Tag: Eurobarometer

  • October 4, 2024

    October 4, 2024

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    FRANCOPHONIE – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, is on a two-day visit to France, to attend the Francophonie Summit. According to the Presidential Administration, the 19th High-level Conference of the heads of state or government of the 88 member states, full members, associate members and observers of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) has the theme “Create , innovate and do business in French’ (“Creer, innover, entreprendre en francais”). The participation of the Romanian President in the Francophonie Summit is an opportunity to highlight the country’s contribution to the global effort to transform and adapt multilateralism, an effort that also concerns the OIF, in a context marked by major challenges to the rules-based international order.

     

    VISIT – The Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is today making an official visit to the neighboring Republic of Moldova, to meet with President Maia Sandu, PM Dorin Recean and Parliament Speaker, Igor Gross. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacşu, the Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Ştefan-Radu Oprea, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin Barbu. Ciolacu said previously that he was going to Chisinau to reaffirm Romania’s solid and unequivocal support for the Republic of Moldova, at all levels.

     

    SUMMIT – Romania’s development depends on investments and initiative, and our country needs people with a western attitude towards work, said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, at a summit for Romanians everywhere held Thursday in Bucharest. According to Ciolacu, over 3 million Romanians emigrated between 2008 and 2022 alone, pointing out that last year was the first time that 190,000 Romanians returned to the country. Attending the event, Senate Speaker Nicolae Ciucă said that he very much wants Romanians from the diaspora to return home, adding that the involvement of the state in facilitating the return of Romanians to the country is “absolutely necessary and important”.

     

    EUROBAROMETER – The main motivation for Romanians to vote in the European Parliament elections was the economic situation, according to a Eurobarometer survey published by the European Parliament. The other main reason was the increase in prices and the cost of living. The study places Romanians above the average of the 27 member states in terms of optimism regarding the future of the Union. According to the Eurobarometer, other topics that led Romanians to go to the polls were social protection, well-being and access to healthcare, the international situation, democracy and the rule of law, but also defense and security.

     

    REPATRIATION – The 69 people repatriated from Lebanon on Thursday are Romanian citizens and first degree family members, most of them women, children and medical cases, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest. The flight was made with the support of the Romanian Defense Ministry, with an aircraft of the Romanian Air Force. The move was made in the context of the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

     

    EUROPA LEAGUE – The Romanian soccer champion, FCSB (Bucharest), won its second victory in as many games in the new Europa League format, after beating the Greek champion, PAOK Thessaloniki, 1-nil on Thursday evening. The Greek team is trained by the Romanian Razvan Lucescu. In the first match of the group, the Bucharest team defeated the Latvian RFS at home, 4-1. FCSB, Lazio, Lyon, Tottenham and Anderlecht are the only teams with maximum points after two stages in the Europa League. The next match of the Romanian champions is also away, against the Scots from Glasgow Rangers.

     

     

  • Eurobarometer on energy

    Eurobarometer on energy

     

     

    Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine forced the European Union as a whole and most of its member states to gradually give up Russian natural gas, so as not to fuel Moscow’s war machine. This, added to the goal of phasing out polluting fossil fuels in a reasonable timeframe, has pushed the energy issue quite high on the Union’s agenda.

     

    More than three-quarters of Europeans believe the EU should have a stronger coordination role on energy matters, and according to a Eurobarometer on this topic, made public on Tuesday, EU citizens support the Union’s energy policy.

     

    Eight in ten Europeans agree that implementing a climate neutrality target will spur new jobs and attract investments in the clean energy sectors, while three-quarters of them agree that climate neutrality will reduce dependence on energy imports.

     

    Europe, said most of the interviewees, should diversify its energy sources, including thought renewable energy investments, and over 50% of Europeans argue we should save energy whenever possible.

     

    40% of respondents answered that a European energy policy means ‘ensuring more affordable energy prices for consumers’, with another 33% saying the EU should invest in innovative energy technologies. Also, 30% said measures should focus on reducing energy consumption across Europe.

     

    More than three-quarters of Europeans say they have considerably changed their habits to consume less energy at home in the last five years. When asked to choose from a list of options to reach climate neutrality, a majority of the respondents said the EU should encourage member states to focus on measures to support households in energy poverty, reduce energy consumption and make it easier for citizens to produce and consume their energy from renewable sources.

     

    In a matter of a few years, the Union has redesigned almost every piece of its energy legislation, in line with the European Green Deal and in response to Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine and to Moscow’s weaponising its energy resources. Building revamping has been encouraged, and the operation of the electricity and natural gas markets has been reformed.

     

    Due to the new EU financing instruments, impressive progress has been made to support citizens and the economy in reaching the climate neutrality goal by 2050.

     

    In recent years, record-high energy bills for households and businesses, triggered by the rise in demand following the COVID-19 pandemic and by the war in Ukraine, have put pressure on national budgets and fuelled a rise in inflation, the Eurobarometer also reads. (AMP)

  • September 24, 2024 UPDATE

    September 24, 2024 UPDATE

    Budget – The Romanian government approved the adjustment of the state budget, social security budget and unemployment insurance budget, taking into account the macroeconomic forecasts made by the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis. The indices on which the adjustment is based include a revised 2.8% economic growth rate, an updated GDP of nearly 353 billion Euros and a 6.9% budget deficit. The adjustment focuses on 4 major areas: supporting investments, education, healthcare and social programs for citizens.

     

    UN – Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, is taking part on Tuesday and Wednesday in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, held in New York. The central theme of the current session is ‘Unity in diversity for the progress of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for everyone everywhere.’ The president’s participation in the UNGA this year is, according to the presidency, an opportunity to highlight Romania’s contribution to the global effort to step up progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Iohannis will give an address on Wednesday in the plenary meeting, when he will plead for maintaining multi-lateral dialogue, especially within the UN, as a key element of regional and global security. The Romanian official will also underscore Romania’s efforts and contribution at all levels to solving current global issues, from security crises such as the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, to major challenges for mankind, including climate change, the deterioration of human rights and cyber threats. Mr. Iohannis will also plead for a reformed UN system, able to meet all current and future challenges in an efficient and transparent manner.

