Radio România Internațional

Tag: green certificate

  • A new contamination threshold – 40 thousand cases

    A new contamination threshold – 40 thousand cases

    On Tuesday Romania exceeded 40,000 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours – the highest since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The figure is more than double the peak figure of the previous autumn wave. Also, the highest number of tests in one single day was made – over 122,000, and one in three results confirmed the infection. The coordinator of the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign, doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă, considers that, at present, the testing capacity is not comparable to that of other countries.



    On a private television station, he said that although the testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 has increased in Romania, not enough tests are being made yet. According to him, in order to have the real number of infections, six times more tests should be made. On the other hand, about 10,000 people diagnosed with Covid-19 are hospitalized in health facilities across the country, double the number reported two weeks ago. There are about one thousand patients in ICUs. More than three-quarters of them are unvaccinated. And the number of hospitalized children is constantly increasing, hundreds being hospitalized and a few dozen being in ICUs.



    The authorities warn that in order to limit the spread of coronavirus, health protection measures alone are not enough, and that testing from the first symptoms of the disease is very important. And since ambulances can hardly cope with the large number of cases, several centers have been opened where symptomatic people can go to be tested, including in the offices of some family doctors. Even if the number of contaminations is growing alarmingly, the number of people who get vaccinated for the first time is far too low, several thousand per day, compared to the authorities expectations.



    As to the green certificate, it is still valid in Romania also for the people who have exceeded nine months from the second dose, even if, as of February 1, in the European Union its validity has been limited to this period without the booster dose. However, the head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, warns that Romania will soon have to adapt to the EU rules, and people who had the second vaccine dose more than nine months ago will have to get vaccinated with the third dose so as to keep the validity of the green certificate.



    In the meantime, Romania has given up listing countries according to the Covid-19 incidence rate, and all people entering Romania will be quarantined for five days no matter where they come from, unless they provide a proof of vaccination, of having had the disease or a negative result of a PCR test. The National Committee for Emergency Situations has also established a 5-day quarantine period for people who get in contact with a Covid-19 patient, even if they are vaccinated, because of the most contagious variant of the coronavirus – Omicron. (LS)

  • Omicron – testing and vaccination

    Omicron – testing and vaccination

    Romania seems to
    have overcome the fourth wave of the pandemic, although many fear the fifth is
    just days away. This may be fueled by the emergence of a new strain of the
    virus, Omicron, developed in south Africa and considered extremely contagious.
    A TAROM aircraft will bring home the remaining Romanian citizens who were left
    stranded in South Africa after several flights were cancelled. Under the EU’s
    Civil Protection Mechanism, a few other dozen EU citizens will be able to board
    the Romanian aircraft. Starting this week, after the National Day mini-holiday,
    rapid saliva tests will be performed periodically in the case of pre-school and school children. Testing kits will be accompanied by instructions manuals,
    and the procedure must be carried out in a fully sanitized environment. Pupils
    will be tested either in school or at home, by parents, based on the decision
    of each schooling unit.

    Education trade unions have threatened to stage
    protests unless testing is performed exclusively at home. Union leaders also
    warn that saliva tests do not observe any health safety regulation, as they are
    expected to be handled by at least three other people before reaching pupils,
    given that every component is wrapped and sealed individually in a regular kit.
    Education Minister, Sorin
    Cîmpeanu, responded saying that testing kits reached schools broken down in
    components everywhere in Europe, and that teachers can help assemble them.
    Meanwhile, interest in vaccination remains low. Less than 50,000 doses of
    Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson were administered on
    Sunday in Romania, of which less than 11 thousand were the first dose.
    According to authorities, some 7.5 million people have completed the full
    vaccination scheme, whereas 1.5 million people have taken three doses of the
    vaccine.

    The Chamber of Deputies in Romania will try to adopt a bill, similar
    to other European states, making the so-called green COVID certificate
    mandatory in workplaces. The new prime minister, Liberal Nicolae Ciucă, has
    called on MPs to vote the document, whereas Health Minister, Social-Democrat
    Alexandru Rafila, claims the certificate must be introduced when the infection
    rate goes up for three consecutive weeks and eliminated when the infection rate
    goes down. (VP)

  • Commissioner Thierry Breton pays visit to Bucharest

    Commissioner Thierry Breton pays visit to Bucharest

    The visit of the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, to Bucharest comes at a complicated time: the country has an interim government, and statistics on infections with the novel coronavirus are still worrying, even though the number of cases reported daily has fallen. Thierry Breton says that, with the coming of winter, the low vaccination rate endangers the health of Romanians, which is also an obstacle in the way of the full recovery of the country and the European Union as a whole.



