Radio România Internațional

Tag: farmers protests

  • February 2, 2024 UPDATE

    February 2, 2024 UPDATE

    ALERT – Romanian health
    authorities have declared a state of epidemiological alert as the incidence of
    respiratory infections passed the average level for the last three seasons for
    the third week in a row. Health minister Alexandru Rafila expects the number of
    cases to go back to normal at the end of the month, saying it won’t be
    necessary to declare an epidemic. He explained that the state of
    epidemiological alert allows the healthcare system to prepare for a possible
    increase in the number of cases.




    DEBATE – The president of
    Romania, Klaus Iohannis, will be addressing a plenary sitting of the European
    Parliament on February 7 in Strasbourg on the sidelines of the debate titled
    This is Europe, the Presidency reports. President Iohannis will present his
    vision on the main challenges facing the EU, with a focus on joint action with
    a view to defending and promoting European citizens’ rights, welfare and
    security. In this context, Klaus Iohannis will also have consultations with the
    European Parliament president Roberta Metsola. The agenda for talks will
    address hot topics on the EU agenda and the priorities for 2024.




    CITIZENSHIP – A draft law
    providing for the elimination of risks with respect to the illegal obtaining of
    the Romanian citizenship has been submitted for public debate by the Justice
    Ministry. According to a press release, revising the Citizenship Law is a
    necessary prerequisite to Romania joining the Visa Waiver program. The new bill
    is expected to tighten the criteria and procedures for obtaining or regaining
    the Romanian citizenship. Romania needs a straightforward, predictable and
    stable framework in the field of citizenship, the Justice Ministry pointed out.




    FARMERS – Romanian farmers
    and transporters announced they have reached an agreement with PM Marcel
    Ciolacu, which is expected to put an end to protests that have spanned several
    days. Under the said agreement the Government will set up an inter-ministry
    committee, including representatives of employers’ associations, as well as
    unaffiliated farmers and transporters, expected to start its activity next
    week. We want to cooperate with state institutions, as originally stated. We
    will go back to our homes and farms, as we have a lot of work to do, one of
    the protesters said.




    AQUATICS – Eight Romanian
    athletes, five swimmers and three divers, are taking part in the World Aquatics
    Championships in Doha, under way until the 18th of February. David Popovici, the European champion in the
    100 and 200 m freestyle race, is not taking part. The leaders of the Romanian
    delegation are Constantin Popovici, the defending high diving world champion,
    and Cătălin Preda, the world vice-champion. (CM & VP)

  • January 30, 2024

    January 30, 2024

    PRESIDENCY – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, will be in
    Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday for a ceremony paying tribute to Jaques
    Delors (1925-2023), former European Commission president over 1985-1995, and
    for a special meeting of the European Council. The main topic on Thursday’s
    Council meeting is securing consensus at community level over the main elements
    in the package set to reform the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. The
    most anticipated decisions regard support for Ukraine at all levels, including
    military assistance via the European Peace Facility, in line with Ukraine’s
    specific needs. President Iohannis will firmly argue in favor of Ukraine
    remaining a top priority on the EU agenda.




    IMF – A special IMF delegation led by Jan Kees Martijn is in
    Bucharest to conduct a new assessment of the economy. The mission takes places
    four months after the previous visit and has an advisory role. The IMF
    estimates a 2.3% economic growth for Romania this year and a budget deficit of
    6% of the GDP. IMF experts have urged Bucharest to implement additional
    reforms, particularly in the field of taxation. Last autumn, the IMF argued
    that Romanian authorities should first and foremost seek to eliminate tax
    exemptions and privileges, implement more efficient VAT-related measures,
    reform property taxes and encourage the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
    Romania has no standing agreement with the IMF at present.




    TRAINS – The Transport Ministry is today signing a 640-mln-EUR
    contract for the purchase of 62 new electric short-track trains. The contract
    will be signed with the Polish manufacturer PESA, the same company expected to
    deliver 20 long-track trains in early 2026, as per the contract signed in
    December 2023. The trains will enter circulation on the main electric rails or
    segments that underwent modernization works in western and northwestern
    Romania. Romania purchased another 37 electric trains from Alstom, France. On
    Monday, the Transport Ministry signed a contract with the French company worth
    150 mln EUR, for the purchase of 16 new electric engines.