     

    Ambassador – Romania is, along the other EU member states, among the main guardians and contributors in the field of human rights, the Romanian Ambassador to the UN, Cornel Feruţă, said in an interview to AGERPRES. He emphasized that Romania has a well-defined profile in terms of promoting international law, of a rule-based international order and the rule of law. According to the Romanian diplomat, the country has credibility in the international community thanks to its openness and willingness to support partners in various parts of the world, especially in Africa, Asia – Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, in fulfilling goals related to sustainable development and to strengthening public sector capabilities. Romania also intends to remain involved in defining global policies to fight climate change. The Romanian diplomat also said the dynamics in the diplomatic community in New York reflects the developments at global level, specifically the war of aggression waged by Russia for over 2.5 years against Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 tragedy.

     

    Conference – Early education is the cornerstone of children’s development, that’s why any investment in this sector is, in fact, an investment in the future, the education minister Ligia Deca said on Tuesday. According to her, this was also one of the central topics of discussions at the international conference “A bright future beyond borders: investment in early education and care of children”. Ligia Deca participated, on Tuesday, in this event organized in Chişinău by the UNICEF Offices in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, in collaboration with the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. Minister Deca wrote on a social network that Romania has understood the importance of early education, and the new Law on pre-university education reflects this. “Our country remains close to the Republic of Moldova, including in terms of the development of the education sector – the close collaboration that we already have is an important step in order to find solutions, together, to the problems that our systems are facing”, Ligia Deca also wrote.

     

    Eurobarometer – 68% of Romanians believe that the EU should have a stronger coordinating role in the field of energy, according to a Eurobarometer survey published on Tuesday. At the European level, the proportion is 77%. According to the research, 8 out of 10 Europeans and almost 7 out of 10 Romanians agree that the climate objectives of the EU will stimulate the creation of new jobs and will attract investments in the clean energy sector. At the same time, 76% of Europeans and 61% of Romanians believe that European policies will reduce dependence on energy imports – the Eurobarometer survey also shows.

     

    Danube – On Tuesday, the Interior Ministry asked the structures at the national and territorial level to be prepared for intervention to manage the risks related to the increase in the flow of the Danube River. Even if the existing information indicates that the estimated situation is not one that poses particular problems, the state secretary Raed Arafat emphasized that the level of preparation must be very high. The head of the Department for Emergency Situations emphasized the need for the representatives of the territorial structures of Romanian Waters to collaborate with those of the inspectorates for emergency situations. According to the National Administration Romanian Waters, the flow of the Danube at the entrance to Romania will be no more than 8,000 cubic meters per second, between September 29-30.

     

    Drone – Specialists of the Defense Ministry and the Romanian Intelligence Service found, on Tuesday, fragments of a Russian drone in an area south of the locality of Plauru in Tulcea county (east), outside the inhabited perimeter of the commune, the Defense Ministry informs. Forces of the relevant ministry continued the search for possible fragments of a drone that fell on the Romanian bank of the Danube, as a result of the attacks carried out in recent weeks by Russian forces on civilian targets and port infrastructure in neighboring Ukraine. The Ministry from Bucharest reiterates the firm message of condemnation of these attacks carried out by Russia against some objectives and elements of Ukrainian civil infrastructure, which are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law. (LS)

  • Eurobarometer ahead of the European elections

    Eurobarometer ahead of the European elections

    Romania recorded the second largest increase in the voting intention in this year’s European elections compared to 2019, after the Czech Republic, standing at 74%, which is by 19% more than in the latest elections five years ago, according to a Eurobarometer report made public on Wednesday. Nevertheless, Romania is not part of the first third of EU states in terms of number of people who plan to cast their vote in the European elections scheduled for June. Asked whether they would vote in the European elections if the polls were to take place next week, almost three-quarters of Romanians said they would probably vote and only 6% said they probably wouldn’t vote. Almost half of Romanians continue to have a totally positive image of the European Parliament, just like last autumn, although the share of people who have a negative image has increased to 19%.

     

    At the same time, more than half of Romanians would like the European Parliament to play a more important role in the future, a share similar to the EU average, while 37% would like the institution to play a less important role. Moreover, over a half of  Romanians say that, for them personally, it is important to vote in the European elections, 40% say that the vote has a medium importance, while 5% say that the election is not that important.

     

    More important for Romanians is the vote in the national elections, about which 63% say it is highly important, one third that it is of medium importance and only 3% that it is of low importance. Romanians also believe that the main themes that should be discussed in the European election campaign are the support for the economy and for the creation of new jobs, public health and also the fight against poverty and social exclusion.

     

    Asked what values the European Parliament should defend, as a priority in the next five years, the Romanians placed first democracy, respect for national identities, culture and traditions in the member states and solidarity between the EU member states and its regions. 45% of Romanians believe that things are heading in the right direction in the EU, well above the European average, while 41% say that things are heading in the wrong direction (the EU average is 49%).

     

    Only 34% of Romanians believe that, in general, things are going in the right direction in the country, while 57% say that things are going in a wrong direction. However, Romanians are more optimistic than the EU average that their living standard will increase in the next five years and less pessimistic about their living standard decreasing during this period. Also, Romanians are more optimistic than the EU average that the country’s economy will be better in a year, but they are at the same level in terms of confidence in the future of the EU. Finally, according to the Eurobarometer, most Romanians believe that their country has benefited from joining the EU, while 30% do not believe that. We remind you that in Romania, the European parliamentary elections will take place on the same day with the local ones, on June 9.

  • April 18, 2024

    April 18, 2024

    Summit – President Klaus Iohannis said that he wanted to solve as quickly as possible the problems that the Romanian citizens still have at the airports of some European countries, despite the fact that Romania entered Schengen with air borders. The statement was made before the European summit in Brussels, where a report requested by the Council mentions the need for the total integration of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Area, as a measure that will boost the single market. The Council’s agenda includes the situation in Ukraine, a country that needs more military aid and is facing problems in the energy infrastructure, following the Russian bombings. The European leaders will also discuss the tense situation in the Middle East, generated by the crisis in Gaza and the tensions between Israel and Iran.

     

    Eurobarometer – Romania is among the top countries in the European Union where the voting intention in this year’s European Parliament elections has increased. According to the most recent Eurobarometer survey, the voting intention reached 74%, after it increased by 19% compared to the elections five years ago. The data show that Romanians continue to have a positive image of the European Parliament. A little more than half of Romanians say that for them personally it is important to vote in the European elections, 40% say that the vote has an average importance, while only 5% say that the election has low importance for them. At the same time, Romanians are more optimistic than the EU average that their standard of living will increase in the next five years, and equally more optimistic than the EU average that the state of the country’s economy will be better in a year’s time.

