Radio România Internațional

Tag: funding

  • June 25, 2024

    June 25, 2024

     

    ELECTION The ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party is to make a decision today on the date of the presidential election. The two parties are considering 2 dates for the first election round, September 15th or 29th. The government has until early July to pass an emergency order on the calendar of the presidential election, if the vote is to be held in September. The Liberals insist however that the election should be organized towards the end of the year, although they had initially agreed with a date in September. They argue that holding the election in September would disrupt the start of the new school year, and the campaign would overlap the holiday season. The Social Democrats, on the other hand, rule out any change in the agreed calendar. The 2 ruling parties must also decide whether to have separate candidates for the presidential post. On June 9th, they had a common candidate list for the European Parliament election, but had separate candidates in the local elections.

     

    FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu took part on Monday in the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. On this occasion, Mrs. Odobescu highlighted the importance of stepped-up military support for Ukraine and mentioned the decision of Romania’s Supreme Defence Council to transfer a Patriot system to Ukraine.

     

    FUNDING On Monday Romania received close to EUR 1.1 bln from the European Union for projects in the energy sector, particularly for renewable energy production. According to an EU news release, Romania and 9 other countries received total funding of EUR 3 bln, intended for 39 programmes. The largest amount was given to Romania, followed by the Czech Republic (EUR 835 mln) and Poland (EUR 700 mln).

     

    ACCESSION The ex-Soviet republics of Moldova and Ukraine today begin their official EU accession negotiations. The first talks are to be held in Luxembourg, and during this process Chişinău and Kyiv must align their national legislation to the bloc’s regulations. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, since their recognition as candidate countries, the two states have made general adjustments in key areas, proving their willingness to adapt to the EU legislation. Beginning with these inter-governmental conferences, Ukraine’s and Moldova’s progress in the implementation of relevant reforms will be assessed separately. Analysts believe this could be an advantage for Moldova, which according to the European Commission has made better progress than Ukraine so far.

     

    FORUM The Romanian interior minister Cătălin Predoiu takes part on June 25 – 27 in the Salzburg Forum Ministerial Conference in Laxenburg, Austria. According to the interior ministry, the event focuses on current and future challenges in the field of security and migration, including security and migration challenges for the EU in 2024 – 2029, security along the Danube in the context of digitization, as well as migration and migrant smuggling.

     

    THEATRE The Performing Arts Market opened today in Sibiu (central Romania) as part of the famous Sibiu International Theatre Festival. Currently in its 27th edition, the Performing Arts Market has, this year as well, face-to-face, hybrid and online components. More than 80 officials for cultural organisations and institutions in over 30 countries convene in Sibiu to establish contacts and implement joint projects. The Festival founder and president, Constantin Chiriac, says this is the only performing arts market in Romania and in Eastern and Central Europe.

     

    FOOTBALL In the European Football Championship hosted by Germany, the last matches in Group D and C are scheduled for tonight. In Group D, the Netherlands take on Austria and France play Poland, while in Group C, England plays against Slovenia, and Denmark against Serbia. Romania concludes its Group E matches on Wednesday in Frankfurt, with a game against Slovakia. In the same group, Belgium is scheduled to play against Ukraine. All 4 teams in the group have 3 points each, with Romania still first-placed in the group thanks to a better goal difference. A draw against Slovakia is enough for the team to move up into the eighth-finals. (AMP)

  • January 28, 2024 UPDATE

    January 28, 2024 UPDATE

    IMF An International Monetary Fund mission
    headed by Jan Kees Martijn will be in Bucharest
    between January 29 and February 1, to review the latest economic and financial
    developments. The previous IMF visit to Romania was last autumn, when IMF
    experts conducted their annual analysis of the Romanian economy. At that time, Jan
    Kees Martijn said estimates were pointing to a budget deficit of 6% of GDP for
    the end of 2023, and of 5% in 2024, as well as to an economic growth rate of 2.3%.
    Romania has no ongoing agreements with the IMF at present, but the Fund
    conducts regular visits to review financial and economic indicators. The PM Marcel Ciolacu voiced optimism with
    respect to the IMF’s assessment. He explained that Romania still has problems
    meeting a benchmark in the National Recovery and Resilience Programme, as the
    EC believes Romania has too low SME taxation levels.


    DRUGS The Romanian justice minister Alina Gorghiu requested the
    emergency endorsement of the bills against drug trafficking and drug use. A
    first bill concerns the set-up of the Drug Trafficking Register and of regional
    rehab centres for drug addicts. A second bill eliminates suspended sentences
    for drug trafficking. On Friday, after the Justice and Home Affairs Council,
    the interior minister Catalin Predoiu announced that Romania set up a task
    force integrating several institutions involved in the fight against drug
    trafficking. He said Romania is on the front line of the crackdown on
    international drug trafficking networks, and welcomed the Council’s decision to
    include Romania’s and Bulgaria’s air and maritime borders in the Schengen area.
    According to the Romanian official, EU member countries should focus on curbing
    drug trafficking in ports, through an integrated international platform.


    PRICES In Romania, the mark-up for basic foodstuff prices may be capped
    for another 3 months. The announcement was made by Marcel Ciolacu recently, as
    the capping scheme is due to come to an end soon. According to the PM, a
    decision will be made following talks with all stakeholders. The agriculture
    minister told Radio Romania that a discussion in this respect will be held on
    Monday. He explained that according to data made public by the National
    Statistics Institute and the Competition Council, the measure has been
    effective. The agriculture minister added that the introduction of further
    products in the list is being considered. The emergency order passed by the
    government last summer in order to contain the effects of inflation saw the
    temporary capping of mark-ups for several basic foodstuffs, including bread,
    milk, yogurt, flour, eggs, chicken and pork. The measure was subsequently
    extended and further products were included.


    UN The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, Sunday called on the
    countries that have suspended funding for the UN agency for Palestinian
    refugees (UNRWA) to ‘at least guarantee’ the continuity of UNRWA operations,
    which are vital for 2 million people, AFP reports. The UN body, which is the
    main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, Friday announced firing a number of
    employees accused of involvement in the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7,
    2023. In turn, the director of the UN body, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that the
    vital assistance granted by UNRWA is about to end because of funding issues. Israel
    demands the resignation of Philippe Lazzarini and the termination of the
    agency’s work in Gaza after the war. A number of countries, including the US, Canada,
    UK, Italy and Germany, have suspended all future funding to the UNRWA.


