Radio România Internațional

Tag: Government decrees

September 1, 2022

WAR IN UKRAINE – A mission of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is today inspecting the Zaporizhzhia
Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in southern Ukraine, currently under the control of
Russian forces. IAEA Director, Rafael Grossi, said the visit is a technical
mission designed to prevent a nuclear accident. The IAEA mission represents a
step towards disoccupation and demilitarization, the Ukrainian Energy
Minister, Herman Haluschenko told Reuters. The Zaporizhzhia NPP is the biggest
nuclear power plant in Europe. The plant was taken over by Russian forces in
March, although it is still operated by Ukrainian personnel under the
surveillance of Russian forces. The plant premises have been repeatedly bombed
in the last month, Kyiv and Moscow blaming each other for the attacks.

INTOLERANCE – President Klaus Iohannis
said that implementing the National Strategy on preventing and combating
anti-Semitism, xenophobia, radicalization and hate speech proves once again
Romania’s commitment to promoting tolerate and peace in society. In his
message, the president said that, in the current context marked by numerous
crises, intolerance and acts of violence against certain categories of people
are intensifying, and such manifestations must not be tolerated.

PARLIAMENT – A new parliament session
started today. MPs are mainly concerned with debating and amending the justice
and education laws. Today, a special Parliament committee is expected to be
created with a view to debating the justice laws. Also today, the Senate is
expected to vote on the draft law on the protection of whistleblowers. The
document was sent back for re-examination by president Klaus Iohannis, and the
Senate’s judicial committee issued a report including a number of amendments.
USR in opposition has criticized the activity of Energy Minister Virgil
Popescu, saying they will file a simple motion against him.

UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate
dropped by 0.2% in Romania compared to 5.2% last month. The rate is by 1.5%
higher among unemployed men, the National Statistics Institute reports.
According to data, unemployment stands at 23% among young people under 24 years
of age. The rate of unemployment was estimated at 4.1% in July among adults
aged 25-74.

GOVERNMENT – The Government is today
expected to pass an emergency decree setting the reference energy price, which
will serve as a threshold for calculating the tax on profit for
across-the-chain activities in the field. The Government thus wants to overtax
large profits obtained as a result of the energy price hikes. The government’s
energy bill capping and subsidizing schemes remain in place. The Government
will also examine another draft law titled The Winter Plan which is expected to
be adopted next week. The Plan includes a number of elements, including the
amount of natural gas reserves. At present, Romania’s gas reserves total 2.2
billion cubic meters, accounting for nearly 73% of the country’s total storage.

SWIMMING – Romanian swimmer David
Popovici won gold in the 200m freestyle event at the World Swimming
Championships in Lima, Peru. Popovici won all the four medals in 200m freestyle
events this summer, namely in European and World junior and senior
competitions. This is Popovici’s second gold medal in Lima, after our athlete
won gold with Romania’s 4x100m relay team. In the same competition, Vladu
Stancu won silver in the 400m freestyle event.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Sorana
Cîrstea is today playing Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, seeded 13th
at the US Open. Another Romanian player, Irina Begu, will also compete in the
second round against Yue Yuan of China. Cîrstea and Begu are the only Romanian
players left in the women’s singles at Flushing Meadows. (VP)

1 September 2022
June 16, 2022

WAR IN UKRAINE – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, this morning
arrived in Kyiv by train, the Romanian Presidency reports. Also today, the
president of France, Emmanuel Macron, the chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz
and the Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi, arrived together with a special
train in the Ukrainian capital-city. The European officials are here to express
Europe’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Kyiv has criticized France,
Germany and, to a lesser extent, Italy for alleged delays in providing Ukraine
with weapons, and for supposedly putting their own prosperity before the
liberty and security of Ukraine. On the other hand, Ukraine’s president,
Volodymyr Zelensky, has thanked US president Joe Biden for the 1-billion-USD
military aid the White House leader previously announced will go to Ukraine.
Moreover, the Ukrainian president accepted the invitation to take part in the
G7 and NATO summits in late June in southern Germany and Madrid, respectively,
although he didn’t mention whether he will be attending the meetings in person
or if he will address the participants by videoconference.

DEFENSE – Romania’s Defense Minister, Vasile Dîncu, attended the
meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the level of NATO defense ministers.
The meeting reviewed progress reported in coordinating the military actions of
approximately 50 participant states and the military and humanitarian
assistance provided to Ukraine. Minister Vasile Dîncu highlighted the need for
the international community to continue their efforts to support Ukraine, the
Defense Ministry reports. Minister Dîncu reiterated Bucharest’s close
involvement in supporting the Ukrainian people, including the over 1.2 million
refugees who have entered Romania since the start of the conflict, as well as
Romania’s efforts in facilitating grain exports from Ukraine with a view to
avoiding a global food crisis.

