Radio România Internațional

Tag: GDP growth

  • June 8, 2022 UPDATE

    June 8, 2022 UPDATE

    ECONOMY – Romania’s GDP went up by 6.5% in
    the first three months of the year, as compared with the same period of 2021,
    and increased by 5.2% in real terms as against the first quarter of this year,
    the National Statistics Institute announced on Wednesday. Romania’s economy is
    expected to go up by 2.9% this year, the World Bank has said recently in its
    Global Economic Outlook. The World Bank’s report in January estimated a 4.3%
    advance of the Romanian economy, but the financial institution has revised its
    forecast downwards. In 2023, the World Bank is expecting a 3.7% advance of the
    country’s GDP and a 3.9% increase in 2024.




    GOVERNMENT – The Romanian Government approved in
    Wednesday’s meeting the draft law on the ratification of the Common Aviation
    Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and Ukraine, an
    agreement signed in Kyiv in October 2021. This agreement will integrate the
    transport market in Ukraine into the European single market, thus creating the
    premises for the development of the transport networks of Romania and Ukraine,
    with economic benefits for both parties, Dan Cărbunaru, the Government spokesman
    said. The purpose of the Agreement is to create a common airspace between the
    EU, member states and Ukraine, based mainly on similar norms in terms of
    safety, security, air traffic management, environment, consumer protection and
    social aspects. On the other hand, the Government decided to increase the
    number of employees of the National Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety
    Authority by 25 in the context of higher border crossing flows determined by
    the war in Ukraine.




    APPOINTMENT – Moldova’s Superior Council of
    Prosecutors has appointed Veronica Drăgălin as winner of the contest for the
    position of chief prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
    Veronica Drăgălin is a prosecutor is the US, where her family had emigrated
    years before. She studied law at the University of Virginia and is Deputy
    Prosecutor in the section on public corruption and civil rights in the office
    of the American prosecutor in the Central District of California. Drăgălin was
    nominated for the Young Federal Attorney National Award and the Federal
    Prosecutor’s Award for Women in Federal Justice. She speaks Romanian, English,
    Spanish, Russian, German and Italian.




    DECISION – The European Parliament and
    representatives of the member states have reached an agreement that will
    require all new smart phones, tablets, cameras, portable speakers or hand-held
    gaming systems sold in the EU to use a common charger by 2024. By 2026, the law
    will apply to laptops. The move is aimed at cutting down on electronic waste.




    DEFENSE – Romania’s expertise could be useful
    in the process of turning Moldova’s army into a modern, mobile and well
    equipped institution, Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatyi said Wednesday
    in Bucharest at a joint conference with his Romanian counterpart Vasile Dîncu. Nosatyi
    said Romania’s support is appreciated in the context in which Chișinău is faced with numerous problems with
    a negative impact on regional stability. Romania is firmly expressing its
    availability and interest in developing cooperation with Moldova’s national
    army, the Romanian Defense Minister said in turn.




    DISINFORMATION – The European Union needs to debunk
    the disinformation of Russia, which blames the West for the current food
    crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. Food has
    become part of the Kremlin’s arsenal of terror. And we cannot tolerate this,
    the EU official told a European Parliament session in Strasbourg. In turn,
    European Council president, Charles Michel, said Russia is blocking Ukrainian
    ports, turning farmland into battlegrounds and generating world hunger. In
    turn, the Kremlin denied the accusation that the war in Ukraine is causing a
    global food crisis, despite the increase in prices generated by the suspension
    of Ukrainian exports. Ukraine announced it will not demine the port of Odessa
    to export grain as Russian forces might take advantage of the situation to
    attack the city.






    FOOTBALL – Romania’s national football squad
    was defeated 1-0 by Bosnia Herzegovina on Tuesday evening away from home in the
    3rd group of League B of Nations League. This is the second consecutive defeat
    for the Romanians, after they lost 0-2 to Montenegro. Romania ranks last in the
    group, with zero points. Its last matches will be held on June 11 against
    Finland and on June 14 against Montenegro, both on home turf. (EE & VP)







  • July 7, 2020

    July 7, 2020

    COVID-19- The National Committee for Emergency Situations has
    updated the list of green countries, lifting mandatory quarantine and isolation
    for arrivals from these countries. Flights will resume to and from 32 states in
    Europe: Bulgaria, Monaco, Croatia, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland,
    Austria, Iceland, Switzerland, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Slovenia,
    Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus,
    Finland, Malta, Lithuania, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Andorra, the Faeroe
    Islands and the Vatican. Another 12 countries, Canada, Morocco, Algeria,
    Australia, Rwanda, Uruguay, Japan, South Korea, Georgia, New Zealand, Tunisia
    and Thailand are subject to the same measure. The list is compiled depending on
    the number of new cases reported in the last 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants.
    The Group for Strategic Communication in Bucharest has announced 397 infections
    reported in Romania, taking the total number of confirmed cases to over 29.600.
    The death toll stands at 1.799, accounting for 6% of the total number of
    infected.