    GAC The state secretary for European affairs with the
    Romanian foreign ministry, Daniela Gîtman, takes part in the General Affairs
    Council (GAC) meeting in Brussels on Monday. The agenda includes a policy
    debate on the legislation devoted to safeguarding European democracy, and the
    presentation of the priorities of the Belgian presidency of the EU Council,
    followed by an exchange of opinions between the participating ministers and
    state secretaries for European affairs. The GAC meeting will also include a new
    round of talks on country reports, under the annual rule of law dialogue.


    UKRAINE Six months after the start of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian
    defence officials and corporate executives tried to embezzle USD 40 mln
    intended for arms procurement, according to SBU, Ukraine’s main security and
    intelligence agency, quoted by international
    news agencies. The attempted embezzlement took place in August 2022, with the
    money originally earmarked for the procurement of 100,000 mortar rounds, which
    were never delivered. One of the suspects was apprehended while trying to leave
    the country, SBU announced. Ukraine has seen several corruption scandals since
    the start of the war in February 2022. In August 2023, president Volodymyr
    Zelenskyy dismissed all the regional officials in charge with army enrollments, on
    grounds that they were providing recruitment exemptions for money. Curbing
    corruption is one of the main conditions that Ukraine must meet in order to
    join the European Union.


    RUGBY The new manager of Romania’s rugby team, David Gerard
    (FR), announced the 32 players selected for the national team’s debut match in
    the 2024 Rugby Europe Championship. According to the website of the Romanian
    Rugby Federation, only 26 of them will travel to Poland. In Rugby Europe
    Championship, Romania plays in Group B, alongside Portugal, Belgium and Poland.
    The first match, in Poland on February 4, will be followed by 2 home games,
    against Belgium (February 10) and Portugal (February 17). (AMP)

  • January 28, 2024

    January 28, 2024

    IMF An International Monetary Fund mission
    headed by Jan Kees Martijn will be in Bucharest
    between January 29 and February 1, to review the latest economic and financial
    developments. The previous IMF visit to Romania was last autumn, when IMF
    experts conducted their annual analysis of the Romanian economy. At that time, Jan
    Kees Martijn said estimates were pointing to a budget deficit of 6% of GDP for
    the end of 2023, and of 5% in 2024, as well as to an economic growth rate of 2.3%.
    Romania has no ongoing agreements with the IMF at present, but the Fund
    conducts regular visits to review financial and economic indicators. The PM Marcel Ciolacu voiced optimism with
    respect to the IMF’s assessment. He explained that Romania still has problems
    meeting a benchmark in the National Recovery and Resilience Programme, as the
    EC believes Romania has too low SME taxation levels.


    DRUGS The Romanian justice minister Alina Gorghiu requested the
    emergency endorsement of the bills against drug trafficking and drug use. A
    first bill concerns the set-up of the Drug Trafficking Register and of regional
    rehab centres for drug addicts. A second bill eliminates suspended sentences
    for drug trafficking. On Friday, after the Justice and Home Affairs Council,
    the interior minister Catalin Predoiu announced that Romania set up a task
    force integrating several institutions involved in the fight against drug
    trafficking. He said Romania is on the front line of the crackdown on
    international drug trafficking networks, and welcomed the Council’s decision to
    include Romania’s and Bulgaria’s air and maritime borders in the Schengen area.
    According to the Romanian official, EU member countries should focus on curbing
    drug trafficking in ports, through an integrated international platform.


    PRICES In Romania, the mark-up for basic foodstuff prices may be capped
    for another 3 months. The announcement was made by Marcel Ciolacu recently, as
    the capping scheme is due to come to an end soon. According to the PM, a
    decision will be made following talks with all stakeholders. The agriculture
    minister told Radio Romania that a discussion in this respect will be held on
    Monday. He explained that according to data made public by the National
    Statistics Institute and the Competition Council, the measure has been
    effective. The agriculture minister added that the introduction of further
    products in the list is being considered. The emergency order passed by the
    government last summer in order to contain the effects of inflation saw the
    temporary capping of mark-ups for several basic foodstuffs, including bread,
    milk, yogurt, flour, eggs, chicken and pork. The measure was subsequently
    extended and further products were included.


    UN The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, Sunday called on the
    countries that have suspended funding for the UN agency for Palestinian
    refugees (UNRWA) to ‘ at least guarantee’ the continuity of UNRWA operations,
    which are vital for 2 million people, AFP reports. The UN body, which is the
    main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, Friday announced firing a number of
    employees accused of involvement in the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7,
    2023. In turn, the director of the UN body, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that the
    vital assistance granted by UNRWA is about to end because of funding issues. Israel
    demands the resignation of Philippe Lazzarini and the termination of the
    agency’s work in Gaza after the war. A number of countries, including the US, Canada,
    UK, Italy and Germany, have suspended all future funding the UNRWA. (AMP)

  • December 14, 2023

    December 14, 2023

    BUDGET Romania’s draft 2024 budget is to be endorsed by the
    Cabinet in a meeting today. The document will subsequently be submitted for
    review in Parliament. The budget is based on a 3.4% economic growth rate, a
    budget deficit target of 5% of GDP and an estimated annual inflation rate of 6% of GDP. The
    draft law also includes the already announced salary and pension increases, as
    well as most of the measures in the Government’s new legislative package. The
    ministries that will receive more money than in 2023 are the education,
    development, environment and family ministries, while lower appropriations
    would be received by the energy ministry and the ministry for investments and
    EU projects.


    SUMMIT The president of
    Romania, Klaus Iohannis, takes part on Thursday and Friday in the European
    Council meeting in Brussels, where important and complex topics will be
    approached, according to the Romanian Presidency. These include the EU
    enlargement, a revision of the 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Financial Framework,
    support for Russia-invaded Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, security and
    defence, migration and the Union’s future Strategic Agenda. As far as the
    Multi-Annual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 is concerned, president Iohannis will plead
    for an approach that promotes financial balance between the already existing
    commitments and the new priorities on the EU agenda, and does not involve a cut
    in the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Cohesion Policy, the
    Presidency says. As for the situation in the Middle East, Mr. Iohannis will
    insist on the need for increased involvement of the EU in the region, in view of protecting
    civilians, de-escalating the conflict and resuming the two-state peace process.


