Radio România Internațional

Tag: healthcare protests

January 28, 2021 UPDATE

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA -
Romania’s national vaccination campaign is in full swing, with over 534
thousand people immunized so far. Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu has announced
that certain centers, which immunized people from outside the eligible
categories, are to face sanctions. In turn, Education Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu says that the personnel in
the country’s education system will benefit from a special immunization line,
adding that the evolution of the infection rate is decisive in the decision to
bring students back to school again. Last week, Romania received only half of
the doses requested and now has a deficit of 117 thousand. Over 2,900 new infections
were announced on Thursday. Since the outbreak, 721 thousand people have got
infected in Romania and more than 18 thousand died. About one thousand people
are currently being treated in IC units.

PANDEMIC – Europe’s
concern about the novel strains of the Covid-19 virus is on the rise. The UK
announced it can resort to additional prevention measures, including the
isolation of visitors in hotels made available by the authorities. With six
million, Britain boasts the highest number of people immunized so far. Norway
is expected to close its borders for all visitors, with the exception of those
essential, applying some of the toughest prevention measures in Europe. The
country, which is not an EU member, has announced these restrictions after the
discovery of an outbreak of the more contagious strain initially identified in
Britain. The government in Berlin is considering the cancellation of almost all
international flights in order to prevent the spreading of the mutating virus.
In Portugal, the government decided to cancel all the flights towards Brazil
starting this Friday, due to the growing number of infections. The new strain, initially
discovered in Britain, has also been detected in another 70 countries, the WHO
says. According to worldmeters.info, over 101 million infections have been
registered worldwide so far and at least 2.1 million people have died.

PROTEST – Members
of the Medical Solidarity Trade Union Federation on Thursday protested in
Bucharest, calling for protection measures for the workers in Romania’s medical
field after 93 professionals in this field have so far died in the line of
duty. Besides legal rights, other claims are focusing on various forms of
recognizing the efforts and sacrifices made by the medical personnel. According
to unionists, protests have also been caused by the government’s refusal to
participate in a social dialogue. Also on Thursday, in Iasi, north-eastern
Romania, trade unionists from the country’s penitentiary system protested over a
planned wage freeze in the sector. Protesters have called for the elimination
of unequal pay in the public system, the implementation of the pay law in
state-owned institutions and a minimum wage adjusted to the latest price hikes
in consumer goods.

SCHENGEN -
Romania is ready to become a Schengen member as soon as possible, Interior
Minister Lucian Bode said on Thursday on the sidelines of a videoconference of
the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council. Minister Bode called for
stepping up discussions in this matter, underlining the important contribution
Bucharest has made to common efforts to manage migration, by means of constant
participation to FRONTEX activities, by means of actions to relocate people in
need of international assistance in the wake of search and rescue operations in
the Mediterranean. Originally slated for March 2011, Romania’s Schengen
accession was repeatedly postponed due to opposition voiced by Member States
regarding insufficient reforms in the justice sector.

PENSIONS -
The Labor Ministry on Thursday started a large-scale assessment of the 5
million pensions in the public system by means of an EU-funded project that will
last 18 months. According to Labor Minister Raluca Turcan, based on this
assessment and on an upcoming law, a recalculation of pensions will follow.
Minister Turcan says discussions regarding a new pension law, which should
include a new formula for calculating pensions, will start within the month.
The last recalculation was operated in the 2005-2010 period. In other news,
children’s allowances will go up 20% starting February 1. Children aged 2-18
will receive some €44 per month. Children up to 2 years of age and those with
disabilities will receive €90 per month.

CORRUPTION -
Romania is one of the most corrupt countries in the EU, being bottom of a
ranking, the same as Hungary and Bulgaria, according to a Transparency
International report on the 2020 Corruption Perception Index. The ranking
reflects the perception of independent experts and businessmen on existing
corruption. Romania has a score of 44 points of a 100, the same as in 2012,
which, according to experts, indicate that the measures taken in the last 10
years have not been consistent, failing to change public perception on
corruption. The lack of transparency on public procurement, the underfunding of
the medical system, the lack of consistent measures to digitize administrative
processes are all constant issues at national level, which have only gotten
worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Romanian society, the report also shows,
has also lost its eagerness in sanctioning corruption and the lack of
integrity. (V.
Palcu)

28 January 2021
December 15, 2018

WEATHER – A code orange alert against
heavy snowfall, freezing rain and drizzle is in place until Sunday evening targeting
areas in the southwest, center and south. Snowfall was reported on Saturday all
across the country, with strong wind reportedly drifting the snow in the
mountain areas. The highs on Saturday varied between minus 3 and plus 9 degrees
Celsius. Saturday’s snowfall also affected rail and road traffic.

