Radio România Internațional

Tag: G7

  • February 7, 2025 UPDATE 3

    February 7, 2025 UPDATE 3

    INVESTIGATION – The Romanian Prime Minister’s inquiry corps has uncovered irregularities and evidence of negligence in the organization of the exhibition at the Drents Museum in Assen, where Dacian treasure items were stolen. The report, which was submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office, shows that the National Museum of History of Romania and the Ministry of Culture accepted less rigorous security measures than those established for the exhibitions in Madrid and Rome, such as the lack of permanent security. Another irregularity refers to the fact that the exhibition did not have the approval of the Museum’s Board of Directors, as required by the regulations in force, and the loan contract was not concluded in authentic format. In addition, the insurance value of the goods exhibited in the Netherlands was the last to be established, and for certain items the assessment was based on a revaluation carried out 14 years ago. According to Dutch Police, hundreds of tips have been received in connection to the heist, mostly information about the locations where the suspects were seen after the robbery and the people they met with. Dutch law enforcement has arrested three suspects last week, two men and a woman, who refused to say where the stolen objects were. All three suspects are still in custody. Dutch art detective Arthur Brand believes there is a 50% chance that the thieves have already melted down the artifacts (a helmet and three bracelets, all heritage items), for their corresponding gold value.

     

    GDP – Romania’s GDP per capita at purchasing power parity has exceeded Poland’s, according to a research conducted by experts from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. According to the source, Romania fares better than other economies in the region, such as Hungary, Croatia or Greece, and the nominal GDP per capita, which has grown by an average of 11% per year in the last five years, has exceeded 80% compared to the EU average.

     

    IMF – Maintaining macroeconomic stability and investments, in addition to continuing reforms are among the priorities of the Romanian government for this year, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said during Friday’s meeting with the IMF delegation in Bucharest. During the talks, the Romanian Prime Minister underlined the government’s commitment to observing the 7% budget deficit target and continuing the trend of reducing the deficit over the coming years, in line with the fiscal plan agreed jointly with representatives of the European Commission. In this context, Marcel Ciolacu highlighted measures designed to cut personnel spending in the public sector, restructure the state budget and operate a territorial-administrative reorganization as the government’s top priorities for the coming period. IMF experts also discussed with officials of the National Bank of Romania, including Governor Mugur Isărescu. The IMF delegation did not call on Romania to take drastic financial measures, introduce tax increases or other austerity measures, Finance Minister Tánczos Barna in turn gave assurances after meeting on Thursday with the new IMF head of mission to Romania, Joong Shik Kang. At present, Romania has no standing agreement with the IMF, although the international lender conducts annual assessments of Romanian economy based on consultations, which is a mandatory oversight requirement applied to all IMF members.

     

    G7 – The Foreign Ministers of Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania and Sweden have submitted a joint letter calling on G7 states to take additional measures to reduce the revenues obtained by Moscow from the sale of its energy carriers. “With these revenues, Russia finances its ongoing aggression in Ukraine, considering a third of Russia’s revenues and two thirds of its exports are linked to energy carriers”, reads a statement of the Romanian Foreign Ministry published on Friday. According to the quoted source, the 12 states “have consistently supported the adoption of the toughest possible restrictive measures against Russia”. G7 states are thus encouraged to use the oil price cap to ensure that it continues to serve as a significant tool in limiting Russia’s revenue flows, to impose additional sanctions on Moscow’s “shadow fleet” and the actors involved, and to consider additional measures targeting the maritime transport of Russian exports, the Romanian MFA also states.

     

    ICC – The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday strongly condemned the sanctions imposed on its staff by U.S. President Donald Trump, which have sparked protests in the UN and some European states. Dozens of countries have warned the sanctions could “increase the risk of impunity for the most serious crimes and threaten to undermine the international principles of the rule of law”. “The sanctions will seriously undermine all pending investigations, as the Court may be forced to close its field offices”, representatives of 79 countries, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the ICC’s members, have pointed out in a joint statement. The U.S. president signed an executive order on Thursday banning entry into the USA of IIC staff and freezing all their assets in the United States. According to the White House, the ICC has engaged in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”, referring to investigations into alleged war crimes by American soldiers in Afghanistan and Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. According to experts, the U.S. sanctions could have a crippling effect on the ICC’s activity. (VP)

  • February 17, 2024

    February 17, 2024

    Navalny – On Friday evening, hundreds of people gathered in Europe and the USA, in front of the Russian embassies, to pay tribute to Alexei Navalny, the number one opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow announced, on the same day, the death of Navalny, at the age of 47, in a penitentiary colony in the Arctic, where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence. In Russia, a human rights organization said that more than 100 people were detained at rallies in memory of the Russian dissident. Most of those arrested are from St. Petersburg, Putin’s hometown. At political level, dignitaries from all over the world, including Romania, expressed their sadness and concern over the death of Alexei Navalny. The international community has lost a brave fighter for freedom and rights, said the Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, who asked Russia for a transparent and comprehensive investigation. The Romanian Foreign Ministry condemned the repeated violations of international law by the Russian regime and reiterated the importance of observing fundamental human rights and freedoms without delay.

     

    Munich – The G7 countries’ foreign ministers are discussing today, under the Italian presidency, the international crises: the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the situation in the Red Sea and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the continuation of the support given by the G7 countries to Kyiv. The meeting is organized as part of the Munich Security Conference (February 16-18). The Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, is also attending the conference in southern Germany. Romania and Estonia share common values ​​and similar concerns regarding regional security, said Minister Tîlvăr, who met, on the sidelines of the Conference, with his Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur. He also had a meeting with James Mattis, former American Secretary of Defense, an opportunity for the two to reiterate the need to continue bilateral efforts in order to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security and deepen the Romania-US Strategic Partnership. In Munich, on Friday, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Ms. Luminiţa Odobescu, pleaded, in turn, for maintaining the multidimensional international support granted to Ukraine.

     

    Paris – The Ukrainian and French presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron signed, on Friday evening, a security agreement between their countries, which also provides for the supply of ammunition. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Paris, France will support Ukraine not only to defend itself, but also in the fight against external interference, in the protection of civil infrastructures, in counterintelligence and espionage, in cyber security and in the fight against organized crime. In the press conference held after the signing of the agreement, President Macron stated that the future accession of Ukraine to the European Union and NATO will mean a useful contribution to the peace and security of the continent. For his part, President Zelensky expressed hope that the security agreements signed with France and, earlier on the same day, with Germany, after the one with Great Britain last month, will also give an impetus to the United States to continue providing aid to Ukraine.

     

    Rugby – Romania’s national rugby team meets, today, in Bucharest, the team of Portugal, in Group B of the Rugby Europe Championship 2024. In its first games, Romania defeated Poland 20-8 (away from home) and Belgium 33-18 (at home). With two victories from as many matches played, the Romanians are on first place in the group, having the chance, depending on the results of the last round, to play the semi-final on home ground. After the group matches, the semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of March 2-3, and the finals will take place on March 17, in Paris.

     

    Customs – Special lanes dedicated to trucks registered in the European Union were opened at the Nădlac II and Borş II customs offices, in western Romania, after a similar lane had become functional in the Calafat customs office, in the south. Thus, Romanian trucks will have priority over those from Ukraine or Turkey, said the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, on Friday, at the Government meeting. He pointed out that the lane for trucks from the EU will also exist in the Giurgiu customs office (south). The Prime Minister mentioned that this is one of the measures by which the Government responds to the requests of transporters, who have recently protested throughout the country.(LS)

  • November 22, 2023

    November 22, 2023

    NRRP. The European Commission has announced that it has validated the changes made by Romania to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Among other things, there will be more funds for reforms and projects in energy and digitization. A similar decision was announced for Croatia, Finland, Greece and Poland. The new form of the NRRP must be approved by the European Ministers of Finance, after which an implementation decision will be issued by the European Council.



