Radio România Internațional

Tag: Gaza

June 7, 2024

Elections – In Romania, Friday is the last day of the first electoral campaign in 2024. Citizens with the right to vote are expected, on Sunday, to go to the polls to choose both their representatives in the future European Parliament and in the local authorities. According to the data of the Permanent Electoral Authority, over 200,000 candidates have tried, starting from May 10, to convince voters to vote them. The oldest candidate is 100 years old, and the youngest is just over 23 years old. 11,386 people are running for mayoral positions. All in all, 207,389 candidates have registered for all the positions of local, county and municipal councilors, mayors and presidents of county councils. For the European Parliament elections, 12 political parties and electoral alliances and four independent candidates have registered, i.e. a total of 494 candidates, of whom the Romanians with the right to vote must choose 33 that will represent Romania in the European Parliament. The electoral campaign will end on Saturday morning, at 7:00 a.m.

Relations – The Ambassador-at-large of the Russian Federation in Romania, Vladimir Lipaev, was received at the Romanian Foreign Ministry by the Secretary of State Ana Tinca, for the presentation of the copies of the accreditation letters. The representative of the Romanian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Russian Federation is solely responsible for the current state of bilateral relations and reminded the Russian diplomat that Romania condemns the war of aggression against Ukraine, which represents a brutal violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Vladimir Lipaev is a career diplomat. He has most recently been ambassador to Estonia, from where he was expelled in 2023.

Gaza – 17 heads of state, including the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, have signed a joint statement asking Israel and Hamas to make any possible compromise for the ceasefire in Gaza. The call came after dozens of Palestinians died in an attack that the Israeli military said targeted 30 Hamas fighters that were hiding in a school, along with displaced people. The US State Department said that, although the Hamas fighters are known to be mixing with civilians, Washington is waiting for more information about the raid. Meanwhile, related to the ceasefire plan recently presented by the US President Joe Biden, the Hamas group claimed that it had not received any written commitment regarding any truce.

Salary – Almost 1,900,000 employees in Romania will receive increased salaries by 284 lei (57 Euros) net value, from July 1, after the Romanian Government approved the increase of the gross minimum wage from 3,300 lei (about 660 Euros) to 3,700 lei (approximately 740 Euros) and raised from 200 lei (approximately 40 Euros) to 300 lei (almost 60 Euros) the monthly amount exempted from the payment of the income tax. The executive believes that this approach will have positive effects on economic growth, the purchasing power of employees and will contribute to the reduction of undeclared work. However, the decision does not apply to employees in agriculture and the food industry, as legal provisions in force apply to these categories. The government representatives said that this increase is a step towards the adoption, from November, of the minimum wage at the European level.

Football–Romania’s national football team meets, this evening, in Bucharest, the team of Liechtenstein, in its last training match before the European Championship in Germany. On Tuesday, also in Bucharest, and also in a friendly match, the Romanian footballers drew 0-0 with the team from neighboring Bulgaria. In Group E of Euro 2024, Romania will meet Ukraine, on June 17, in Munich, then Belgium, on June 22, in Cologne, and Slovakia, on June 26, in Frankfurt. Officials of the Football Federation in Bucharest say that they are counting on a massive presence of Romanian supporters at matches, whether they come from the country, settled in Germany or in other countries of Western Europe. Romania last participated in a continental final tournament in 2016, and in a World Cup in 1998.

Tennis– The pair Elena Gabriela Ruse/Marta Kostiuk (Romania/Ukraine) qualified for the semifinals of the doubles event of the Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros. The Romanian player and her colleague reached the semifinals after the withdrawal of their opponents from the quarterfinals, the Russians Mirra Andreeva and Vera Zvonareva. Today, in the semifinals, Gabriela Ruse and Marta Kostiuk meet the Italian team Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, seeded 11. (LS)

7 June 2024
May 12, 2024 UPDATE

Visit – The European commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, will visit Romania on Monday and Tuesday. According to the European Commission, he has scheduled meetings with the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, after which he will have a dialogue with farmers’ associations and with representatives of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest. A visit to the port of Constanţa (on the Black Sea Coast), where most of the exports of grain and agricultural products from Ukraine take place, is also planned. According to the European Commissioner, Romania made exceptional efforts to provide vital aid to Ukraine’s economy during its deepest crisis, facilitating the largest alternative export route for grain and other goods outside the Black Sea corridor. We remind you that the EC has recently approved a state aid scheme for Romania worth 126 million Euros, to support the necessary investments in those ports facing increased commercial flows.

Protest – On Monday, the National Trade Union Bloc, together with the 29 affiliated federations, organizes a rally in front of the Romanian Government headquarters in Bucharest, followed by a protest march to the Ministries of Economy, Labor and Finance. The trade unionists demand a reform of the tax system with the aim of reducing inequalities and combating poverty. According to the Trade Union Bloc, Romania currently has one of the highest tax burdens on labor costs in the EU: almost 43%, compared to the European average of around 39%. Also, the Bloc states, Romania is the only country in the world where the contributions of the business environment to the social security system have been shifted to the responsibility of employees since 2018, so that contributions to health and pensions have doubled for employees, while for employers were reduced to zero. And according to Eurostat, the low wages and the high taxation made Romania register the third lowest employment rate in 2023, after Italy and Greece. Only 69% of Romanians aged between 20 and 64 work, which means that almost a third of Romanians do not work, shows the National Trade Union Bloc.

Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Irina Begu moved into the last 16 of the Italian Open by defeating Belgian Elise Mertens, the No 27 seed, 6-2, 6-0 at the Foro Italico in Rome on Sunday. This was the fifth meeting between Begu and Mertens. The Romanian won her second consecutive victory, after the Belgian won the first three matches. On Saturday, Sorana Cîrstea qualified for the round of 16 in Rome, after beating Czech Marketa Vondrousova, no. 6 seed, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3. Also in the third round of the tournament, Jaqueline Cristian was defeated by Coco Gauff (USA), world number three, 6-1, 0-6, 6-3, on Saturday evening. The Italian competition founded in 1930 was won three times by Romanian athletes: Ilie Năstase, the 1970 and 1973 editions, and Simona Halep the 2020 edition.

Birth rate – The Romanian Ministry of the Family has put up for public debate until May 20, a bill to modify the National Program for the Support of Couples and Single Persons in order to increase the birth rate. One of the proposals is that only one member of the couple should be a Romanian citizen, as, currently, it is necessary that both partners have Romanian citizenship, and another proposal is that the registration documents can be submitted in electronic format. According to official data, 9,300 contracts were signed last year, 2,200 pregnancies were confirmed and 156 children were born. The support offered by the Romanian state is 15,000 lei (about 3 thousand Euros).

Epidemic – The Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, stated that there is still an epidemic of measles in Romania, and the disease is reported mainly in counties with a low degree of vaccination coverage. He encourages parents to immunize their children because measles is an infectious disease that is easily transmitted. According to the health ministry, vaccination coverage with the first dose at the national level is 78%, and 62% with the second dose.