HEALTHCARE – The Sanitary Solidarity Federation in Romania on
Saturday threatened to launch new protests before launching an all-out strike
if the Government passes an emergency decree to freeze salary income at the
level of the month of December, with no salary increase provided for employees
in the healthcare sector in 2019. Unionists say the healthcare sector is
shocked by the effects of disparaging salary increases for different types of
medical staff. We recall the authorities have raised the salaries of medical
staff to stop the exodus of Romanian doctors abroad.

KOSOVO – UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed
concern after the Kosovar Parliament decided to muster an army and has called
on all stakeholders to show restraint. An unofficial meeting of the Security
Council was held at the request of Serbia. NATO Secretary General Jens
Stoltenberg condemned the decision of the Parliament of Kosovo to create an
army, saying NATO will reexamine its level of commitment with the Security
Force in Kosovo. The European Union too has criticized the decision. The
Foreign Ministry in Bucharest said efforts to initiate the transition process
for the Security Force in Kosovo, despite repeated messages from the NATO and
the EU, have had negative impact on the situation in the Western Balkans and
the Euro-Atlantic integration of countries in this area. According to the
Ministry, all efforts must be directed towards continuing a dialogue between
Serbia and Kosovo, to avoid declarations and initiatives that risk escalating
tensions at regional level. We recall Romania has not recognized the
independence of this former Serbian province with a majority Albanian
population.

AFRICAN SWINE FEVER – A new outbreak of African swine fever was
confirmed on Saturday in southern Romania, raising the number of towns and
villages affected to 300 in 18 counties. There are over 1,100 outbreaks and
over 400 cases reported in wild animals. Some 51 million euros have to be paid
in damages to pig farmers.

VISIT – Romanian Minister for the Business Sector, Trade and
Entrepreneurship, Stefan Oprea, met the US Secretary of Trade, Wilbur Ross in
the United States. Minister Oprea presented Romania’s priorities at the helm of
the EU Council, which include promoting trans-Atlantic economic and trade
relations. Minister Oprea thanked Washington for its constant and transparent
support for Romania’s efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD). The two officials also discussed partnership agreements
signed between the two countries’ industry sectors, as well as cooperation in
the energy field. One of the biggest US investments in the energy field is
currently in development in Romania.

PARIS – Thousands of yellow jackets protested in Paris on
Saturday for the fifth consecutive weekend against the increase in the cost of
living, France Press reports. Hundreds were arrested. Over 8,000 members of the
riot police were deployed in the French capital city, to try to ease public
tension. The Eiffel Tower and other museums remain open as well as general
stores. The past weeks’ protests were marked by acts of violence, with over
1,700 people arrested nationwide last week alone.

PROTESTS – Hungarian opposition parties have urged participants in
Friday’s antigovernment protest in Budapest to continue protests, Kossuth Radio
reports. The crowd of protesters marched for several hours in downtown
Budapest, at times clashing with the riot police. For days people are
protesting against Parliament’s draft law on increasing the number of
additional working hours for employees. Dubbed the slavery law, the project
was allegedly designed to favor car manufacturers, protesters say.

HANDBALL – Romania’s handball team is playing the
Netherlands in Sunday’s bronze final at the European Championship underway in
France. On Friday, in the semi-finals, Romania lost to Russia while France won
against the Netherlands. Romania and the Netherlands previously played in the
main group phase, Romania losing the match. Romania has a chance of matching
its best performance at the European championships, namely the bronze medal won
in 2010. By qualifying to the semi-finals, Romania has secured qualification to
the World Cup in Japan next year. We recall team captain Cristina Neagu
sustained a serious injury and will be unavailable for the remainder of the
season. The goals scored in this year’s edition have earned Neagu the title of
all-time top scorer at the European Championship.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

15 December 2018
May 6, 2018 UPDATE

HEALTHCARE — A two-hour strike will be staged in hospitals across Romania on Monday, with only emergency medical service being provided. Healthcare protesters are unhappy with the 30% cap on bonuses and say the introduction of the new salary grid has slashed some of the salaries by as much as 215 euros. In addition, the salaries of medical doctors and nurses have gone up, while the salaries of orderlies, stretchers, biologists, pharmacists, radiologists and midwives have remained unchanged. The SANITAS trade federation has gathered over 50,000 signatures which allows them to call an all-out strike on May 11. In recent days, healthcare unionists have had talks with the ministries of Labor, Healthcare and Finance, without reaching consensus. They are scheduled to have a new round of talks with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila.