    G7+. The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, participated, on Tuesday, in the G7+ meeting on supporting the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, in the Ministers of Foreign Affairs format, at the invitation of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in which context she emphasized the importance of a constant international support for Kiev. According to the MFA, Odobescu emphasized the role of the US in mobilizing partner states in efforts to support Ukraines energy sector. The head of Romanian diplomacy also mentioned the multidimensional assistance offered by Romania to the neighboring state, stressing the emergency support provided in the energy field. The meeting took place in videoconference format, with the participation of the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmitro Kuleba. The G7+ format dedicated to Ukraines energy infrastructure was launched last November in Bucharest. Officials from the USA, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Sweden and Norway took part in the fourth edition in this format organized on Tuesday , together with representatives of the EU, the European Energy Community and the United Nations Development Program.



    Tour. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is travelling, today, to the island of Gorée in Senegal, a UNESCO heritage site, former outpost of the slave trade, where he will meet with local officials. The official talks with his counterpart, Macky Sall, will take place on Thursday, when a series of official documents will be signed. Also on Thursday, Klaus Iohannis will participate in the inauguration of the House of the United Nations in Senegal, the opening of an exhibition of traditional masks and will have a meeting with specialists from Senegal who studied at Romanian universities. Senegal is the last stage of the African tour undertaken by President Klaus Iohannis and his wife, Carmen. The previous stages of the ten-day tour of the Romanian presidential couple were Kenya, Tanzania and Cape Verde.



    Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked his government to support an agreement that would pave the way for the release of some of the hostages that Palestinian militants Hamas took to the Gaza Strip after the October 7 attack on Israel. Hamas took about 240 hostages during the attack, which left 1,200 dead, according to Israeli reports. Following the subsequent airstrikes and invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, Hamas authorities claim that more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 5,600 children. The deal announced between Hamas and Israel providing for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners includes three American citizens, including a three-year-old child, a senior White House official said. He stated that he expects a break in the fighting for a few days and that more than 50 hostages would be released by Hamas. The same official added that Washington is now hoping for a pause in hostilities on Israels northern border with Lebanon, where there are daily clashes between the Israeli army and the Lebanese Hezbollah, which it says is intervening in support of the Palestinian movement.. So far, Hamas has released only four hostages: two American women and two Israelis.



    Gaudeamus. The Gaudeamus Radio Romania International Book Fair opened its doors in Bucharest today. Its one of the most anticipated cultural events of the fall, reaching its 30th edition. Until Sunday, more than 500 releases and editorial events will take place at the fair . The longest-running book fair in the country gathers, this year, almost 200 participants, mainly publishing houses, but also educational, cultural and press institutions.



    Football. The Romanian national football team won Group I of the EURO 2024 preliminaries, after defeating the Swiss team 1-0 on Tuesday in Bucharest. The tricolors prevailed with the goal scored in the 50th minute by Denis Alibec and finished the group undefeated. As a result of this performance, Romania will be in the second pool at the December 2 draw for the groups of the final tournament in Germany. It is the sixth time that Romanian footballers qualify for the final tournament of the European Championship, after the editions of 1984, 1996, 2000, 2008 and 2016. (MI)

  • 20.05.2023 (mise à jour)

    20.05.2023 (mise à jour)

    G7 – Le président roumain, Klaus Iohannis, a salué l’annonce faite samedi par le président américain, Joe Biden, au sommet du G7 au sujet du soutien estimé à 275 millions de dollars de la art des Etats Unis et du Japon, de la Corée du Sud et des Emirats arabes unis au projet des réacteurs nucléaires de petites dimensions de Roumanie. Autre bonne nouvelle que le chef de l’Etat roumain a annoncée : les agences américaines de crédit US Exim et US International Development Finance Corporation ont émis les lettres d’intérêt relatives à un soutien supplémentaire de 4 milliards de dollars pour la mise en œuvre du projet. Ces initiatives constituent un soutien essentiel pour l’objectif de la Roumanie de se situer en première ligne du développement de l’infrastructure révolutionnaire de l’énergie nucléaire. L’implémentation du projet en partenariat avec les Etats Unis permettra la production d’énergie propre, augmentera la sécurité énergétique, a souligné le leader de Bucarest dans un message sur les réseaux sociaux. Les leaders du G7 ont confirmé à Hiroshima, leur engagement d’identifier de nouvelles opportunités d’élargissement du partenariat visant l’infrastructure et les investissements mondiaux, l’initiative du président Biden et du G7 dans le domaine de l’infrastructure et qui prévoit le financement de la première centrale à réacteur modulaire de petites dimensions en Roumanie.

    Enseignement – Le premier ministre roumain, Nicolae Ciucă, a convoqué les syndicats de l’Education nationale, pour une rencontre dimanche, au siège du Gouvernement. Il a déclaré que la solution pour les revendications des salariés de l’Education figurait dans la loi de la grille unique des salaires. Le premier ministre qui est également leader du PNL, parti qui mène la coalition gouvernementale aux côtés du PSD et de l’Union démocrate magyare de Roumanie a également dit que le ministère du Travail bénéficiait de tout l’appui de la coalition gouvernemental pour réaliser la loi de la grille unique des salaires et la réforme des régimes spéciaux de retraites au plus vite. Les déclarations du premier ministre roumain interviennent après l’annonce faite par le président du PSD et de la Chambre des députés, Marcel Ciolacu selon lequel que toute négociation relative au prochain cabinet dont il sera le chef devrait être suspendue jusqu’à la résolution des demandes des syndicats et d’un arriéré « majeur » : la réforme des régimes spéciaux de retraites. Les syndicats de l’Education nationale ont annoncé le déclenchement de la grève générale le 22 mai. Leurs revendications sont principalement liées aux salaires.

    Education nationale –
    Les débats en marge des projets des lois de l’Education nationale se
    poursuivent dans la commission spécialisée du Sénat de Bucarest qui doit
    adopter jusqu’à ce lundi ses rapports à envoyer au plénum du Parlement. Si la
    loi de l’enseignement supérieur a déjà reçu un rapport favorable de la part de
    la commission, les articles visant l’enseignement préuniversitaire ont suscité
    des tensions entre le Pouvoir et l’Opposition. La pomme de discorde est le
    désir de l’Opposition, soutenue par les associations d’élèves et de parents,
    d’éliminer un possible examen supplémentaire après l’évaluation nationale -
    soit le brevet – en fonction duquel seront occupés la moitié des places
    disponibles dans un lycée. Les deux lois de l’Education nationale devraient
    recevoir le vote final du Sénat ce lundi.

    Schengen – Le président de la Cour de cassation de l’Union européenne, Koen Lenaerts, affirme que le dossier pour l’annulation de la décision de rejeter l’adhésion de la Roumanie à l’espace Schengen de libre circulation européenne devrait être rapidement solutionné. « Dès le début je souhaite préciser que la place de la Roumanie est à l’intérieur de la zone euro. Par conséquent, l’accès de la Roumanie et de la Bulgarie à Schengen devrait se produire au plus vite. » a déclaré Koen Lenaerts. Selon lui, « en recevant un nouveau membre tel la Roumanie, toutes les frontières de l’intérieur de l’Union s’ouvrent et les frontières intérieures peuvent être facilement traversées par les personnes et les marchandises des Etats membres. Parallèlement, les frontières extérieures de l’Union, leur défense devient un problème commun. Lorsque la Roumanie et la Bulgarie accèdent à la zone Schengen, la défense des frontières de l’UE devient automatiquement un problème de tous, et non seulement des Etats situés aux frontières ». L’accès de la Roumanie à l’espace de libre circulation européenne, n’a pas été possible à la fin de l’année dernière à cause de l’opposition de l’Autriche, même si le pays respectait tous les critères d’adhésion.