Gaza – Israel should not launch an offensive on the city of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, in the absence of a clear plan to protect the population – said, on Sunday, the head of British diplomacy, David Cameron. We haven’t seen such a plan, that’s why we don’t support an offensive in Rafah, Cameron added. In turn, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, launched a call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, for the release of hostages held by the Islamist movement Hamas and for an increase in aid for the Palestinian enclave under Israeli siege. Earlier, France also urged Israel to end without delay its military operation in Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinians live, most of them displaced by the war. The conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out after the October 7 terrorist attack, when Palestinian militants entered Israel and killed at least 1,170 people, and around 250 were taken hostage and taken to Gaza. The Israeli army retaliated, its military actions resulting, so far, in over 35,000 dead and almost 79,000 wounded in the Gaza Strip. (LS)

12 May 2024
May 12, 2024

Visit – The European commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, will visit Romania on Monday and Tuesday. According to the European Commission, he has scheduled meetings with the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, after which he will have a dialogue with farmers’ associations and with representatives of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest. A visit to the port of Constanţa (on the Black Sea Coast), where most of the exports of grain and agricultural products from Ukraine take place, is also planned. According to the European Commissioner, Romania made exceptional efforts to provide vital aid to Ukraine’s economy during its deepest crisis, facilitating the largest alternative export route for grain and other goods outside the Black Sea corridor. We remind you that the EC has recently approved a state aid scheme for Romania worth 126 million Euros, to support the necessary investments in those ports facing increased commercial flows.

Protest – On Monday, the National Trade Union Bloc, together with the 29 affiliated federations, organizes a rally in front of the Romanian Government headquarters in Bucharest, followed by a protest march to the Ministries of Economy, Labor and Finance. The trade unionists demand a reform of the tax system with the aim of reducing inequalities and combating poverty. According to the Trade Union Bloc, Romania currently has one of the highest tax burdens on labor costs in the EU: almost 43%, compared to the European average of around 39%. Also, the Bloc states, Romania is the only country in the world where the contributions of the business environment to the social security system have been shifted to the responsibility of employees since 2018, so that contributions to health and pensions have doubled for employees, while for employers were reduced to zero. And according to Eurostat, the low wages and the high taxation made Romania register the third lowest employment rate in 2023, after Italy and Greece. Only 69% of Romanians aged between 20 and 64 work, which means that almost a third of Romanians do not work, shows the National Trade Union Bloc.

Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea (34 years old, 32 WTA) qualified, on Saturday, in the round of 16 of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Rome, with total prizes up for grabs worth around 5 million Euros, after defeating the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 6^th seed, with the score 7-6 (7/1), 6-3. In the round of 16, Cîrstea will face the American Madison Keys. Also in the third round of the tournament, Jaqueline Cristian (25 years old, 68 WTA) was defeated by Coco Gauff (USA), world number three, 6-1, 0-6, 6-3, on Saturday evening. Romania is also represented in Rome by Irina Begu (161 WTA), who meets, today, in the third round, the Belgian Elise Mertens (seed no. 27). The Italian competition founded in 1930 was won three times by Romanian athletes: Ilie Năstase, the 1970 and 1973 editions, and Simona Halep the 2020 edition.

Birth rate – The Romanian Ministry of the Family has put up for public debate until May 20, a bill to modify the National Program for the Support of Couples and Single Persons in order to increase the birth rate. One of the proposals is that only one member of the couple should be a Romanian citizen, as, currently, it is necessary that both partners have Romanian citizenship, and another proposal is that the registration documents can be submitted in electronic format. According to official data, 9,300 contracts were signed last year, 2,200 pregnancies were confirmed and 156 children were born. The support offered by the Romanian state is 15,000 lei (about 3 thousand Euros).

Epidemic – The Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, stated that there is still an epidemic of measles in Romania, and the disease is reported mainly in counties with a low degree of vaccination coverage. He encourages parents to immunize their children because measles is an infectious disease that is easily transmitted. According to the health ministry, vaccination coverage with the first dose at the national level is 78%, and 62% with the second dose.

Gaza – The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on Sunday launched a call for an “immediate” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, for the release of hostages and for an increase in aid for the Palestinian enclave under Israeli siege, AFP reports. Previously, he had warned of a “colossal humanitarian catastrophe” in the event of a large-scale Israeli assault on Rafah, a city in the south of the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, US President Joe Biden estimated that a ceasefire is possible “tomorrow” in the war between Israel and Hamas, if the Palestinian group releases the hostages. Meanwhile, Israel carried out airstrikes in several areas of the Gaza Strip after issuing new mass evacuation orders for the Palestinians there. Israel says that the city of Rafah, where it continued its bombing last night, is the last stronghold of the Hamas group. Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees have already left the city out of the more than one million who took refuge in Rafah, fleeing other war-torn areas. (LS)

12 May 2024
May 6, 2024 UPDATE

EASTER Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Bright Week, the first week after Easter. Easter, the most important religious holiday in the Christian world, is also the only one that lasts 3 days.

STATISTICS Romania has the 3rd-lowest life expectancy in the EU, 76.6 years, according to a report released by Eurostat. The only 2 countries in the European bloc with poorer rates in this respect are Bulgaria and Latvia (below 76 years). Spain has the longest life expectancy in the European Union, 84 years, followed closely by Italy and Malta. According to Eurostat data, lower rates are reported in Eastern Europe and in the three Baltic states, whereas in Mediterranean, Scandinavian and Central European countries people live longer. On the other hand, the EU statistics office said, Romania sees the steepest increase in life expectancy, with one year gained between 2019 and 2023.

MILITARY A multinational exercise called Swift Response 24 takes place until May 24 in Romania and other countries. Thousands of troops and hundreds of vehicles and other equipment from 7 Allied and partner states are taking part. The exercise is organised by the US Army Europe and Africa, and according to the Romanian defence ministry it will include one of the largest air assault operations conducted in Europe since WWII, with around 2,000 paratroopers from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the US and the Netherlands taking part. Romania contributes 2,300 troops, several air bases and 3 firing ranges. The drills on Romanian territory are coordinated by the German Armed Forces jointly with the Romanian Land Forces, with support from the Romanian Air Forces.

COMPANIES The number of companies deregistered in Romania increased by nearly 15% in the first quarter of this year, to over 12,000, according to the National Trade Registry Office. Most of these companies were registered in Bucharest and Ilfov County (south), Constanţa (south-east), Cluj (north-west), Timiş (west) and Iaşi (north-east), and operated in sectors like vehicle repair, wholesale and retail, and constructions.

RUSSIA Russia’s president Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear weapons drills “in the near future,” involving in particular troops deployed close to Ukraine, France Presse and Reuters report. According to the Russian defence ministry, the drills are designed to keep the Army trained, following “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.” Missile units from the Military District South and naval forces will take part in the drills. Russia currently has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin led to the worst deterioration of Russia’s relations with the West since the Cuban missile crisis, both US and Russian diplomats said. While Moscow claims the war is a response to NATO’s attempts to control Ukraine while expanding its military presence eastwards, the West and Ukraine define Putin’s war as intended to occupy new territory and bring Ukraine under Moscow’s control, Reuters says.