    The European official’s discussions with the Romanian authorities, with health professionals and non-governmental organizations representaives were a plea in favor of vaccination and introducing the green certificate, an issue tackled bya draft law currently debated in the Chamber of Deputies. The vote on the green COVID certificate, together with the vaccine, ensures survival during the pandemic, says the European Commissioner, Thierry Breton, who added that it is high time Europeans were united, because only together this war can be won. He went on to say: We are all Europeans, we share the same values. Its time to act. We cant postpone it for a few months, because the virus isnt waiting. It is important that the green certificate is voted on and used, because we know that vaccination and the green certificate are the key to ensuring our survival and it is equally important that we should be part of the European community, the EU Commissioner added.



    Thierry Breton gas given assurances that the European Commission will continue its efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and called on Member States to properly use the tools and mechanisms created within the EU. The EU Commissioner met with the interim ministers of defense and health and was received by President Klaus Iohannis. The latter praised the European Commissions support for managing the health crisis and emphasized the need to continue to coordinate Member States actions and maintain unity at EU level.



    Klaus Iohannis reiterated that the vaccine is the main tool in fighting SARS-CoV-2. Regarding the green certificate, the pace of debates in the Chamber of deputies, which is the decision-making body in this case, seems to have got in tune with the pace of negotiations between the National Liberal Party – PNL and the Social Democratic Party – PSD on the future government. The political crisis delays the adoption in Parliament of the law on imposing the green certificate, says the head of the Health Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, the Liberal Nelu Tătaru. The parliamentary parties have so far failed to agree on the number of days for which testing for unvaccinated employees will be covered from the state budget. The Liberals have proposed 30 days, while the Social Democrats would like a 60-day grace period. A political agreement in the government will speed up the adoption of the green certificate. (LS)

  • Is the green certificate becoming the norm?

    Is the green certificate becoming the norm?

    In Romania, the debate on imposing the obligation of a green certificate for certain professional categories is not new. The large number of antivaxxers and vaccine sceptics, translated into a low immunisation rate, the one but last in the European Union, makes the debate all the more useful.

    There is a bill in Parliament now that stipulates that staff in hospitals, the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Public Health, the National Health Insurance House and their subordinate institutions could be required to present the green certificate at the beginning of the work program. Employees in private hospitals are also targeted.

    The certificate will provide evidence of one of the following: vaccination against COVID-19, the holder of the document has had the disease and is in the period between the 15th and 180th day after confirmation of infection with the SARS-VOC-2 virus or the negative result of a PCR test, or of a rapid antigen test .In the case of public units, the tests will be paid by the employee, but for those who can prove with medical documents that they have contraindications to vaccination, the tests will be paid by the employer. For private units, the costs will be borne according to the procedures established at company level, either by the employees or by the employer.

    The interim Minister of Health, Cseke Atilla, has specified that compared to the option currently under public debate, the new version provides for the introduction of the mandatory digital certificate also for the Ministry of Health and its subordinated units, including the National Health Insurance House and its subordinated divisions.

    Interim Prime Minister Florin Cîţu has added that he would like this green COVID certificate to be used in all economic activities. If we still want to have an open economy, I think this is a measure that would help a lot, the prime minister stressed. With more than 130,000 dead, Italy paid a painful price at the start of the pandemic more than a year and a half ago.

    The country is now at the forefront of measures to overcome resistance to vaccination. The COVID-19 health certificate is, as of Friday, mandatory in the Peninsula, both in the public and in the private sector.Vaccination had already become mandatory for the medical staff, and the certificate was being required also of teachers.