    Tennis – L’ancienne numéro 1 du tennis mondial féminin, la Roumaine Simona Halep suspendue depuis octobre pour infraction aux règles antidopage, est sous le coup d’une nouvelle affaire en lien avec des irrégularités dans les données de son passeport biologique, a annoncé vendredi l’instance antidopage du tennis (ITIA). L’Agence internationale pour l’intégrité du tennis (ITIA) confirme que la joueuse de tennis roumaine Simona Halep a été accusée d’une autre violation distincte du Programme antidopage du tennis, en relation avec des irrégularités dans son passeport biologique d’athlète (ABP), écrit l’instance dans un communiqué. L’ancienne N.1 mondiale, victorieuse de Roland-Garros en 2018 et de Wimbledon en 2019, est suspendue a titre provisoire depuis octobre dernier après avoir été contrôlée positive au roxadustat lors de l’US Open, en aout. Cette molécule interdite stimule la production de globules rouges et est interdite par l’Agence mondiale antidopage (AMA). Halep encourt jusqu’a quatre ans de suspension dans cette première affaire. Dans un communiqué diffusé vendredi soir sur son compte Instagram, la joueuse de 31 ans dit vivre le pire cauchemar de son existence depuis l’annonce de sa suspension, le 7 octobre dernier, et dénonce une forme de harcèlement de la part de l’ITIA qu’elle accuse de chercher a prouver que je suis coupable de quelque chose que je n’ai jamais fait.

    Meteo – La météo sera agréable et légèrement instable sur la majorité des régions de la Roumanie. Ciel variable avec quelques nuages, des pluies à verse et des orages notamment sur le relief. Les maximas dépasseront partout les 20 degrés pour grimper jusqu’à 28 degrés.

  • May 20, 2023 UPDATE

    May 20, 2023 UPDATE

    SMR. The President of
    Romania, Klaus Iohannis, welcomed the announcement made at the G7 Summit on
    Saturday by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, regarding the
    support of the USA and Japan, of the partners South Korea and the United Arab
    Emirates of up to 275 million dollars for the Small Modular Reactor (SMR)
    project in Romania, as well as letters of interest from US EXIM and US
    International Development Finance Corporation for additional support of up to 4
    billion dollars for project implementation. These initiatives represent an essential
    support for Romania’s goal of standing in the forefront of the development of
    the revolutionary nuclear energy infrastructure, and the implementation of the
    SMR project in partnership with the USA will allow the production of clean
    energy and increase energy security, the Romanian president stressed in a post on social networks. The G7 leaders
    confirmed, in Hiroshima, their commitment to identifying new opportunities to
    expand the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, an intitiative
    of President Biden and the G7, in the field of infrastructure and which
    provides for the financing of the first small modular reactor plant in Romania
    .












    Education. The Romanian
    Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, has announced that he has convened a meeting
    with the education unions, on Sunday, at the Government headquarters. He has
    stated that the solution for the education employees’ demands lies in the law on unitary wages. The prime
    minister, who is also the leader of the National Liberal Party, a senior
    partner in the ruling coalition, together with the Social Democratic Party, and
    the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, has also said that the Ministry of Labor has the full support of
    the coalition to implement the unitary wage law and the reform of special pensions,
    in the shortest possible time. The prime minister’s statements come after the
    president of the Social Democratic Party and Speaker of the Chamber of
    Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, has announced that any negotiations regarding the
    future Cabinet, which he is about to lead, must be suspended until the demands
    of the unions are resolved, as well as the major backlog regarding
    the reform of special pensions. The education unions have announced that they
    will go on an all-out strike on Monday, May 22. Their claims are mainly salary
    related.






    Schengen. The President of
    the Court of Justice of the European Union, Koen Lenaerts, believes that the
    file for the annulment of the decision to reject Romania’s accession to the
    Schengen Area must be resolved quickly. I want to emphasize that Romania’s future is in Schengen. So the
    reception of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen zone must happen in the very
    near future. Indeed, when you bring a member state like Romania, but this is
    also valid for all other members of the Schengen area, this means that the
    internal borders between the Schengen members are open and that there are no
    more checks when crossing the border. It also means that external borders
    become a matter of common interest for all members of the Schengen area,
    Lenaerts said. Although it had met all the accession
    criteria, Romania was denied entry into Schengen last year, due to Austria’s
    opposition.




    Moldova. On Sunday morning, at the initiative of President Maia
    Sandu, a large demonstration will take place in Chisinau to show the citizens’
    support for the European integration of their country. The event takes place in
    the context in which the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly
    Romanian-speaking), as a candidate country, would like to start accession
    negotiations by the end of this year. In order to move to this stage, the
    Republic of Moldova has to fulfill nine recommendations, which will be
    evaluated by the fall in a European Commission report. The President of the
    European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will also participate in the event in
    Chisinau.




    Halep. The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, former
    world number one, faces a new case, related to ‘irregularities’ in the data of
    her biological passport, the tennis anti-doping authority has announced.
    Halep, the 2018 Roland Garros and 2019 Wimbledon champion, has been
    provisionally suspended since last October after testing positive for
    roxadustat during the US Open in August 2022. In an interview with Tennis
    Majors published in late April, the player cited a contamination of one of her
    dietary supplements to explain the positive test. The new case, confirmed on
    Friday by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), is based on an
    assessment of the profile of her biological passport by a group of independent
    experts. The biological passport makes it possible to monitor different blood
    parameters over a long period of time. In a statement broadcast on Friday
    evening, Simona Halep says that she is living the worst nightmare
    of her life since the announcement of the suspension, on October 7, and denounces
    a form of harassment on the part of ITIA, which she accuses of
    trying to prove that she is guilty of something she has never done. (MI)

  • May 20, 2023

    May 20, 2023

    Education. The debates on the education bills continue in the Education Committee of the Romanian Senate, which must adopt the reports that will be sent to the plenary no later than Monday. While the higher education law has already received a favorable report from the committee, the provisions aimed at pre-university education have brought tensions between the government and the opposition. The bone of contention was represented by the oppositions desire, also supported by the student and parents associations, to eliminate a possible additional exam after the National Assessment, for half of the number of places in a high school. The two education bills should receive the decisive vote in the Senate plenary on Monday. In parallel, the countdown for the strike announced for months by the education unions has begun. Theyve said, however, that they will accept possible negotiations over the weekend and proposals from the Government. The claims are mainly salary related.



    G7. The leaders of the G7 countries, gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, have called on China to put pressure on Russia to stop its aggression against Ukraine, stating at the same time that they want constructive and stable relations with Beijing, France Presse reports On Friday, on the first day of talks, the G7 leaders stated that Ukraine had the necessary budgetary support for the current year and the beginning of 2024 and renewed their commitments to provide financial and military support to Kyiv, to help it deal with the Russian aggression. In a statement, they also called for the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment from within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in Hiroshima this morning, participated in the summit. In another move, the European allies welcomed the US decision to allow Ukrainian pilots to train on US-made F-16 fighter jets. According to the BBC, US leader Joe Biden was reluctant, fearing that giving Ukraine fighter jets would escalate the conflict, but has now given in to pressure from allies, allowing Ukrainian pilots to train on F-16 models. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that Britain will work with the US, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark to provide Ukraine with the air combat capabilities it needs.



    Refugees. More than 4 million refugees have entered Romania since the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, last February. Most of them only transited the country to reach Western Europe, but, according to data published by the Romanian authorities, 130,000 Ukrainian refugees have benefited from protection in Romania, over 42,000 being registered in Bucharest alone.



    Moldova. On Sunday morning, at the initiative of President Maia Sandu, a large demonstration will take place in Chisinau to show the citizens support for the European integration of their country. The event takes place in the context in which the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking), as a candidate country, would like to start accession negotiations by the end of this year. In order to move to this stage, the Republic of Moldova has to fulfill nine recommendations, which will be evaluated by the fall in a European Commission report. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will also participate in the event in Chisinau.