    UKRAINE The reconstruction of Ukraine and Romania’s strategic role
    in this process is the topic of an international conference held in the
    Romanian mountain resort of Sinaia. Taking part are Romanian and foreign
    officials, independent experts, business people, academia and diplomats. The
    head of the Romanian government, Marcel Ciolacu, and the Ukrainian prime
    minister Denys Shmyhal, sent a video message to the participants, highlighting
    the Romanian-Ukrainian partnership and Romania’s support for Ukraine.


    FUNDING On Friday, December 15, Romania will submit its 3rd
    payment request under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the PM Marcel
    Ciolacu said at a meeting of the inter-ministry coordination committee for this
    programme. The funding under the Plan amounts to EUR 2.7 bln and covers 74
    targets and benchmarks for the second half of the year 2022.


    ISRAEL The
    Romanian foreign ministry this morning announced the death of another person
    with Romanian and Israeli citizenship taken hostage in Gaza by the Islamist
    group Hamas. Tal Haimi was kidnapped on October 7, and his death had
    already been announced by the Israeli Embassy in Romania. According to a
    Facebook post by the Israeli diplomatic office, Tal Haimi’s wife had come to
    Bucharest in late October to request Romania’s assistance in the efforts to get
    the Hamas hostages freed. On December 2, the foreign ministry said the Israeli
    authorities announced the death of a person with dual, Romanian and Israeli
    citizenship, captive in Gaza. Two other people with Romanian and Israeli
    citizenship are currently held hostage by Hamas, and Romania’s foreign ministry
    reiterates the need for all hostages to be released. The Romanian Embassy in
    Tel Aviv stays in touch with the Israeli authorities, the foreign ministry also
    said.


    ALERT Alert
    messages were sent to the citizens in the counties of Galaţi and Tulcea, near Romania’s Ukrainian border, on Wednesday night. People
    were warned against objects falling from the airspace, were urged not to panic
    and take shelter if necessary. These were the first RO-ALERT messages sent to
    the population in nearly 3 months, in the context of the war in Ukraine. This
    year the defence ministry identified parts of 3 drones used by Russia in
    strikes on Ukrainian Danube ports, which had fallen in Tulcea County. (AMP)

  • September 29, 2023 UPDATE

    September 29, 2023 UPDATE

    TAXES USR and the Force of the Right parties in
    opposition in Romania Friday notified the Constitutional Court with respect to
    the set of fiscal measures for which the Government has recently assumed
    responsibility. The 2 parties argue that many
    provisions in the bill are against the Constitution. Two members of the
    National Liberal Party (in the ruling coalition) have also signed the
    notification, the USR floor group leader Ionuţ Moşteanu said. According to him,
    the Cabinet has initiated a reform which is not implemented consistently and violates
    the principle of judicial security. The move by USR was criticised by another
    Opposition party, AUR, which is collecting signatures in Parliament to table a
    no-confidence motion. The finance minister, Marcel Boloş, claims however that
    the set of fiscal measures endorsed by the government is needed for Romania’s
    modernisation process, and a failure to solve the budget deficit issue would
    jeopardise the payment of EUR 75 billion in EU funding for Romania’s
    development projects.


    FUNDING Romania has received from the European Commission EUR 2.7
    bln in response to the second disbursement application under the National
    Recovery and Resilience Plan, submitted in December. The finance minister
    Marcel Boloş says Romania is among the first countries in the Union to complete
    the steps required for obtaining a second instalment of the funds. In a social
    media post, he said Romania has so far received combined payments of nearly EUR
    10 bln in grants and loans, out of the EUR 29 bln earmarked for the country
    under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.


    MOTORWAY The Development Ministry in Bucharest has approved a EUR 6
    bln investment for the mountain segment of the A8 Motorway, between Miercurea
    Nirajului (centre) and Leghin (north-east). The approx. 160-km segment
    includes 47 tunnels and over 250 overpasses. The project is to be approved in a
    Cabinet meeting, and then a bid would be initiated for the procurement of
    design and construction works. The project is to be finalised in 54 months. The
    Union Motorway (Târgu Mureş-Iaşi-Ungheni) will be over 300 km long, but so far contracts
    have only been signed for the 30 km between Leghin and Târgu Neamţ.


    EXHIBITION Nearly 100 works are included in the most
    important exhibition in the past 50 years in Romania devoted to the great
    sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. The exhibition opens on Saturday in western
    Romania as part of the Timişoara – European Capital of Culture programme.
    Sculptures, photos, archive documents and video materials will be on display at
    the National Art Museum in the city until the end of January. The works, whose
    insured value is half a billion euros, come from public and private collections
    in Romania and abroad, including famous galleries such as the Pompidou centre in
    Paris and Tate in London.


    DEFENCE Romania will procure all the military equipment needed to
    enhance the security at the Black Sea, the Romanian defence minister Angel
    Tîlvăr said during a visit at a military equipment producer in Timişoara. He
    emphasised that Romania is a safe country and not involved in any conflict with
    anyone, but that incidents such as the Russian drone falling on Romanian
    territory are still possible. We are doing our best and have made public the
    additional measures we took after drone pieces were found in Romania, he added.
    He also mentioned the Army is still interested in attracting young members,
    especially since a large number of military staff have retired recently. (AMP)

  • European funds for Ukrainian grain exports

    European funds for Ukrainian grain exports

    Ukraine is dependent on the
    European transport corridors after its exports and imports by sea have been
    suspended by the blockade imposed by Russia. According to present data, over
    May 2022 and August 2023, these solidarity corridors have allowed Ukraine to
    export over 53 million tons of farm products, including roughly 48 million tons
    of cereals and other similar products. These exports are estimated to have brought
    Ukraine 38 billion euros in income. At the same time, Ukraine imported via the
    solidarity corridors goods with a total value of roughly 70 billion euro. ‘This
    proves that our economic partnership leads to an increase in exports and
    imports’, the European Commissioner for Transport, Romanian Adina Valean, said
    during a meeting she had with the Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure,
    Oleksandr Kubrakov.