UKRAINE Russia’s army announced on Monday having seized another 2 Ukrainian villages, one in Donetsk, in the east, and the other one in Kharkiv, in the north-east. Commentators say Russia has the initiative against an enemy struggling to recruit new troops and facing a slow-down in Western aid. With the US military assistance resumed after a USD 61 bln aid plan for Kyiv approved in late April, Ukraine should be able to strengthen its forces and to try to stabilise the front.

VISIT The war in Ukraine and economic relations between China and the European Union were the main topics on the agenda of Monday’s talks in Paris, held as part of a 2-day state visit by China’s president Xi Jinping to France. The Chinese official called for a consolidated strategic coordination between China and the EU, as major world powers, at the start of a 3-party meeting with president Emmanuel Macron and with the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen. President Macron pleaded in turn for “fair rules for all” in the trade between China and Europe. “The future of our continent will very clearly depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced manner,” Macron said, and added that “coordination” with Beijing on “major crises” including Ukraine and the Middle East was “absolutely decisive.” In turn, the EC president Ursula von der Leyen said that China and the EU have a shared interest in peace and security, and emphasized the determination to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to achieve just and long-term peace.

GAZA On Monday the Israeli armed forces started to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah, ahead of a planned military move in this town in the south of Gaza, an Israeli radio station, Army Radio, has announced. The Israeli Army said it “encourages” residents in eastern Rafah to move to an extended humanitarian area close by. Seven months since the start of its attack on Hamas, Israel says Rafah is hosting thousands of Islamist Palestinian fighters and that the town is critical for its victory. But with over one million Palestinian civilians relocated to Rafah, the prospect of a military operation with a large number of victims is a concern for the West and for neighbouring Egypt, Reuters reports. (AMP)

6 May 2024
May 6, 2024

EASTER Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Easter Monday, the second day of Bright Week. Easter Monday is also known as Bright Monday and it is said to be the day when the gates of Heaven and forgiveness are opened. As for specific traditions, on this day young girls and homes are sprinkled with holy water, and people visit their parents and godparents, bringing Easter cake and eggs.

STATISTICS Romania has the 3rd-lowest life expectancy in the EU, 76.6 years, according to a report released by Eurostat. The only 2 countries in the European bloc with poorer rates in this respect are Bulgaria and Latvia (below 76 years). Spain has the longest life expectancy in the European Union, 84 years, followed closely by Italy and Malta. According to Eurostat data, lower rates are reported in Eastern Europe and in the three Baltic states, whereas in Mediterranean, Scandinavian and Central European countries people live longer. On the other hand, the EU statistics office said, Romania sees the steepest increase in life expectancy, with one year gained between 2019 and 2023.

MILITARY A multinational exercise called Swift Response 24 takes place until May 24 in Romania and other countries. Thousands of troops and hundreds of vehicles and other equipment from 7 Allied and partner states are taking part. The exercise is organised by the US Army Europe and Africa, and according to the Romanian defence ministry it will include one of the largest air assault operations conducted in Europe since WWII, with around 2,000 paratroopers from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the US and the Netherlands taking part. Romania contributes 2,300 troops, several air bases and 3 firing ranges. The drills on Romanian territory are coordinated by the German Armed Forces jointly with the Romanian Land Forces, with support from the Romanian Air Forces.

RUSSIA Russia’s president Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear weapons drills “in the near future,” involving in particular troops deployed close to Ukraine, France Presse and Reuters report. According to the Russian defence ministry, the drills are designed to keep the Army trained, following “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.” Missile units from the Military District South and naval forces will take part in the drills. Russia currently has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin led to the worst deterioration of Russia’s relations with the West since the Cuban missile crisis, both US and Russian diplomats said. While Moscow claims the war is a response to NATO’s attempts to control Ukraine while expanding its military presence eastwards, the West and Ukraine define Putin’s war as intended to occupy new territory and bring Ukraine under Moscow’s control, Reuters says.

VISIT The war in Ukraine and economic relations between China and the European Union are the main topics on the agenda of today’s talks in Paris, held as part of a 2-day state visit by China’s president Xi Jinping to France. The Chinese official called for a consolidated strategic coordination between China and the EU, as major world powers, at the start of a 3-party meeting with president Emmanuel Macron and with the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen. President Macron pleaded in turn for “fair rules for all” in the trade between China and Europe. “The future of our continent will very clearly depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced manner,” Macron said, and added that “coordination” with Beijing on “major crises” including Ukraine and the Middle East was “absolutely decisive.” In turn, the EC president Ursula von der Leyen said that China and the EU have a shared interest in peace and security, and emphasized the determination to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to achieve just and long-term peace.

GAZA On Monday the Israeli armed forces started to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah, ahead of a planned military move in this town in the south of Gaza, an Israeli radio station, Army Radio, has announced. The Israeli Army said it “encourages” residents in eastern Rafah to move to an extended humanitarian area close by. Seven months since the start of its attack on Hamas, Israel says Rafah is hosting thousands of Islamist Palestinian fighters and that the town is critical for its victory. But with over one million Palestinian civilians relocated to Rafah, the prospect of a military operation with a large number of victims is a concern for the West and for neighbouring Egypt, Reuters reports. (AMP)

6 May 2024
THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The mini-holiday of May 1 and Orthodox Easter

Orthodox believers, a majority faith in Romania, along with Greek Catholics, celebrated Passion Week before Easter, which they celebrate on Sunday, May 5. The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, sent a message on Wednesday stating that the Resurrection of the Lord is the celebration of the merciful love of Christ, the one who defeated hatred, violence and death, giving people eternal life. That is why Easter is the celebration of forgiveness, peace and joy, Daniel said. He urged the sharing of Christ’s love, peace and joy with those around, by word and deed, especially to orphaned children, the sick and the elderly, as well as Romanians among foreigners. We remind you that, this year, the Catholic faithful celebrated Easter on March 31. The Easter holidays will end the mini-holiday that started on Wednesday, May 1, on Labor Day. Tens of thousands of Romanians spent time at the seaside, where the summer season officially opened, and in mountain resorts.

Voting abroad in the European Parliament election

12 parties or alliances and four independent candidates registered for the European Parliament elections that will take place on June 9 in Romania. The Central Electoral Bureau validated the final list this week,and established by drawing lots the order in which the formations will be entered on the ballot. The printing of ballot papers for polling stations abroad has already begun. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, declared that there will be a record number of polling stations outside the country, over 900, almost double those organized at the 2019 European Parliament elections. It is also the largest number of voting stations ever organized abroad. Along with the elections for the European Parliament, local elections will also take place in Romania on June 9. The political formations that wanted to enter the race for mayors, local, municipal, and county councils only had Tuesday to submit their candidacies.