    Elections. Elections for the unicameral parliament with 300 deputies will be held in Greece on Sunday. For the first time in the last 30 years, the ballot is exclusive, according to proportional representation, with a threshold of 3%, and opinion polls indicate six parties that will make it to parliament. In the lead is Kyriakos Mitsotakiss ruling New Democracy party, followed by Alexis Tsiprass left-wing Syriza party. If a new coalition government cannot be formed, new elections will be called for the month of June, at which, however, the granting of bonus mandates to the first party will be resumed and, in this way, it will be possible to form a new majority government or a coalition government.



    Halep. The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, former world number one, faces a new case, related to irregularities in the data of her biological passport, the tennis anti-doping authority has announced. Halep, the 2018 Roland Garros and 2019 Wimbledon champion, has been provisionally suspended since last October after testing positive for roxadustat during the US Open in August 2022. In an interview with Tennis Majors published in late April, the player cited a contamination of one of her dietary supplements to explain the positive test. The new case, confirmed on Friday by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), is based on an assessment of the profile of her biological passport by a group of independent experts. The biological passport makes it possible to monitor different blood parameters over a long period of time. In a statement broadcast on Friday evening, Simona Halep says that she is “living the worst nightmare” of her life since the announcement of the suspension, on October 7, and denounces a form of “harassment” on the part of ITIA, which she accuses of trying to prove that she is guilty of something she has never done. (MI)


  • 20.05.2023

    20.05.2023

    Education nationale – Les débats en marge des projets des lois de l’Education nationale se poursuivent dans la commission spécialisée du Sénat de Bucarest qui doit adopter jusqu’à ce lundi ses rapports à envoyer au plénum du Parlement. Si la loi de l’enseignement supérieur a déjà reçu un rapport favorable de la part de la commission, les articles visant l’enseignement préuniversitaire ont suscité des tensions entre le Pouvoir et l’Opposition. La pomme de discorde est le désir de l’Opposition, soutenue par les associations d’élèves et de parents, d’éliminer un possible examen supplémentaire après l’évaluation nationale – soit le brevet – en fonction duquel seront occupés la moitié des places disponibles dans un lycée. Les deux lois de l’Education nationale devraient recevoir le vote final du Sénat ce lundi. Parallèlement, le compte à rebours pour la grève annoncée également pour lundi a commencé. Les syndicats de l’éducation nationale ont dit qu’elles accepteraient d’éventuelles négociations au cours de ce weekend mais aussi des propositions de la part du gouvernement. Les revendications des enseignants sont principalement de nature salariale.

    G7 – Les dirigeants du G7 réunis a Hiroshima, au Japon, ont appelé samedi la Chine a faire pression sur la Russie pour qu’elle cesse son agression contre l’Ukraine, tout en affirmant vouloir des relations constructives et stables avec Pékin, selon l’AFP. Cette déclaration est le fruit de négociations entre des pays comme les Etats-Unis porteurs d’une position plus ferme, sur fond de tensions croissantes avec la Chine, et d’autres, côté européen, qui insistent pour éviter tout climat de confrontation avec le géant asiatique.Par ailleurs, le président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky est arrivé samedi au Japon pour participer au sommet du G7. M. Zelensky, qui a atterri a Hiroshima en début d’apres-midi a bord d’un avion de la République française, a immédiatement estimé sur Twitter que la paix serait plus proche a la suite de ce sommet, apres avoir décroché la veille le feu vert américain a une livraison future d’avions de combat américains F-16 qu’il réclame de longue date. Le chef de l’Etat ukrainien tente d’élargir le cercle des soutiens du pays envahi il y a quinze mois par Moscou: au G7, il pourra rencontrer les dirigeants des sept démocraties les plus industrialisées, qui sont déja ses alliés, mais aussi d’autres pays invités non alignés comme le Brésil et l’Inde. Il était en provenance d’Arabie saoudite, ou il a plaidé vendredi la cause de l’Ukraine au sommet de la Ligue arabe devant certains pays qui, selon lui, ferment les yeux sur le conflit.

    Réfugiés – Plus de 4 millions de réfugiés sont entrés en Roumanie depuis le début de l’agression russe en Ukraine en février dernier. La majorité a seulement transité le pays pour arriver en Europe de l’ouest, mais selon les chiffres publiés par les autorités roumaines, 130 000 seulement ont bénéficié de la protection de l’Etat Roumain, dont 42 000 à Bucarest.

    Grèce – Dimanche les grecs sont appelés à voter dans le cadre d’élections législatives pour le parlement unicaméral de 300 députés. C’est le premier scrutin en 30 ans, organisé uniquement selon le principe de la représentation proportionnelle, avec un seuil de 3%. Selon les sondages, six partis devraient accéder au Parlement. En tête des sondages figure le parti actuellement au pouvoir de Kyriakos Mitsotakis, « la nouvelle démocratie », suivi par le parti de gauche de Syriza d’ Alexis Tsipras. En cas d’échec de constitution d’une coalition gouvernementale, de nouvelles élections se tiendront au mois de juin, mais le parti en tête bénéficiera d’un bonus de voix et pourra constituer un nouveau gouvernement.

    Tennis – L’ancienne numéro 1 du tennis mondial féminin, la Roumaine Simona Halep suspendue depuis octobre pour infraction aux regles antidopage, est sous le coup d’une nouvelle affaire en lien avec des irrégularités dans les données de son passeport biologique, a annoncé vendredi l’instance antidopage du tennis (ITIA), annonce l’AFP. L’Agence internationale pour l’intégrité du tennis (ITIA) confirme que la joueuse de tennis roumaine Simona Halep a été accusée d’une autre violation distincte du Programme antidopage du tennis, en relation avec des irrégularités dans son passeport biologique d’athlete (ABP), écrit l’instance dans un communiqué. L’ancienne N.1 mondiale, victorieuse de Roland-Garros en 2018 et de Wimbledon en 2019, est suspendue a titre provisoire depuis octobre dernier apres avoir été contrôlée positive au roxadustat lors de l’US Open, en aout. Cette molécule interdite stimule la production de globules rouges et est interdite par l’Agence mondiale antidopage (AMA). Halep encourt jusqu’a quatre ans de suspension dans cette premiere affaire. Dans un communiqué diffusé vendredi soir sur son compte Instagram, la joueuse de 31 ans dit vivre le pire cauchemar de son existence depuis l’annonce de sa suspension, le 7 octobre dernier, et dénonce une forme de harcelement de la part de l’ITIA qu’elle accuse de chercher a prouver que je suis coupable de quelque chose que je n’ai jamais fait

    Météo – Il fait beau en Roumanie, où les maxima vont de 20 à 28 degrés. Ciel variable, avec quelques nuages, des pluies à verse et des orages durant l’après-midi et en soirée, surtout sur le relief. A Bucarest, les maxima iront jusqu’à 28 degrés.

  • May 19, 2023

    May 19, 2023

    FORUM
    Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and the EU accession efforts of that country
    and of the Republic of Moldova are among the topics discussed in Bucharest in a
    forum devoted to security challenges at the Black Sea and in the Balkans. The
    2-day event comprises over 40 sessions, attended by senior civilian and
    military officials, diplomats and experts from the European Union and NATO, as
    well as partner states. Attending the event, PM Nicolae Ciucă pleaded for a
    strengthened NATO presence at the Black Sea, where free maritime and air
    traffic are jeopardised by Russia’s threats.


    SOLAR
    POWER Individual households in Bucharest and Ilfov County may enroll, as of
    today, in a new session of the Photovoltaic Green Home programme, addressing
    people who want to install solar panels using state assistance. According to
    the environment ministry, the app used for enrolment is available for separate
    development regions, in alphabetical order, with 3 working days earmarked for
    each region. The programme has a budget of around EUR 35 mln, covering over 87,000
    photovoltaic systems.