     

    Abu Dhabi – The Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is paying a working visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday and Friday. An important objective of this visit is the consolidation of the economic component, with an emphasis on attracting Emirati investments. The Prime Minister is to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with other senior Emirati officials, with representatives of relevant companies in the United Arab Emirates, as well as with members of the Romanian community there. The agenda of the visit also includes a plenary meeting of the delegations, during which there will be an exchange of bilateral documents in areas of common interest. The PM Ciolacu stated that he wanted to strengthen cooperation relations with the United Arab Emirates, from a political and economic perspective. ‘Romania continues to attract Emirati investors in the air infrastructure, the modernization and expansion of Otopeni Airport being a viable project of our collaboration’, said Marcel Ciolacu. He added that projects in the fields of digitization, energy and agriculture also correspond to Romania’s interests. In the first part of his tour in the Persian Gulf area, Marcel Ciolacu had discussions, on Wednesday, in Qatar, on economic topics. He stated that he wanted Romania to become the entry gate of this state’s investments in the European Union.

     

    Strike – The employees’ trade union of the National Office of the Trade Register (SAONRC) goes on a Japanese-style strike on Thursday, across Romania, requesting the Romanian Government to take urgent actions to increase salaries by 15%. According to trade unionists, the National Office of the Trade Register is the public institution with the lowest salary level in the judiciary. The union accuses salary inequities and discrimination of the Office employees compared to other categories of employees in the justice domain. The Japanese-style strike will last until April 22. Between April 23-25, rallies will take place at the national level in all counties, and on April 26 a rally will take place at the headquarters of the Justice Ministry. As of August, the collective labor conflict will be started, announced the National Office of the Trade Register trade unionists. (LS)

  • Romania and the EU

    Romania and the EU

    Seven in ten Romanians believe EU membership has a positive effect, while six in ten Romanians say community institutions directly impact their lives. This is one of the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey conducted by the European Parliament. New job opportunities, higher living standards and EU efforts to keep the peace are some of the benefits participants outlined. According to the survey, 75% of interviewees would vote if European Parliament elections were held next week, one of the highest percentages at EU level. European citizens interest in this election has gone up lately, and could be a sign the European Parliament enjoys citizens trust, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola has argued. “Throughout these past five years, we have listened. And the European Parliament has delivered. We are fighting against poverty, social exclusion and climate change, to create jobs and to defend EU values, such as democracy, human rights and the freedom of speech”, the European official said.




    According to the Eurobarometer, over half of Romanians see EU membership as a positive element. Despite a slightly lower confidence rate compared to the EU average, Romanians know when the upcoming European Parliament election will take place, which is over June 6-9, 2024. In Romania, voter turnout for the European Parliament election of 2019 was a little over half of eligible voters. An INSCOP survey also shows that most Romanians support Romanias EU and NATO membership. A quarter, however, believe Romania should leave the EU, and a fifth say it should leave NATO. As regards the two ongoing wars, over 35% of Romanians claim Hamas is responsible for the conflict in Gaza, while nearly half believe Russia is the main culprit in the war in Ukraine. Analysts say this speaks to a decreasing number of people who blame Russia for the war in Ukraine, also showing a balance in terms of people who believe either Ukraine or Russia will emerge as victor. It should also be said that nearly a third of participants believe deploying more NATO and US troops to Romania would anger Russia, while 57% of Romanians say this is a good thing. An equal percentage of Romanian citizens regard Russia as a threat to Bucharest. According to the INSCOP survey, only 1 in 2 Romanians would defend their country in case war broke out, a clear divide at society level. (VP)




  • Freizeitsport: Rumänen im Durchschnitt eher Sportmuffel

    Freizeitsport: Rumänen im Durchschnitt eher Sportmuffel



    38 % der Europäer treiben mindestens einmal in der Woche Sport oder eine andere Form der körperlichen Betätigung, während 17 % weniger als einmal pro Woche Sport treiben. Das hei‎ßt im Umkehrschluss, dass bis zu 45 % der Europäer überhaupt keinen oder nur selten Sport treiben und auch nicht andere Aktivitäten für die körperliche Ertüchtigung praktizieren. Diese Daten sind im jüngsten Eurobarometer über Bewegungsgewohnheiten und physische Aktivitäten enthalten und sie unterscheiden sich nicht wesentlich von jenen der vorangegangenen Erhebung aus dem Jahr 2017.



    Rumänien liegt in der europäischen Statistik unter dem Durchschnitt — nur 20 % der Menschen hierzulande treiben regelmä‎ßig Sport oder bemühen gymnastische Übungen. Mehr noch: 60 % treiben nie Freizeitsport und 13 % gehen einem Job nach, bei dem sie länger als achteinhalb Stunden täglich sitzen müssen, und vernachlässigen damit ihr Wohlbefinden und ihre Gesundheit. Freizeitsport sei eine Gemeinschaftsaktivität, die das Zugehörigkeitsgefühl und die Inklusion erhöhe, meint Iulian Șerban, 42 Jahre alt, Fitness-Trainer in einem Unternehmen. Er selbst nehme regelmä‎ßig an Amateur-Marathons teil und räumt ein, dass er den gesunden Lebensstil recht spät für sich entdeckt habe:



    Erst mit 33 Jahren habe ich mit dem Jogging angefangen — bis dahin hatte ich überhaupt keinen Sport getrieben — weder als Kind noch im Rahmen eines Klubs oder zum Zeitvertreib. Als Schüler habe ich überdies den Sportunterricht immer geschwänzt. Als ich dann doch mit dem Sporteln anfing, war das aus reinem Vergnügen an der Sache, nicht etwa, weil es der Arzt verschrieben hätte oder um einer Erkrankung vorzubeugen. Zuvor hatte ich einen völlig ungesunden Lebensstil gehabt, 10 Jahre lang war ich ein starker Raucher. Ich habe eher aus Neugierde mit etwas Bewegung angefangen und musste bald feststellen, dass Rauchen und Joggen sich kaum vertragen; so habe ich dann mit dem Rauchen aufgehört und die Laufstrecken allmählich verlängert. Noch später begann ich, an Halbmarathons und Marathons für Amateure teilzunehmen, und das hat eine Veränderung in mir bewirkt, die ich nicht mehr missen wollte. Und ich wurde Teil einer Community — ich begann, zusammen mit anderen Menschen zu joggen, die meine Leidenschaft teilten; und so fand ich auch neue Freunde, und nun entwickeln wir uns weiter als Gruppe. Neben dem gesundheitlichen Nutzen der sportlichen Aktivitäten gab und gibt es auch einen echten sozialen Nutzen. Denn die Motivation kann oft von au‎ßen kommen, von der Gruppe, der man angehört.“