    The Draghi government said, however, that it was still not enough to ensure a level of immunity that would prevent new outbreaks of COVID-19 that could disrupt economic activity, FP’ reports. In Italy, over 80% of the people over the age of 12 have gone through the full vaccination regimen and 85% got at least the first dose. The measure that came into force on Friday is meant to encourage vaccination, but is being rejected by millions of employees. (MI)

  • September 28, 2021 UPDATE

    September 28, 2021 UPDATE

    Covid — On Tuesday over 11,000 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Romania, which is an absolute record since the beginning of the pandemic, out of over 73,000 tests, which is also a record. Most cases are in Bucharest, almost 2,000, and the contamination rate in the capital has exceeded 5.5 cases per thousand inhabitants. Over 660 localities have over 3 Covid-19 cases per thousand inhabitants, accumulated in 14 days. On Tuesday, the authorities announced that 1,267 seriously ill patients are being treated in intensive care, including 17 minors. 208 Covid- associated deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours. On the other hand, the 3rd dose of Covid vaccine started being administered in Romania on Tuesday, as the country is in the grips of the 4th pandemic wave, when the number of infections and hospitalized people is skyrocketing. Over 20 thousand Romanians got vaccinated with the 3rd dose on the first day of the campaign, the authorities showed. Over 22 thousand have been vaccinated in the past 24 hours with the 1st or 2nd dose. The coordinator of the vaccination campaign, Valeriu Gheorghiţă, said on Tuesday that the COVID vaccine coverage in Romania stands at about 33%, and in Bucharest at 51.1%.



    Resignation – The Liberal Adrian Oros resigned the position of minister of agriculture and rural development, saying that “for prime minister Florin Cîţu, agriculture and the food industry were never priorities”. He says the ministry’s budget for this year is 60% that of last year, which has a negative impact on ongoing projects, and that no major project in agriculture was included in the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience. Adrian Oros was the only minister in the Cîţu cabinet to support Ludovic Orban as leader of the National Liberal Party. Cîţu won the leadership of the party for the next four years. At the beginning of September, the Save Romania Union USR – PLUS Alliance withdrew from the ruling coalition with the Liberals and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania following a disagreement over a regional development fund and filed a no-confidence motion in Parliament, refusing to return to government with Cîţu as prime minister.



    Motion — The censure motion submitted to Parliament by the Social Democratic Party (in opposition) on Tuesday will be read on Thursday, in a plenary session, and will be debated and voted next Tuesday, the joint Permanent Bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have decided. As for the censure motion initiated by USR PLUS, former no. 2 in the government coalition, and the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians – AUR, the joint Permanent Bureaus did not set a timetable. They decided to wait for the motivation of the Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the notification submitted by the Liberal prime minister Florin Cîţu related to the existence of a constitutional conflict between the Government and Parliament. On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court admitted the notification of the prime minister in relation to this censure motion, but claims that the motion can be debated and voted. The motion was registered on September 3 and read in the Parliament’s plenary session on September 9. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania – UDMR, which remained in the governing coalition alongside the National Liberal Party – PNL, has called for urgently restoring the governing coalition to overcome the political crisis.



    Certificate – The European Covid certificate may become mandatory for Romanian healthcare staff working in the public and private sectors, under a new bill proposed by the health ministry. The certificate serves as proof that a person is fully vaccinated against Covid, has tested negative for the virus or has recovered from the infection in the last six months. Medical staff who does not meet any of the three conditions face suspension for a month and even termination of the labor contract later on. The bill also stipulates that the staff will have to pay for the Covid tests. Employers will only cover testing costs for persons who are advised against getting the vaccine for health reasons.



    Ash cloud – The ash cloud released into the atmosphere after the eruption of the volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma in the Canary Islands reached the territory of Romania. The particles containing sulfur dioxide and other chemicals have been pushed by the wind through the west of Romania, spreading across the country. The particles will start disappearing as of Wednesday. Romanian experts are monitoring the air quality and have given assurances that there are no reasons for concern at the moment. Meanwhile, on the island in the Atlantic Ocean, the population of the non-evacuated areas was advised to stay in their homes and not to open the windows. The volcano released lava into the atmosphere again, accompanied by toxic gases.



