SUMMIT -
President Klaus Iohannis is attending the European Council summit on May 30-31,
which will focus on the war in Ukraine. According to the Presidency, European
leaders will discuss ways to continue providing political, economic and
financial support to Ukraine, including the EU’s involvement in post-war reconstruction
efforts. The EU Council summit will also address the need to help build up Moldova’s
resilience. EU heads of state and government will also examine approaches to
ensure continuous food exports from Ukraine in order to maintain food safety at
global level. The summit’s agenda also includes steps to diversify and secure
energy sources and supply routes.
EMBARGO -
The EU failed to reach an agreement on Sunday regarding an embargo on Russian
oil and negotiations are expected to continue today. EU diplomats are trying to
reach consensus over exempting oil deliveries to certain states in Central
Europe. The embargo is part of the sixth package of sanctions against Russia.
The package stipulates the deswifting of Russia’s number one bank, Sberbank, a
ban on Russian TV stations across the EU and adding new names on the list of
Russian figures whose assets have been frozen or who are barred from entering
the EU. Hungary has opposed the package, claiming a Russian oil embargo would
deal a heavy blow to its economy, as this country cannot import oil from other
sources. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have expressed similar concerns.
IMF – A
delegation of the International Monetary Fund, led by Jan Kees Martijn, will
visit Romania over May 30 – June 10, to conduct an analysis of Romanian
economy, the IMF representative for Central and Eastern Europe, Nadeem Ilahi,
has said. IMF officials will discuss with Romanian authorities economic
policies and evolutions, and are expected to meet with representatives of the
Finance Ministry, the National Bank, other government agencies as well as the
private sector and NGOs. At present, Romania has no ongoing financial agreement
with the IMF, although the Fund assesses the evolution of Romanian economy
every year.
CENSUS – The
second phase of the national census starts on May 31 across the country, when
censors will collect data in the field. According to the National Statistics
Institute, 47% of the target population has completed the online
self-enumeration process over March 14 – May 27. The second phase will take
place over May 31 – July 17. This is the 13th census in Romania’s
history and the 4th after the 1989 Revolution.
FOOTBALL -
Sunday marked the end the 2021-2022 football season. In the second round of the
promotion playoffs, Chindia Târgoviște won 4-1 against second-tier club
Concordia Chiajna at the penalty shootout. The score was 1-0 at the end of regular
time, and Concordia had won 2-1 in the first round. Universitatea Cluj on the
other hand managed to secure promotion to the first division after drawing 1-1
against Dinamo Bucharest. Universitatea had won the first leg 2-0. Concordia
and Universitatea will join Petrolul Ploiești and FC Hermannstadt, two teams
that had secured direct qualification to League One. CFR Cluj have won their
fifth consecutive championship title and the eighth in the club history. Next
season, CFR will play in the Champions League preliminaries. FCSB,
Universitatea Craiova and Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe will perform in Europa Conference
League. The 2022-2023 season will kick off on July 9 with the Romanian
Supercup.
TENNIS -
Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (63 WTA) is today playing Jessica Pegula of
the US (11 WTA) in the round of 16 at Roland Garros. Previously, Begu ousted
Leolia Jeanjean of France, 6-1, 6-4, thus matching her personal best at Roland
Garros, the round of 16 played in 2016. Irina Begu is the only Romanian left in
the women’s singles. The other six players in the main draw, including Simona
Halep, world no. 1 and winner at Roland Garros in 2018, were knocked out in the
first two rounds.
WEATHER – Massive
rainfall and storms swept the country this weekend, disrupting rail and road
traffic, damaging cars, uprooting trees and flooding streets and homes.
Authorities sent out an alert on the emergency app warning people to take
refuge, while emergency response teams intervened in numerous cases providing
support to the local population in a number of counties, including the capital
city. Hydrologists also issued alerts against floods for a number of rivers.
Skies are overcast with reports of isolated rainfall in the mountains. The
highs of the day range between 20 and 29 degrees. The noon reading in Bucharest
was 22 degrees Celsius. (VP)