    The European
    Commissioner has also announced the launch by the European Commission of a new
    fund scheme for the infrastructure used in the Ukrainian exports through the
    member states. We want to ensure the future integration of the Ukrainian
    railway system with the EU transport system through the introduction of the
    European standard gauge with a view to having a railway connection along
    Ukraine from the city of Lviv to Iasi, in eastern Romania, and farther to Chisinau,
    in the Republic of Moldova. The infrastructure resulted and that we have
    streamlined in the past 16 months is here to stay and represents a ‘de facto’
    integration from the viewpoint of infrastructure of Ukraine in the EU single
    market, the EU commissioner went on to say.


    60% of the goods shipped through
    the solidarity corridors is transiting Romania. We are speaking here about
    roads as well as the Danube and the Black Sea port of Constanta – the most
    important points in the Ukrainian exports.


    Under these circumstances,
    Romania could obtain a big part of the funding scheme if it came with projects
    until the deadline in January, when the scheme is closed. Down the Danube
    along its border with Ukraine and then the port of Constanta are two points,
    which could attract consistent European funding, Adina Vălean added. On one
    had we are talking about measures of streamlining the operations in the port of
    Constanta, on the other hand we are talking about increasing the capabilities
    of transferring the goods from one ship to the other. We are having talks about
    the purchase of specific equipment to be shipped to the port of Constanta the
    Commissioner has explained. The novelty of the aforementioned 7 billion euro
    funding scheme resides in the permission granted to the Republic of Moldova and
    Ukraine to apply with projects in conditions similar to those of the member
    states, without having to have a community partner.


    (bill)

  • EU funding for hospitals

    EU funding for hospitals

    The Romanian defence minister, Angel
    Tîlvăr, and health minister, Alexandru Rafila, have signed a number of
    financing contracts for healthcare infrastructure investment projects under the
    National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).


    The funds will be channeled into military
    hospitals around the country, as well as other hospitals in Bucharest and Constanţa
    (south-east). The emergency military hospitals in Sibiu (centre), Piteşti (south),
    Craiova (south-west) and Braşov (centre) will receive money for revamping and
    for building new wards.


    The defence minister says patients’
    confidence in military hospitals is quite high and emphasized that substantial
    funding will be used for such hospitals.


    Angel Tîlvăr: The documents I am honoured to sign today
    together with Mr. Rafila, the health minister, allow the financing of new
    buildings for 4 military hospitals in the country, which will receive around
    EUR 81 mln under Component 12, Healthcare, of the RRP.


    Also under the RRP, in Bucharest a new TB
    diagnosis and treatment centre will be built, using some EUR 26 mln. The
    manager of the Pneumophtysiology Institute, Beatrice Mahler, explains that this
    investment will benefit both patients, and the specialists in the field:


    Beatrice Mahler: This investment
    has been long awaited by Romanian TB patients, who fortunately, thanks to this
    kind of investments, will no longer feel stigmatised, but also by the
    healthcare staff, because we want not only patients to be safe, but the
    personnel as well.


    In turn, the health minister
    pointed out that funding will be earmarked next for the revamping of family
    physician practices:


    Alexandru Rafila: We will soon
    finalise all the investment contracts, both for hospital healthcare and for
    outpatient facilities, including family physician practices, for which the
    final stage will be soon reached, allowing for their financing, revamping and
    equipment procurement.


    The newly signed contracts also cover
    the building of a new mother and child health facility as part of the Constanţa
    Emergency Hospital, and the extension of the Municipal Polyclinic there.


    The National Recovery and Resilience Plan is designed to ensure the development of Romania, by increasing its
    resilience in crisis situations after the COVID-19 pandemic, and by
    capitalising on the country’s economic growth potential, through major reforms
    and key investments. In order to receive funding,
    Member States submit their national plans to the European Commission, and
    receive money in instalments, until August 2026, depending on their meeting specific benchmarks. Romania benefits
    from over EUR 29 bln under this facility. (AMP)

  • Romania’s virgin forests and their fate

    Romania’s virgin forests and their fate


    The virgin
    forests are the last forest ecosystems where nature has survived in its purest
    form, without being significantly affected by human intervention. Elsewhere around
    Europe, the virgin forests have become almost extinct, yet in Romania, there are
    roughly 250 thousand hectares. Since, 2015, the virgin forests have been
    protected by the law, as they have been included in the Virgin
    and Quasi-virgin Forests Catalogue. In the virgin forest, trees die of old age,
    they fall, they break or they wither rather fast, while the deadwood is
    left there, feeding the ecosystem for the generations to come. The virgin
    forest is home to trees of all ages, from the freshly sprouting seeds to the
    trees that have reached their physiological limit, quite like a community:
    children, parents and the elderly supporting each other, living a harmonious
    and healthy life. Or at least that is what we’ve read in a message posted by
    WWF Romania environment organization on its own site.


    Under
    the crowns of 500-year-old giant trees, living together are over 10, 000 species, ranging from unicellular organisms, mushrooms,
    plants, insects, to big mammals, such as the wild boar, the deer, the chamois,
    the wolf, the lynx, the brown bear. If the virgin forest disappears, with it, a
    thousand-year-old natural evolution cycle disappears too. The virgin forest is a
    living lesson preserved in nature’s genuine laboratories, but also part of Romanian
    local communities’ cultural identity.

    Radu Melu is a national manager of WWF Romania’s
    forest division. He spoke about the importance
    of the virgin forests.


    They are important
    in various respects. If we take biodiversity into account, these forests are important
    because in them we can find those categories of species that need peace and
    quiet, very old trees, large quantities of deadwood, actually all those categories
    of species that live better when man does not intervene in the forest. If we
    have a large landscape, a very large one, with cultivated forest and a forest
    from where wood is extracted, but also some quasi-virgin forest plots where we
    did not intervene, allowing nature to have its own evolution, then we can stand
    the chance to have the whole biodiversity spectrum in that particular area. So,
    it is the biodiversity that contributes something more. These forests come with
    something extra when compared to the cultivated forests. In a separate
    development, these forests have their evolution, in the absence of no human intervention. In
    effect, we see how nature would develop, we have the chance to see how nature
    thinks for its further evolution, if you will, considering climate change.
    As for climate change, we’ve had something like that before, our planet has faced
    these climate changes before and yet, in their wake, nature found its own ways
    of survival. For instance, the beech tree has not been a dominant species before
    the last glaciation. After the last glaciation, the beech tree has developed
    perfectly fine, it has become a dominant species in Europe. It is the solution
    nature found for afforestation and for vegetation to regenerate. Well, then,
    here we are again, asking questions, but we cannot ask nature in a cultivated forest
    or, if the case, with exotic species. We ask nature in such natural forests, in
    such forests whose evolution has never been perturbed by man and we find out,
    we see what direction it takes and we can also imitate the same thing, in the
    cultivated forests.