    EDUCATION Members of the
    Senate’s committee on education have today resumed discussions on the
    undergraduate education bill. On Thursday the analysis of the higher education
    bill was finalized and a positive report was issued, with certain amendments. The
    Opposition criticized the final draft of the document, which they say fails to
    ensure a true reform of the system. On the other hand, the representatives of
    the ruling coalition, made up of the Social Democratic Party, National Liberal
    Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, said the
    amendments improved the bill. Parliament is scheduled to vote on both education
    bills on Monday, when trade unions in the sector announced they would go on
    all-out strike. Negociations continue today to avoid a strike, but
    after the talks yesterday the unions announced they would not give up their
    planned strike unless their salary demands were met.


    UNESCO Codex Aureus, the
    best-known and most important illuminated medieval manuscript, currently in Alba
    Iulia, central Romania, has been included in the UNESCO heritage list. According
    to the National Library of Romania, the famous manuscript is part of the Memory
    of the World Register, which comprises 9 other 1,200-year old works from various
    countries in Europe. Most
    manuscripts are fragments of Latin gospel books, written in gold ink, and
    featuring portraits of the 4 evangelists.


    SANCTIONS The
    US and their G7 allies Friday announced new sanctions to reduce Russia’s
    ability to carry on its war in Ukraine. The sanctions, which target Russia’s
    highly profitable diamond exports, were decided right ahead of the G7 Summit in
    Hiroshima, Japan. Diamond exports, mainly to the UAE, India and EU member state
    Belgium, earn Moscow several billion US dollars a year. A
    EU official said India’s joining the new set of sanctions would be crucial. Invited to
    attend the summit in Hiroshima is also the Indian PM Narendra Modi, whose
    country has strong ties with Moscow and has been reluctant so far to condemning
    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.


    RADIO The Romanian and
    Bulgarian public radio broadcasters announced they would strengthen their
    cooperation. The president and director general of the Romanian Radio
    Broadcasting Corporation, Răzvan Ioan Dincă, and the head of the Bulgarian
    National Radio Corporation, Milen Mitev, will sign an agreement in Sofia, under
    which the 2 parties will exchange news and radio programmes free of charge,
    will produce joint programmes and will provide access to archive recordings to
    their respective listeners in the next 2 years.. Radio Romania International aired
    Bulgarian-language programmes between 1946 and 1949, and again between 1995 and
    2004. Since 2022 the Bulgarian National Radio has a Romanian-language web page.
    (AMP)

  • Another brick in the wall?

    Another brick in the wall?

    Tu kirolu ditu soni, s’veadi ună haristuseari ahoryea, tru zonele di argumentație antiamericană, antidimocratică ică anticapitalistă di tamam, ta s’aducă tu muabeti alăncearea a unăllei alianțe vărtoasă a alternativelor la sistemlu dimocratic contemporan.


    Numa easti simplă, un acronim, BRICS, di la văsiliili ţi fac parti: Brazilia, Rusia, India, China și Africa di Sud, dimi South Africa. Ama aestă parei și numa a llei nu suntu năi, au di cama di dauă dikenii di existență. Numa u diadi un economist ditu SUA, prota fu BRIC, diapoa South Africa adusi un “S” di bitisită. Aţeali patru, cama diapoa ţinţi, văsilii reprezentau mări state cari cunuștea ună creaștire rapidă, atea ti da izini a statisticienilor s’pruveadă ună dominație a văsiliiloru ditu aestă parei tru economia mondială di la giumitatea aluştui secol.


    Fenomenul nu easti nău niţi tora ma niţi atumţea, tu ahuhrita añiloru 2000, cându fu thimilliusită pareia BRICS, atea tin ă da izini s’invocăm cunuscuta piesă Pink Floyd. S’nă aduţemu aminti maş di “tigrilli” asiatiţ ali economiei mondiale, aţeali văsilii cari ciudusea pritu creastirea a lor economică, acă niscănti nu aveau niţi dipu multi resurse și niţi sisteme politiţi dimocratiţi. Ma ninti, mărli văsilii ditu America di Sud avea dimăndată rezultate di simasie tru dizvoltarea economică, aplicânda cearei di la mărlie școlliuri americane di mindueari economică ama eșuară tru niveluri multu mări a borgillei externe.


    Dialihea, nu easti zborlu ti parei cari agiumsiră la gradul di organizare al BRICS că, nica ma multu, la fenomene di dizvoltare cari ciudusiră cumata a jurnaliștilor.


    Tu ahuhrită și BRIC a fost tut un subiect di ahtări hăbări, ama nu alăncră andamasili şi gaereţli di organizare și formalizare a idiiille. Ditu 2009, di la primul summit BRIC, dizvărtitu la Ekaterinsburg, tru Rusia, s-feaţiră jgllioati relativ timidi cătă alăxearea a inițiativăllei tru ună organizație economică, cu coopearare streasă ama și adunarea tu idyiulu scupo a niscăntoru elemente. Ndauă naeţ suntu evidinte: antiamericanismul, naetea ta s’da ună apandisi a gruplui G7 a naima diezvultate state ditu lume, alumta anamisa di Rusia și China, năuntrulu a BRICS, tră dominarea aluştui mecanismu.


    Istoriţlli nă aduc aminti di “Mișcaria văsiliiloru nealiniate”, cari vrea ta s’hibă ună organizație a economiilor emergente, cari nu aproaki adiararea la vără ditu mările puteri, occidintalii pro-americani ică Uniunea Sovietică și lagărlu a llei comunist. Tru realitate, anticapitalismul eara cabaia vărtosu, tru kirolu anda s’mutrea cu simbatie la comunism și la agiutorlu sovietic. Tutunăoară, figurile di prota thesi a Minarillei di nealiniere eara un şingiru di lidiri autocrat a aluştoru năi craturi emergente di atumţea. Și tru aestu kiro, lidirllii cabaia vărtoşi a niscăntoru regimuri cu mari probleme tru tiñisearea a ndrepturilor omului s’vedi tu harea di promotori a pareiillei sumu hlambura alumtăllei politice, acă principiile arădăpsiti suntu economice.


    Prezența Rusiillei tru BRICS easti tributară acutotalui pritu opera a lidirlui dia Moscova, alumta internațională contra ti tut ţi nsimneadză dimocrație ică mecanism cari nu-lli străxeaşti dotu absurdul ti s’nkisească ataca iuţido tu lumi și căndu s’va, ta s’alikească ţi va şi di iu va.


    Dimensiunea reală a colaborarillei tru cadrul BRICS, nica şi atea ti băgarea tu lucruu a niscăntoru mecanisme comune, avu cabaia kindinu tu kirolu a crizăllei COVID. Nkisitu ditu China, virusul feaţi fănicadz tru tută lumea, dimocratică ică nu, ama maxus tru India și Brazilia și baş şi tu Africa di Sud. Dialihea, nu ari informații credibile ti criza COVID ditu un sistem ncllisu cata cum atelu arus. Un altă luyurie ţi nu poati s’hibă dukită easti agioclu diplo ali Rusiei cari llia parti la lucrările G7, acă tu aestu kiro minduea s’ascumbusească economiile emergente contra aliştei parei. Tru 1997, tru un gest di dişcllidiari cătă Rusia, condusă atumţea di Boris Elțtru, nai ma dizvoltate văsilii ditu lume călisiră aestă văsilie, multu ma pțănu dizvoltată și dimocratică, la andamasili a lor la kipită, formând un G8. Tru 2014, cându anexarea ali Crimei yilipsi alithili naeţ a prezidintului rus, Moscova işi ditu G7. BRICS nu easti ună inițiativă nauă și niţi un acronim di cari avdzămu ti prima oară. Năi pot s’hibă maş politiţli pi cari văsiliili participante li hăbărisescu și le promoveadză, dialihea, tru sinferlu işiş, tru cadrul a relațiilor internaționale a lumillei globale di astăndză.