CFR – The Romanian Rail Company (CFR) will mobilize team of workers
in Galați to start modifying
railways so as to allow freight transports from Ukraine and Moldova to enter
Romania. A total of 5 kilometers of rail will be rehabilitated within 60 days
to ensure the transport of grain from Ukraine, disrupted by Russia’s invasion. The
company has the necessary cranes and vehicles allowing the transfer of cars
from the broad gauge used in Russia and ex-Soviet countries to the standard
gauge used in the EU. To simplify the procedure, the Romanian Transport
Ministry decided to render operational a double-gauge track that was
decommissioned 30 years ago in order to allow the freight trains from Moldova
to unload the cars directly in the cargo boats docked in Danube River ports.

GOVERNMENT – The Government wants to
freeze all hiring in the public sector starting July 1. The government is today
expected to pass an emergency decree suspending all vacancy-filling contests in
public, central and local institutions. Also today the Cabinet will discuss an
emergency decree designed to combat profiteering by banning the introduction of
unwarrantedly high prices as well as capping production and sales with a view
to increase prices. Additionally, the Government wants a ban on hoarding
commodities with the intent of benefiting from future price increases.

EXAMS – Over 150,000 eighth-graders are
today sitting their written exam in mathematics. The exam is part of a nationwide
series of exams pupils take when completing the gymnasium cycle (grades 5-8)
and the results will help them enroll in high schools or vocational schools. On
Monday, pupils took their test in the Romanian language, while pupils who are
members of national minorities will take their mother tongue test tomorrow. The
written Baccalaureate tests are scheduled for next week.

MOTION – The Save Romania Union (USR)
in opposition has filed a simple motion against Education Minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu, blaming him for the high rate
of school dropout and the poor exam results. USR claims Minister Cîmpeanu
introduced changes in the way pupils are examined without taking into account
the opinion of stakeholders. The simple motion will be debated next Monday in
the Chamber of Deputies, with a final vote scheduled for Wednesday. (VP)

16 June 2022
April 28, 2022 UPDATE

REFUGEES – The number of Ukrainian nationals who
crossed the border into Romania went up 30% on Wednesday compared to the
previous day, reads a news release issued by the Romanian Border Police. As
many as 8,635 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania in 24 hours, coming from
Ukraine or the R. of Moldova. Since the start of the crisis over 2 months ago,
over 800,000 Ukrainians have come into Romania. Meanwhile, the UN Refugee
Agency (UNHCR) announced in a conference in Geneva that over 8 million
Ukrainians may leave their country. According to the UNHCR spokesperson Shabia
Mantoo, the Agency and its partners intend to raise 1.85 billion USD to support
an estimated 8.3 million refugees in Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, Poland,
Romania and Slovakia, as well as in other countries in the region, including
Belarus, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

UKRAINE – The authorities in Ukraine
are hopeful about the future, despite the current difficulties, Romanian Senate
Speaker, Florin Cîțu, said upon his return from Kyiv. Florin Cîțu visited the
Ukrainian capital to attend the first congress of local authorities held since
the start of the Russian invasion. Florin Cîțu said talks focused primarily on
reconstruction. Ukraine needs support for this effort, and it is clear the
country needs further assistance in order to defend itself, the Romanian
official pointed out.

TROOPS – The Romanian defence ministry announced that the Romanian
Army currently has no troops deployed in the Republic of Moldova to take part
in drills or other joint training programmes. The statement comes after a
Russian-language publication released fake news according to which Romania
plans to attack Transnistria with NATO support, and then to annex the
Republic of Moldova, and claimed that Romanian troops have already been
deployed to the neighboring country. Disinformation on Russian channels follows
a number of attacks by unknown perpetrators, which took place in the past few
days in Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway region in the east of the
Republic of Moldova.

GOVERNMENT – The government on Thursday passed an
emergency decree allowing economic operators on the Romanian Black Seacoast to
sign contracts for renting and operating the newly created beach areas. In this
context, the Minister of Tourism and Entrepreneurship, Constantin-Daniel
Cadariu, announced that over 100 hotels will open their doors to guests for the
May 1 mini-holiday, which have already booked approximately 80% of their units.
Also on Thursday, the government passed another emergency decree implementing
the provisions of the Omnibus Directive, whereby Romanian consumers will
benefit from the same rights and protection as European citizens. The
government also passed a draft law for the recognition of babysitters as a
professional category of workers providing families with child day-care and
monitoring services. Additionally, the government approved the setup,
organization and functioning of the cross-ministry committee on climate change,
which will be coordinated by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă.