    Die Gruppe, auf die sich Iulian Șerban bezieht, nimmt an Marathons und anderen Wettbewerben für Amateure teil, die seit einigen Jahren in Rumänien organisiert werden. So hat sie kürzlich an der vom Verein Invictus Romania“ organisierten Veteranenstaffel teilgenommen, die in Bukarest beginnt, durch Ploiești und Brașov (Kronstadt) führt und am 25. Oktober in Carei endet. Obwohl die Teilnehmerzahl recht hoch ist, meint Iulian Șerban, dass es immer noch Luft nach oben gibt.



    Es besteht immer Raum für Verbesserungen. Ich freue mich sehr darüber, dass es in Rumänien mehrere internationale Marathons in Brașov (Kronstadt), Cluj (Klausenburg), Timișoara (Temeswar) und Bukarest gibt, die immer mehr Menschen anziehen. Und neben den Leistungssportlern, die daran teilnehmen, um sich für anstehende internationale Wettkämpfe fit zu halten, beteiligen sich auch viele Amateure. Das ist eine sehr gute Sache, denn so kann die Öffentlichkeit sehen, dass es neben den Spitzensportlern auch Menschen jeden Alters gibt, die Sport treiben — und das ist ein Ansporn für alle. Ich habe eine gewisse Zurückhaltung bei den Leuten beobachtet, wenn jemand in ihrer Umgebung Sport betreibt. Es gibt nur sehr wenige Menschen, die Bewegung in irgendeiner Art fördern. Und es gibt auch viele Menschen, die dieses Phänomen erst gar nicht verstehen. Aber ich denke, mit dem Alter werden viele Menschen einfach aus medizinischen Gründen Sport treiben müssen.“




    Zu den Menschen, denen die Ärzte Bewegung empfehlen, gehören auch Menschen mit Behinderungen. Sie können auch Sport treiben, um einfach nur Spa‎ß zu haben, wei‎ß Iuliana Meseșan, Sozialarbeiterin bei der Stiftung Motivation“. Sie ist auch Koordinatorin eines Motivationsteams, das aus Rollstuhlfahrern wie Menschen ohne Behinderung besteht, die an verschiedenen Sportveranstaltungen mit dem Schwerpunkt Bewegung teilnehmen und auch andere zum Mitmachen ermutigen.



    Das Motivationsteam besteht aus etwa 100 Personen — Menschen im Rollstuhl wie auch Menschen ohne Behinderung. Und für uns ist es sehr wichtig, an diesen Sportveranstaltungen teilzunehmen, denn es ist eine Gelegenheit für uns, Menschen ohne Behinderung zu zeigen, dass auch Menschen im Rollstuhl sportlich sein können und dass es generell sehr wichtig ist, Sport zu treiben. Wir möchten unser Team sogar von Jahr zu Jahr vergrö‎ßern, damit immer mehr Menschen, insbesondere Rollstuhlfahrer, sich uns anschlie‎ßen können. Es gibt Menschen, die bis zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt in ihrem Leben keine Behinderung hatten und dann einen Unfall hatten — sie fielen aus der Höhe und verletzten sich an der Wirbelsäule — und auf diese Weise in den Rollstuhl kamen. Und vielleicht fällt es ihnen anfangs schwer, aber allmählich nehmen diese Menschen ihr tägliches Leben wieder auf, und es ist wichtig für sie, zu verinnerlichen, dass sie weiterhin Sport treiben können, wenn sie vor dem Unfall eine Leidenschaft dafür hatten. Und bei vielen Sportveranstaltungen gibt es spezielle Rennen für Rollstuhlfahrer.“




    Doch zurück zu den eingangs erwähnten ernüchternden Zahlen des Eurobarometers. Die Sozialarbeiterin Iuliana Meseșan eröffnet zum Schluss, dass die Statistik ihre empirischen Beobachtungen aus der Praxis bestätigt:



    Beim Bukarester Marathon, dem grö‎ßten Sportereignis, an dem wir teilnehmen, kommen die Läufer in recht gro‎ßer Anzahl, aber natürlich könnten es im Vergleich zur Bevölkerung der Hauptstadt mehr sein. Ich glaube, viele Rumänen haben berufsbedingt eine bewegungsarme Lebensweise. Wir leben in einer Zeit, in der wir viel Zeit in unsere Arbeit investieren. Und dann ist da noch das Privat- und Familienleben, dem man seine Zeit widmet. Und ich glaube, dass die Menschen im Allgemeinen vergessen, wie wichtig es ist, Sport zu treiben. Daher räumen sie diesem Bereich in ihrem Leben oft nicht so viel Priorität ein, wie sie sollten.“

  • September 7, 2022 UPDATE

    September 7, 2022 UPDATE

    Visit. After the meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Katalin Novák, in Bucharest, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has said that that it is fundamental that the projects of interest are carried out in Romania only following Bucharests agreement, that they are not discriminatory on ethnic criteria and that they comply with Romanian, European and international law. Iohannis emphasized that Romania wants to have a high-quality education system, regardless of the mother tongue, and that all national minorities in our country have a representative in the Bucharest Parliament. In turn, Katalin Novák has stated that Romania can count on Hungarys support for its Schengen accession. The Hungarian official has stressed that she wants to reduce the tensions between the two states and that although Bucharest and Budapest cannot have the same stand in absolutely all matters, dialogue is important. While on an official visit to Romania, she also had a meeting with the acting Speaker of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu. Strengthening cooperation, Russias aggression against Ukraine, as well as Hungarys support for Romanias accession to the Schengen area were among the topics addressed.



