Radio România Internațional

Tag: mechanism

  • European solidarity against wildfires

    European solidarity against wildfires


    Presently affected by a severe heatwave and prolonged drought, France is fighting extensive forest fires in the southwestern region of Gironde. Fires this time spread faster than in July, when the entire region was devastated and thousands of people had to be evacuated.


    Firefighters from many countries have joined their French counterparts in the latters efforts to contain the wildfires in the region. Their gesture has been described by President Emmanuel Macron as an example of European solidarity. Italy, Greece and Sweden are among the countries which sent firefighting aircraft while 77 firefighters from Romania are working shoulder to shoulder with their French counterparts in an attempt to contain wildfires in the region.


    In response to a request made by the French government, authorities in Bucharest have also decided to dispatch equipment to the affected areas in France through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. According to the Head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, it is for the first time Romania is doing such an ample air rescue operation:


    Raed Arafat: “From our point of view this is a first as we are flying technical equipment and big fire engines to a foreign country; some of these engines have a capacity of 4 thousand liters. Military planes have been made available to us and we are using them under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. We proposed this mission, it got the greenlight, and now our intervention teams are ready and able to help their French colleagues because they are not tired after traveling thousands of kilometers by road.”


    “Romania is solidary with France, our partner and traditional friend, which is these days fighting massive wildfires. Just like in the case of Greece, when Romania had a main contribution to putting out fires there, we can prove our capability of being a reliable partner for the allies” Romanias Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said in a message.


    Only several days ago, Romanian firefighters completed their mission in Greece, where they responded to a request by the Greek authorities through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. 56 Romanian firefighters put out fires around capital Athens in two consecutive rounds before being subsequently replaced by colleagues from other European countries contributing to the operation.


    Since the beginning of this summer season, Greece has been affected by hundreds of wildfires against the backdrop of the extremely hot weather with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Rescue operations this year have been marked by a helicopter crash close to the island of Samos, where two people lost their lives.


    (bill)


  • European solidarity against wildfires

    European solidarity against wildfires


    Presently affected by a severe heatwave and prolonged drought, France is fighting extensive forest fires in the southwestern region of Gironde. Fires this time spread faster than in July, when the entire region was devastated and thousands of people had to be evacuated.


    Firefighters from many countries have joined their French counterparts in the latters efforts to contain the wildfires in the region. Their gesture has been described by President Emmanuel Macron as an example of European solidarity. Italy, Greece and Sweden are among the countries which sent firefighting aircraft while 77 firefighters from Romania are working shoulder to shoulder with their French counterparts in an attempt to contain wildfires in the region.


    In response to a request made by the French government, authorities in Bucharest have also decided to dispatch equipment to the affected areas in France through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. According to the Head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, it is for the first time Romania is doing such an ample air rescue operation:


    Raed Arafat: “From our point of view this is a first as we are flying technical equipment and big fire engines to a foreign country; some of these engines have a capacity of 4 thousand liters. Military planes have been made available to us and we are using them under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. We proposed this mission, it got the greenlight, and now our intervention teams are ready and able to help their French colleagues because they are not tired after traveling thousands of kilometers by road.”


    “Romania is solidary with France, our partner and traditional friend, which is these days fighting massive wildfires. Just like in the case of Greece, when Romania had a main contribution to putting out fires there, we can prove our capability of being a reliable partner for the allies” Romanias Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said in a message.


    Only several days ago, Romanian firefighters completed their mission in Greece, where they responded to a request by the Greek authorities through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. 56 Romanian firefighters put out fires around capital Athens in two consecutive rounds before being subsequently replaced by colleagues from other European countries contributing to the operation.


    Since the beginning of this summer season, Greece has been affected by hundreds of wildfires against the backdrop of the extremely hot weather with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Rescue operations this year have been marked by a helicopter crash close to the island of Samos, where two people lost their lives.


    (bill)


  • December 23, 2021

    December 23, 2021

    REVOLUTION Romania’s Parliament convened this morning in a solemn
    meeting devoted to the 32 years since the anti-communist revolution of December
    1989. Originating in Timișoara (west), on 16th December, the uprising spread
    across the country, culminating with dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu fleeing the
    capital city on 22nd December amid the protests of hundreds of thousands of
    Romanians. Captured by the Army, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena were subject to a
    summary trial and executed in the southern town of Târgovişte. Romania was the
    only country behind the Iron Curtain where the change of regime was accompanied
    by bloodshed. Over 1,000 people were killed and some 3,000 wounded.