    In order to be protected by the law, Romania’s virgin
    forests need to be reintroduced in a dedicated catalogue. Such an undertaking is
    in no way simple, yet it is worth the while doing it. The catalogue of the virgin
    and the quasi-virgin forests is a project initiated and permanently supported
    by WWF. The project is operational and held in high esteem by the international
    authorities. Here is Radu Melu once again, this time speaking about
    this forestry protection official instrument


    The catalogue is in fact a base where all the
    forests were included, that have been identified as virgin or quasi-virgin
    forests on the territory of our country. In this catalogue, what we have in
    fact are those plots and sub-plots, as the forest in Romania is divided in these
    basic units known as forest plots, and can be thus identified very easily. They can
    be found there. The information is clear, about the forest district, about the area,
    the county those plots can be found, and they have been included in the
    National catalogue, with their surface area, with all the details, so once a
    new arrangement is being done, that is a new planning stipulating where, what and how
    much can be cut down, those particular surface areas are avoided. There, logging
    is no longer recommended, while the respective surface areas thus remain
    protected forever, since the law no longer allows for the planners to come and
    decide upon certain works, or on logging operations or any other intervention that
    could affect the natural evolution of those forests.


    The Environment, Waters and Forests Ministry updates this
    catalogue periodically. As we speak, a surface area of more than 71,000 hectares
    has been included, of virgin and quasi-virgin forests. The process is ongoing,
    yet more involvement is needed, on the part of the interested entities: forests
    and protected areas administrators, education or research institutions,
    non-governmental organizations.(EN)



  • February 21, 2023 UPDATE

    February 21, 2023 UPDATE

    UKRAINE The US
    president Joe Biden Tuesday praised the Ukrainians’ resilience in the face of
    the Russian invasion launched nearly a year ago. Speaking at a rally in Warsaw,
    he emphasized that the US support for Ukraine remained unwavering and that the
    free world condemned Russia’s aggression. Biden added that he also wanted the
    people of the Republic of Moldova to be truly free, and called on participants
    to applaud Moldova’s president Maia Sandu, attending the assembly. Previously,
    in Moscow, president Vladimir Putin announced Russia would suspend its
    participation in the New START treaty with the US on the reduction of strategic
    nuclear weapons. The statement was made at the end of his state-of-the-nation address,
    ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24th February,
    and after the US president Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv. On Wednesday,
    Biden is due to meet the leaders of Bucharest Nine, a group of NATO countries
    from central and eastern Europe formed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea at
    the proposal of the presidents of Romania and Poland, Klaus Iohannis and Andrej
    Duda, respectively. The NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said that
    with Russia’s decision on the latest START Treaty full arms control
    architecture has been dismantled. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels
    with the participation of Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs,
    and Josep Borrell, the EU high representative for foreign affairs, Stoltenberg added
    that Moscow was the aggressor in Ukraine, after Vladimir Putin had claimed that
    the West was trying to destroy Russia.


    PENSIONS In Bucharest, USR and the Force of the Right parties in opposition
    Tuesday tabled a simple motion against the labour minister Marius Budăi, whom
    they accuse of incompetence and carelessness. They argue that Budăi is
    protecting special pensions (which are not based on contributions to pension
    funds) thus jeopardising the EU funding Romania should receive under the
    National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Meanwhile, the Senate has once again
    postponed the bill reforming special pensions, for 2 weeks, until relevant ministries
    have submitted estimates of its impact on the budget and stated whether the
    bill complies with Resilience Plan benchmarks. The World Bank is also expected
    to state its view on the matter.


    TURKEY Rescuers
    in Turkey are carrying out new searches for people trapped under the rubble as
    a new quake hit the south-east of the country on Monday night, in the same
    region as the devastating earthquakes that took place two weeks ago. According
    to official reports, six persons were killed and 200 wounded in the latest
    tremor. Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is running for a new term
    in May if elections are held on schedule, says his country would start building
    tens of thousands of new homes next month, a move estimated to cost at least 25
    billion dollars. Erdogan’s rapid reconstruction plans worry architects and
    engineers, who are concerned that the lack of urban planning and careful
    assessment of building safety may lead to a new disaster.


    CULTURE Two
    books about Constantin Brâncuşi were launched in Timişoara, which this year is
    holding the title of European Capital of Culture. The books, which recently
    appeared in France, are written by Doina Lemny, art historian and researcher at
    the National Museum of Modern Art and the Pompidou Centre in Paris. The launch
    previews an extensive exhibition dedicated to the great Romanian sculptor next
    autumn at Timişoara’s Museum of Art. According to the city’s mayor Dominic
    Fritz, around 60,000 people attended the over 130 different events held in
    Timişoara this weekend during the official opening of the European Capital of
    Culture programme. The city will be playing host to around 1,000 different
    cultural events all year long. (AMP, CM)

  • Aid for food producers

    Aid for food producers

    Romanian authorities are working on a funding program of over 1 billion euros to support Romanian producers, especially in the food processing sector. Benefiting from this will be pork and chicken processors, as well as dairy companies, so that they can benefit from the lowest possible production costs. The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance, Adrian Câciu, during a conference.



    We should say that, lately, although food imports have grown at a slower rate than exports, Romanian factories haven’t been able to cover the trade deficit. Thus, meat, milk, fruits and vegetables are produced with the largest trade deficits in the food sector. Referring, for example, to the pig sector in particular, the Minister of Finance stressed that the state will continue to resort to consolidated funding programs, in addition to the European funds.



    At the same time, the current government measures will be complemented by new funding initiatives, better adapted to the needs of the domestic market. Romania has a long tradition in the animal husbandry field, but currently, it is forced to import pork worth hundreds of millions of euros annually. If a decade ago, more than 6 million pigs were produced in the country, today some farms are closed, because they do not have viable sales solutions, and the existing small slaughterhouses cannot cope.