    BlueAir. The Romanian Government has approved the allocation of 5 million lei (1 million euros) from the reserve fund to help bring back home the Romanians stuck at airports abroad as a result private company Blue Air cancelling all its flights. The Ministry of Transport and the Tarom state company are responsible for the use of these funds. About 2,100 Romanian citizens called on consular services asking to be brought to the country. Blue Air has suspended all domestic and international flights until Monday, September 12, after the Ministry of the Environment frozen all its accounts. The company has a debt of over 28 million lei (5.6 million euros) and is being foreclosed. The Environment Fund Administration decided, on Wednesday, to suspend the seizure of the Blue Air financial assets and establish a 12-month schedule for paying off the debt.




    Motion. A simple motion tabled by Save Romania Union (USR) in opposition against the Liberal energy minister Virgil Popescu was dismissed by the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday with 85 votes in favour of the document, coming from USR, the nationalist party AUR and the Force of the Right, splintered from the Liberal Party and headed by the ex-PM Ludovic Orban. The opposition criticised the energy minister for the lack of investments in production facilities and for his management of the electricity and natural gas price caps. Minister Virgil Popescu dismissed the accusations and described the USR motion as a populist move. He also added that the new mechanism related to energy bills would discourage speculation in the market.



    Diplomacy. The Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavsky, suggested on Wednesday to his Romanian counterpart, Bogdan Aurescu, the participation of Finland and Sweden, as guests, in the Bucharest 9 Format. The proposal was made on the occasion of the speech that Jan Lipavsky gave at the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy. He stated that the security in the Black Sea region has worsened dramatically, and Moldova and Georgia have become very vulnerable. The Czech minister welcomed the granting of EU candidate country status to the Republic of Moldova, the European path for Georgia and the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, welcomed the idea of ​​the participation of Sweden and Finland, as guests, in the B9 Format.



    Economy. Romanias economy grew 5.3% in the second quarter of this year compared to the corresponding period of 2021, the National Institute of Statistics has announced. In the first half of the year, the GDP went up 5.8%, compared to the first 6 months of last year. Contributing to this growth were trade, automotive repairs, transport and storage services, the hospitality and the IT&C sectors.



    Survey. A Eurobarometer survey released on Tuesday by the European Commission points to increased confidence of European citizens in the EU and continuing strong support for the Unions response to Russias aggression against Ukraine. An overwhelming majority of EU citizens supports investments in renewable energy and steps to reduce the blocs reliance on Russian energy sources. Europeans are increasingly concerned with the economic situation in the Union and in their respective countries.



    Football. Romanias football champions, CFR Cluj, on Thursday play away from home against FC Ballkani, in Pristina, Kosovo, in their first match in Group G of the Europa Conference League. The other match in the group is pitting Sivasspor, of Turkey, against the Czech side Slavia Prague. Romanian vice-champions FCSB Bucharest also play away from home, in London, against West Ham United, in Group B of the same competition. The Belgian side Anderlecht takes on the Danish team Silkeborg IF, also in Group B. Two other Romanian teams, CS Universitatea Craiova and Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe, have lost the qualifying stage of the Europa Conference League.(MI)

  • Europeans and the Ukrainian crisis

    Europeans and the Ukrainian crisis

    EU citizens’ trust in the EU is on the rise,
    amidst the robust support Brussels has provided to Ukraine and due to its
    energy policies, the latest Eurobarometer published on Tuesday shows. Conducted
    over June-July, the study reveals that Europeans are increasingly concerned
    with the economic developments in the EU and at home, most fears targeting
    inflation and the energy market. The positive perception of European economy
    has dropped starting this year,
    standing at 40% at present. Over half of Europeans believe the economy is
    experiencing difficulties. In turn, Romanians are worried about inflation and
    the economic situation. Only a half of them believe the economic situation will
    improve over the next 12 months. Europeans are more skeptical, with only 16% of
    them holding optimistic prospects.

    As regards the consequences of the war in
    Ukraine, Romanians say the price hike and a possible crisis raise most
    concerns, in addition to a possible expansion of the war or nuclear warfare.
    Still, two thirds of Romanian and European respondents are optimistic about the
    future of the EU, which represents an increase compared to a similar survey
    conducted in January-February this year, ahead of the Russian invasion of
    Ukraine. Furthermore, European citizens have confirmed their firm support for
    the EU’s response to the war. As regards the EU’s actions at community level,
    humanitarian assistance got the most approval (92% on average at EU level and
    75% in Romania), followed by the EU taking in Ukrainian refuges (90% at EU
    level and 75% in Romania). In this context, 69% of Romanians endorse the
    economic sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia, Russian businesses and
    people, which is below of the EU average of 78%. 61% of Romanians are in favor
    of funding the distribution and delivery of military equipment to Ukraine, against
    an EU average of 68%.

    As regards energy and energy security, the majority of
    both EU citizens and Romanians in particular agree the EU should invest in
    renewable energy, curb its dependency of Russian gas and that stockpiling
    natural gas should be a major priority in order to allow uninterrupted gas
    supplies in winter. Both Europeans and Romanians believe increasing energy
    efficiency won’t make countries any less dependent on non-EU energy producers,
    and are in favor of purchasing energy from other countries to obtain a better
    price. Furthermore, 65% of Romanians believe they have taken appropriate action
    to curb their energy consumption or intend to do so in the coming future,
    compared to an EU average of 78%. (VP)

  • September 7, 2022

    September 7, 2022

    FLIGHTS Freezing the accounts of the Romanian air
    operator Blue Air does not justify an immediate suspension of flights, says the
    Romanian environment minister, Tánczos Barna, who calls on the company to meet
    its obligations to passengers and the state budget. Blue Air’s accounts were
    frozen by the Environment Fund Agency because the company owes over EUR 5 mln
    and is undergoing foreclosure. Three thousand people are affected, after Blue
    Air suspended all its domestic and international flights until Monday, 12th
    September. According to the company, the decision was made after the
    Environment Ministry froze its accounts.


    MOTION A simple motion tabled by Save Romania Union (USR) in
    opposition against the Liberal energy minister Virgil Popescu was dismissed by
    the Chamber of Deputies today, with 191 votes against and 85 votes in favour of the document, coming
    from USR, the nationalist party AUR and the Force of the Right, splintered from
    the Liberal Party and headed by the ex-PM Ludovic Orban. The opposition
    criticised the energy minister for the lack of investments in production
    facilities and for his management of the electricity and natural gas price caps.
    Minister Virgil Popescu dismissed the accusations and described the USR motion
    as a populist move. He also added that the new mechanism related to energy
    bills will discourage speculation in the market.