    BUDGET Romanian MPs are due to vote today on the draft state budget and
    social security budget laws for 2022. The government
    passed the bills on Monday and promised the budget ensures stability and
    predictability. The Liberal leader and ex-PM Florin Cîţu criticised the fact
    that 6.7% of GDP was earmarked for investments, instead of 7% as agreed within
    the ruling coalition. The Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu argued
    however that the budget execution is more important than the exact breakdown of
    expenditure. The leader of USR party in opposition, Dacian Cioloş, says the
    draft budget relies on over-estimated revenues and said although public
    education is a priority for President Iohannis, not enough funding has been
    earmarked for the sector.


    COVID-19 775 new SARS-CoV-2 infection cases were reported in the past 24 hours in Romania, along with 81 related
    fatalities, 44 of them from a previous date. Since the start of the pandemic
    Romania has had around 1.8 million COVID-19 cases,
    and more than 58,000 patients died. Amid
    anti-vaccine sentiments fuelled by some media, politicians and opinion leaders,
    the country has the 2nd lowest immunisation rate in the EU, after Bulgaria.


    EU
    FUNDING The government
    of Romania passed an emergency order allowing for the accessing of a roughly
    15-billion euro loan granted by the European Commission under the Recovery and
    Resilience Mechanism. The loan agreement between the European Commission and
    Romania was signed in Bucharest on 26th November and in Brussels on 15th
    December. Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania benefits
    from some 29 billion euro, of which approx. 14 billion in non-reimbursable
    funds and some 15 billion in loans. The loan will be available until the end of
    2026.


    BASKETBALL The national men’s basketball champions, Universitatea-Banca
    Transilvania Cluj-Napoca, qualified into the second stage of the Champions
    League group matches, after defeating the Turkish side Daruşşafaka in a suspensefull
    match away from home, 103-101. The Romanian team is thus the leader of Group G,
    with 5 wins and one defeat. Group leaders go straight into the second stage of
    the competition, scheduled for January-March 2022. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • Lifting the CVM: an increasingly distant hope for Romania

    Lifting the CVM: an increasingly distant hope for Romania

    In a matter of weeks, the triumphalism of the current right-of-centre coalition government in Romania has been replaced by moderate pessimism at best.



    Just a month ago, the Liberal PM Florin Cîțu was boasting that, many years after it had been created, the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism monitoring the Romanian judiciary could become history. The European Commission, Cîțu said at the time, supports its lifting towards the end of the year.



    Accusing his political opponents, the Social Democrats, of sideslips that had required keeping this safeguard measure in place, the new Cabinet felt their coming to power was a guarantee that things were moving in the right direction.



    “After 13 years in which Romania was subject to exceptional monitoring by the European Commission, with major steps back in 2018 and 2019, I trust our stepped up efforts in the coming period will lead to a normal and predictable functioning of the rule of law in Romania, deputy PM Dan Barna was saying in his turn, adding that the removal of the CVM was one of the key goals of the new government.



    A major blow came on the first day of this week from France: a report by the Committee on European Affairs of the French Senate regarding the rule of law in the EU indicates that lifting the CVM is premature as long as the objectives set by it have not been met.



    In Romanias case, these objectives include guaranteeing a more transparent and efficient judicial process, especially by strengthening and empowering the Higher Council of Magistrates; setting up an Integrity Agency able to make binding decisions leading to penalties; carrying on professional and impartial investigations into high-level corruption accusations, and additional measures to fight corruption, particularly in local administration.



    The French Senates committee also mentions that in its latest CVM report, the European Commission was warning that the reforms in Romania ground to a halt in 2017 and that the first months of 2019 were worrying in this respect. Subsequently, the Commission welcomed Bucharests willingness to revise its approach, but, the report also reads, progress cannot be achieved through political commitments alone.



    Finally, Paris believes the EU should be a role model in promoting and observing the rule of law, which it would like included among the priorities of the French presidency of the EU Council in the first half of next year. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • The week in Review March 15-20, 2021

    The week in Review March 15-20, 2021

    COVID-19 in Romania: latest developments


    Romania is struggling with the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with growing numbers of cases reported every day. According to official data, in the little over 1 year since the first SARS–CoV-2 patient was identified in the country, Romania has seen over 880,000 infections, and some 22,000 people have died. For the first time this year, the number of new cases reported in 24 hours has recently gone over 6,000. Another worrying figure is the number of people in ICUs.