    Visit – The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), Natalia Gavriliţa, met on Tuesday, during her official visit to Brussels, with Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport, and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy. According to a press release from the Moldovan government, the talks focused on the importance of transport as a connection element between the EU and the Republic of Moldova, but also as a potential for economic development for the Moldovan businesspeople, on the role of the Union in developing the energy sector in the Republic of Moldova, on possibilities of completing the projects started with the neighboring countries and which can be an alternative to the gas and electricity supply of the Republic of Moldova. (LS)

  • September 23, 2021

    September 23, 2021

    Covid — The COVID-19 epidemic in Romania continues on an upward trend. On Wednesday a new, unprecedented threshold for this year was exceeded. 7,045 new cases of coronavirus infection have been reported out of almost 54,000 tests. Most new cases have been reported in Bucharest, where the contamination rate is maintained at over 1,000 new cases in 24 hours. 130 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours. The number of COVID patients in ICUs exceeded 1,000, a situation that has not been recorded since the first half of May. More than 300 localities across Romania, including the capital, are in the red scenario, after the infection rates exceeded the threshold of 3 per thousand.




    Ambassador – Romania has been a candidate for accession to the Visa Waiver program for almost 15 years, said the new Romanian ambassador to Washington, Andrei Muraru, who recalled that there are only three EU member states whose citizens need a short – stay visa on the territory of the US. According to Andrei Muraru, the visa rejection rate is currently at a fairly high level, around 10%, but he pointed out that the Romanian authorities are working with the American side so that a maximum rejection rate of 3% can be reached, which is necessary for accessing to the Visa Waiver program. The Romanian ambassador to the US also said that an information campaign will be organized in Bucharest for citizens to find out how they can apply for a visa, what the reasons are for the rejection of their application and why they should not apply, since they do not meet the criteria that the American side considers fundamental.




    Exercise — A ship of the Romanian Navy, the “Vice Admiral Constantin Bălescu” minesweeper leaves, today, from the Military Port of Constanţa (southeast), to participate in the operation EUNAVFOR MED “Irini”, in the Mediterranean Sea, from October 1 to December 31. The Romanian military sailors will ensure the observance of the arms embargo imposed on Libya by the United Nations. Their mission also aims to combat illicit trafficking in oil products, drugs and people by monitoring maritime traffic and carrying out inspections of suspicious vessels in the Mediterranean basin. A detachment of navy combat divers is on board the ship. The 85 crew members were vaccinated against COVID, tested and quarantined in the accommodation facilities of the Romanian Navy before departure.




    Covid certificate — The COVID green certificate remains in force in those localities where the infection rate is or exceeds 3 per thousand inhabitants, for access to restaurants, bars, shows or private events, and in the case of children the certificate will be mandatory for those over 12 years, according to the decision made today by the Romanian authorities. Until now, the certificate was necessary for children aged over 6. Another measure allows businesses to also operate after 6 p.m. if the infection rate is between 3 and 6 per thousand inhabitants. The night quarantine will be established on weekends in those localities where the infection rate exceeds 6 per thousand and throughout the week in areas where the COVID-19 incidence is over 7.5 per thousand. The PM Florin Cîţu has today announced that the vaccinated people will be allowed to leave the house without a self-declaration in the localities where the quarantine was imposed. On the other hand, the emergency ordinance regarding the COVID digital certificate was adopted by the Senate, as the first legislative chamber notified, and will be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, as a decision-making body in this case. The COVID digital certificate was created in the European Union to facilitate free movement during the pandemic. The document – which can only be verified by scanning the QR code – certifies vaccination, the existence of a negative test or the recovery from the disease.




    Ordinance – The Romanian government has approved an emergency ordinance under which drivers who have to repair their cars based on a car insurance policy issued by the City Insurance company will be compensated faster through the Insured Guarantee Fund. They will not have to wait until the court finally declares the bankruptcy of the former leader on the insurance market, a procedure that can last more than a year. At the time of the recent withdrawal of the operating license, City Insurance had 3 million insurance policies issued. (LS)

  • The green certificate, compulsory in Romania

    The green certificate, compulsory in Romania

    The green certificate, attesting vaccination, negative testing or recovery from Covid-19 is compulsory in Romania upon entering cinemas, restaurants, gyms, or attending public and private events, such as sports competitions or weddings and baptisms, in areas where the infection rate is between 3 to 6 per thousand. Children below the age of 6 are the only category exempted from this rule. The decision was taken by Government Order on Friday. In keeping with the new measures in place, access to cinemas and theatres is allowed at half capacity and face masks are compulsory indoors. In bars, clubs and discos, the allowed capacity is 30% while protests can be attended by 100 participants at the most.