    However, a solution would be precisely the development, on a national level, of large-capacity slaughterhouses. Then, Romania, the number 1 producer of grain corn in the EU, could direct its harvest to the national livestock sector. Authorities also focus on the fight against swine fever and programs to support the husbandry activity. Meanwhile, the breeders of dairy cows have called on the decision-makers to stop the imports of milk from Ukraine, Hungary or Poland or to regulate a guaranteed minimum price that processors should offer per liter of milk.



    Otherwise, Romanian farmers are forced to sell their product at a lower price due to competition and fear bankruptcy. The situation is not better for eggs either! Because of the insufficient number of farms, the avian flu that closed many of them, but also the increase in the price of feed and energy, the profit of local egg producers in Romania has dropped by up to 30%, and the price of an egg in stores is now higher than in other European Union countries. And in this case, part of the consumption need is covered by imports. (MI)

  • December 31, 2022

    December 31, 2022

    NEW YEAR PM
    Nicolae Ciucă said in his New Year address on Saturday that in 2022 Romanians
    proved their solidarity, handled challenges hard to imagine and managed to do
    more than just endure. He mentioned the crisis facing Romania, with a war at
    its borders, high energy prices and skyrocketing inflation. The PM emphasised
    that the government would continue to protect citizens’ interests, to support
    the economy and take care of the vulnerable. In turn, the Royal House of
    Romania wished A happy new year, with health, hope and peace in their hearts
    to all Romanians in the country, in the neighbouring Republic of Moldova and
    abroad.


    MEASURES In
    Romania, the pension point value will be raised by 12.5% as of January 1, to
    reach nearly EUR 360, and minimum wages will be increased to EUR 600. On the
    other hand, the 10-eurocent governmental discount on fuel prices will be
    discontinued. The government says it is ready to reintroduce it, should fuel
    prices rise beyond citizens’ spending power. As of January 1, fuel excises will
    be cut down, while electricity and natural gas price caps and discounts will
    remain in place.


    JUDICIARY The
    year 2023 must see a crackdown on organised crime and criminal groups, Justice
    Ministry officials posted on Saturday on the institution’s Facebook page. According
    to them, Romania has the legislation, institutions and modern strategies to
    achieve this goal. What it needs is more investment in logistics and leaders
    able to encourage all prosecutors to undertake and accomplish their critical
    social mission of safeguarding the law and protecting citizens and the state
    from all forms of crime, the Justice Ministry emphasised. The message also says
    that the Ministry’s top accomplishment in 2022 was its contribution to Romania
    being issued a last positive report under the Cooperation and Verification
    Mechanism in the judiciary and the lifting of this mechanism.


    POPE Pope emeritus
    Benedict XVI died this morning, aged 95, the Vatican announced. Over the past
    few days his health had deteriorated, AFP reports. The former Pope spent his
    last 9 years of life in the monastery within the small papal state, after
    resigning in 2013, for reasons that are still unclear. Elected on April 19,
    2005, following the death of Pope John Paul II, he was the first German leader
    of the Catholic Church in 482 years. On February 11, 2013 Benedict XVI
    announced his resignation from the papacy, on account of his age and ill health.
    Joseph Ratzinger was the first Pope since the Middle Ages to step down
    voluntarily.


    FUNDING
    Romania this year received the green light for the partnership agreement and
    all the 16 programmes under the 2021-2027 cohesion policy, thus avoiding the
    risk of losing EUR 5.2 bln, the ministry for investments and European projects
    announced. According to the institution, these 16 programmes will bring into
    the country EUR 46 bln in strategic investments in safer hospitals, transport
    networks, the water and sewage infrastructure and support for the business
    community. Eight of the 16 programmes are regional. In the previous EU financial
    period, 2014-2020, Romania received EU funds totaling EUR 25.4 bln. (AMP)

  • December 16, 2022

    December 16, 2022

    SCHENGEN
    The losses incurred by Romania for the rejection of its Schengen accession bid
    are over EUR 25 bln, says the Romanian interior minister Lucian Bode. For 11 years
    we have been securing Schengen’s border, investing in human resources,
    capabilities and modern technologies. The losses incurred by Romania during all
    this time, since it has fulfilled the criteria but has not benefited from the
    related rights, are immeasurable, Mr. Bode said at a meeting of EU gendarme
    chiefs. The topic of Romania’s Schengen accession and of the negative vote
    given by Austria in the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting last week was
    also raised by president Klaus Iohannis at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
    Senior European officials conveyed a message of support for Romania’s and
    Bulgaria’s Schengen accession. The EC president Ursula von der Leyen and the
    Council president Charles Michel said further discussions would be held on this
    topic and progress was expected in the following months.


    FUNDING The
    Romanian ministry for EU funding and investments has submitted to the EC the
    second payment request, amounting to EUR 3.228 bln, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The 3rd payment request, amounting to EUR 3.1 bln, is to be submitted
    to the Commission next spring. Romania benefits from over EUR 29 bln for the
    implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, including grants
    of up to EUR 14.24 bln and loans of nearly EUR 15 bln. The country has already
    cashed in 2 pre-financing instalments totaling EUR 3.79 bln.


    EU The president of
    the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will attend in Bucharest on
    Saturday the signing of an agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan,
    Georgia, Romania and Hungary concerning the Strategic Partnership in the
    development and transport of green energy. The agreement will be signed by the
    president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the PM of Georgia
    Irakli Garibashvili, the PM of Romania Nicolae Ciucă, and the PM of Hungary
    Viktor Orban. According to the Romanian Presidency, the document is based on
    the interests of the 4 states concerning a strengthened national and regional
    energy security. The agreement will provide a financial and technical framework
    for the construction of an underwater renewable energy transport cable between
    Romania and Azerbaijan, via Georgia and the Black Sea, and further on for the
    transport of this energy to Hungary and the rest of Europe.

    INFLATION The EU
    annual inflation rate dropped from 11.5% in October to 11.1% in November, but in
    8 member countries the rate rose from one month to the other, including in
    Romania, where it went from 13.5% to 14.6%, Eurostat announced on Friday. In November,
    the EU member states with the highest inflation rates were Hungary, Latvia, Estonia
    and Lithuania. At the opposite pole, the lowest inflation rates were reported
    in Spain, France and Malta.