Help for TAROM

The European Commission has given its consent for TAROM, the national airline, to receive state aid worth over 95 million euros in order to restructure. According to the Community Executive, the subsidies will allow the company to restore its long-term viability. In order to limit the possible distortions of competition generated by public support, TAROM will significantly reduce the number of routes and aircraft. The measures in the restructuring plan provide for the cancellation of a debt of over 49 million euros, and a capital injection of almost 46 million euros. The European Transport Commissioner, Adina Vălean, stated that the approval of the aid for TAROM represents a health certificate for the company, and an advantage in finding investors for the national airline operator. The Minister of Transport, Sorin Grindeanu, stated that the aid will be used mainly for renewing the aircraft fleet, optimizing destinations and commercial policy, streamlining aircraft maintenance activities, and digitizing the company.

New evacuations from Gaza

Nine Romanian citizens and their family members were evacuated from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, and reached the territory of Republic of Egypt, where they were taken over by the mobile consular team of the Romanian Embassy in Cairo. 323 Romanian citizens and their family members have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

Romanian cinematography awards

The film ‘Liberty’, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, received the Gopo Trophy for the best feature film at the Gopo Awards Gala, which took place on Monday. The film won the most Gopo statuettes, including those for best director, Tudor Giurgiu, best actor in a leading role, Alex Calangiu and best actor in a secondary role, Iulian Postelnicu. Inspired by real events, the film tells a story that happened in Sibiu (center) during the Revolution of 1989. “Freedom” and “Don’t expect too much from the end of the world”, by Radu Jude, were rewarded, ex aequo, with the prize for best script. The distinction for best actress in a leading role went to Ilinca Manolache for her role in the film ‘Don’t expect too much from the end of the world’. ‘Anatomie D’une Chute’ / ‘Anatomy of a Fall’, directed by Justine Triet (France) received the award for best European film. The actress Rodica Mandache received the award for her entire career, and the actor Dan Nuţu was honored with the award his entire activity.

A new soccer champion

The domestic football competition has not yet reached the end, but the team FCSB from Bucharest has mathematically secured the title of champion, since the seventh stage of the play-off, by winning against the current title holder, Farul Constanţa (southeast ). It is the first title won by FCSB in the current competitive system, with play-off and play-out, and comes after a 9-year break for the Bucharest team. In handball, the Romanian men’s champion, CS Dinamo Bucharest, qualified for the semifinals of the EHF European League continental competition, after a double victory against the Danes from Skjern Handbold. The Final Four tournament of the EHF European League will take place on May 25 and 26, in Hamburg, Germany.

4 May 2024
May 3, 2024 UPDATE

EASTER The Holy Fire for Orthodox Easter will be brought from Jerusalem on Saturday night and sent out to every parish in Romania. The Holy Fire is believed to be an Orthodox miracle, taking place every year on Holy Saturday in Jerusalem, at the end of Holy Week, a period of prayer when the faithful revisit the events of the last day in the life of Jesus Christ. On Friday night believers attend the Vespers of the Taking-Down from the Cross, when an epitaphios is carried to a low table in the church nave which represents the Tomb of Christ, with the epitaphios itself representing the body of Jesus wrapped in a burial shroud.

JOURNALISTS According to the latest annual World Press Freedom Index, released on Friday by Reporters without Borders organisation (RSF), Romania ranks 49^th out of 180 countries, up from 53^rd last year. RSF says Romania “boasts a diverse and relatively pluralistic media landscape, providing fertile ground for hard-hitting public interest investigations. But a lack of transparency surrounding media financing, especially by the state, as well as market difficulties undermine the reliability of information and trust in the media.” “The market is diversified but fragmented, with many TV channels whose sustainability is fragile. Editorial decisions are often subordinated to the interests of owners, transforming the media into a propaganda tool,” the Index also reads. In Romania, RSF also says, the media lack independence and suffer from attempts at interference, especially regarding the appointments of the heads of public radio and television, and the National Audiovisual Council. Political parties can obtain favourable media coverage in return for opaque media funding. Populist politicians have adopted an aggressive political discourse towards journalists, the organisation also finds.

GAZA Negotiations continue for a ceasefire and a new prisoner exchange in Gaza. The talks take place amid threats that Israel would strike the border town of Rafah, where the last Hamas units are located. But Rafah also hosts half of the population of the Gaza Strip, and the international community has warned that a land offensive there would cause a humanitarian disaster. A high-level UN official said the funds for the reconstruction of war-hit Gaza may reach as much as USD 40 bln. The UN Assistant Secretary-General Abdallah al-Dardari told a press conference that the scope of the destruction is unprecedented. Meanwhile, Gaza-related protests carry on in universities in the US. The police cleared a pro-Palestinian protest camp at UCLA in Los Angeles, with at least 200 people arrested. In Washington, president Joe Biden said that while he would always uphold the right to free speech, order must prevail.

FARMERS The European Commission has extended the temporary framework enabling member states to provide state aid more easily to the farmers affected by the impact of the war in Ukraine. The mechanism was introduced in March 2022, after Russia attacked Ukraine, which triggered skyrocketing energy and fertilizer costs. The temporary crisis framework allowed member states to earmark up to EUR 280,000 in aid to affected farms until June 2024, and up to EUR 335,000 to fishery and aquaculture enterprises, as a derogation from the EU’s strict state aid rules. The agriculture ministers in 15 member countries also demanded an increase from EUR 20,000 to EUR 50,000 of the ceiling for the aid granted to an enterprise without consulting Brussels, but the request was dismissed.

DISTINCTION Romanians have received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Second of May from the Community of Madrid, for their integration and for representing a cultural and economic asset for the region. “Apart from being hard-working, Romanians with their effort and courage help us create jobs and opportunities for others,” said the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuos. “The Romanian community in Madrid is not only the largest foreign community here, but also the one that contributes the most to the social and economic development of the local society,” the charge d’affaires with the Romanian embassy in Madrid, Raluca Mihăilă, said in turn. More than one million Romanians are currently living in Spain.

SPORTS The Romanian women’s handball champions CSM Bucharest Saturday take on the French side Metz, away from home, in the decisive leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. In the first leg, the French team won 27-24. Playing in the other quarter-finals are Gyor (Hungary) vs Kristiansand (Norway), Odense (Denmark) vs Bietigheim (Germany) and Esbjerg (Denmark) vs Ferencvaros (Hungary). In the men’s competition, Romania’s champions, Dinamo Bucharest, are up against the German side SG Flensburg-Handewitt in the semis of the EHF European League final tournament. The other semi-final is pitting defending champions Fuchse Berlin against another German team, Rhein-Neckar Loewen. In the quarterfinals, Dinamo outplayed the Danish side Skjern Handbold, after 28-27 in Bucharest and 38-34 away from home. (AMP)

3 May 2024
May 3, 2024

EASTER Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians mark Great and Holy Friday, when they commemorate the Crucifixion and burial of Christ. Tonight believers attend the Vespers of the Taking-Down from the Cross, when an epitaphios is carried in procession to a low table in the church nave which represents the Tomb of Christ, with the epitaphios itself representing the body of Jesus wrapped in a burial shroud. The holy light from Jerusalem is to be brought to Romania on Saturday night and distributed to all parishes. The light is believed to be an Orthodox miracle, taking place every year on Holy Saturday in Jerusalem, at the end of Holy Week, a period of prayer when the faithful revisit the events of the last day in the life of Jesus Christ.