EU-NATO RELATIONS — Cooperation between the EU and NATO in the military field will intensify over the coming period. This is the conclusion of an informal meeting of EU defense ministers held in Sofia. The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini, said by mid-June the EU will submit proposals for the new instrument of peace and stability aimed at contributing to preventing crises. The instrument will also finance the activity of collective defense. Over the last year a total of 17 projects have been created to this end. The EU also plans to increase its investment in military infrastructure. The Union will cooperate with the UN and NATO to prevent conflicts in Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and the Western Balkans. State Secretary for Defense, Planning and International Relations Mircea Dusa represented Romania at the meeting. According to a Defense Ministry release, Romania continues to support the operationalization of the Permanent Structured Cooperation in a pragmatic and result-oriented manner.

NAVALNY — The European Union and Amnesty International have condemned the use of violence to disperse the crowd of protesters in Moscow, where the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested at a rally protesting against Vladimir Putin, who is due to be sworn in for his fourth consecutive term in office. Over 1,500 people were arrested in protests held in Moscow and other large cities across the Russian Federation. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent on the ground, the City Hall did not sanction the protest action in central Moscow, authorizing a different place and urging the population not to join an unauthorized protest. Alexei Navalny’s supporters rallied in the city center and the police charged the crowd with the truncheons and smoke grenades. At the same time, pro-Kremlin nationalist actions were staged in Moscow, some of their activists allegedly trying to attack some of Navalny’s supporters.

EUROPE DAY — Celebrated on May 9, Europe Day was marked this weekend in Romania and other countries in Europe. Bucharest is hosting the fifth edition of the European Member States Market, consisting of workshops, concerts and culinary events specific to each member of the EU. Attending the event, Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, spoke about Romania preparing to take over the presidency of the European Council in early 2019. Minister Negrescu believes the EU has overcome the Brexit shock and is looking towards the future. Referring to the European Union Members Market, Victor Negrescu said the project is aimed at showcasing what Romania has to offer: traditions, values and particular strengths, which in turn contribute to what Europe today means. British Ambassador to Bucharest Paul Brummel recalled the EU and the UK have reached an agreement to protect the rights of British and EU citizens after Brexit.

THEATRE AWARDS — The Alba Carolina Fortress in Alba Iulia built in early 18th century on Monday is hosting the Awards Gala of the Theatre Union in Romania (UNITER). The motto of the 26th edition is “The UNITER Gala unites Theatre!” Some 300 guests and artists will walk on the esplanade linking the Orthodox Archbishopric Cathedral to the Roman-Catholic Church, built especially on this occasion. A total of 11 prizes will reward the best productions and best performances in theatre in 2017.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Irina Begu, 36 WTA, on Saturday ousted Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the WTA tournament in Madrid, totaling some 6.7 million euros in prize money. In the second round Begu will go up against Maria Sharapova of Russia, who knocked out Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu in the first round, 6-4, 6-1. Another two Romanians are have qualified to the second round: Simona Halep, WTA no. 1, who ousted Ekaterina Makarova of Russia, 6-1, 6-nil while Sorana Cirstea defeated Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. In the doubles competition, Simona Halep and Irina Begu will play Nicole Melichar of the United States and Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic. Mihaela Buzarnescu and Alize Cornet of France will take on Andreja Klepac of Slovenia and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain. Finaly, Sorana Cirstea and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain will play Julia Georges of Germany and Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

6 May 2018
May 6, 2018

HEALTHCARE — A two-hour strike will be staged in hospitals across Romania on Monday, with only emergency medical service being provided. Healthcare protesters are unhappy with the 30% cap on bonuses and say the introduction of the new salary grid has slashed some of the salaries by as much as 215 euros. In addition, the salaries of medical doctors and nurses have gone up, while the salaries of orderlies, stretchers, biologists, pharmacists, radiologists and midwives have remained unchanged. The SANITAS trade federation has gathered over 50,000 signatures which allows them to call an all-out strike on May 11. In recent days, healthcare unionists have had talks with the ministries of Labor, Healthcare and Finance, without reaching consensus. They are scheduled to have a new round of talks with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila.