    PROTEST Hundreds
    of employees in the Romanian public education system are today picketing
    prefect offices in several counties, primarily demanding the full
    implementation of a law concerning their incomes. Education unions say the net
    salaries for this category are up to EUR 440 and warn that 2023 will bring a
    new series of union actions unless the government solves the problems in this
    sector. The trade unions also criticise the government’s failure to pay for
    overtime and travel expenses and to adjust revenues to the inflation rate.


    TIMISOARA Romania
    commemorates today 33 years since the start of the anti-communist uprising in Timişoara,
    western Romania. The anniversary is marked by a traditional solemn meeting of
    the Local Council. The participants, including members of revolutionary
    associations, discuss the events of December ’89 and observe a moment of
    silence to honour those who died during those days. Exhibitions, film
    screenings, round tables, a concert entitled Folk for the Revolution as well
    marches are also organised on this occasion. 33 years ago, in Timişoara, a
    solidarity rally for the Reformed pastor Laszlo Tokes grew into an uprising
    that spread across the country and led to the fall of the communist regime.


    RESCUERS Romanian
    mountain rescuers were awarded in Paris at the International Rescuers Congress,
    attended by relevant institutions, associations and research institutes from
    over 60 countries in the world. Salvamont Romania was acknowledged as one of
    the best drone-assisted search and rescue services, and the distinction was
    received for the Data Analysis Centre in Târgu Jiu. The centre uses special software
    and drones for victim identification. (AMP)

  • December 12, 2022 UPDATE

    December 12, 2022 UPDATE

    TALKS The vote in the JHA
    Council is very problematic for all of us in Romania. I was disappointed and
    upset following this vote, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said on
    Monday, after receiving the president of the Swiss
    Confederation Ignazio Cassis in Bucharest. The Romanian president added that he
    would most certainly raise the issue of Romania’s denied Schengen bid at the
    meeting of the European Council due on December 15. Romania should be a part of
    Schengen, the Swiss president said in his turn. The 2
    officials discussed bilateral relations and economic cooperation, with an emphasis
    on boosting investments and identifying new areas of cooperation, and exchanged
    views on the latest international developments, including the war in Ukraine
    and its implications for the energy market and global security.


    FUNDING Romania’s PM Nicolae Ciucă Monday requested all ministries
    and coordinating institutions to give maximum priority to completing the 51 benchmarks
    and targets in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan related to the second
    payment request, amounting to EUR 2.8 bln, which Romania is scheduled to submit
    to the European Commission this month. This amount adds to the EUR 3.7 bln pre-financing
    amount and to a first EUR 2.6 bln instalment already cashed in by Romania. We
    cannot afford to deviate from our commitments, because a lot of elements
    related to reform processes, investments and even economic stability depend on
    us accessing this money, the PM said at a meeting of the inter-ministry
    Committee Coordinating the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The Committee
    also reviewed the progress with respect to the 55 targets and benchmarks due
    for the 3rd and 4th quarters of this year, related to the
    3rd payment request that Romania is scheduled to submit to the EC
    this spring.


    BUDGET In Bucharest, Parliament’s specialist committees Monday approved
    the draft budgets of several ministries. The education, transport, development
    and defence ministries will have higher budgets next year, while the energy,
    justice and healthcare ministries will receive less money in 2023. The ruling
    coalition said the budget bill is based on record high investments and accounts
    for 7.2% of GDP. It takes into account an economic growth rate of 2.8% of GDP,
    an annual inflation rate of 8%, a growing number of people in employment and a
    lower unemployment rate of 2.7%. The opposition has criticised the budget bill.
    Both the power and the opposition have submitted amendments. The final vote is
    due on Thursday.


    MOTION Save Romania Union in
    opposition Monday tabled a simple motion against the interior minister Lucian
    Bode, whom they see as responsible for Romania’s failure to join the Schengen free-movement
    area. According to the party, Bode shares this responsibility with the
    president Klaus Iohannis, with the parliamentary majority and the diplomacy in Bucharest.
    USR also invited the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu to give Parliament
    explanations on this topic. Several EU member states voiced their
    disappointment with the denial of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Schengen accession bids.
    Moreover, the EU commissioner for home affairs, Ylva Johansson, said this would
    be a priority of her term in office.



    EU European democracy is under attack, the head of the European
    Parliament Roberta Metsola said on Monday, voicing her outrage and sadness following
    allegations of corruption in the European Parliament in relation to Qatar. In
    turn, the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, Monday
    called for EU institutions to be governed by the highest standards of
    independence and integrity. The EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep
    Borrell described the EP corruption allegations as being of the utmost
    concern. Eva Kaili, a vice-president of the European parliament from Greece, and
    3 other individuals were detained and charged in Belgium in an international corruption
    investigation related to Qatar. The 4 were charged with participation in a criminal
    organisation, money laundering and corruption.


    FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Romanian diplomacy chief Bogdan Aurescu took part on Monday in Brussels in an informal meeting concerning the future of the Eastern
    Partnership, organised at the initiative of Minister Aurescu and his counterparts
    from Czechia, Sweden and Poland, and in a meeting of the Eastern Partnership
    foreign ministers    . In
    his addresses, Bogdan Aurescu pleaded for revitalising the Eastern Partnership
    and for adapting it to the new regional context, and reiterated Romania’s firm
    and continuing support for it. He argued that the Eastern Partnership can make
    a significant contribution to strengthening the stability, security and
    prosperity in the Eastern Neighbourhood, by consolidating regional cooperation,
    the security and resilience of partners and through an adequate joint response to
    the challenges facing the region. Mr. Aurescu also emphasised that in the new
    context generated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, a more robust
    and more efficient security dimension of the Eastern Partnership is necessary.



    MEETING The Romanian justice minister, Cătălin
    Predoiu, had a meeting on Monday in Luxembourg with the head of the European
    Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), Laura Codruţa Kovesi. According to the
    Romanian justice ministry, the 2 officials discussed the protection of the EU’s
    financial interests, the EPPO human resources issue and the broadening of the
    Office’s powers to include the prosecution of breaches of EU sanctions. I am
    confidence that an in-depth dialogue with the EPPO may lead to ideas and
    solutions to make the cooperation between national and EPPO prosecutors more
    efficient. After all, they all fight crime, which affects both the interests of
    the EU and the national interests of member states, Catalin Predoiu said. (AMP)

  • EU money for Romania’s infrastructure

    EU money for Romania’s infrastructure


    Romania is set to receive the first payments under the
    Recovery and Resilience Facility, intended for the country’s economic recovery. The European Commission has authorized
    the first disbursements in the grant and the loan components of the plan. The
    decision means EUR 2.6 bln coming Romania’s way.