    The authorities promise that the situation is under control but call for responsibility. President Klaus Iohannis said this new wave may be the last, given that the number of immunised people is growing by the day.



    This week, the third and last stage of the vaccination programme kicked off in Romania, giving access to vaccines to the general public over 16 years of age. This month, Romania should receive a total of over 2.6 million doses of 3 approved vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca).



    In the meantime, however, the state of alert has been extended this week. Previous measures remain in place, and some new ones have been introduced, such as a ceiling on occupancy rates in mountain resorts of 70% of the total accommodation capacity.



    National Recovery and Resilience Plan


    President Klaus Iohannis had talks with the Liberal PM Florin Cîțu and other Cabinet members, to discuss the breakdown of the funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. After the meeting, Iohannis said the healthcare system will be one of the main beneficiaries. According to the head of state, the over 30 billion euro earmarked for Romania under this EU-wide plan is a chance for Romania to develop and implement the reforms postponed for years.



    The investments stipulated in the plan will help create new jobs, especially for those affected by the pandemic, will create new business opportunities, will help strengthen entrepreneurship and boost competitiveness. The Plan will also allow for the funding of the motorway network, while at the same time promoting green transportation. Another programme, entitled “Educated Romania, will also benefit from substantial funding.



    The Plan is to be approved by the Government next week and submitted to the European Commission.



    Public sector pensions and salaries


    The Government has taken the first concrete step to scrap the cumulated payment of public pension benefits and salary to the same individual. The Cabinet approved a draft law that forces public sector employees who reach retirement age to choose between receiving a salary if they continue to work, and receiving public pension if they retire. According to the labour minister Raluca Turcan, staying on the job past retirement age is an option, a right, and not an obligation. Nearly 35,000 people currently receive both salaries and pensions from the state budget, and in the near future they will have to opt for one or another.




    Simple motion against the economy minister


    The Senate of Romania Tuesday dismissed a simple motion tabled by the Social Democratic Party in opposition against the economy minister Claudiu Năsui, a member of Save Romania Union. Among other things, the Social Democrats blame Năsui for the absence of a strategy to support Romanian industry, for delays in implementing an aid scheme for the hospitality sector, for scrapping holiday vouchers and suspending payments under the Start-Up Nation programme.



    Claudiu Năsui denied all the accusations, and claimed the motion was tied to his ministry making public a list with the institutions contracts. Năsui promised his efforts to bring transparency in the work of the ministry will not stop here. We have turned off many conduits for draining public money and will continue to do so, we will encourage exports and will promote companies efforts to connect to the global market, the economy minister said during the debates on the motion against him.




    Cooperation and Verification Mechanism


    Romania may conclude the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in the judiciary this year, provided that it implements all the recommendations of the European Commission, and as of next year its justice system might be assessed for the first time only in the context of the report on the rule of law, like all other EU member countries. This statement was made exclusively for Radio Romania by the European Commission vice-president Věra Jourová, who added that the Commission still believes the special unit investigating magistrates is an intrusive institution which affects the independence of judges.



    Věra Jourová had online consultations with Romanian officials, magistrates, MPs and civil society representatives. In a Facebook post after the talks with the European official, PM Florin Cîțu said that his Cabinet intends to address the ill-advised changes in the laws regulating the judiciary operated in 2017-2019, and that he shares the Commissions hopes that Romania will meet its rule of law commitments in the first half of this year.



    On Thursday the government passed a bill dismantling the special unit investigating magistrates. The justice minister Stelian Ion said the goal is to return cases involving magistrates to the competent prosecutors offices.




    “collective – the first Romanian film nominated for the Oscars


    The documentary “colectiv, by Alexander Nanau, is as of this week the first Romanian film nominated for the Oscars, competing in 2 categories (best documentary and “best international feature). The Romania-Luxembourg co-production depicts the joint efforts of doctors, government officials and investigative journalists that uncover a large-scale fraud in the Romanian healthcare system, in the wake of the fire in Bucharests Colectiv nightclub, which killed scores of people in October 2015.