    State Secretary with the Interior Ministry, Raed Arafat, has said that the recent measures taken by the Government do not create discrimination: “First of all, I would like to emphasizes the fact that this Order has not imposed restrictions. Instead of shutting down economic activity when the infection rate of 3 per thousand is exceeded, we came up with solutions to keep economy open and have sanitary monitoring. This means we cannot speak of discrimination. We allow all categories to participate, on one condition: to be either vaccinated, have a negative test or having recovered from the disease. “



    PM Florin Cîţu said that by making the green certificate compulsory, the Government has tried to keep the schools and the economy open. On the other hand, representatives of the National Council for Combating Discrimination say that the green certificate should have not been adopted by Government Order, but by law passed in Parliament, arguing that it restricts some basic rights. They have given the example of France, which, at the beginning of August, implemented similar measures, after passing a law in this respect in parliament.



    The National Council for Combating Discrimination does not rule out the possibility for some people to file complaints against the state, for discrimination. In his turn, the former head of the Constitutional Court of Romania, Augustin Zegrean, believes that the measures taken through administrative acts and not by law in Parliament could become useless, if this controversy reaches the Constitutional Court.



    In Europe, Italy, one of the countries most affected by coronavirus, is the first country that made the Covid-19 green certificate compulsory for all employees in the public and private system. The measure will be implemented as of October 15, and will be in force until the end of the year. We remind you that starting August 13, 2021, only digital certificates are the documents recognized as proofs of vaccination, negative testing or recovery from Covid-19. Crossing the borders is also possible without presenting these certificates, but with the observance of the restrictions in place in every state. (EE)



  • September 16, 2021 UPDATE

    September 16, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID-19 – 4,441 new cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in
    the last 24 hours in Romania, the Group for Strategic Communication announced
    on Thursday. During the same interval, 71 related fatalities were also
    reported. 741 patients are being treated in intensive care. In other news, the
    so-called Green Covid certificate, attesting vaccination, negative testing or
    recovery from COVID-19 will become compulsory for attending a number of
    activities in towns and villages where the infection rate is over 3 per
    thousand inhabitants. The decision was passed on Thursday by the National
    Committee for Emergency Situations. People will require to present the
    certificate to enter pubs and restaurants, pools and gyms or attend public or
    private events. The decision needs to be transposed into a Government decree to
    take effect.




    LAW – President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday ratified the law on
    vulnerable consumers. The new piece of legislation introduces social protection
    measures for low-income people and families struggling to cover energy bills.
    The law will take effect on November 1, 2021, and will address people living
    alone with a monthly net income below 414 Euro and families where each member
    earns a monthly income of 370 Euro. Labor Minister Raluca Turcan estimates the
    new law will benefit some 500 thousand households, given that electricity and
    gas prices have gone up all over Europe in recent months. The Government is
    also considering subsidizing electricity and natural gas bills, and discussed a
    draft emergency decree in this respect in Wednesday’s meeting. According to the
    Prime Minister, the Cabinet is also considering a cap on energy and gas prices.




    MOTION – In Bucharest, the Alliance
    for the Union of Romanians (AUR) an ultranationalist party in opposition,
    announced a parliamentary strike starting Thursday. AUR MPs say they will
    attend Parliament’s sessions, but they will not vote any of the draft laws. The
    party leader accused the fact that the no-confidence motion filed jointly with
    USR-PLUS was not submitted to vote and debate. The motion was filed on
    September 3 and read out in a plenary sitting on September 9. On the other
    hand, the Constitutional Court of Romania is expected to discuss on September
    28 a Government notification over an alleged institutional conflict linked to
    the filing of the no-confidence motion. In his notification, Prime Minister Florin Cîţu claims the motion was an unconstitutional,
    disloyal and abusive action against the executive power, since it was filed,
    submitted and transmitted with the violation of constitutional provisions. A
    vote on the motion is expected once the Court has issued a ruling.




