Radio România Internațional

Tag: energy sector

  • March 31, 2019

    March 31, 2019

    VISIT – EU Commissioner
    for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Canete on Monday and Tuesday is
    paying an official visit to Bucharest, the European Commission’s Representative
    Office in Bucharest has announced. On April 1, the EU official will attend the
    meeting titled The Regional Energy Cooperation Initiative in Central and
    Eastern Europe. The event will bring together ministers and high-ranking
    officials from member states and contracting parties of the Energy Community.
    The meeting will include ceremonies for the signing of energy grants under the
    European Interconnection Mechanism. EU officials will also look at progress
    obtained so far and will address the priorities for the future of natural gas
    and energy markets and the development of infrastructure and sustainable energy
    sources. On Tuesday, Miguel Arias Canete will attend the Informal Energy
    Council, on the sidelines of which the first meeting of Energy Ministers from
    EU states and the Eastern Partnership will be held, with a view to
    consolidating regional energy cooperation.




    FRONTEX – Over April 1 – June 30 the Romanian Border Police will
    take part in the 2019 POSEIDON mission organized by FRONTEX, providing a
    maritime patrol ship MAI 1101 as part of the Coast Guard. The mission will take
    place in the Aegian Sea. The ship and the two crews will carry out patrol,
    surveillance, search and rescue missions alongside the other participant
    states. The purpose of the operation is to provide Greek authorities with
    support in the surveillance and control at the EU’s maritime borders, as well
    as for the search and rescue of people in distress on the EU’s external
    borders.




    EARTH HOUR – Romania
    joined around 180 other countries in celebrating Earth Hour on Saturday, a
    movement that warns about climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Between
    8.30 pm and 9.30 pm, lights went out in several towns and cities across the
    country, including the capital Bucharest, in a symbolic gesture to raise
    awareness about the importance of protecting the planet. Performances, bike
    races and other events were also held. According to some estimates, if every
    person in Romania took part in Earth Hour by switching off their lights for one
    hour, this would save more than 1 million kilowatts, enough to supply the
    electricity of a community of 2,200 people for a year. Romania has marked Earth
    Hour since 2009.




    DST – On Saturday
    night Romanians turned forward their clocks one hour in observance of Daylight
    Saving Time. So, three o’clock became four o’clock with a three hour GMT
    difference. The switch this year could be one of the last such changes, as the
    European Parliament this week voted a proposal to renounce DST changes at EU
    level starting 2021. Member States are free to choose to observe standard time
    or DST.






    TRADE FAIR – Romania is taking part in the HannoverMesse, one of
    the biggest industrial technology fairs in the world, held over April 1-5. The
    event opens on Sunday under the slogan The future development of industry. A
    total of 6,500 exhibitors from all over the world are expected to take part.
    This year’s partner country is Sweden.




    ELECTION
    IN SLOVAKIA – Liberal Zuzana Caputova has won the second round of Saturday’s
    presidential election in Slovakia, thus becoming the country’s first female
    head of state. Aged 45, Zuzana Caputova grabbed 58% of the vote, as compared to
    41% obtained by the other candidate, Maros Sefcovic, an EU Commissioner backed
    by the left-of-center ruling party. Shortly after the results were announced,
    Zuzana Caputova called for unity. She said the result shows it is possible to
    fight populism and earn people’s trust without using aggressive language and
    personal attacks. Her adversary conceded defeat. In turn, Prime Minister Peter
    Pellegrini expressed hope for a positive cooperation with the new president.




    ELECTION IN UKRAINE – Some 35.5 million Ukrainians on Sunday hit
    the polls to elect a new president. A total of 39 candidates have enrolled in
    the race, although the Central Election Commission has registered 44
    candidates, of whom 5 have in the meantime withdrawn. Favourite to win are
    comedian Volodimir Zelenski, current President Petro Poroshenko and former
    Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko. Various surveys show that 28.5% of Ukrainians
    would vote for Zelenski, 18.8% for Poroshenko and 13.3% for Timoshenko. In case
    none of the candidates grabs over 50% of the vote, a second ballot will be held
    on April 21 pitting the top two candidates.