    CPI – The 2023 Corruption
    Perception Index, published by Transparency International, shows that most
    countries have reported little to no progress in combating public sector
    corruption. The EU as a whole is either stagnant or showing signs of decline in
    this respect. The EU average in the last five years stood at 64. With a score
    of 46, Romania remains one of the underperformers at EU level, alongside
    Bulgaria (45) and Hungary (42), which reflects a dysfunctional rule of law.
    Anti-corruption measures continued to be undermined by weakened checks and
    balances. In several countries, including Romania, there are huge gaps between
    legal provisions and the way they are enforced, the document states. With
    respect to Romania, Transparency International recommends updating legislation
    in the field of public integrity, improving organizational and decision-making
    transparency, including through efficient public consultations and improving
    access to public information.




    PROTESTS – Farmers’ protests
    continue across Europe. Farmers continue to voice complaints regarding
    environment policies, fuel excises and unfair competition. In France, farmers
    have blocked the main motorways in and out of Paris and other large cities,
    warning they won’t leave unless their demands are met. President Emmanuel
    Macron on Thursday is expected to present a number of proposals on the
    sidelines of the European Council summit in Brussels. Today, the French
    government is expected to take a number of decisions to help farmers. Paris has
    accused some EU partners such as Spain or Italy of unfair competition, France
    Presse and EFE report. German farmers on Monday blocked access roads on several
    segments across the country, particularly in the Hamburg region, disgruntled
    with the government’s decision to scrap diesel tax breaks. Farmers’ protests
    have also been reported in Greece and North Macedonia.




    CHAMPIONSHIPS – A total of eight
    athletes will represent Romania at the World Aquatics Championships hosted by
    Doha over February 2-18, five in swimming events and three in diving. The big
    absentee is swimmer David Popovici, European champion in the 100m and 200m
    freestyle events. Constantin Popovici, the defending high diving world champion,
    and Cătălin Preda, world vice-champion, will lead the Romanian delegation. (VP)



  • Debate on EU farmers

    Debate on EU farmers


    For over a week, Romanian farmers have been protesting on the outskirts of large cities. Their main demands are linked to compensations for the losses incurred due to the import of cheap grain from Ukraine, loans with subsidized interest rates and increased subsidies for the purchase of fuel. In turn, German farmers too protested in the heart of Berlin, and the disgruntlement of peers from all over Europe has been heard in recent days. EU farmers want additional financial assistance from the European Commission and a new Common Agricultural Policy. The difficulties they face were the core of a debate held in the European Parliament. European Commissioner from Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski said the main problem for EU farmers is Russia, its war of aggression in Ukraine and its consequences. He said farmers received 9 billion EUR worth of aid in the last couple of years, in the context where in 2021 only 16% of agricultural exports on the single market were Ukrainian imports, which today stand at 50%. The EU Commissioner said one reason of discontentment is the green transition stipulated in the Common Agricultural Policy. MEPs across the political spectrum argued in favor of a new agricultural policy to ensure the long-term survival of farmers. Romanian MEP Daniel Buda said the EU agricultural sector is today affected by inflation, draught, floods, labor shortages and the war in Ukraine and in need of more financial resources. In turn, RENEW MEP Dacian Cioloș, a former European Commissioner on Agriculture, criticized the Commission for its lack of action.




    “Through its lack of action, the Commission risks jeopardizing the legitimate actions linked to the EUs climate goals, however implemented sloppishly and shortsightedly. Yes, we need better management of natural resources, soil quality, water and biodiversity. Yes, we need to help Ukraine export its grain to areas that need it, but that should be done in cooperation with farmers, who need coherent measures when asked to invest massive resources on the short-term in green technologies, considering they already have high production costs in terms of energy, fuel, fertilizers and also have to deal with disturbances on the market”.




    In turn, EPP MEP Siegried Mureșan, European Parliament rapporteur for the 2024 budget, said the Parliament has a reserve fund of 450 million EUR devoted to dealing with unforeseen situations in the agricultural sector, and that in recent years the EU has used part of these reserves to help farmers. (VP)