NATURAL GAS – The European Union
told Russia it would not give in to blackmail, after Moscow discontinued
natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, which had refused to pay for
natural gas in rubles. The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen
said the Union had other options to make up for the suspended deliveries, and
warned member states not to breach the sanctions imposed by the EU after
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We have to guarantee alternative supplies and the
best possible storage levels across the EU, Von der Leyen explained. EU member
states have implemented emergency plans for such a scenario and we have worked
together in coordination and solidarity, the EU official added.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep on
Thursday ousted Shuai Zhang of China in the opening round at the Mutua Madrid
Open. Sorana Cîrstea however lost to Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain, while Irina
Begu was defeated by Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. The Madrid Open takes place
between April 28 and May 7. Simona Halep won the 2016 and 2017 editions.

RUGBY -
Romania’s rugby team has qualified to the 2023 World Cup in France after Spain
was disqualified for using an ineligible player in two matches held as part of
the 2021-2022 Rugby Europe Championship. World Rugby had previously opened an
investigation following a query submitted by Romania, after finishing the Group
in 3rd place. We recall Romania too was disqualified from the 2019
World Cup for using an ineligible player.
(AMP
& VP)

28 April 2022
April 28, 2021 UPDATE

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA -Over 2,200 new cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in Romania on
Wednesday. The number of hospitalized patients is around 10,000. Of these, more
than 1,300 are in intensive care. The total toll, since the beginning of the
pandemic in February last year, has exceeded 1,050,000 cases of infection and
27,800 deaths. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has once again called
on the population to get vaccinated, stating that this is the only way to end
the pandemic. The authorities want to accelerate the vaccination process by
opening new vaccination centers over the coming days. On Thursday, the first
drive-through center will be opened in Bucharest, where people will be able to
get the jab without prior appointment. Moreover, between May 7-9, a marathon of
anti-Covid vaccination will be organized in the Capital. Currently, about a
thousand vaccination centers are active, with a capacity of over 120,000
immunized people / day. So far, about 3.2 million Romanians have been
vaccinated.

HOLIDAY -Before the May 1st mini-holiday, which this year coincides with the
Orthodox Easter holiday, Prime Minister Florin Cîţu calls on the population to
keep observing anti-coronavirus sanitary rules, even if Romania is now on a
descending slope of the third wave of the pandemic. He has urged the prefects
and the police to take all measures to ensure compliance with the health rules
in place. In the Romanian resorts on the Black Sea, over 30 thousand tourists
are expected during the mini-holiday of May 1 and Easter. About 100 hotels will
be opened, many of them already occupied at 70% capacity, the maximum allowed
by the authorities. Tourists are not allowed to party on the beach, and wearing
a mask is mandatory.

GOVERNMENT -The Government in
Bucharest on Wednesday approved two projects for the repair and modernization
of the Romanian railways as well as a loan worth 150 million Euro from the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which will be used to reform
the health-care system. Also on Wednesday the Government adopted an emergency
decree for the protection of Romanian workers abroad, which will also help combat
illegal employment more effectively. The decree also aims to prevent and reduce
the possible effects caused by the existence of situations of force majeure or
health crisis.

VISIT – Romania’s Foreign Minister,
Bogdan Aurescu, on Wednesday met his Hungarian counterpart, Péter
Szijjártó, in Gyula, Hungary, home to an important community of Romanians. The
two officials signed a cooperation protocol focusing on national minorities and
two agreements modifying the bilateral judicial framework with a view to
creating two border crossing points, in Variaşu Mic/Dombegyhaza and
Grăniceri/Elek. Minister Aurescu said Bucharest expects Hungary to provide
financial support to Romanian-language teaching, develop the network of schools
and high schools and provide the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric in Budapest with a
property. The Romanian official also discussed with his Hungarian counterpart
about employing Romanian speakers in public institutions in those towns and
villages with Romanian minorities, restoring Romanian churches and the
financing and encouragement of Romanian-language print press and audiovisual
media. Also on Wednesday, Bogdan Aurescu met with representatives of the
Romanian community in Hungary, discussing the protection and promotion of
ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious rights.

MOLDOVA – The
pro-European president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, on Wednesday
announced she signed the decree for the dissolution of Parliament and the
organization of early parliamentary elections on July 11. The decision followed
a Constitutional Court ruling invalidating Parliament’s decision to declare a
state of emergency for 60 days until May 30, during which time Parliament
cannot be dissolved and early election cannot be held.

