem Gesundheitsministerium. Die Ursache für die Erkrankung der Kinder ist die E.coli Bakterie, die seit Monatsanfang einen Infektionsherd im südrümänischen Landkreis Argeş verursacht hat. Gesundheitsminister Patriciu Achimaş Cadariu erinnerte daran, dass er einen Hygienema‎ßnahmensatz mit vorbeugendem Charakter angeordnet und alle zur Verantwortung aufgerufen hat. Drei Kinder starben diesen Monat wegen schweren Verdauungserkrankungen. In Argeş befinden sich weiterhin über 50 Kinder mit ernsten Verdauungsinfektionen in Krankenäusern.

BUKAREST: Der rumänische Senatsvorsitzende Călin Popescu Tăriceanu hat erklärt, dass der mit finanziellen Schwierigkeiten konfrontierte öffentlich-rechtliche Fernsehsender TVR nur durch eine gemeinsame Anstrengung der Regierung und des Parlaments gerettet werden könne, und die Trennung der Führungsstelle mit Doppelfunktion Generaldirektor-Vorsitzender des Verwaltungsrates“ in diesem Fall keine Lösung sei. Ferner sagte Tariceanu, dass der öffentlich-rechtliche Rundfunk hohe Einschaltsquoten hat und eine gute finanzielle Leistung erbringt, auch wenn er gemä‎ß desselben Gesetzes und mit derselben Organisationsstruktur funktioniert, das hei‎ßt, mit einem Generaldirektor-Vorsitzenden des Verwaltungsrates. Am Montag war die Frist der öffentlichen Debate über den Vorschlag zur Änderung des Gesetzes über die Funktionierung des rumänischen öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehens und Rundfunks abgelaufen. Der Initiator der Gesetzesänderung hatte vorgeschlagen, dass die Stelle Generaldirektor-Vorsitzender des Verwaltungsrates“ in beiden Medieneinrichtungen in je zwei Stellen getrennt werden sollte.

LOS ANGELES: Der ungarische Spielfilm Son of Saul“, in dem der rumänische Schauspieler Levente Molnár spielt, hat den Oscar für den besten ausländischen Film bei der 88. Gala in Los Angeles gewonnen. Der Oscar für den Besten Film ging an: «Spotlight» (Regie: Thomas McCarthy). Weitere Oscars: Regie: Alejandro González Iñárritu für «The Revenant – Der Rückkehrer», Hauptdarsteller: Leonardo DiCaprio («The Revenant» – Der Rückkehrer»), Hauptdarstellerin: Brie Larson («Room»), Nebendarstellerin: Alicia Vikander («The Danish Girl»), Nebendarsteller: Mark Rylance («Bridge of Spies – Der Unterhändler»), Kamera: Emmanuel Lubezki für «The Revenant – Der Rückkehrer», Original-Drehbuch: Thomas McCarthy und Josh Singer für «Spotlight», Adaptiertes Drehbuch: Charles Randolph und Adam McKay für «The Big Short», Schnitt: Margaret Sixel für «Mad Max: Fury Road», Filmmusik: Ennio Morricone für «The Hateful 8», Filmsong: «Writing’s On The Wall» aus dem Film «Spectre», Musik und Text von Jimmy Napes und Sam Smith, Produktionsdesign: Colin Gibson und Lisa Thompson für «Mad Max: Fury Road», Tonschnitt: Mark Mangini und David White für «Mad Max: Fury Road», Tonmischung: Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff und Ben Osmo für «Mad Max: Fury Road».