EU-NATO RELATIONS — Cooperation between the EU and NATO in the military field will intensify over the coming period. This is the conclusion of an informal meeting of EU defense ministers held in Sofia. The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini, said by mid-June the EU will submit proposals for the new instrument of peace and stability aimed at contributing to preventing crises. The instrument will also finance the activity of collective defense. Over the last year a total of 17 projects have been created to this end. The EU also plans to increase its investment in military infrastructure. The Union will cooperate with the UN and NATO to prevent conflicts in Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and the Western Balkans. State Secretary for Defense, Planning and International Relations Mircea Dusa represented Romania at the meeting. According to a Defense Ministry release, Romania continues to support the operationalization of the Permanent Structured Cooperation in a pragmatic and result-oriented manner.

NAVALNY — The European Union and Amnesty International have condemned the use of violence to disperse the crowd of protesters in Moscow, where the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested at a rally protesting against Vladimir Putin, who is due to be sworn in for his fourth consecutive term in office. Over 1,500 people were arrested in protests held in Moscow and other large cities across the Russian Federation. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent on the ground, the City Hall did not sanction the protest action in central Moscow, authorizing a different place and urging the population not to join an unauthorized protest. Alexei Navalny’s supporters rallied in the city center and the police charged the crowd with the truncheons and smoke grenades. At the same time, pro-Kremlin nationalist actions were staged in Moscow, some of their activists allegedly trying to attack some of Navalny’s supporters.

EUROPE DAY — Celebrated on May 9, Europe Day is being marked this weekend in Romania and other countries in Europe. Bucharest is hosting the fifth edition of the European Member States Market, consisting of workshops, concerts and culinary events specific to each member of the EU. Attending the event, Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, spoke about Romania preparing to take over the presidency of the European Council in early 2019. Minister Negrescu believes the EU has overcome the Brexit shock and is looking towards the future. Referring to the European Union Members Market, Victor Negrescu said the project is aimed at showcasing what Romania has to offer: traditions, values and particular strengths, which in turn contribute to what Europe today means. British Ambassador to Bucharest Paul Brummel recalled the EU and the UK have reached an agreement to protect the rights of British and EU citizens after Brexit.

VOLLEYBALL — CSM Volei Alba Blaj is the first Romanian women’s volley club to ever qualify to the Champions League final. On Saturday, CSM Alba Blaj defeated Galatasaray Istanbul of Turkey 3-1 in Bucharest. CSM will today play the final against the defending champions VakiBank Istanbul, which on Saturday defeated Imoco Volley Conegliano of Italy 3-2.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Irina Begu, 36 WTA, on Saturday ousted Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the WTA tournament in Madrid, totaling some 6.7 million euros in prize money. In the second round Begu will go up against Maria Sharapova of Russia, who knocked out Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu in the first round. Another two Romanians are have qualified to the second round: Simona Halep, WTA no. 1, who ousted Ekaterina Makarova of Russia, 6-1, 6-nil while Sorana Cirstea defeated Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. In the doubles competition, Simona Halep and Irina Begu will play Nicole Melichar of the United States and Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic. Mihaela Buzarnescu and Alize Cornet of France will take on Andreja Klepac of Slovenia and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain. Finaly, Sorana Cirstea and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain will play Julia Georges of Germany and Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

6 May 2018
April 13, 2018 UPDATE

PROSECUTION — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday sent the Justice Minister a formal request to allow the prosecution of the former president Ion Iliescu, the former prime minister Petre Roman and the former deputy prime minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu. The prosecutors office with the High Court of Cassation and Justice has also been notified about this request. The prosecution is connected to the Revolution case, which investigates the events that led to the collapse of the communist regime in December 1989. The three officials are accused of crimes against humanity. According to prosecutors, the armed incidents that took place in the aftermath of December 22 across Romania point to a pre-established plan aimed at taking over power and legitimizing the new leaders. Those targeted by the investigation say they are innocent. We recall that because of the delays in the Revolution case, Romania has received a conviction from the European Court of Human Rights. According to the Court, the importance of this case for Romanian society should motivate the authorities to prosecute swiftly.