    MOTION – Romanian Deputies are today debating a simple motion
    filed by the Social-Democratic opposition against Liberal Development Minister,
    Ion Stefan, accused of incompetence and forgery of public records. The Social-Democrats
    had filed the motion early last month, but it has been delayed due to health
    problems invoked by Ion Stefan. The Social-Democrats have pointed to integrity
    issues related to Stefan’s financial statements and his controversial cuts in
    the Development Ministry’s anticorruption personnel and resources. The motion
    will be voted later today in the Chamber of Deputies.


    ELECTIONS – Senators have also convened today to debate two
    draft laws on the local elections, one put forth by the Democratic Union of
    Ethnic Hungarians, and a second one launched by the Government, both seeking to
    schedule local elections on September 27. The two documents on Monday got the
    go-ahead in the Senate’s committee on public administration without any further
    amendments being pushed. The two documents also stipulate measures to help
    organize the elections, such as setting up voting polls in light buildings and
    container houses.


    GDP – Romania’s GDP was by 0.3% higher in the first three
    months of the year compared to the last quarter of 2019, reporting a 2.4% gross
    growth and a 2.7% seasonal growth compared to the same period in 2019,
    according to a preliminary report made public today by the National Statistics
    Institute.


    ECONOMY – According to today’s estimate released by the
    European Commission, Romania’s economy will shrink by 6% this year, close to
    the estimate the Commission announced in May. For next year, Romania’s GDP is
    expected to grow by 4%, as compared to the 4.2% estimate in May. Growth
    prospects are still susceptible to certain risks, the Commission states. The
    Commission estimates an inflation rate of 2.5% this year and 2.8% for 2021. As
    regards the EU economy, the Commission warns it might be facing a fierce
    recession as a result of the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic,
    despite swift and far-reaching reactions across the community bloc.


    ANTICORRUPTION – Corruption is a widespread phenomenon, not just in
    EU member states, and its scope depends on the involvement of local
    authorities, EU chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi has told Euronews. The
    former head of the National Anticorruption Directorate spoke of the new remit
    of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), saying it will investigate
    and prosecute fraud related to the EU budget. At present, the EPPO has been
    delayed in its activity by Malta, which has so far failed to submit an eligible
    prosecutor representing this country. Referring to corruption in Romania, Laura
    Codruta Kovesi refused to comment on the activity of the institution she
    spearheaded up until two years ago, but claimed the independence of the
    judiciary has been hampered by constant attacks and legislative changes. In
    2018 Kovesi was removed from the helm of the Directorate following a
    Constitutional Court ruling. Kovesi subsequently won a court case against the
    Romanian state in this matter at the European Court of Human Rights. The ECHR
    ruled that Kovesi was denied her right to freedom of expression and free access
    to a court, after having been removed from office by the Justice Minister at
    the time, Tudorel Toader, without being given the opportunity to defend her
    rights in relation to her disciplinary dismissal.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)



  • November 14, 2017 UPDATE

    November 14, 2017 UPDATE


    MOTION – The National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union, both in the opposition, have announced they will file together a no-confidence motion against the government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania. Also, the Liberals will call on the Ombudsman to challenge at the Constitutional Court the fiscal reform promoted by the Government. According to the Executive, however, the changes adopted last week, including shifting the responsibility for paying social security contributions from employers to employees and the reduction of the income tax from 16 to 10%, will bring more money to the state budget and to the pension fund and will provide simpler procedures for companies. The measures are due to come into force on January 1st.



    ECONOMIC GROWTH – Romania ranks first in the EU in terms of economic growth, and this is the only way to ensure higher living standards, said on Tuesday the Finance Minister Ionut Misa. According to the Romanian official, the countrys economic situation is significantly better than in 2016, and the current development direction is appreciated by investors and international bodies. According to the Statistical Office of the European Union, in the third quarter of this year Romania registered the highest GDP growth in the EU, 8.6%, as compared to 2016. According to the Romanian Statistics Institute, in 2017 Romanias GDP grew by 2.6% in the third quarter, as compared to the previous quarter, and by 8.8% as compared to the previous year.



    PERSONA NON GRATA – On Tuesday, the Bucharest Court of Appeal declared the Serbian citizen Bratislav Zivkovic, a self-proclaimed commander of a paramilitary group, persona non grata in Romania for a period of 15 years. Between 2012 and 2014 Zivkovic took part in the conflict in eastern Ukraine on the pro-Russian separatists side. According to the Romanian Intelligence Service, he has traveled to Romania several times to collect intelligence. He has drawn up preparatory documents with the aim of procuring and transmitting such information to foreign powers and agencies and of setting up intelligence networks on Romanian soil. He has shown interest in classified documents concerning critical national and allied infrastructure in south-eastern Romania. According to the Service, though, the Serbian has not managed to get any document or classified information.



    CELEBRATION – On Tuesday, Romania celebrated 139 years since the south-eastern province of Dobruja was unified with the country. The province had been, up to that point, under Ottoman rule. In 1878, following the Russian-Romanian-Turkish war, the Congress of Berlin recognized Romanias independence and the province of Dobruja together with the tiny Snake Island in the Black Sea as part of its territory. Authorities in the counties of Tulcea and Constanta staged ceremonies to celebrate this historic event.