GAZA Negotiations continue for a ceasefire and a new prisoner exchange in Gaza. The talks take place amid threats that Israel would strike the border town of Rafah, where the last Hamas units are located. But Rafah also hosts half of the population of the Gaza Strip, and the international community has warned that a land offensive there would cause a humanitarian disaster. A high-level UN official said the funds for the reconstruction of war-hit Gaza may reach as much as USD 40 bln. The UN Assistant Secretary-General Abdallah al-Dardari told a press conference that the scope of the destruction is unprecedented. Meanwhile, Gaza-related protests carry on in universities in the US. The police cleared a pro-Palestinian protest camp at UCLA in Los Angeles, with at least 200 people arrested. In Washington, president Joe Biden said that while he would always uphold the right to free speech, order must prevail.

FARMERS The European Commission has extended the temporary framework enabling member states to provide state aid more easily to the farmers affected by the impact of the war in Ukraine. The mechanism was introduced in March 2022, after Russia attacked Ukraine, which triggered skyrocketing energy and fertilizer costs. The temporary crisis framework allowed member states to earmark up to EUR 280,000 in aid to affected farms until June 2024, and up to EUR 335,000 to fishery and aquaculture enterprises, as a derogation from the EU’s strict state aid rules. The agriculture ministers in 15 member countries also demanded an increase from EUR 20,000 to EUR 50,000 of the ceiling for the aid granted to an enterprise without consulting Brussels, but the request was dismissed.

DISTINCTION Romanians have received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Second of May from the Community of Madrid, for their integration and for representing a cultural and economic asset for the region. “Apart from being hard-working, Romanians with their effort and courage help us create jobs and opportunities for others,” said the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuos. “The Romanian community in Madrid is not only the largest foreign community here, but also the one that contributes the most to the social and economic development of the local society,” the charge d’affaires with the Romanian embassy in Madrid, Raluca Mihăilă, said in turn. More than one million Romanians are currently living in Spain.

SPORTS Romania came out 4th at the qualifiers for the European artistic gymnastics championships in Rimini (Italy), with Sabrina Voinea ranking 4^th at the all-around event. Romania’s team, comprising Sabrina Voinea, Ana Maria Bărbosu, Lilia Cosman, and Amalia Ghigoarţă, was outperformed by Italy, the UK and France. On Sunday the Romanians take part in 4 apparatus finals—Ana Bărbosu in the vault final, Lilia Cosman in the beam final and Sabrina Voinea in the beam and floor finals. Maria Ceplinschi did not attend the qualifiers for health-related reasons. (AMP)

3 May 2024
May 2, 2024 UPDATE

HOLY THURSDAY Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania celebrated Holy Thursday, which commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. A mass devoted to the 12 Gospels was held during the evening, while the Lamentation at the Tomb, a unique religious service, will be held on Friday night. On Wednesday, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, conveyed a special Easter message, saying that the Resurrection of Christ is a celebration of the pious and merciful love of Christ, who overcame hatred, violence and death and gave people eternal life. This makes Easter a celebration of forgiveness, peace and joy, the Patriarch said, urging people to share the news of the Lord’s Resurrection with everyone around through good deeds, love and peace.

PUBLIC ORDER Over 150,000 Romanians will take part in hundreds of events around the country during Easter break. To ensure public order, the interior ministry has increased the number of staff on duty, including gendarmes, police and fire-fighters. The National Cyber Security Directorate also warns that on holidays people are less careful with e-commerce platforms and they may become victims of online scams.

YOUTH DAY Lawmakers will know their actions were well-inspired when young Romanians at home and abroad choose Romania to build their future, the PM Marcel Ciolacu said on Youth Day. We must provide everyone with equal opportunities and development prospects, including at institutional level, the PM added. Marcel Ciolacu says he believes in young people, with whom he has been in constant dialogue since taking office, via representative associations or through government internship programmes, aimed at familiarising young people with decision-making processes at the level of the Romanian government and subordinated institutions.

AWARD Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has been designated as one of the recipients of the 2024 Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards, which will be handed in a special gala held on May 8 in Washington. The Romanian president will be honoured for his remarkable career, exemplary leadership of Romania, and his transatlantic and European leadership role. The other recipients of the award are the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli, and the Academy Award-winning actress and producer Michelle Yeoh. Each year, the Distinguished Leadership Awards brings together more than six hundred policy, business, military, artistic, and civil-society leaders to celebrate individuals, including policy leaders, business executives, military staff and artistic and humanitarian champions. Past recipients include the US presidents George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and then-Vice President Joe Biden, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the current and former International Monetary Fund managing directors Kristalina Georgieva and Christine Lagarde. Set up in 1961, the Atlantic Council is a non-profit organisation whose staff must observe high standards of personal and professional integrity, openness and honesty in communications and interactions with one another as well as with other organisations, government officials, the media and the public.

TRANSPLANT Two Romanians have a chance for a new life after having received organs from a Bulgarian donor on Thursday. According to the National Transplant Agency, the organs were sent to Romania because there were no compatible beneficiaries in Bulgaria, and the 2 countries have a cooperation protocol in this field. The surgeries were performed in Iaşi (eastern Romania), and the 2 patients’ condition is good.

GAZA The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the Palestinian organisation Hamas to accept a truce in Gaza, reiterating the United States’ opposition towards an Israeli offensive on Rafah (south). During his 7th mission to the Middle East since the conflict broke out, Antony Blinken visited Israel, expressing determination to reach a consensus “right now” to free the hostages held by Hamas for the last seven months. The US official met with a number of Israeli officials, including the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Israel, Antony Blinken argued that, while Washington firmly supports Israel’s right to self-defence, it opposes the idea of an all-out attack on Rafah, insisting on continuing to expand humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian population in Gaza. (AMP, VP)

2 May 2024
March 19, 2024 UPDATE

Elections – The ruling coalition in Romania made up of PSD-PNL will have a common candidate for the General Mayor of Bucharest in the local elections on June 9, namely the physician Cătălin Cîrstoiu, the current manager of the University Hospital. He will be presented by the leaders of the two parties in a joint press conference. Regarding the candidates for Bucharest’s sectors, they will be announced after the proposals from PSD and PNL will be validated by the leaderships of the two parties. At the same time, the governing coalition should also finalize, this week, the common list of candidates for the European Parliament, which will also take place on June 9. On the other hand, the United Right Alliance, made by Save Romania Union – USR, the People’s Movement Party – PMP and the Force of the Right Party will be on the ballots at the June 9 elections. On Tuesday, the High Court of Cassation and Justice annulled the decision of the Central Electoral Bureau by which it had rejected its establishment protocol. We remind you that this year, besides local and European Parliament elections, parliamentary and presidential elections will also take place in Romania.