    (translated by V. Palcu)

  • February 22, 2016 UPDATE

    February 22, 2016 UPDATE

    ADDRESS – Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, on Monday addressed a plenary session of Parliament, saying that the 2016 election year should not be populist, nor lost for the major themes of public interest. He called on the MPs to assume some major projects, among which regaining peoples confidence in politics and the functioning of the big public systems. In this context, the president said the authorities have a delayed response to issues on the citizens agenda, such as the sustainability of the pension system, the demographic issue and the integration of young people on the labour market. In another move, President Iohannis expressed discontent about the fact that in some cases, parliamentary immunity is further used to block requirements made by the judiciary, in files in which MPs are investigated for corruption. As regards the countrys foreign policy, the president said the wave of migrants, the increased terrorist threat, security risks coming from the East and the very questioning of the community project make of 2016 a crucial year for stability in the region and for Europes future. Attending the plenary session of Parliament during the presidents speech were also the members of the technocratic cabinet in Bucharest and the foreign ambassadors accredited to Bucharest.



    FINANCIAL – Romanias technocratic Prime Minister, Dacian Ciolos, on Monday called on the mayors of communes in Romania to spend public money more efficiently. Ciolos said that although 2016 is an election year, the budget is the same, so it is impossible to earmark more funds for local projects. The prime minister says attracting direct investments and a better collection of taxes, by eliminating tax evasion, are the main solutions to increase the local authorities incomes. The statements were made at the 19th session of the General Assembly of the Association of Communes in Romania.




    ENERGY– Romanian energy minister, Victor Grigorescu, on Monday announced that the national strategy in the field will be finalised in autumn. In his opinion, the Romanian state should choose some projects to develop properly, to show clarity and commitment in a key domain, which should be regulated. The coal sector, the line minister says, will be included in this strategy, because it is part of Romanias energy security. In another move, the relevant minister gave assurances that all actors in the field will be asked their opinions during the consultations.



    HOSPITAL CARE – The medical condition of the seven children receiving treatment at the “Marie Curie hospital in Bucharest has slightly improved. One child remains in intensive care, while two children will be released this week. According to the chief of the nephrology department, Mihaela Balgradean, the children right now are eating normally, which signals a positive step in their recovery. An epidemiological investigation is underway. Health Minister Patriciu Achimas Cadariu has paid a new visit to the hospital, calling on the medical team to treat this case with responsibility and respect for regulations and to better communicate with the local authorities. We recall that 3 children died this month to serious digestive disorders.



    GREAT BRITAIN – British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday presented to Parliament the new agreement he negotiated with his EU partners, four months ahead of the referendum on the United Kingdoms EU membership. Great Britain got major concessions from EU leaders in terms of social benefits for European workers settled in the country and advantages for the City. Cameron, who has to face mounting Euro-skepticism even in the ranks of his own party, underlined that he will advocate for the UKs EU membership. According to a first poll conducted for “Mail on Sunday, after the agreement was negotiated, 48% of the Britons dont want their country to leave the EU, 33% are in favour of an exit, while 19% didnt express a point of view. Also on Monday, the European Commission announced it will not get involved in the debate on this issue, held in Great Britain.



    EUROPOL – The Europol on Monday opened a new special centre for combating trafficking in human beings. The centre will seek to assist member states in the identification and eradication of criminal networks trafficking refugees and will employ experts in counter-terrorism.



    TENNIS –Romanian tennis player, Monica Niculescu, WTAs no. 37, on Monday qualified for the second round of the Doha tournament, with 2.5 million dollars in prize money up for grabs. She defeated German Sabine Lisicki, 6-2 / 6-2. Also in the singles, another Romanian, Simona Halep, the competitions second seed, will play Elena Vesnina of Russia on Tuesday, in the second round. In the doubles, Simona Halep alongside Raluca Olaru of Romania lost in the first round, to Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia, in two sets.


    (Translated by Vlad Palcu and Diana Vijeu)