    NATO – Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Daniel Petrescu
    will take part over September 17-19 in the conference of the NATO Military
    Committee, which will bring together heads of military from allied countries in
    Athens, Greece. Talks will also tackle NATO operations, missions and
    activities. Additionally, the conference will also address means of
    implementing the Deterrence
    and Defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area, and NATO’s Warfighting Capstone Concept.
    According to the Romanian Defense Ministry, the Military Committee will analyze
    the NATO 2030 initiative and all its military implications and opportunities.




    CONNECTING EUROPE – EU Commissioner for
    Transport, Adina Vălean, on Friday will travel to Romania to greet the arrival
    in Romania of Connecting Europe Express, a special train designed in the
    European Year of Rail, the European Commission’s office in Romania reports. The
    train will stop in over 100 towns and cities during its five-week journey,
    before arriving in Paris on October 7. The train will travel 20,000 km across
    33 border crossing points. It will depart from Lisbon and, before reaching
    Paris, it will stop in Ljubljana, connecting the Portuguese, Slovenian and
    French presidencies of the Council of the EU. (VP)







  • June 3, 2021

    June 3, 2021




    Green certificate. The green
    vaccination certificate will be launched on July 1 at European level, and
    Romania is currently on schedule with the procedures for the document to be
    available starting with this date, announced on Thursday Andrei Baciu,
    Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health. The authorities will launch a
    secure online platform, where the certificate can be downloaded. Authenticity
    will be guaranteed by a QR code, which can be scanned at customs, and it can be
    presented both on paper and on the phone. The certificate attests either the
    fact that a person was vaccinated against COVID, or the fact that they had the
    disease, through a not very old positive PCR test, or the absence of infection
    at that time, proven by a negative PCR test. The vaccination of children aged
    12 to 15 has also begun, after the European Medicines Agency authorized the
    serum for this age group. As of December 27, 2020, almost eight million doses
    of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been
    administered in Romania throughout the country. More than 4.3 million people
    have been immunized, most of them with both doses. The number of new cases of
    COVID-19 remains low. All Romanian counties are in the green zone, the aggregate
    incidence rate in 14 days being below one case per thousand inhabitants. On Thursday,
    196 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 of infection were reported in more than 31,770
    tests. 365 people are in intensive care. Several measures to ease the
    restrictions came into force on 1 June.








    Eurobarometer. Three quarters
    of Romanians (76%) believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has had or will have an
    impact on their personal financial situation, while the EU average is 57%,
    according to the latest Eurobarometer commissioned by the European Parliament
    and presented on Thursday. The opinion poll, conducted in March-April, shows
    the growing impact of the pandemic on the personal lives and financial
    situation of citizens. According to the Eurobarometer, despite the financial
    impact of the pandemic, most respondents (58% in the EU and 45% in Romania,
    respectively) believe that the health benefits of restrictions in their country
    outweigh the negative economic effects they may have caused. The opinion is
    present in most EU countries and suggests a change of attitude as compared to
    the second half of 2020, when a small majority of citizens considered the
    economic effects to be more important. Almost half of the citizens (48% in the
    EU, 41% in Romania) know about the measures taken by Brussels to fight the
    pandemic, but only 48% of the EU citizens, respectively 52% in Romania, say
    they are satisfied with them.






    Schengen. The European
    Commission supports the rapid entry of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia into the
    Schengen area, Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said. Yesterday, in
    Brussels, the strategy for reforming the European free movement area was
    presented. The European Commission recalls in the strategy that Romania and
    Bulgaria have received positive evaluations on Schengen integration, and
    recently this has also become the case for Croatia. At present, 22 Member
    States of the Union, together with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and
    Switzerland, are part of the free movement area without border controls.




    Government. In today’s
    meeting, the Romanian Government will adopt the roadmap for the digitalization
    of Romania for the next 10 years, through which it wants citizens and companies
    to communicate simply, quickly and efficiently with state institutions. Another
    topic on the agenda is the draft emergency ordinance extending the granting of
    the allowance of 41.5% of average gross earnings to persons who had concluded
    before the state of emergency copyright and related rights contracts and who
    have benefited from the allowance provided by law.




    Moldova. The European
    Commission approved on Wednesday an economic recovery plan for the Republic of
    Moldova (ex-Soviet, mostly Romanian-speaking) worth 600 million euros for the
    next three years. The package is based on five pillars: public finance
    management and economic governance, competitive economics, trade and SMEs,
    infrastructure, education and employment, as well as the rule of law and
    justice reform. Romania has repeatedly state that it will remain the main
    partner of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and will continue to support
    Chisinau’s efforts to join the European path.