Car scrapping – A new car scrapping scheme got under way in Romania on Tuesday, available to those wishing to buy new, more environmental-friendly cars. People can receive up to 1,400 Euros for scrapping a used car and 2,000 euros for two used cars, according to the basic version of the scheme. Under the so-called ‘plus’ version, individual persons can buy cars with a lower pollution level to the amount of 60,000 Euros including VAT, with eco-bonuses and an eco-ticket to be potentially added to the scrapping bonus. The budget allocated for the basic version of the scheme is 60 million Euros, while that for the ‘plus’ version is 200 million Euros, according to the Environment Fund Administration.

Evacuation – Another 11 Romanian citizens and family members were evacuated from the Gaza Strip and arrived in Egypt, said the foreign ministry in Bucharest on Monday evening. A Romanian embassy mobile consular team took them over and accompanied them to Cairo, from where they will fly to Romania. So far, 313 Romanian citizens and family members have been evacuated from Gaza. The Romanian foreign ministry says it is in constant contact with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to facilitate the evacuation of other Romanian nationals and family members should there be requests to this end and depending on the developments on the ground and the agreement of the parties involved.

Capping – The capping of the trade markup to basic foods will be extended until the end of the year, according to a bill adopted on Tuesday by the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, as a decision-making body. It is a law that complements the legislation in force and which was supported by the parliamentary groups of the Social Democratic Party – PSD, National Liberal Party – PNL and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians – AUR. PSD (in the governing coalition) says that the decision to extend this measure was taken following the large number of requests from citizens, while the opposition Save Romania Union says that the measure is populist and has proven ineffective. The law also provides for the establishment of a mechanism for monitoring the prices of agricultural and food products.

Law – Romania’s Constitutional Court rejected the notification submitted by Save Romania Union – USR and the Force of the Right (both in opposition) against the draft law decriminalizing tax evasion with the damage below one million Euros, if the amount is fully returned, the damage being increased by 15%, plus interest and penalties. The Court claims that the law is an important step for the transition “toward modern theories” of criminal law, in which the main objective must be aimed at the discovery and confiscation of illicit assets. The appellants argued that the law is an invitation to theft made by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party. (LS)

19 March 2024
March 14, 2024

ELECTIONS The ruling coalition in Romania convenes today to discuss a joint candidate in the election for mayor general of Bucharest. So far the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party have failed to reach an agreement on the topic. The 2 parties will however present a joint list of candidates for the elections for the European Parliament, due on 9 June, concurrently with the country’s local elections. The head of the European Commission’s representative office in Bucharest, Ramona Chiriac, the top nominee on this list, announced she would take unpaid leave to prepare her campaign. A career diplomat, Chiriac has nearly 20-year long experience in European affairs. The election campaign starts on 10 May and ends the day before the elections. Also this year, Romania will hold presidential elections in September and parliamentary elections in December.

TREASURE In a debate on Thursday, MEPs called on Russia to fully return Romania’s national treasure, and urged the European Commission and other relevant EU institutions to support Romania in its efforts. This was the first discussion in the European Parliament concerning the Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia during WWI. The EU Commissioner for cohesion and reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said the treasure had been sent for safekeeping to Russia, but was never fully returned, either by the Soviet Union or the Russian Federation. The EU is prepared to support the Romanian authorities in fully recovering the treasure, should they request EU assistance, Elisa Ferreira said, but she warned that Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine entailed the suspension of cooperation mechanisms with Moscow. The EP debate on the treasure will be followed by a vote on a resolution in this respect. During WWI, Romania sent its national treasure for safekeeping to Russia, its only ally in the vicinity, but the Communist regime seized the assets and refused to return them. The National Bank entrusted Moscow with a total of 91.48 tonnes of pure gold.

MEDIA The European Parliament passed the European Media Freedom Act, which is designed to protect journalists and media organisations in the EU from political and economic interference. According to the Radio Romania News and Current Affairs’ correspondent, under the new legislation member states will be obliged to protect journalists from governmental, political, economic and private interference, and all forms of interventions in editorial decisions will be banned. In order to ensure transparency with respect to mass media ownership, all channels, regardless of their size, will have to make public their ownership structure and their use of public funding.

RECOVERY The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu Thursday announced that the ministers coordinating reforms would have a meeting next week with Celine Gauer, the European Commission’s director general of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force, to analyse major benchmarks in Romania’s 3rd payment request. He denied that the National Recovery and Resilience Plan has reached a deadlock, and emphasised that Romania’s relation with the European Commission is quite good. Previously, the minister for European investments and projects, Adrian Câciu, also said the 3rd payment request was not frozen. The explanations came after information was leaked regarding the European Commission freezing the 3rd payment request under the NRRP for failure to meet certain benchmarks, which according to Save Romania Union in opposition were related to appointments in the management of state-owned energy corporations and the agency charged with monitoring state-owned companies. Under the NRRP, all these institutions, without exception, must operate in compliance with corporate governance principles. On Thursday the government approved changes to the multi-annual budget for the reforms and investments undertaken in the NRRP.

AID The National Emergency Committee passed a resolution under which Romania is to grant international assistance to Jordan, consisting in medical equipment and supplies necessary for the operation of a field hospital in Gaza. The donated products and equipment come from the medical emergency inventory managed by the Inspectorate General for Emergencies, and were flown to the site by aircraft made available by the defence ministry.

14 March 2024
עברו ארבעה חודשים מאז הטבח ב-שביעי באוקטובר

עברו 4 חודשים מאז הטבח ב-7 באוקטובר, מסרה שגרירות ישראל ברומניה ב-7 בפברואר 2024. אנו הרוסים מהידיעה על מותם של 32 בני ערובה, מבין 136 השבויים בעזה, שנרצחו באכזריות על ידי מחבלי חמאס. בעודנו מתאבלים על מותם של בני הערובה, אנו מפנים את מחשבותינו אל המשפחות השכולות: אנו מבטיחים כי לא נוותר על משימתנו לפחות לתת להם את ההזדמנות לקבור את יקיריהם שנרצחו באכזריות.

הידיעה האכזרית הזו מזכירה לנו את החשיבות המכרעת של כל רגע שעובר עבור בני הערובה שלנו שעדיין בחיים ובשבי בעזה ואנו מתפללים לשובם הביתה, נמסר מטעם הנציגות הדיפלומטית של ישראל בבוקרשט.

10 February 2024
Foreign Policy Opinion

Sharing
borders with the Black Sea and allied as NATO member states for 2 decades,
Romania and Turkey are also tied by a strategic partnership which they have
decided to extend. Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, has recently had
talks in Bucharest with Romania’s diplomacy chief Luminiţa Odobescu, and
announced that a high-level Council for strategic cooperation would be
established to this end.

The
defence cooperation is an important component of the two countries’ bilateral
relations, the Turkish official pointed out. A critical topic approached during
the recent talks was the current security context and ways for the two
countries to help consolidate and enhance security at the Black Sea, the Romanian
foreign minister said in her turn. She thanked Turkey for its participation in
the NATO air policing missions in Romania, which contributes to strengthening
the Allied defence and deterrence posture on the eastern flank.

Luminița
Odobescu also mentioned the recent decision to set up the Romania-Turkey-Bulgaria
Naval Group tasked with clearing the mines floating in the Black Sea, which is
a concrete example of the way in which the three countries are able to work
together in the region.