    VISIT The president of Hungary, Katalin Novak, was received with
    honours in Bucharest today by the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, as part of
    her official visit at the invitation of the president of Romania. The talks
    will concern the means to diversify and deepen the bilateral dialogue, as well as the current regional, European and global situation, following Russia’s
    military aggression against Ukraine. The visit comes as the 2 countries
    celebrate 20 years since the governments of Hungary and Romania signed a
    Strategic Partnership Declaration for 21st Century Europe. According
    to the Romanian Presidency, president Iohannis will highlight Romania’s openness to strengthening bilateral cooperation and dialogue with
    Hungary, a very important neighbour of Romania, so as to promote projects of
    mutual interest to the benefit of the citizens of the 2 countries. This
    afternoon, the Hungarian official will also have meetings with the PM Nicolae
    Ciucă and with the speakers of the 2 chambers of Parliament.

    ECONOMY Romania’s economy grew 5.3% in the second quarter of
    this year compared to the corresponding period of 2021, the National Statistics
    Institute announced. In the first half of the year, the GDP went up 5.8%,
    compared to the first 6 months of last year. Contributing to this growth were
    trade, automotive repairs, transport and storage services, the hospitality and
    the IT&C sectors. According to the institution, the areas that hindered
    economic growth were industry, where operations dropped in the reference
    period, and the negative ratio between imports and exports.

    SURVEY A Eurobarometer survey released on Tuesday by the European
    Commission points to increased confidence of European citizens in the EU and
    continuing strong support for the Union’s response to Russia’s aggression
    against Ukraine. An overwhelming majority of EU citizens supports investments
    in renewable energy and steps to reduce the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy
    sources. Europeans are increasingly concerned with the economic situation in
    the Union and in their respective countries.


    FOOTBALL Romania’s football champions, CFR Cluj, Thursday play
    away from home against FC Ballkani, in Pristina, Kosovo, in their first
    match in Group G of the Europa Conference League. The other match in the group
    is pitting Sivasspor, of Turkey, against the Czech side Slavia Prague. Romanian
    vice-champions FCSB Bucharest also play away from home, in London, against West
    Ham United, in Group B of the same competition. The Belgian side Anderlecht
    takes on the Danish team Silkeborg IF, also in Group B. Two other Romanian
    teams, CS Universitatea Craiova and Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe, have lost the
    qualifying stage of the Europa Conference League. (AMP)

  • Europeans and the Ukrainian crisis

    Europeans and the Ukrainian crisis

    EU citizens’ trust in the EU is on the rise,
    amidst the robust support Brussels has provided to Ukraine and due to its
    energy policies, the latest Eurobarometer published on Tuesday shows. Conducted
    over June-July, the study reveals that Europeans are increasingly concerned
    with the economic developments in the EU and at home, most fears targeting
    inflation and the energy market. The positive perception of European economy
    has dropped starting this year,
    standing at 40% at present. Over half of Europeans believe the economy is
    experiencing difficulties. In turn, Romanians are worried about inflation and
    the economic situation. Only a half of them believe the economic situation will
    improve over the next 12 months. Europeans are more skeptical, with only 16% of
    them holding optimistic prospects.

    As regards the consequences of the war in
    Ukraine, Romanians say the price hike and a possible crisis raise most
    concerns, in addition to a possible expansion of the war or nuclear warfare.
    Still, two thirds of Romanian and European respondents are optimistic about the
    future of the EU, which represents an increase compared to a similar survey
    conducted in January-February this year, ahead of the Russian invasion of
    Ukraine. Furthermore, European citizens have confirmed their firm support for
    the EU’s response to the war. As regards the EU’s actions at community level,
    humanitarian assistance got the most approval (92% on average at EU level and
    75% in Romania), followed by the EU taking in Ukrainian refuges (90% at EU
    level and 75% in Romania). In this context, 69% of Romanians endorse the
    economic sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia, Russian businesses and
    people, which is below of the EU average of 78%. 61% of Romanians are in favor
    of funding the distribution and delivery of military equipment to Ukraine, against
    an EU average of 68%.

    As regards energy and energy security, the majority of
    both EU citizens and Romanians in particular agree the EU should invest in
    renewable energy, curb its dependency of Russian gas and that stockpiling
    natural gas should be a major priority in order to allow uninterrupted gas
    supplies in winter. Both Europeans and Romanians believe increasing energy
    efficiency won’t make countries any less dependent on non-EU energy producers,
    and are in favor of purchasing energy from other countries to obtain a better
    price. Furthermore, 65% of Romanians believe they have taken appropriate action
    to curb their energy consumption or intend to do so in the coming future,
    compared to an EU average of 78%. (VP)

  • May 3, 2022

    May 3, 2022

    WAR IN UKRAINE – The European Commission is today
    discussing the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which might include a
    spaced-out embargo on oil imports. Yesterday’s meeting of the EU Energy Ministers
    underlined, however, the lack of consensus regarding sanctions on Russian
    energy imports. Whereas Germany seems willing to curb its reliance on oil
    imports from the Russian Federation, Hungary again has opposed the move.
    Earlier today, Slovakia announced it will try to obtain an exemption from any
    embargo on Russian oil agreed at EU level. Meanwhile, American and British
    officials believe Russia is preparing to officially declare war on Ukraine in
    order to mobilize its reserve army, in an attempt to conquer the east and south
    of Ukraine. At the same time, the US ambassador to the OSCE, quoted by our
    Washington correspondent, says Russia is ready to annex new Ukrainian
    territories.




    NATURAL GAS – The Romanian state-owned company Romgaz is expected
    to complete the deal allowing the American company ExxonMobil to exploit the
    natural gas deposits in the Black Sea, in the Neptune Deep offshore field. Some
    100 billion cubic meters of gas are expected to be extracted from the area,
    while exploitation rights are owned by ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom in equal
    shares. Romgaz will pay over $1 billion for today’s contract. Before extraction
    works can start, investors expect Romanian authorities to modify the offshore
    law, which the Senate’s special committees started debating today. The main
    modifications to the document adopted four years ago have to do with lowering
    exploitation taxes for deposits in the Black Sea as well as on land, as well as
    with the elimination of restrictions on prices, all part of a legal framework
    to ensure predictability. The Romanian state and state-owned enterprises will
    be given priority to buy the resulting output, while 60% of the profit will go
    to the state. Additionally, companies will be able to deduct 40% of their
    investment, compared to 30% under the current legislation.