DNA — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis next week will announce his decision over the request to dismiss the chief-prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruta Kovesi. The President recently said his decision will take into account all the documents that he has been provided with by both parties. In February Justice Minister Tudorel Toader called for Kovesi’s dismissal, whom he accused of seriously overstepping the bounds of her authority. The Superior Council of Magistracy issued a negative opinion related to his request.

LE DRIAN — French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has cancelled his work visits scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Albania and Slovenia due to the crisis in Syria, authorities in Tirana in Ljubljana have announced. After his visit to Romania Le Drian visited Serbia, where he admitted his tour coincides with very delicate international developments.

UDREA — The High Court of Cassation and Justice on Friday ruled against the request filed by former minister Elena Udrea who asked to be deposed in court by video-conference or letters rogatory, in the Bute Gala case, as there is no evidence she was granted political refugee status in Costa Rica, as her lawyers claim. The Court was supposed to discuss on Friday the final hearing in the case in which the former regional development and tourism minister Elena Udrea was sentenced to 6 years in prison for bribe taking and abuse of office. She also had to pay almost 3 million euros in damages. In the same case, the former president of the Romanian Boxing Federation Rudel Obreja was sentenced to 5 years in prison, while the former economy minister Ion Ariton was acquitted. According to the National Anticorruption Directorate, Udrea coordinated a system through which persons in her entourage received, with her knowledge, sums of money from representatives of business companies to guarantee on-time payment of works financed by the ministry she was running. Udrea is also accused of causing ministry employees to overstep their duties during the acquisition of advertising services for the Bute Gala, causing losses to the ministrys budget. Elena Udrea is under investigation in a number of other cases prosecuted by the National Anticorruption Directorate.

HEALTHCARE — Trade unions in the healthcare sector will announce within a week whether protests will continue, waiting to see the effects of the promised made on Friday by Health Minister Sorina Pintea. According to the Romanian official, hospitals can use their own funds to give financial bonuses and stimulants to employees with slashed revenues. Last month healthcare unionists staged large protests in Bucharest, while this week they protested spontaneously in Bucharest and other cities, unhappy with the 30% cap on bonuses.

HANDBALL — The Romanian womens handball side SCM Craiova on Saturday face the Turkish side Kastamonu in a return match at home as part of the EHF Cup semifinals. Craiova won the first leg 23-22. If they make it to the final, it would be a first for the Romanian side, who are now at their second participation in the European cups. In more news from womens handball, the Romanian champions CSM Bucharest are playing the French side Metz away on Sunday as part of the Champions League quarterfinals. CSM won the first leg in Bucharest 34-21. We recall they won the Champions League title in 2016.

(Translated by C. Mateescu & V. Palcu)

13 April 2018
April 12, 2018

INFLATION — The annual rate of inflation went up to 5% in March 2018, from 4.7% the previous month, against the backdrop of a rise in the prices for food and non-food products and services, the National Institute for Statistics has announced today. The inflation rate was higher only in June 2013, when consumer prices went up by 5.37%. This February the National Bank of Romania revised its inflation forecast for the end of the year, from 3.2 to 3.5%. The Bank estimates an annual inflation rate of 3.1% for 2019.

SYRIA — There is an uncrossable red line for Paris in the case of Syria, and that is the use of chemical weapons, the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Bucharest, upon meeting his Romanian counterpart, Teodor Melescanu. Le Drian said France is ready to act. In turn, Teodor Melescanu said Romania supports an enquiry in the case of the latest attack in Syria, carried out by a special body which should also decide the course of action. The United States said all options are on the table in response to the alleged chemical attack perpetrated in Syria. The White House blames Syria and Russia for this incident. Activists, members of rescue teams and doctors said dozens were killed in Saturday’s attack in the rebel-held city of Douma. The Syrian Government, currently receiving military support from Russia, has denied any involvement.

FORUM — Romania’s Interior Minister Carmen Dan is as of today taking part in the two-day Salzburg Forum Vienna Process inter-ministerial conference. High on the agenda are topics important for member states, particularly for countries that will take over the rotating presidency of the European Council. Talks will also focus on EU security, migration, asylum-granting procedures at EU level, police cooperation and combating terrorism. Romania is currently holding the presidency of the Salzburg Forum for a six-month term. The Forum is a security cooperation organization comprising states from Central and Eastern Europe, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

EURO — The first session of the National Commission for the switch to the euro is today taking place in Bucharest. The Commission is convening to discuss the criteria for adopting the European single currency, and it includes the Prime Minister, the National Bank Governor and the President of the Romanian Academy. According to Bucharest authorities, Romania is expected to join the Eurozone in 2024.