Consolidating
the economic cooperation between Turkey and Romania was also on the agenda of
the meeting. Bilateral trade amounted to USD 9.4 bln in the first 11 months of
last year, and is expected to reach USD 15 bln in 2025.

The
two officials also discussed the situation in the Middle East. The Turkish
foreign minister argued that 2 million people are being bombed by Israel in
Gaza and are struggling with hunger and infectious diseases. In turn, Luminiţa Odobescu said
close coordination of international efforts is necessary in order to achieve
sustainable peace in the Middle East. She argued that the needs of Palestinian
civilians remain a priority for Romania, even though, like many other partners,
Romania suspended its financial contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian
refugees after some of the agency’s employees were found to have been involved
in the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

A
major concern for the Romanian diplomacy is also the war in neighbouring
Ukraine, which was invaded by the Russian army nearly 2 years ago. Luminița
Odobescu emphasised that the situation in Ukraine is in fact a priority for the
EU as well, and pleaded for continued European support to Kyiv. Since the start
of the war, more than 7 million Ukrainian nationals have transited Romania to
seek shelter, and the Romanian port of Constanța has become a vital hub for
Ukraine’s grain exports. (AMP)

5 February 2024
Ma mărli iventuri a stâmânâllei ți tricu 28.02.-03.02.2024

Defițitu ti vâsilíi

România bitisi anlu 2023 cu un defițitu bugetaru di 5,68% ditu Produsulu Internu Brutu, a că, anda s-adră bugetlu di statu pi anlu ți tricu, s-avea adratâ isapea ti un livel di 4,4% – dzâsi, ñercuri, ministerlu di Finanți. Defițitul easti, cu tuti aesti, sum ațelu minduitu di Comisia Europeanâ tu prognoza a llei di toamnâ, dimi 6,3 proțenti. Diferenţa anamisa di pâradzli amintaț ş-hărgi fu di aproapea 90 di miliardi di lei (vârâ 18 miliardi di evradz).

Lucru ti parlamentari

Dupâ cama unu mesu di vacanțâ, senatorlli ş-diputaţlli româñi ahurhirâ, gioi, 1 di șcurtu, unâ nauâ sesiuni parlamentarâ. Pritu lucârli di prota thesi PSD ş-PNL, ți țânu câpestrul deadunu, ari ș-proiecti di nomu tu ți mutreaști apridunarea a agiocurlor di tihi ș-dânâsearea a consumlui di droguri, cata cum ș-bifarea a jaloanilor a Planlui Național di Redresari ș-Reziliențâ, ti cari România aproachi pâradz di la Uniunea Europeanâ. Ditu opoziţíi, USR ș-AUR tâxescu că va s-da s-dânâseascâ eventualili crișteri di taxi ş-impoziti ş-va s-aibâ angâtanu s-nu hibâ câlcatâ Constituţia di socialișțâlli ș-liberalilli, ți au unâ majoritati confortabilâ tu Parlamentu. Presa di București s-așteaptâ la unâ sesiuni jalonatâ di polemiț para multu apreasi, tu anlu anda tu Româníi sunt programati tuti turliili di alidzeri: europarlamentari, locali, leghislativi ș-prezidențiali.

Hackeri ti premieru

Chivernisea ali Româníi alâxi, tu reghimu di urghenţâ, nomlu a sicuritatillei țiberneticâ, ta s-hibâ informati instituţiile a statlui tu nai multu 48 di sâhăț maca infrastructura IT ali ițido entitati ditu vâsilíi easti aguditâ/ari vârâ zñíi și s-poatâ s-dânâseascâ ayoñea piricllul. Alâxerli s-feațirâ dupâ ataclu informatic a site-urlor a Directoratlui Naţionalu ti Securitati Țiberneticâ ş-a Udălui a Diputaţlor. Ministrul a Cercetarillei ş-a Digitalizarillei, Bogdan Ivan (PSD), dzâsi că, tu cazlu a Directoratlui, ataclu nu avu sucțesu, anda la Udălu a Diputaţilor furâ furati cama di 300 di fişieri cu documenti publiți, ama ș-dati ți nu suntu ti public, cata cumu cópii a niscântoru acti di identitati a parlamentarlor. Tamam unâ cópíi ali carti di identitati a premierlui Marcel Ciolacu (tut PSD) fu arâchitâ di hackeri, iara tora aestu lipseaști s-u alâxeascâ.

Mită ti altu politicianu

Procurorlli DNA feațirâ, gioi tahina, percheziţíi la casa a prezidentului a Consiliului Giudeţeanu Prahova (sudul/notlu ali Româníi), liberalul Iulian Dumitrescu, ş-la membri a taifâllei a lui. Politițianlu ți eara sum controlu judițiar ti 60 di dzâli, easti suspectat că lo mitâ ş-adră falsu tu declaraţii, deadunu cu alțâ oamiñi. Dumitrescu dzâsi că nu-ari țiva te-ascundeari ş-că bagâ la dispoziţia a procurorlor tuti datili ti cari au ananghi. El dzâsi că s-da-mpadi di pi scamnu ditu tuti potisili ți li ari tu partidu, ta s-nu âlli ducunduseascâ a imaghinâllei a liberallor. Dumitrescu eara unlu ditu aței patru prim-vițeprezidențâ a PNL (la co-guvernari cu PSD) ș-caplu a filialâllei giudețeanâ a partidlui.

Bani ti Ucraina

Prezidentul ali Româníi, Klaus Iohannis, lo parti Bruxelles, la andamusea extraordituarâ a Consiliului European, ți avu protu punctu pi aghendâ achicâsearea la livelul ali Uniuni tu ți mutreaști protili elementi a pachetlui di ândridzeari a cadrului finanțiar multianual ti chirolu 2021-2027. Nai ma di simasíi apofasi aprucheatâ aclo di câpiili europeni fu darea câtâ Ucraina, ți easti acâțatâ di așcherli aruseșțâ, a nica 50 di miliardi di evradz. Caplu a statlui u andrupâ Ucraina, vâsilíi viținâ cu România, ș-dzâsi că aestu lucru lipseaști s-hibâ di prota thesi tu aghenda a Uniunillei Europeanâ. Naua injecțíi di fonduri comunitari fu pufisitâ la-ndauâ dzâli dupâ ți protlu serviciu di informații di Kiev, SBU, scoasi tu padi că ufițiali militari ș-oamiñi di emburlâchi ucraineñi arâchirâ, la șasi meși dupâ ahurhita a aputursearillei aruseascâ, 40 di miliuni di dolari, pâradz ți lipsea s-hibâ daț ti loarea di armamentu. Prindu summit, Iohannis lo parti la țeremonia omagială andreaptâ di Comisia Europeanâ ti thimiseara a politițianlui francez Jacques Dilors, ți fu prezidentu a executivlui comunitar tu chirolu 1985-1995, mortu tu bitisita a anlui, la aproapea 100 di añi.