    Autoru: Marius Tiţa


    Armânipsearea: Taşcu Lala




  • Another brick in the wall?

    Another brick in the wall?

    Tu kirolu ditu soni, s’veadi ună haristuseari ahoryea, tru zonele di argumentație antiamericană, antidimocratică ică anticapitalistă di tamam, ta s’aducă tu muabeti alăncearea a unăllei alianțe vărtoasă a alternativelor la sistemlu dimocratic contemporan.


    Numa easti simplă, un acronim, BRICS, di la văsiliili ţi fac parti: Brazilia, Rusia, India, China și Africa di Sud, dimi South Africa. Ama aestă parei și numa a llei nu suntu năi, au di cama di dauă dikenii di existență. Numa u diadi un economist ditu SUA, prota fu BRIC, diapoa South Africa adusi un “S” di bitisită. Aţeali patru, cama diapoa ţinţi, văsilii reprezentau mări state cari cunuștea ună creaștire rapidă, atea ti da izini a statisticienilor s’pruveadă ună dominație a văsiliiloru ditu aestă parei tru economia mondială di la giumitatea aluştui secol.


    Fenomenul nu easti nău niţi tora ma niţi atumţea, tu ahuhrita añiloru 2000, cându fu thimilliusită pareia BRICS, atea tin ă da izini s’invocăm cunuscuta piesă Pink Floyd. S’nă aduţemu aminti maş di “tigrilli” asiatiţ ali economiei mondiale, aţeali văsilii cari ciudusea pritu creastirea a lor economică, acă niscănti nu aveau niţi dipu multi resurse și niţi sisteme politiţi dimocratiţi. Ma ninti, mărli văsilii ditu America di Sud avea dimăndată rezultate di simasie tru dizvoltarea economică, aplicânda cearei di la mărlie școlliuri americane di mindueari economică ama eșuară tru niveluri multu mări a borgillei externe.


    Dialihea, nu easti zborlu ti parei cari agiumsiră la gradul di organizare al BRICS că, nica ma multu, la fenomene di dizvoltare cari ciudusiră cumata a jurnaliștilor.


    Tu ahuhrită și BRIC a fost tut un subiect di ahtări hăbări, ama nu alăncră andamasili şi gaereţli di organizare și formalizare a idiiille. Ditu 2009, di la primul summit BRIC, dizvărtitu la Ekaterinsburg, tru Rusia, s-feaţiră jgllioati relativ timidi cătă alăxearea a inițiativăllei tru ună organizație economică, cu coopearare streasă ama și adunarea tu idyiulu scupo a niscăntoru elemente. Ndauă naeţ suntu evidinte: antiamericanismul, naetea ta s’da ună apandisi a gruplui G7 a naima diezvultate state ditu lume, alumta anamisa di Rusia și China, năuntrulu a BRICS, tră dominarea aluştui mecanismu.


    Istoriţlli nă aduc aminti di “Mișcaria văsiliiloru nealiniate”, cari vrea ta s’hibă ună organizație a economiilor emergente, cari nu aproaki adiararea la vără ditu mările puteri, occidintalii pro-americani ică Uniunea Sovietică și lagărlu a llei comunist. Tru realitate, anticapitalismul eara cabaia vărtosu, tru kirolu anda s’mutrea cu simbatie la comunism și la agiutorlu sovietic. Tutunăoară, figurile di prota thesi a Minarillei di nealiniere eara un şingiru di lidiri autocrat a aluştoru năi craturi emergente di atumţea. Și tru aestu kiro, lidirllii cabaia vărtoşi a niscăntoru regimuri cu mari probleme tru tiñisearea a ndrepturilor omului s’vedi tu harea di promotori a pareiillei sumu hlambura alumtăllei politice, acă principiile arădăpsiti suntu economice.


    Prezența Rusiillei tru BRICS easti tributară acutotalui pritu opera a lidirlui dia Moscova, alumta internațională contra ti tut ţi nsimneadză dimocrație ică mecanism cari nu-lli străxeaşti dotu absurdul ti s’nkisească ataca iuţido tu lumi și căndu s’va, ta s’alikească ţi va şi di iu va.


    Dimensiunea reală a colaborarillei tru cadrul BRICS, nica şi atea ti băgarea tu lucruu a niscăntoru mecanisme comune, avu cabaia kindinu tu kirolu a crizăllei COVID. Nkisitu ditu China, virusul feaţi fănicadz tru tută lumea, dimocratică ică nu, ama maxus tru India și Brazilia și baş şi tu Africa di Sud. Dialihea, nu ari informații credibile ti criza COVID ditu un sistem ncllisu cata cum atelu arus. Un altă luyurie ţi nu poati s’hibă dukită easti agioclu diplo ali Rusiei cari llia parti la lucrările G7, acă tu aestu kiro minduea s’ascumbusească economiile emergente contra aliştei parei. Tru 1997, tru un gest di dişcllidiari cătă Rusia, condusă atumţea di Boris Elțtru, nai ma dizvoltate văsilii ditu lume călisiră aestă văsilie, multu ma pțănu dizvoltată și dimocratică, la andamasili a lor la kipită, formând un G8. Tru 2014, cându anexarea ali Crimei yilipsi alithili naeţ a prezidintului rus, Moscova işi ditu G7. BRICS nu easti ună inițiativă nauă și niţi un acronim di cari avdzămu ti prima oară. Năi pot s’hibă maş politiţli pi cari văsiliili participante li hăbărisescu și le promoveadză, dialihea, tru sinferlu işiş, tru cadrul a relațiilor internaționale a lumillei globale di astăndză.



    Autoru: Marius Tiţa


    Armânipsearea: Taşcu Lala




  • April 16, 2023 UPDATE

    April 16, 2023 UPDATE

    Easter. In Romania, Orthodox (majority) and Greek-Catholic Christians celebrated on Sunday the Resurrection of Jesus, the biggest holiday in the Christian calendar. On Saturday, at midnight, believers received the holy light from the priests and listened to the evangelical account of the Resurrection in front of churches. In his sermon, Patriarch Daniel of the Orthodox Church explained how the Resurrection of the Lord gave a new orientation to the Christians life and a new meaning to death. “The source of joy and peace in a Christians life is their connection with the Crucified and Resurrected Christ, that is why on Easter we should not be sad, but rejoice”, said Patriarch Daniel.



    Protests. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv again on Saturday evening to protest against the justice reform desired by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which the demonstrators consider an attack on democracy, FP reports. Smaller demonstrations also took place in other Israeli cities. Since the announcement of the controversial reform project in early January, tens of thousands of Israelis have gathered every week to protest it. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on March 27 a break to give a chance to dialogue, after the start of a general strike and the emergence of tensions within the government majority. The government claims that the reform aims, among other things, to rebalance the powers by reducing the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the executive considers politicized, for the benefit of Parliament. Critics of the reform believe, on the contrary, that it risks opening the way to an authoritarian drift, AFP also reports.



    Electricity. Romanians consumed less electricity in the first two months of this year compared to the same period in 2022, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics. The decrease was more than 18%. Businesses also consumed less, by 3%, and public lighting was reduced by more than a quarter. INS reports that in January and February the production in hydropower plants increased by almost a third compared to the beginning of last year. Wind energy production increased, but the production of nuclear energy slightly decreased. The National Institute of Statistics has also announced that Romanias oil production dropped by almost 4% in the first two months of the year, as compared to the similar period of 2022. Oil imports, on the other hand, went up by 5%.



    G7. The G7 Energy and Environment Ministers set on Sunday the goal of reducing the C02 emissions of motor vehicles by at least 50% by 2035, compared to the levels of 2000. The goal appears in a Joint Declaration adopted at the end of the two-day meeting that took place in Sapporo (northern Japan), and which focused on accelerating efforts to combat climate change. The measure is part of the global goal of reaching net zero emissions in the automotive sector by 2050. This will require key industry actions in all countries, including measures already implemented by the G7 members to achieve 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035.