BREXIT – The European Parliament on
Wednesday ratified the post-Brexit trade agreement between the EU and the UK,
after MEPs debated and voted the agreement on Tuesday. Parliament explained
that, although it’s not ideal, the agreement is the best option to curb some of
the serious effects of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU and securing the
integrity of the single market. The document instates new preferential clauses,
including trading in goods and services, digital trade, copyright, public
procurement, aviation and rail transport, energy or fishing. Wednesday’s vote
thus puts an end a period of four years of difficult negotiations and debates.

TENNIS -
Romanian tennis players Simona Halep and Sorana Cîrstea on Thursday will play in the first round of the WTA
1000 tournament in Madrid, totaling 2.5 million Euro in prizes. Halep (3 WTA)
has won the tournament twice, in 2016 and 2017. She will play Sara Sorribes
Tormo (46 WTA) of Spain. Cîrstea (58 WTA) will take on Jessica Pegula (33 WTA)
of the United States, a week after winning the title in Istanbul. On Wednesday,
another two Romanians entered the main draw. Ana Bogdan (102 WTA) defeated
Japan’s Nao Hibino (82 WTA), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In turn, Irina Begu (75 WTA) won
6-3, 6-3 against Stefanie Voegele (127 WTA) of Switzerland. (V.P.)

28 April 2021
March 20, 2017

DEFENSE — The country’s Supreme Defence Council is convening tomorrow in Bucharest in a meeting chaired by President Klaus Iohannis. The main topics on the agenda are outfitting the army and Romania’s presence at the NATO Summit in Brussels, to be held over May 24-25. Council members will also discuss progress reported last year as part of the program to upgrade and develop the army by 2026, as well as other national security topics. At the previous meeting of January 31, the Council gave a favourable opinion on the budgets of institutions operating in the field of national security, as per the state budget for 2017.

DECREES — The Government’s decrees no. 6 and 9, which triggered the opposition’s vocal criticism, are this week being debated in the Chamber of Deputies after being passed by the Senate. Decree no. 6 refers to the funding of the National Local Development Program, while decree no. 9 eliminates spending ceilings for public authorities. The Liberals in opposition claim the decrees are aimed at helping channel huge sums of money to the Social-Democratic Party’s political supporters, also nullifying fundamental articles in the law on fiscal accountability. In turn, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said the funds earmarked under decree no. 6 come in response to the high number of applications for funding filed by local authorities, including opposition mayors, and thus called on the opposition to support Romania’s development projects.

MILITARY EXERCISE — Over 1,200 Romanian and United States military are these days taking part in the Spring Storm 2017 joint military exercise involving naval, air and ground forces. Today’s training sheet includes launching anti-air missiles, mortar firing and infantry fire practice. The exercise, which will come to an end on March 22, is part of the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership action plan and reflects NATO’s efforts to ensure the security of its allies in the Black Sea area. The aim of the exercise is to increase the interoperability of participating forces. The exercise employs complex defence tactics carried out on the Romanian Black Sea coast and urban areas, with naval, ground and air support.

FRANCOPHONIE — The Romanian Foreign Ministry marks the International Francophonie Day by means of two diplomatic events open to the public. In central Bucharest, authorities will unveil the statue of Leopold Sedar Senghor, the co-founder of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), the precursor of present-day International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), and a well-established political and cultural figure of Senegal. The second event will be held this evening, when the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations and Institutions in Romania will organize the Francophonie Awards gala. Apart from other events held in Bucharest, Romania’s embassies abroad are organizing various events on this occasion. The International Francophonie Day is celebrated every year on March 20, the day when the institutional basis of La Francophonie was laid in 1970. At present, OIF totals 84 member and observer states and governments from across the world. In a 2014 report, the world’s French-speaking population was estimated to stand at some 274 million people. Romania has been member of the OIF since 1993 and hosted the 11th Francophonie Summit in 2006.

MEETING — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on Sunday in Hanover, central Germany, where they argued in favour of free trade and open and free markets, as a response to Donald Trump protectionist economic policies, France Press reports. The meeting comes ahead of the opening of CeBIT, the world’s biggest computer expo, where this year Japan is a guest. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is on a tour of Europe, said economic can grow by means of inter-connectivity, with Japan being a direct beneficiary of free trade and an advocate of open systems, along with Germany.

FOOTBALL — Romania’s national team today assembled in Bucharest to train ahead of Sunday’s match against Denmark, to be played in Cluj, north-western Romania. The match counts towards preliminary Group E as part of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia. After trouncing Armenia 5-nil, drawing 1-all against Montenegro at home and nil-all against Kazakhstan away from home, losing nil-3 against Poland in Bucharest, Romania is ranked 4th in the group tables, with 5 points. We recall that Romania is coached by German Cristoph Daum, the first foreign coach in the history of the Romanian team, after last year’s subpar performance at the 2016 European Championships in France. (Translated by V. Palcu)

20 March 2017