    Tennis. At the Roland Garros tournament Romanian
    players Mihaela Buzarnescu and Patricia Tig are playing today in the doubles
    against the pair made up of Lara Arruabarrena of Spain / Caroline Dolehide of
    the USA. Also today, Irina Begu of Romania/Nadia Podoroska of Argentina will take on the
    French pair Estelle Cascino/Jessika Ponchet. In the singles event, Romania has two players left in
    the third round, Ana Bogdan and Sorana Cirstea. On Friday, Cirstea will play
    against the Russian Daria Kasatkina, and Bogdan against Paula Badosa Gibert of
    Spain. In the men’s doubles, the Romanian – German pair Horia Tecau/Kevin Krawietz will
    play, on Friday, against Yen-Hsun Lu(Taiwan)/Yoshihito Nishioka(Japan). (MI)



  • May 21, 2021

    May 21, 2021

    Covid-19RO. The number of new cases of coronavirus
    infection has been dropping in Romania. Only 484 cases were reported on Friday,
    out of 34,000 tests performed in 24 hours. The number of patients in intensive
    care has dropped too, down to 636. 49 Covid-related deaths were reported on Friday.
    The vaccination campaign continues. More than 4 million people have been
    vaccinated, 3 million of whom with both doses. In Bucharest, 36% of the
    population got at least the first jab.






    EU certificate. The European Parliament and the EU Member
    States have reached an agreement on the European digital Covid Certificate, which aims to facilitate travel
    in the EU. The so called ‘green certificate’ would allow anyone in the bloc to
    obtain a digital proof of coronavirus vaccination status, COVID test results or
    recovery from an infection. With regard to the two divergent points regarding
    the cost of PCR tests and the waiver of quarantine, it was agreed that the
    tests would be affordable and that the European Commission would allocate 100
    million Euro to purchase them; as for quarantine, Member States shall refrain
    from imposing it on those with a health certificate, unless such a measure is
    strictly necessary with regard to public health. People who have received a
    single dose of vaccine can also apply for the certificate, but only if they
    have been immunized with one of the anti-COVID vaccines approved by the
    European Medicines Agency: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson &
    Johnson. European Union officials want the European Covid-19 certificate to
    become operational next month. It will be discussed at the EU summit on 24-25
    May, and then an agreement will have to be approved in the European
    Parliament’s plenary session on 7-10 June.




    CoE. The head of the
    Romanian diplomacy, Bogdan Aurescu, participates, today, in the 131st meeting
    of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), in
    videoconference system. The agenda of talks includes topics such as democracy,
    conflicts and crises in Europe. According to a communiqué of the MFA, during
    his intervention, Minister Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate Romania’s position in
    favor of streamlining multilateralism and strengthening resilience based on
    democratic values ​​and international law. At the same time, he strongly
    supports freedom of expression and the fight against discrimination, racism,
    xenophobia and hate speech.




    Ceasefire. The EU has
    hailed the cease of the fire between Israel and Hamas and has committed to
    supporting efforts to find a long-term political solution to the conflict. The
    truce, mediated by Egypt, came into force today, putting and end to 11 days of heavy
    fighting. More than 230 Palestinians, of whom half women and children, have
    been killed in Gaza. Also, in Israel, 12 people, including 2 children, have
    been killed since the start of the conflict. The US President Joe Biden has
    stated that the ceasefire is an opportunity to move forward towards achieving peace.






    Celebration. Today, Orthodox
    Christians and Greek Catholics in Romania celebrate the Saint Emperors
    Constantine and Helena, the spiritual protectors of the Patriarchal Cathedral in
    Bucharest. Constantine was the first Christian emperor to become a saint. He
    ruled the Roman Empire between 306 and 337 and radically changed imperial
    policy toward Christians. More precisely, in 313, he promulgated a decree
    granting them the freedom to express their faith, after 250 years of
    persecution. Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, distinguished herself by finding
    the wood of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified and by building
    several churches in the Holy Places. On this day, more than 1.8 million
    Romanians celebrate their name day.