    Bucharest had applied for
    these first payments in May, after meeting the 21 targets and milestones
    related to the 4th quarter of 2021. In September, the European
    Commission’s assessment of these targets was endorsed and forwarded to the
    Economic and Financial Committee, which also approved it.


    At the time, the
    president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the positive
    assessment had been prompted by good and quick progress in implementing the
    first set of reforms and investments under the Plan.


    This is a moment that
    confirms the government’s consolidated effort, which translated into the
    meeting of the targets and milestones undertaken by Romania for the last
    quarter of 2021 and into reforms of major importance for our country,ˮ the
    minister for European projects and investments, Marcel Boloş, said.
    Realistically speaking, it is only the beginning of a long road ahead of us,
    but one which, if key aspects in the Plan are completed, will result in
    boosting the economy and in generating a solid multiplier effect for
    investments in motorways, railway infrastructure, schools, hospital
    infrastructure and everything related to the strengthening of the Romanian
    economy,ˮ Marcel Boloş added.


    The next payment
    application will amount to a total EUR 3.2 bln, for which over 50 targets will
    have to be met, related to the first half of this year.


    Under the Recovery and
    Resilience Facility, Romania can benefit from nearly EUR 30 bln. For the
    implementation of its national plan, Bucharest has already cashed in 2
    pre-financing instalments totalling around EUR 3.8 bln.


    In related news, the
    minister for European projects and investments stated last week that he hoped
    the European Commission would endorse all the 8 regional operational programmes
    by November, which would be a turning point in that it would be for the first time that local
    authorities will make independent decisions on how to spend these EU funds. Marcel Boloș pointed out that half
    of the 8 programmes for the 2021-2027 financial cycle have been approved, and
    that they amount to a combined EUR 11 bln. The EU money for the regional
    programmes may be used up until 2030. (AMP)

  • October 23, 2022

    October 23, 2022

    MILITARY The
    first shipment of French military equipment to join the NATO battle group deployed
    to Cincu, in central Romania, reaches the country on Sunday, the defence
    ministry announced. A second convoy, comprising a Leclerc main battle tank
    company, is set to arrive in November. The NATO Battle Group Forward Presence
    in Romania (BGFP) was created in May by transforming the Allied multinational
    elements of the NATO Response Force deployed to our country. Upon France’s
    proposal to take over the framework-nation role, the French battalion deployed
    to Romania, considered the Spearhead of the Very High Readiness Joint Task
    Force (VJTF), built up the BGFP on our national territory by integrating, on
    rotational basis, Belgian and Dutch troops. BGFP contributes to the increase of
    the Romanian military cooperation with France and, implicitly, to the consolidation
    of the Euro-Atlantic space security on the Eastern Flank. Cooperation with the
    strategic partners and the deployment of relevant combat structures on national
    territory contribute to the increase of defence and deterrence capacity in the
    context of the Ukraine war and the Black Sea region crisis, the defence
    ministry explains.


    BORDER Romania’s
    border police announced that over 97,000 people entered Romania on Saturday, of
    whom more than 9,500 were Ukrainian nationals, up 15.6% since the previous day.
    According to current data, over 2.6 million Ukrainian citizens have entered
    Romania since February 10, and nearly 4,400 of them have applied for asylum
    here.


    NRRP Romania is
    set to receive EUR 2.6 bln in the coming days under the National Recovery and
    Resilience Plan, to be channelled into the country’s economic recovery. The
    funds are transferred after the European Commission authorised the payment of
    the first instalments of the non-reimbursable aid and loan components. Romania submitted
    the first payment request in May, after meeting the targets and benchmarks for
    the 4th quarter of 2021. In September, the European Commission’s assessment of
    these targets was approved and submitted to the Economic and Financial
    Committee, which also approved it. The Romanian minister for investment and
    European projects Marcel Boloş believes this is just the beginning of a long
    road, which, if successfully completed, will translate into investments in
    motorways, railways, schools and hospitals. The next payment request will
    amount to EUR 3.2 bln, for which over 50 targets will have to be met, related
    to the first half of this year. Romania may access a total of nearly EUR 30 bln
    under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, of which it has already
    received 2 pre-financing instalments amounting to a rough EUR 3.8 bln.


    COAL Romania has
    increased its coal output to mitigate the energy crunch. The amounts extracted
    in the first 8 months of the year went up 1.7% and imports rose by 13.5%, the
    National Statistics Institute reports. The National Strategy and Forecast
    Commission estimates for this year a coal output 10% higher than in 2021 and a
    2.8% rise in imports. For 2023, the Commission forecasts an 8% increase in
    output.


    CHINA The Chinese
    president Xi Jinping was re-elected on Sunday as leader of the ruling Communist
    Party, thus becoming China’s strongest leader since Mao Zedong, the founder of
    the Chinese communist regime, international news agencies report. Xi Jinping was
    appointed for a 3rd five-year term in office by a largely reshuffled Central
    Committee, and is very likely to be re-elected president as well in March. ‘China cannot develop without the world, and the world also
    needs China,’ he said, and praised what he called the two miracles achieved
    by his country-rapid economic development and long-term social stability. Xi
    Jinping appointed many of his close allies in the Standing Committee, a 7-member
    group in power in China. The all-powerful Politburo includes no women among its
    members for the first time in 25 years.


    HANDBALL The
    Romanian women’s handball champions, Rapid Bucharest, play at home today
    against Storhamar, of Norway, in a Champions’ League Group B match. Rapid is
    3rd in the ranking, after the Hungarian side Gyor and the French side Metz. On Saturday, vice-champions CSM Bucharest
    lost their first game in the group, away from home, to defending champions
    Vipers Kristiansand of Norway, 35-29. CSM ranks 3rd in Group A, after the
    German side Bietigheim and Kristiansand. (AMP)