HEALTHCARE — Members of the SANITAS trade union federation in the healthcare sector have announced a new series of protests, unhappy with the level of their net income after the recent salary increase and the introduction of the new bonus scheme. The leader of the federation’s branch in Iasi, Iulian Cozianu, said unionists will be protesting in front of the Iasi County prefecture starting Friday. Unionists demand the increase of the cap on bonuses above 30% for public healthcare units and the payment of the same bonuses in all healthcare units. The 30% cap means hundreds of employees will see their incomes slashes by as much as 280 euros. Last month, SANITAS announced stage an all-out strike.

SPOTLIGHT — The fourth edition of the Spotlight Festival is kicking off today in Bucharest. The festival consists in projecting large images on the city’s iconic buildings. For four days, the city center will become an open-air exhibition. This year’s edition of the festival is entitled United We Shine and brings to Bucharest 27 installations, projects and video mapping sessions from France, Australia, Israel, Germany, China, Russia, Italy, Spain and Romania. For the first time, the organizers will project famous works of art on the facades of several buildings, including the Romanian Athenaeum.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

12 April 2018
March 13, 2018 UPDATE

ROMANIA-US RELATIONS – The Romanian Government on Tuesday announced the setup of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the implementation of results obtained under the Strategic Partnership with the USA and other Romanian-US bilateral projects. According to a Government release, the Committee will be coordinated by Ana Birchall and will compile the efforts of the ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Finance and the Economy. The committee will convene on a quarterly basis or in case of emergency with the purpose of monitoring the status of implementing the desired projects.

DEFENSE – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday received NATO
Defense Ministers from the alliance’s eastern flank. The President expressed confidence
the NATO Summit of July in Brussels will contribute to adapting NATO to current
security challenges and threats. Previously, Defense Minister Mihai Fifor said on
the sidelines of the Bucharest Initiative that states on NATO’s Eastern flank
share a series of concerns, from the prospect of approaching security risks and
threats. Participants agreed closer cooperation is needed to consolidate NATO’s
eastern flank. Attending were Defense Ministers from nine former communist
states, including Romania, NATO officials and representatives of the US
Department of Defense. The Initiative was launched in 2014 as a platform for
stepping up cooperation between NATO allies.

INFLATION – The Romanian National Institute of Statistics put out inflation figures recently. According to official data, the annual rate of inflation in the country went up to 4.7% from 4.3% in January. The increase is believed to be due to increases in the price of food, consumer products and services. Food products went up in price by 3.7% compared to February, while consumer products went up in price by 6.27%. Services went up in cost by 3% compared to last year. Last month, the Romanian National Bank adjusted its forecast for inflation as by the end of the year from 3.2% to 3.5%.

HEALTHCARE – Trade unions in the healthcare sector on Tuesday held talks with Line Minister Sorina Pintea, demanding a 25% increase of the base salary for the medical staff and the elimination of the 30% ceiling for bonuses. After the meeting unionists confirmed protests would continue next week. On Wednesday a public debate on bonus regulations will be held in Bucharest. Minister Pintea expressed hope a solution will be found to avoid the situation from escalating.

ACQUITTAL – Former head of the Romanian Financial Administration Authority Sorin Blejnar on Tuesday was acquitted in a case where he was accused of supporting a criminal group and tax evasion. Prosecutors claim that in 2010 oil products were traded illegally, which made the state incur losses worth €4.5 million. The products were sold by a crime group to Romanian, Hungarian and Italian citizens. Prosecutors say the crime group enjoyed the support of several decision-makers, including the Financial Administration Authority. Blejnar is currently subject to several pending investigation.

FLU – The flu has killed 99 people in Romania this season according to the latest toll published by the National Centre for the Supervision and Control of Communicable Diseases. The number of respiratory infections has also gone up last week to over 140,000 cases, 67% more than the same period last year. Healthcare Minister Sorina Pintea says Romania is not faced with a flu epidemic.