    Gymnastics. On Sunday, the Romanian athlete Sabrina Maneca-Voinea won the bronze medal in the floor final of the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antalya (Turkey). The Romanian was overtaken by the British Jessica Gadirova, who won gold, and Alice Kinsella, silver medalist. Romania has achieved its goals at the European Championships in Antalya, including team qualification for the World Championships.



    Weightlifting. Romanian athlete Valentin Ionadi Iancu won one silver and two bronze medals, on Sunday, in the 55 kg category of the European Weightlifting Championships in Erevan, Armenia. Iancu won the bronze in the snatch event, lifting 109 kg. In the throw, he won the silver, with 136 kg, just like the Georgian bronze medalist Ramini Shamilishvili. Iancu took the bronze overall, with 245 kg. Romania aims to win four medals at the European Championships in Yerevan, which is a qualifier for the Olympic Games due in Paris in 2024. (MI)



  • April 16, 2023

    April 16, 2023

    Easter. In Romania, Orthodox (majority) and Greek-Catholic Christians celebrate today the Resurrection of Jesus, the biggest holiday in the Christian calendar. On Saturday, at midnight, belivers received the holy light from the priests and listened to the evangelical account of the Resurrection in front of churches. In his sermon, Patriarch Daniel of the Orthodox Church explained how the Resurrection of the Lord gave a new orientation to the Christians life and a new meaning to death. “The source of joy and peace in a Christians life is their connection with the Crucified and Resurrected Christ, that is why on Easter we should not be sad, but rejoice”, said Patriarch Daniel.



    Protests. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv again on Saturday evening to protest against the justice reform desired by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which the demonstrators consider an attack on democracy, FP reports. Smaller demonstrations also took place in other Israeli cities. Since the announcement of the controversial reform project in early January, tens of thousands of Israelis have gathered every week to protest it. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on March 27 a break to give a chance to dialogue, after the start of a general strike and the emergence of tensions within the government majority. The government claims that the reform aims, among other things, to rebalance the powers by reducing the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the executive considers politicized, for the benefit of Parliament. Critics of the reform believe, on the contrary, that it risks opening the way to an authoritarian drift, AFP also reports.



    Electricity. Romanians consumed less electricity in the first two months of this year compared to the same period in 2022, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics. The decrease was more than 18%. Businesses also consumed less, by 3%, and public lighting was reduced by more than a quarter. INS reports that in January and February the production in hydropower plants increased by almost a third compared to the beginning of last year. Wind energy production increased, but the production of nuclear energy slightly decreased.



    G7. The G7 Energy and Environment Ministers set on Sunday the goal of reducing the C02 emissions of motor vehicles by at least 50% by 2035, compared to the levels of 2000. The goal appears in a Joint Declaration adopted at the end of the two-day meeting that took place in Sapporo (northern Japan), and which focused on accelerating efforts to combat climate change. The measure is part of the global goal of reaching net zero emissions in the automotive sector by 2050. This will require key industry actions in all countries, including measures already implemented by the G7 members to achieve 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035.



    Tennis. In Koper, in Slovenia, the doubles match between the womens tennis teams of Romania and Slovenia is taking place today, interrupted on Saturday due to rain. It is the decisive match for the qualification for the final tournament of the Billie Jean King Cup competition. After the singles matches, the score is equal, 2-2. The doubles match between the pairs Irina Bara/Monica Niculescu and Kaja Juvan/Tamara Zidansek was interrupted at the score of 3-3. The only direct match between the two teams took place in 2000 and was won by Slovenia 3-0, in Spain, in Group I of the Europe/Africa zone.



    Weightlifting. On Saturday evening, Romanian athlete Mihaela Cambei won three gold medals in the 49 kg. category at the European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan (Armenia). Cambei won in the snatch with 92 kg, in the throw with 106 kg, and in total with 198 kg. She also set two new European records, in snatch and total. Romania aims to win four medals at the European Games in Yerevan, which are qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.



    Weather. The Romanian National Meteorological Administration has issued an information of quantitatively moderate rains and wind intensifications, valid in almost all of Romania, from Sunday noon to Monday morning. In this interval, rains, especially in the form of showers, accompanied in some places by thunder storms, will be expanding from the south to most of the country. ANM reports that for most of next week there will be periods of showers in most areas. The highs of the day range between 13 and 22 degrees centigrade, with a 17 degree reading in Bucharest at noon. (MI)


  • 25.01.2023

    25.01.2023

    Bruxelles – Un débat
    consacré à la commémoration des 164 ans depuis l’Union des Principautés
    roumaines a eu lieu au Cercle Royal Gaulois de Bruxelles, en présence des
    Roumains de Roumanie et de la diaspora. Le 24 janvier, les Roumains ont célébré
    l’Union de la Moldavie avec la Valachie, un événement politique qui a eu lieu
    en 1859, sous le règne du souverain Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Organisé par
    l’Association du projet « La Roumanie 2030 » le débat s’est déroulé
    en présence du secrétaire adjoint de l’OTAN, le roumain Mircea Geoana. Dans son
    allocution, celui-ci a mis en avant l’importance de l’appartenance roumaine aux
    structures euro-atlantiques, tout en insistant sur la nécessité de lutter
    contre le déracinement des Roumains.






    Réunion – « La
    Roumanie continuera à soutenir l’Ukraine » a fait savoir le ministre
    roumain des Affaires étrangères, Bogdan Aurescu, lors de la réunion de mardi,
    en visioconférence, du G7+, en format
    des ministres des Affaires étrangères. Coprésidée par le secrétaire d’État
    américain Antony Blinken et le ministre nippon des Affaires étrangères Hayashi
    Yoshimasa, la réunion s’est concentrée sur l’évaluation de la situation des
    infrastructures énergétiques critiques de l’Ukraine (qui ont subi de graves
    attaques répétées de la Fédération de Russie) mais aussi sur l’état et les
    perspectives du soutien apporté à l’Ukraine par la communauté internationale
    afin de gérer les conséquences de ces attentats et d’accroître sa résilience au
    niveau sociétal.


    GRECO – La Roumanie a mis en place et répondu correctement à la majorité des recommandations au sujet de la lutte contre la corruption des parlementaires et des magistrats, précise le GRECO, l’organe anticorruption du Conseil de l’Europe, dans un rapport rendu public mercredi. Pourtant, l’institution encourage les autorités roumaines à rendre le processus parlementaire encore plus transparent, tout en minimisant le recours aux ordonnances d’urgence.

    Perquisitions – La Brigade
    des stupéfiants de la Police roumaine,
    épaulée par des autorités néerlandaises, polonaises et allemandes et Europol a
    menée mardi plusieurs perquisitions censées prouver les activités criminelles
    d’un groupement terroriste accusé de blanchiment d’argent et de trafic
    international de drogues. Les perquisitions ont été menées simultanément en
    Roumanie, aux Pays Bas et en Allemagne. Deux personnes ont été arrêtées aux
    Pays Bas et accusées de trafic de stupéfiants, violation du régime des armes et
    des munitions et blanchiment d’argent. Selon la Police roumaine, les membres du
    groupe criminel sont des citoyens d’origine turque, néerlandaise, roumaine et
    polonaise, résidents des pays où les perquisitions ont eu lieu.









    TENNIS – Le duo
    roumano-ukrainien, Gabriela Ruse-Marta Kostyuk s’est qualifié mercredi dans les
    demi-finales du concours de double dames de l’Open australien, Premier tournoi
    de Grand Chelem de l’année. Les deux sportives ont battu l’Australienne, Storm
    Hunter et la Belge, Elise Mertens. Le prochain match, la Roumaine et sa
    coéquipière le joueront contre le duo tchèque Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina
    Siniakova


    Météo – Le ciel est variable en ce mercredi, plutôt
    couvert. Des pluies éparses sont signalées dans l’ouest et le sud-est et
    quelques flocons de neige tombent sur l’est et le sud. Les températures maximales
    vont de -2 à 6 degrés. 2 degrés à midi, à Bucarest.