    FORECAST – The National Strategy and Forecast Company
    downgraded to 2.9% the economic growth forecast for this year, compared to 4.3%
    previously. The Commission says the overlapping shocks generated by the energy
    price hikes which impacted global supply chains) are amplifying the risks and
    economic uncertainty, also impacting the short-term evolution of the business
    sector. The forecast is in line with the estimates presented by international
    financial institutions, which significantly lowered their forecast regarding
    Romania’s economic growth in 2022. The IMF recently estimated a growth of 2.2%
    for 2020, down from 4.8% originally, while the World Bank estimated Romania’s
    GDP growth to stand at 1.9% this year.




    EUROBAROMETER
    – Three quarters of young Romanians
    feel optimistic about the future of the European Union, while half of them
    believe things are headed in the right direction for the EU, according to a
    Eurobarometer published on Monday. According to the survey, young Romanians
    have greater support for European policies compared to other age categories and
    are content with their lives. Their main concerns are related to the education
    system, the economy, unemployment, housing, the environment and climate
    change.


    RWB – Romania can boast of a diverse, relatively
    pluralistic media landscape that produces hard-hitting public interest
    investigations. Pressure from owners, lack of transparency in financing or
    market difficulties, however, hamper the reliability of the information, reads
    the 2022 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters without Borders.
    Romania ranks 56th, down by 8 positions compared to the previous
    year. Norway remains top of the world press freedom index for the sixth
    consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Sweden. The lowest-placed countries
    in terms of press freedom are China, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Iran, Eritrea and
    North Korea. In a message released today to mark World Press Freedom Day,
    Romania’s Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, expressed
    confidence there is no democracy without press freedom, whereas journalists
    should be allowed to do their job.


    COLECTIV – The Bucharest Court of Appeal earlier today
    postponed for the fifth time a final sentence in the court case investigating
    the Colectiv nightclub fire of October 30, 2015, when 64 people were killed and
    another 200 were injured. During a rock concert hosted by the club that night,
    the pyrotechnics show ignited the foam covering the ceiling and walls of the
    overcrowded venue. Part of the people were killed on the spot, while other died
    to the burns, the deadly mix of fumes or in the stampede near the exit. The
    court of first instance handed down sentences between 3 and 11 years in prison
    to district 4 mayor at the time, Cristian Popescu Piedone, cityhall workers,
    club owners, firefighters, pyrotechnicians as well as representatives of the
    pyrotechnics company.


    CCR – The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate are today
    convening in a joint plenary sitting to appoint two new Constitutional Court
    (CCR) judges, one of them expected to replace the current president of CCR,
    Valer Dorneanu. The mandates of the two judges expire in June, and under the
    law, the new judges must be designated at least a month in advance. CCR
    comprises nine judges, appointed for a mandate of nine years. Of these, three
    are appointed by the Chamber of Deputies, three by the Senate and three by the
    president of Romania. The Court replaces a third of its judges every three
    years.


    GOPO AWARDS – A new Gopo Awards Gala will take place this evening
    in Bucharest, celebrating the best-performing cinema projects in the last year.
    Some 900 guests are expected to attend. 19 features launched in cinemas or
    streaming platforms in 2021 have been nominated in 20 categories. This year’s
    edition also celebrates solidarity. Film enthusiasts from around the world are
    invited to take part in a fund-raising campaign titled United through Film.
    All proceeds will go to Ukrainian filmmakers with the help of the International
    Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk. (VP)



  • Young Romanians and Europe

    Young Romanians and Europe


    Three quarters of young
    Romanians are optimistic about the future of the European Union and
    some 55% believe things are heading in the right direction in the
    Union, according to a eurobarometer published on Monday. Support for
    EU policies is higher among young people than among other age groups.
    Romanian youths are also content with their lives, with 61% of
    respondents saying things are going in the right direction on a
    personal level and 70% saying they are content on a professional
    level.



    The main issues for the
    Romanian youths are education, the economic situation, unemployment,
    housing, the environment and climate change. Although less than a
    half discuss European politics, the majority has a positive
    perception of how democracy works both in the European Union (63%)
    and in Romania (50). Young people over the age of 25 are consistently
    more open to European policies than other age groups and have a
    strong positive opinion therof. They also believe that shared
    values and solidarity have contributed to a sense of community,
    alongside the economy, education, the rule of law and culture. The
    survey also indicates that 59% of the Romanian youths are satisfied
    with their own lives, slightly fewer than the previous year and far
    below the EU average of 83%.

    Overall, 71% of Romanians
    believe their country is in a precarious situation and that things
    are heading in a wrong direction, while 45% believe things are going
    in the right direction in the European Union compared with the EU
    average of 37%. Almost half of Romanians associate the European Union
    with the freedom to travel, study and work anywhere on EU territory
    and believe this is the Union’s biggest achievement. Other elements
    they associate with the EU are the euro currency, a stronger voice on
    the world stage, economic prosperity and quality of life for the
    future generations. The data presented in the survey were collected
    between January and February this year.







    Most young Romanians
    understand and feel the benefits they enjoy as EU citizens, said
    prime minister Nicolae Ciucă in response to the publication of the
    eurobarometer. The fact that 70% of the country’s youths are
    content with their jobs makes us, those in government, to continue to
    develop public policies that encourage young generations to stay and
    develop themselves and develop businesses in Romania, the prime
    minister also said. He added that the use of 80 billion euros of
    European funds to improve the standard of public services and enhance
    development opportunities for the business environment is a
    commitment public administration must fulfil so as not to disappoint
    the young generation. (CM)

  • Gender equality during the pandemic

    Gender equality during the pandemic


    Every two years, the European Institute for Gender Equality in Vilnius publishes the European Gender Equality Index, which measures the equality of gender based on several indicators. According to this measurement, in 2021 Romania ranked 25th out of the 27 members states, with a score of 54.5 out of 100. This score is by 13.5 points less than the EU average.