    The film premiered at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival and earned the best documentary awards of the European Film Academy and of the London Film Critics Circle. “It tells the story of how incompetent authorities use lies and manipulation to trample over peoples lives, the director says. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • EU Funding and the Rule of Law

    EU Funding and the Rule of Law


    On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted a resolution that includes proposals for a mechanism aimed at protecting and strengthening democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. The reason is simple: the current control mechanisms used to monitor the health of democracy in the EU are no longer effective, because they are not binding enough when the governments fail to observe the rules. In the resolution, the European Parliament reaffirms its worries in relation to what it describes as “the rise and entrenchment of autocratic and illiberal tendencies, further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recession, as well as corruption, disinformation and state capture, in several Member States.”



    The document also reads that the EU remains structurally ill-equipped to tackle an ongoing and unprecedented crisis of its fundamental laws, giving as an example the Councils failure to make meaningful progress in enforcing the procedures started against Hungary and Poland. That is why, the European Parliament believes, specific country recommendations are needed for the initiation of the Mechanism on the protection of European values, infringement proceedings and conditions to access European funds.



    Therefore, the EP proposes an Annual Monitoring Cycle, which will include preventive and corrective aspects, based on specific recommendations, with calendars and objectives for concrete measures, budget conditionalities and infringement proceedings. The proposals would strengthen and add to the existing mechanisms, such as the recent European Commission Report on the Rule of Law. Failure to settle the issues identified in this way might lead to specific corrective measures.



    Basically, the European Parliament wants the states that do not observe the European values and the principles of a European type of liberalism to no longer have access to the funds of a community founded on the very principles that such states breach.



    The European Parliament will only approve the 2021-2027 budget if there is a concrete conditionality mechanism that allows for a reduction or suspension of EU funding, when a member country does not respect the principles of the rule of law. Directly targeted by Union procedures for attempts to politically subordinate justice and public media, the conservative regimes in Hungary and Poland have threatened to block the future EU multiannual budget and the European post-pandemic recovery fund of 750 billion euros, if conditionalities on the rule of law will be introduced.



    In the ex-communist East there is a temptation to reinterpret the rules for ones own benefit. Even though no infringement proceedings have been launched against them, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia have been criticized for corruption and, in the case of the former left-wing government in Bucharest, pernicious changes to the laws of justice. (M. Ignatescu)


  • July 21, 2019 UPDATE

    July 21, 2019 UPDATE

    EU PM Viorica Dăncilă sees as fair the view taken by the new president of the European Commission, Ursula van der Leyen, who wants a new mechanism monitoring the rule of law in all member states. Dăncilă also said the Romanian Government would carry on talks with the European Commission concerning the lifting of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism with respect to Romania. The head of the Romanian Government added that after the elections for the European Parliament she discussed with the former president of the European Commission and the former first vice-president about the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, and told them that Romania is open to discussion and that each and every aspect must be analysed separately. But, Viorica Dancila added, these talks must involve not only the Justice Ministry. The opinions of judges, prosecutors and magistrate associations must also be taken into account, in order for certain aspects in the CVM to be implemented or to explain why they cannot be implemented in Romania.



    COURSES Between July 22nd and August 4th, the University of Bucharest organises the 59th edition of the Summer Courses in Romanian language, culture and civilisation. This summer school is the oldest initiative by a Romanian university to promote Romanian language and culture around the world. Taking part in the 2019 edition will be 30 learners from 14 countries: the US, Canada, Brazil, Korea, Turkey, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia and Italy.




    FAIR Thousands took part this weekend in the Mount Gaina Maidens Fair, the largest and best known outdoor traditional festival in the country, first mentioned in documents dating back to 1816. In the old times, the festival was an opportunity for the locals to get together, reconnect with their relatives and friends, make new friends and even meet spouses. At present the Mount Gaina Fair aims to promote traditional crafts and arts, Romanian folk costumes, customs and traditions and Romanian music. This years festival included traditional music and dance performances, outdoor parties and fireworks.




    BREXIT Thousands of anti-Brexit protesters rallied in London just days before Boris Johnson is expected to become Tory leader and the new Prime Minister. On Tuesday the Conservative Party is to announce the winner of the race for Theresa Mays replacement. Boris Johnson, former foreign secretary and a Brexit supporter, is seen as the frontrunner in this race. On Sunday, the British Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is against a no-deal Brexit, announced he intends to resign if Boris Johnson becomes the UKs next Prime Minister. “Assuming that Boris Johnson becomes the next Prime Minister, I understand that his conditions for serving in his government would include accepting a no-deal exit on the 31st of October. That is not something I could ever sign up to, Hammond said in an interview to the BBC.