Tendzâ ti Cumata Gaza

Chivernisea românâ apruche darea di niscânti agiutoari umanitari di 6 miliuni di lei (anvârliga di 1,2 miliuni di evradz), lucri ti cari au musai ananghi oamiñilli țivili ditu Cumata Gaza, iu așcherea israelianâ va ta s-dânâseascâ minarea islamistâ palestinianâ Hamas. Agiutoarili suntu: tendzâ, cârvăț, iambuli, saț te-a durñiari ş-alti lucri ți au ananghi țivilii ți au zñíi di polimlu ți s-fați tora — dzâsi Executivlu di București. Ma ninti, ministrul românu di Externi dzâsi că lo hâbari cu “para multâ gâilipseari” di acuzaţiili mutrindalui taha implicarea/mintearea a niscântor membri a personalului ali Aghenţíi ONU ti Rifugaţlli ditu Palestina tu Orientul di Aproapea (UNRWA) tu atacurli teroristi ali Hamas contra a Israelului, tu dzuua di 7 di sumedru 2023. Uidisit cu spusa a MAE, aesti acuzaţii lipseaști s-hibâ “mutriti unâ-ș-unâ ș-cu multu angâtanu” di ONU.

Armânipsearea: Tașcu Lala

4 February 2024
Retrospectiva săptămânii 28.01 – 03.02.2024

Deficit pentru țară

România a încheiat anul
2023 cu un deficit bugetar de 5,68% din Produsul Intern Brut, în condiţiile în
care la întocmirea bugetului de stat pe anul trecut a fost luat în calcul un
nivel de 4,4% – a anunțat, miercuri, ministerul de Finanțe. Deficitul este,
totuși, sub cel anticipat de Comisia Europeană în prognoza sa de toamnă, adică
6,3 procente. Diferenţa dintre venituri şi cheltuieli a fost de aproape 90 de
miliarde de lei (echivalentul a circa 18 miliarde de euro).

Treabă pentru parlamentari

După mai bine de o lună de
vacanță, senatorii şi deputaţii români au început, joi, 1 februarie, o
nouă sesiune parlamentară. Printre priorităţile PSD şi PNL, care
guvernează împreună, se numără proiecte de lege referitoare la restricționarea
jocurilor de noroc şi combaterea consumului de droguri, precum şi bifarea
jaloanelor Planului Național de Redresare și Reziliență, grație căruia România
primește bani de la Uniunea Europeană. Din opoziţie, USR și AUR promit că vor
încerca să oprească eventuale creşteri de taxe şi impozite şi să prevină încălcarea
Constituţiei de către socialiști și liberali, care dețin o majoritate
confortabilă în Parlament. Presa de la București se așteaptă la o sesiune jalonată
de polemici explozive, foarte probabil chiar condondente, într-un an în care în
România sunt programate toate tipurile de alegeri posibile: europarlamentare,
locale, legislative și prezidențiale.

Hackeri pentru premier

Guvernul României a
modificat, în regim de urgenţă, legea securităţii cibernetice, pentru ca
instituţiile statului să fie informate în cel mult 48 de ore dacă
infrastructura IT a oricărei entităţi din țară este afectată și pentru a
preveni rapid riscurile. Schimbările au fost făcute după atacul informatic
asupra site-urilor Directoratului Naţional pentru Securitate Cibernetică şi,
respectiv, Camerei Deputaţilor. Ministrul Cercetării şi Digitalizării, Bogdan
Ivan (PSD), a precizat că, în cazul Directoratului, atacul nu a avut succes, în
timp ce la Camera Deputaţilor au fost furate peste 300 de fişiere cu documente
publice, dar şi date care nu sunt destinate publicului, precum copii ale unor
acte de identitate ale parlamentarilor. Inclusiv o copie a cărţii de identitate
a premierului Marcel Ciolacu (tot PSD) a intrat în posesia hackerilor,
iar acesta ar urma să-şi schimbe buletinul.

Mită pentru alt politician

Procurorii DNA au făcut,
joi dimineaţă, percheziţii la domiciliul preşedintelui Consiliului Judeţean
Prahova (sudul României), liberalul Iulian Dumitrescu, şi la membri ai familiei
acestuia. Plasat sub control judiciar pentru 60 de zile, politicianul este
suspectat de luare de mită şi fals în declaraţii, alături de alte persoane. Dumitrescu
a transmis că nu ar avea nimic de ascuns şi că pune la dispoziţia
procurorilor toate datele de care au nevoie. El a anunţat şi că demisionează
din toate funcţiile deţinute în partid, pentru a nu afecta imaginea
liberalilor. Dumitrescu
era unul dintre cei patru prim-vicepreşedinţi al PNL (la co-guvernare cu PSD) și
șeful filialei județene a partidului.

Bani pentru Ucraina

Preşedintele României,
Klaus Iohannis, a participat la Bruxelles, la reuniunea extraordinară a
Consiliului European, care a avut ca punct principal pe agendă obţinerea unui
acord la nivelul Uniunii privind principalele elemente ale pachetului de
revizuire a cadrului financiar multianual aferent perioadei 2021-2027. Cea mai
importantă decizie adoptată acolo de liderii europeni a vizat livrarea către
Ucraina invadată de trupele ruse a încă 50 de miliarde de euro. Șeful statului
a pledat ferm ca Ucraina, vecină României, să rămână o prioritate de vârf pe
agenda Uniunii Europene. Noua injecție de fonduri comunitare a fost decisă la
câteva zile după ce chiar principalul serviciu de informații de la Kiev, SBU, a
dezvăluit că oficiali
militari și oameni de afaceri ucraineni au deturnat, la șase luni după
declanșarea invaziei rusești, 40 de milioane de dolari, destinați achiziției de
armament. În ajunul summitului, Iohannis a participat la ceremonia omagială
organizată de Comisia Europeană în memoria politicianului francez Jacques
Delors, fost preşedinte al executivului comunitar în perioada 1985-1995,
decedat la sfârșitul anului trecut, când era aproape centenar.

Corturi pentru Gaza

Guvernul român a aprobat
alocarea unor ajutoare
umanitare în valoare de 6 milioane de lei (echivalentul a circa 1,2 milioane de
euro), sub formă bunuri de strictă necesitate, pentru populaţia civilă din
Fâşia Gaza, unde armata israeliană susține că vrea să elimine mișcarea
islamistă palestiniană Hamas. Ajutoarele vor consta în corturi, paturi,
pături, saci de dormit şi alte produse necesare populaţiei civile grav afectate
de război – a precizat Executivul de la București. Anterior, ministerul român
de Externe a transmis că a luat notă cu maximă îngrijorare de acuzaţiile
privind presupusa implicare a unor membri ai personalului Agenţiei ONU pentru
Refugiaţii din Palestina în Orientul Apropiat (UNRWA) în atacurile teroriste
ale Hamas împotriva Israelului, pe 7 octombrie 2023. Potrivit MAE, aceste
acuzaţii trebuie să facă obiectul unor investigaţii imediate şi aprofundate
ale ONU.

RadioRomaniaInternational · Retrospectiva săptămânii 03.02.2024

3 February 2024