29 February 2016
February 29, 2016 UPDATE

VISIT-The Romanian authorities are carrying on with the measures meant to reform the judiciary and have set as their main priority to observe the recommendations made in the European Commissions latest report issued under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, the Romanian justice minister, Raluca Pruna, said in Bucharest Monday, fresh from a meeting with the European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourova. The Romanian official added that Romania was ready to assume its own assessment within internal mechanisms, which mainly consist in the strategy for the development of the legal system and in the new National Anti-Corruption Strategy. Previously the European Commissioner had met with the Romanian Prime Minister, Dacian Ciolos. The two officials talked about cooperation with the European Commission in the field of justice, the anti-corruption fight, the lifting of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification as well as about the consumer protection policy, gender equality, the social inclusion of the Roma population and the proposal of setting up, at EU level, the position of European Prosecutor General.

ECONOMY– An IMF mission is expected in Bucharest between March 2 and 15, for the annual assessment of the Romanian economy. The mission, led by the new head of the IMF mission for Romania, Reza Baqir, will meet with Romanian high officials, with representatives of the political parties, of trade unions, business associations, of the academic environment and the banking system. The assessment of the economy is, according to Article IV of the IMF Statute, a compulsory monitoring exercise for all member states. After the examination of the national situation, general recommendations are made related to monetary, financial and economic policies to be acted upon so as to ensure stability and a positive development of the economy. At present, Romania has no running agreement with the IMF.

APPOINTMENT-The former deputy governor of the National Bank of Romania, Cristian Popa, has been appointed Vice-President and member of the Management Committee of the European Investment Bank. He will take office on March 1. The EIB is the financial institution of the EU and the Banks Board of Governors consists of 28 European Union Finance Ministers. The bank grants loans mainly to the EU states at very advantageous interest rates for investments in such domains as transport, communications, industry, agriculture, energy, education, healthcare and SMEs. The Romanian Vice-President coordinates the funding activities in Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia and the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

HEALTHCARE-One of the children hospitalized at the “Marie Curie hospital in Bucharest with the hemolytic uremic syndrome is still in intensive care, but his condition is stable, sources with the healthcare ministry report. The cause of infection is the E.Coli bacteria which has generated an epidemic in Arges county, in the south, since the beginning of February. In Arges county more than 50 children are still in hospital with serious digestive infections. The National Sanitary-Veterinary Authority has announced that the E.Coli bacteria has been found in cow cheese in Curtea de Arges, a town in the same county, and in poultry products made in a household in Bacau county, eastern Romania.

LAW ON DEBT DISCHARGE-
The Romanian Senate on Monday unanimously adopted the law on debt discharge,
which provides for discharging someone’s debt if they give the mortgaged dwelling
to the bank. The draft law is to be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, which
is the decision making body in this case.

SURVEY- More than 9 in 10 Romanians say they have little or very little confidence in the political parties, a survey conducted by the Romanian Evaluation and Strategy Institute, shows. Three quarters of the respondents have unfavourable opinions of the parties and only 6% of them say these parties are representing the citizens interests. Political leaders are believed to be the main beneficiaries of the parties activity. Some 6 in 10 Romanians prefer an independent politician and only 3 in 10 favour a politician affiliated to a political party. The sociological survey was conducted ahead of the local elections due in summer and of the legislative ones, due in autumn. The elections will be organised by the technocratic government led by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, which took office in November, following the resignation of the cabinet led by Social-Democrat Victor Ponta, as an outcome of the street protests against the corruption of the political class.

MASS MEDIA– The Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, has said the Romanian Television Company (TVR), which is facing severe financial problems, can redress itself only by a joint effort of the Romanian Government and Parliament. He said the separation of the two positions of Chairman and CEO, respectively, is not a solution to the issue. Tariceanu has also said the National Radio Broadcasting Corporation has had a totally different evolution from that of the Romanian Television Company, in terms of both ratings and financial results, although it functions based on the same law and with the same organizing structure, that is the formula: Chairman and CEO. The deadline for the public debate on the draft bill meant to amend the law regulating the organization and functioning of the Romanian Radio and Television Corporations expired on Monday. The initiator of the law proposes the separation of the positions of Chairman and CEO, in the two media institutions.

(Translated by Lacramioara Simion and Diana Vijeu)

29 February 2016