WHITE HOUSE – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday replaced Rex Tillerson at the helm of the State Department with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. The White House leader said the replacement follows disagreements with Tillerson over Irans nuclear programme and he wanted to appoint a new team ahead of historic negotiations with North Korea. Replacing Pompeo at the helm of the CIA will be Gina Haspel, the CIA Deputy Director, thus becoming the first woman to hold this position.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

13 March 2018
March 7, 2018 UPDATE

ROMANIA AND THE EU — Romania has made limited progress as regards the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations over 2017-2018, reads a Commission report made public on Wednesday. Bucharest will have to increase its efforts to fulfil its fiscal and tax-collection obligations, so as to achieve the mid-term budget objectives. Moreover Romania needs to curb black market labour. Another pending recommendation is the adoption of legislation to balance the retirement age for women and men. Romania also needs to improve access to quality education, especially for children in rural areas. In the field of healthcare, Romania will have to continue to combat informal payments and favour outpatient treatment. Over the coming period, Brussels will hold bilateral meetings with each EU Member States and will issue a new set of recommendations in May.

MEETING — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday is meeting his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, who is paying an official visit to Bucharest. According to the Presidency, the two officials will discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation at political, economic and sectorial level. Talks will also focus on Bucharest support for Serbia’s EU accession process, ahead of Romania’s holding the European Council presidency in 2019. Iohannis and Vucic will also tackle the issue of the two countries’ national minorities, topics of mutual interest regarding cooperation in the Western Balkans and the developments in Kosovo.

PROTESTS — The SANITAS Trade Union Federation has warned the Government that ignoring the demands of healthcare unionists could lead to further protests. Representatives of unions have called on Parliament in a public letter to support the amendments pushed to the law on public sector salaries and to end discrimination against certain professionals in the fields of healthcare and social assistance. Trade unions claim that as of March 1, certain healthcare employees, such as pharmacists, biologists, psychologists and nurses, have stopped receiving some of their benefits. Authorities say that starting March 1 salaries of medical and auxiliary staff have gone up tantamount to the salary cap provided in the salary grid for 2022. In another development, the last shot of immunoglobulin was used in Romania, and the only solution to deal with the shortage was to call for the EU and NATO for help. Health Minister Sorina Pintea has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism in an attempt to cover the necessary 10,000 shots for the next two months.

MOLDOVA — Moldovan President Igor Dodon on Wednesday accused Romania of fuelling the unionist movement in Moldova, which may pose risks to the country’s statehood. Dodon threatened to notify the UN and the Council of Europe so as to put an end to this development. According to our correspondents, Dodon expressed concern with the unionist rallies scheduled for late March. The accusations follow as the number of local authorities that have passed symbolic declarations for reunification with Romania has exceeded 100. Recently Dodon accused Romania’s consul in Balti, Mihail Baciu, of corrupting local officials and political bias. The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest says the accusations have an election stake, ahead of the Parliamentary elections scheduled for late 2018 in Moldova.

SEARCHES — Romanian prosecutors on Wednesday conducted searches in Timis and Arad counties to bring down a wide network of immigrant traffickers. According to a press release of the anti-mafia directorate (DIICOT), a think tank was set up jointly with German authorities so as to dismantle the network. Set up in 2017, the group was ensuring the transit of illegal immigrants from Turkey to Germany via Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Hungary and Austria. The illegal migrants were put up in guesthouses in Timisoara, signed up for political asylum in Romania, and were eventually taken to Hungary.

COLLEGE — The Romanian Intelligence College, a school unit subordinated to the Romanian Intelligence Service, will be disbanded, sources with the Service have told the media. According to the National Intelligence Academy, for the time being activity at the College has been suspended in the wake of an internal affairs investigation triggered by the October 2017 public declarations of acting Social-Democrat Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, who claimed to have graduated the college with zero attendance. The Academy’s Press Office further states it will withdraw Teodorovici’s degree. A large number of politicians have graduated the college, including former Prime Ministers Sorin Grindeanu and Mihai Tudose.

VISIT — Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Thursday is paying a two-day official visit to Croatia. His agenda includes the opening of Romania’s Honorific Consulate in Split, meetings with local authorities and the Economy Chamber Chairman, Luka Burilovic. On Friday Melescanu will hold talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric, with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic. Melescanu’s agenda includes a visit to the Romanian Orthodox Church in Zagreb and meetings with members of the Romanian associations in Croatia.

POLO — The Romanian men’s polo team was drawn in Group D at the European Championships in Barcelona alongside the defending champions Serbia, Russia and Slovakia. The tournament will take place over July 14-28. Romania’s team qualified after grabbing a double-leg win against the Czech Republic in the playoffs, 20-5 on home turf and 17-6 away from home. (Translated by V. Palcu)

7 March 2018