  • December 5, 2022 UPDATE

    December 5, 2022 UPDATE

    Summit — President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Tuesday, in the EU – Western Balkans Summit, which will take place in Tirana, Albania. According to the Presidential Administration, the Summit in Tirana is the first event of the kind organized in a capital in the region, a fact that reconfirms the European commitment in relation to the states in the Western Balkans. On this occasion, the head of state will reiterate the availability of continued support for concrete efforts and actions to integrate the countries of the region into the European Union. At the same time, Klaus Iohannis will point out the aspects related to the need to strengthen the resilience of partners, as well as to the European support in sectors such as energy, digital transformation, cyber security and migration management. On the occasion of the Summit, the Tirana Declaration will be adopted, which reflects the support of the Union and of the member states towards the European perspective of the Western Balkans.



    Budget — Romanias draft state budget and social insurance budget for 2023 will be posted on the website of the Finance Ministry on Tuesday for transparency reasons, and they will be on the agenda of the government meeting on Thursday. The ruling coalition proposes that the two draft laws should pass the Parliaments vote before the winter holidays. It will be the first time that the budget will be built on economic and social programs and also the first time that the amount allocated to Defense will be 2.5% of the GDP. It is believed that the budget built around programs will allow better monitoring of expenses, of the degree of implementation and of the real impact in the economy.



    Bribe – The Romanian Parliament decided, on Monday, to dismiss Niculae Bădălău from the position of vice-president of the Court of Accounts, after the former Social Democratic MP was arrested on charges of bribery. There were 308 votes in favor and one abstention. The Social Democratic Party – PSD, which requested the dismissal, pointed out that keeping Niculae Bădălău in office would seriously affect the institutions credibility. The opposition equally demanded the initiation of the dismissal procedure. A week ago, the Bucharest Court of Appeal decided that former PSD senator Niculae Bădălău be arrested, for a period of 30 days, for bribery and influence peddling, in a case in which he is accused of offering bribe worth 170,000 Euros to a mayor from Giurgiu (south), in exchange for the granting of public works contracts.



    Gaudeamus — The 29th edition of the Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair opens on Wednesday at the Romexpo Compound in Bucharest. The event thus returns, after the pandemic, to the format that made it famous for over a quarter of a century as a solid landmark of the book market in Romania. 200 participants will offer the public an extremely varied range of editorial products, on different supports, suitable for all ages and fields of interest, music and educational games. The fairs honorary president will be the poet Ana Blandiana.



    Sanctions — New economic sanctions applied to Russia by the European Union and the G7 group have come into force. They consist in capping the price at which Russia exports oil and in the European embargo on Russian oil imported by sea. The measures are meant to reduce Russias incomes, which it uses to finance its war machine. Although some experts fear a destabilization of the world market, Brussels decision includes a reserve margin, so that Moscow should not be forced to stop its exports. Capping is rejected by Russia, which claims that it will only sell oil to those countries that do not cap its price. In Bucharest, the energy minister Virgil Popescu gave assurances that the embargo on Russian crude oil will not affect Romania, given that the oil companies in our country have found alternative resources. He pointed out that, as of last week, the domestic oil companies and refineries had started processing only non-Russian crude oil. For his part, the general director of the TRANSGAZ company, Ioan Sterian, emphasized that there are no reasons to fear that Romania will run out of gas this winter.



    Hospitality – Romanians spending at restaurants, cafes, pubs or fast-foods this year could be more than 30% higher than in 2021, exceeding 7.5 billion Euros, which is an absolute record for the food service industry, shows a study co-financed by the actors in the field and launched by the Hospitality Culture Institute. Practically, foodservice is becoming the most attractive sector for investments, which is also faced with two big problems: poor digitization and lack of staff, Florin Maxim, founder of the organization, said. According to the cited source, 9% of Romanians who go out spend more than 100 lei (20 Euros) per person on a restaurant meal, a figure that is growing significantly. This year too, even if the anti-pandemic restrictions on the operation of the hospitality industry units were removed, the food delivery sector retained its supremacy. (LS)

  • December 3, 2022 UPDATE

    December 3, 2022 UPDATE

    Meeting — During his two-day working visit to Greece, where he participated in the meeting of the leaders of the European Peoples Party, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis had talks with his Greek counterpart, Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Talks focused on the diversification of energy, road and railway interconnection projects in the Balkans, Romanias actions in support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian refugees as well as the bilateral and European measures and actions, through the Solidarity Corridors, meant to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grains, in order to prevent food crises in vulnerable third countries. The Greek officials reiterated, during the talks, Greece’s full support for Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area.




    Disability — ‘People with disabilities have the same rights as anyone else and they should not be affected because of their special needs’ – the Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, said Saturday in a message on the International Day of People with Disabilities. He mentioned that the Government had a special project through which people in this category benefit from support worth 5,000 Euros to purchase assistive devices and technologies, other than those financed by the Social Health Insurance Fund. At the same time, in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) almost 197 million Euros are provided for projects related, among other things, to the creation and modernization of the social infrastructure for people with disabilities and to the integration of inactive people and disadvantaged workers into the labor market.




    Schengen – The Netherlands is getting closer to a vote in favor of admitting Romania and Croatia to the free movement Schengen Area​​, but not Bulgaria, which it believes does not meet the necessary conditions for the time being. A final decision will be made by the Government, after the debates in Parliament – the Dutch press announces. On the other hand, Sweden no longer opposes Romanias entry into the area of ​​free movement of people and goods. A vote on this topic was given in the Commission for European Affairs of the Swedish Parliament, based on a proposal made by the Executive. In Bucharest, the decision was welcomed by the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and the Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. The only country that seems, at present, to have objections is Austria. The decision regarding the admittance of Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria into Schengen would be made at the meeting of the European Ministers of Interior and Justice on December 8, a unanimous vote being needed.



    Gaudeamus — The 29th edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair, organized by Radio Romania, will take place in Bucharest, from Wednesday to Sunday. 200 participants will offer the public an extremely varied range of editorial products, on different supports, suitable for all ages and fields of interest, music and educational games. More than 600 editorial events and related projects have been announced. All stands will also be found in virtual format on the gaudeamus.ro website. Radio Romanias Gaudeamus book fair is financed by the Ministry of Culture.




    G7 — The head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andrii Iermak, said that the price ceiling for Russian oil agreed upon by the G7 countries, together with Australia, should be reduced to 30 dollars per barrel to hit the Russian economy hard. The G7 countries and Australia, as well as the EU countries, decided to cap the price at 60 dollars per barrel. The measure, aimed at reducing Russias income in the context of the war against Ukraine, is complementary to the European embargo on Russian oil imported by sea that comes into force on Monday. More specifically, through this capping measure, the EU forbids European companies involved in the delivery of Russian oil by sea (transportation, insurance, etc.) to offer their services, if the delivered oil exceeds the threshold of 60 dollars per barrel. The price of Russian oil is currently around 65 dollars per barrel, so this measure will have, at least for now, a limited impact on Russian oil exports. Moscow has already warned that it will not deliver oil to the countries that impose price caps.



    Export – Romania started, on Saturday, the export of gas to the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population) through the Iaşi-Ungheni pipeline, the Transgaz representatives said. According to them, it is the first time that gas is transported from Romania to the Republic of Moldova through this pipeline. On November 22, Chişinău officials stated that Gazprom would reduce natural gas deliveries to the Republic of Moldova by 56.5% from December 1, accusing that only a part of the amount of gas that Russia delivers to this country through the pipelines that cross Ukraine actually reaches the Republic of Moldova. (LS)