    ATP WORLD TOUR – The tennis pair made up of the Romanian Horia Tecau and the Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer stands no chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour in London. On Tuesday, they were defeated by Henri Kontinen of Finland and John Peers of Australia 7-6, 7-6. In their first match on Sunday, the pair also lost to the all French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert / Nicolas Mahut. The next game is due on Thursday, against the pair made up of the American Ryan Harrison and Michael Venus of the New Zealand. This year, Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer have won four titles.




  • September 17, 2016 UPDATE

    September 17, 2016 UPDATE


    CRIMEA On Saturday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced it did not recognize the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections held in Crimea for the Russian Federations State Duma. The Romanian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and recalled that Romania did not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and of the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. Parliamentary elections are due in Russia on Sunday, and are to be also held in Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. According to the polls, quoted by the Radio Romania correspondent in Moscow, only 4 of the 14 parties participating in the elections will be able to go over the 5% threshold. The obvious leader, with 41% of the options, is Vladimir Putins United Russia Party. There follow the Liberal Democratic Party, headed by the hard-liner Vladimir Jirinovski, with 12.4%, the communists, with 7.5%, and “A Just Russia” Party with 6.4%.



    CONDOLENCE Romanias President Klaus Iohannis sent a message of condolence to his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, for the death of the former Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. The Romanian Presidents message reads that president Ciampi was a convinced pro-European, a supporter of the single currency and of the EU enlargement, at a time when Romania was aspiring to become a member. Ciampi died on Friday, aged 95. He had a long political career, during which he was the president of Italy, Prime Minister and Governor of the Central Bank, and played a key role in his countrys accepting the Euro.



    CELEBRATION Romanias capital Bucharest is this weekend playing host to dozens of cultural events, marking 557 years since it was first mentioned in documents. Squares and parks will venue concerts, exhibitions, workshops, fairs, theatre and music shows, parades. Also on Bucharests Days, performing will be bands from Spain, Italy and France. Bucharest was first documented on September 21st, 1459, in a document issued by Vlad the Impaler, who back then was ruler of the medieval principality of Wallachia. He would later become a source of inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula.



    SUMMIT On Friday in Bratislava, EU leaders stated they wanted to turn the Union into a more attractive and safer space for its citizens, after one of its major members, Great Britain, decided to leave. They drew up a set of guidelines for strengthening security and economic development, which should result into a strategy to be adopted at the special summit due in Rome in March. The final declaration in Bratislava highlights immigration control measures, as well as measures aimed at fighting terrorism and radicalisation and at boosting economic growth by means of investment and single market consolidation. At the end of the summit, in which Great Britain did not participate, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis said that, despite the existing crises, the Union was not a chronic patient, but a success. The head of state also said that hed held informal talks with some European leaders also about Romanias joining the Schenghen agreement, and developments in that direction were positive.



    GDP GROWTH The Romanian National Forecast Commission has revised up to 4.8% its estimates regarding economic growth this year. In spring, the Commission had announced a GDP growth of 4.2%. For the next three years, the commission has maintained its forecasts regarding the growth of the GDP at 4.3%, 4.5% and 4.7% respectively. The GDP per capita is to grow constantly in the coming years, from 8,581 Euro in 2016 to 10,587 Euro in 2019.



    TIMISOARA The Romanian Foreign Ministry has hailed the designation of Timisoara, in western Romania, as the European Capital of Culture in 2021 and has stated that promoting the city will be one of its priorities. Thus, Romanian diplomatic missions, consular offices and cultural institutes abroad will help prepare and promote the prestigious status acquired by Timisoara, which is a model of multi-culturalism, diversity, contemporary creativity, innovation and European spirit. Timisoara ran for European Capital of Culture alongside other three cities in Romania: the capital Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Baia Mare in the north-west. Timisoara will share the title with one city in Greece and one in Montenegro. In 2007, another Romanian city, Sibiu, was European Capital of Culture, together with Luxembourg.



    CORRUPTION The former head of the Romanian Lottery, Gheorghe Benea, will be investigated for bribe taking and office peddling, with aggravated consequences. He was previously detained by anti-corruption prosecutors, who had called for his temporary arrest, but he will be prosecuted without being detained, and subject to legal restrictions, pending trial. The case is about a fake tender for the renewal of the Lotterys car fleet. The damage estimated by investigators stands at more than 500,000 Euro.



    OKTOBERFEST The German police tightened security measures before Oktoberfest, the biggest beer festival in the world, which started in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, on Saturday. In early summer, the Germans were terrified by a string of violent attacks perpetrated in Bavaria, of which two committed by asylum seekers inspired by the Islamic State terrorist organization. The festival organizers have stated they have no information that Oktoberfest might become a target for terrorist attacks, but have nonetheless enhanced security by up-sizing security forces and by installing surveillance cameras. For the first time, the area hosting the festival will be fully surrounded by security fences.