    Swimming. Romanian swimmer
    Robert Glinta won the gold medal in the 100 m backstroke event at the European
    Swimming Championships in Budapest on Thursday. It is the first gold obtained
    by Romania at a European Swimming Championship for seniors in the men’s events
    and the first after a break of 17 years, the last achievement belonging to the
    girls, through Camelia Potec in 2004, in Madrid, in the 200 m freestyle. Also
    at the European Championships in Budapest, Robert Glinta, qualified for the
    Tokyo Olympics in the 100 m backstroke event, also won the 50 m backstroke
    silver. (MI)



  • May 21, 2021

    May 21, 2021

    Covid-19RO. The number of new cases of coronavirus
    infection has been dropping in Romania. Only 484 cases were reported on Friday,
    out of 34,000 tests performed in 24 hours. The number of patients in intensive
    care has dropped too, down to 636. 49 Covid-related deaths were reported on Friday.
    The vaccination campaign continues. More than 4 million people have been
    vaccinated, 3 million of whom with both doses. In Bucharest, 36% of the
    population got at least the first jab.






    EU certificate. The European Parliament and the EU Member
    States have reached an agreement on the European digital Covid Certificate, which aims to facilitate travel
    in the EU. The so called ‘green certificate’ would allow anyone in the bloc to
    obtain a digital proof of coronavirus vaccination status, COVID test results or
    recovery from an infection. With regard to the two divergent points regarding
    the cost of PCR tests and the waiver of quarantine, it was agreed that the
    tests would be affordable and that the European Commission would allocate 100
    million Euro to purchase them; as for quarantine, Member States shall refrain
    from imposing it on those with a health certificate, unless such a measure is
    strictly necessary with regard to public health. People who have received a
    single dose of vaccine can also apply for the certificate, but only if they
    have been immunized with one of the anti-COVID vaccines approved by the
    European Medicines Agency: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson &
    Johnson. European Union officials want the European Covid-19 certificate to
    become operational next month. It will be discussed at the EU summit on 24-25
    May, and then an agreement will have to be approved in the European
    Parliament’s plenary session on 7-10 June.




    CoE. The head of the
    Romanian diplomacy, Bogdan Aurescu, participates, today, in the 131st meeting
    of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), in
    videoconference system. The agenda of talks includes topics such as democracy,
    conflicts and crises in Europe. According to a communiqué of the MFA, during
    his intervention, Minister Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate Romania’s position in
    favor of streamlining multilateralism and strengthening resilience based on
    democratic values ​​and international law. At the same time, he strongly
    supports freedom of expression and the fight against discrimination, racism,
    xenophobia and hate speech.




    Ceasefire. The EU has
    hailed the cease of the fire between Israel and Hamas and has committed to
    supporting efforts to find a long-term political solution to the conflict. The
    truce, mediated by Egypt, came into force today, putting and end to 11 days of heavy
    fighting. More than 230 Palestinians, of whom half women and children, have
    been killed in Gaza. Also, in Israel, 12 people, including 2 children, have
    been killed since the start of the conflict. The US President Joe Biden has
    stated that the ceasefire is an opportunity to move forward towards achieving peace.






    Celebration. Today, Orthodox
    Christians and Greek Catholics in Romania celebrate the Saint Emperors
    Constantine and Helena, the spiritual protectors of the Patriarchal Cathedral in
    Bucharest. Constantine was the first Christian emperor to become a saint. He
    ruled the Roman Empire between 306 and 337 and radically changed imperial
    policy toward Christians. More precisely, in 313, he promulgated a decree
    granting them the freedom to express their faith, after 250 years of
    persecution. Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, distinguished herself by finding
    the wood of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified and by building
    several churches in the Holy Places. On this day, more than 1.8 million
    Romanians celebrate their name day.






    Swimming. Romanian swimmer
    Robert Glinta won the gold medal in the 100 m backstroke event at the European
    Swimming Championships in Budapest on Thursday. It is the first gold obtained
    by Romania at a European Swimming Championship for seniors in the men’s events
    and the first after a break of 17 years, the last achievement belonging to the
    girls, through Camelia Potec in 2004, in Madrid, in the 200 m freestyle. Also
    at the European Championships in Budapest, Robert Glinta, qualified for the
    Tokyo Olympics in the 100 m backstroke event, also won the 50 m backstroke
    silver. (MI)