    Oana Baluta, a publicist and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of the Bucharest University tells us more:


    “Over the years, Romania has remained at the bottom of the rankings. By 2021, the most significant inequalities were reflected by two indicators. The first is the “power” indicator where Romania had accumulated 34.7 points. Here inequality had increased compared to 2020. Another indicator that showed major gender inequalities was the so-called “time”. The European Gender Equality Index measures gender gaps in several areas: work, money, knowledge, time, power, health, violence and cross-sectoral inequalities. But beyond these figures for 2021, it is important to note that these data tell us that Romanias progress is much slower compared to changes in other EU Member States and the gap between Romania and other EU countries is deepening.”




    In the Gender Equality Index, the “power” indicator refers to the power to make political and economic decisions. Here, Romania needs the biggest improvement in the gender balance, the decisions with the greatest economic and political impact being taken mainly by men, although they also affect all women, Oana Baluta says.



    “The “power” indicator is used to examine the differences in representation in political and economic groups. If we look at politics, we see that the share of women representation in government or in parliament or in local councils and town halls is extremely low. In the representative democracy in which we live, political parties are the main platforms through which people run for political office, so the change should be operated here. Political parties also build hierarchies based on the women and men on the list. And, if we look at these electoral lists, we see that, on the one hand, in the nomination stage of the candidates, the parties nominate far fewer women, not even up to 30%. And we notice that in the eligible places women are much less nominated compared to the ineligible places and of course men.”



    Examples of desirable political or public policy decisions that could restore gender balance are those aimed at equitable accountability of men and women. For example, according to the Gender Equality Index, the number of Romanian women employed on the labor market is much lower than that of men. Oana Baluta tells us which are the main causes of this situation.



    “Compared to other countries in the European Union, in Romania women spend a large number of hours doing care work and domestic work. And the fact that men have less responsibilities in the household has very concrete consequences: from overwork and less free time to a much lower share of women in the employed population in the period 2016-2020. Between 2016 and 2020 we had the lowest level of participation of women in the labor market compared to men in the last two and a half decades. And the main cause, as it is identified by women, is the care of adults, people with disabilities or children. We know this from another study published in December last year, a study that looks at gender economic inequalities in Romania.”



    Unlike in previous years, in 2021 the Gender Equality Index did not include data on domestic violence. However, a recent Eurobarometer shows that 77% of women in the European Union believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in mental and physical violence against women in their country. Here is Oana Baluta again:



    “Unfortunately, we also know from the data collected by non-governmental organizations or from data reported by the police that violence has increased during the pandemic. Not only has violence increased, but so has the incidence of certain types of violence, including sexual violence. At the same time, the way in which the state institutions in Romania approached the issue of violence shows again that the pandemic unfolded in a context of structural inequalities, including with regard to preventing and combating violence. (MI)

  • September 10, 2021

    September 10, 2021

    GOVERNMENT The government convenes today in Bucharest to discuss several bills in the field of education, including a resolution on the implementation of the “Educated Romania programme initiated by president Klaus Iohannis. The programme comprises 7 technical reports that review of state of affairs in Romanian public education and suggest specific targets and measures in the short, medium and long run. Some of the goals targeted for 2030 are Romania ranking in the top 30 countries in the world in the PISA tests; a minimum 80% pass rate in the middle school graduation tests and 75% pass rate in the Baccalaureate exams, as well as organising policies designed to reduce the number of schools with pass rates below 50%.



    EVACUATION The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu received in Bucharest 139 out of the 156 Afghan citizens evacuated from Afghanistan by the inter-institutional task force activated in on August 13 in Romania. These include former collaborators of the Romanian troops in the Afghanistan theatre of operations, students on grants in Romania, and other vulnerable categories, such as journalists, human rights activists, magistrates and their families. The group of Afghan citizens was brought from Islamabad by an aircraft operated by a Romanian commercial line, with the flight coordinated and organised by the Foreign Ministry. Bogdan Aurescu told the Afghan citizens that Romanian authorities will do their best to provide these friends of Romania with decent living conditions and a chance to start over. Meanwhile, the Romanian task force will continue to process the support requests coming from Afghan citizens, the Romanian official added.



    COVID-19 On Thursday Romania once again reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus infections. Around 4,000 COVID patients are now hospitalised, over 500 of them in intensive care. The national vaccine coverage rate is around 31%, with 5.2 million people fully immunised so far. The state of alert has been extended by another 30 days as of today.



    INFLATION In Romania, the year-on-year inflation rate reached 5.3% in August, from 5% in July, as non-food prices went up by 7.92%, food prices by 2.7%, and the prices of services rose by 2.97%, according to data released on Friday by the National Statistics Institute. According to a report delivered in August by the National Bank governor Mugur Isărescu, the central bank updated its inflation forecast for the end of this year to 5.6%.



    POLL Four out of five respondents (81%) say the EU should only grant funding to the member states that observe democratic principles and the rule of law, according to an Eurobarometer poll made public on Friday by the European Parliament, ahead of the State of the EU debate due on September 15. The Eurobarometer shows evident public support for transparency and effective control of the EU funds provided as part of the NextGenerationEU programme. According to the poll, 53% of the EU citizens (58% in Romania) fully agree, and another 32% (29% in Romania) tend to agree, that efficient control should be in place. Asked about issues the European Parliament should pursue as its priorities, the respondents mentioned fighting climate change, poverty and social exclusion, supporting the economy and creating new jobs, public health, migration and asylum. The Eurobarometer poll was conducted between August 17 and 25, online, in all the 27 member states, with roughly 1,000 interviewees in most countries.



    UNTOLD Cluj-Napoca (north-west) is hosting these days the largest electronica festival in Romania, UNTOLD. Over 70,000 people from over 100 countries are expected to attend this special edition, held in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from famous DJs like Dimitris Vega and Like Mike, the world celebrated pan flute player Gheorghe Zamfir is also performing, in an original blending of electronic music and traditional sound. UNTOLD is more than just music, it is also about fire and light shows, performances by renowned troupes like the Moon Ladies (Italy), about art exhibitions, including a south-American art exhibition that showcases the traditions of Amazonian tribes. A fashion show bringing together the works of 20 designers, as well as percussion workshops, are also among the highlights of the festival. (tr. A.M. Popescu)