    TENNIS The tennis player Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (106 WTA) Sunday won the final of the BRD Bucharest Open. She defeated the only Romanian left in the competition, Patricia Ţig, 6-2 6-0. Patricia Ţig is the 3rd Romanian to play the finals of the Bucharest Open, after Simona Halep in 2014 and 2016, and Irina Begu in 2017. Also on Sunday, in the doubles final, Romanians Jaqueline Adina Cristian and Elena-Gabriela Ruse lost to Viktoria Kuzmova (Slovakia) / Kristyna Pliskova (the Czech Republic), 6-4, 7-6.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • July 21, 2019

    July 21, 2019

    EU PM Viorica Dăncilă sees as fair the view taken by the new president elect of the European Commission, Ursula van der Leyen, who wants a new mechanism monitoring the rule of law in all member states. Dăncilă also said the Romanian Government would carry on talks with the European Commission concerning the lifting of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism with respect to Romania. The head of the Romanian Government added that after the elections for the European Parliament she discussed with the former president of the European Commission and the former first vice-president about the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, and told them that Romania is open to discussion and that each and every aspect must be analysed separately. But, Viorica Dancila added, these talks must involve not only the Justice Ministry. The opinions of judges, prosecutors and magistrate associations must also be taken into account, in order for certain aspects in the CVM to be implemented or to explain why they cannot be implemented in Romania.




    ELECTION Ukraine is holding early legislative elections today, with the party headed by the new president Volodymyr Zelensky standing most chances to win. The newly established party, called ‘Peoples Servant after the name of a TV show in which Zelensky plays a teacher unexpectedly turned president – is ahead of its challengers in polls, with 42% to 52% of the voting intentions. 2,742 candidates from 22 political parties take part in todays legislative election. They are running for 225 seats in parliament, distributed to the parties that make the 5% election threshold. Another 199 MPs will be elected in single-member constituencies. The early parliamentary elections were organised after in his inauguration speech Volodymyr Zelensky announced having decided to dismantle parliament.




    BREXIT Thousands of anti-Brexit protesters rallied in London just days before Boris Johnson is expected to become Tory leader and the new Prime Minister. On Tuesday the Conservative Party is to announce the winner of the race for Theresa Mays replacement. Boris Johnson, former foreign secretary and a Brexit supporter, is seen as the frontrunner in this race.




    MILITARY Romania has taken part, alongside another 11 NATO member countries, in the Sea Breeze 2019 international military exercise held until today in the Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea. More than 2,000 troops from Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, the USA and Turkey were involved. The main goal was to enhance interoperability and interaction between the naval forces of the participating countries. Taking part in the drills were 26 combat and auxiliary vessels, 10 airplanes and helicopters, as well as representatives of various institutions, public and non-governmental organisations.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • May 18, 2019 UPDATE

    May 18, 2019 UPDATE

    NATO The North-Atlantic Alliances largest communications exercise Steadfast Cobalt 2019 begins on Sunday in Otopeni, near Bucharest. Taking part are over 1,200 Romanian and foreign military from 35 NATO IT&C structures, the Romanian Defence Ministry announces in a news release. Scheduled to conclude on June 2, Steadfast Cobalt 2019 is aimed at the joint training of troops in the provision of multinational support in NATO operations and at practicing the standard procedures required in order to ensure the interoperability of NATO human and technical resources.




    CYBER-CRIME The EU member states have adopted a mechanism enabling them to punish individuals or entities from outside the bloc that commit cyber attacks. It is for the first time that the EU responds to cyber attacks in this form. Under the new mechanism, Brussels will be able to introduce travel restrictions and to freeze the assets and accounts of suspected offenders.





    JOBS Rome is hosting until Sunday a job fair for the Romanians who seek to return to their home country. The executive president of the organising association, Casa România, Dorin Coman, explains that the project took shape after the organisation found out that Romania lacks 250,000 workers in constructions alone. According to him, an objective is to help Romanians come back home, to find accurate information about the developments in the country, about the jobs available and the salary level. Taking part in the fair are many Romanian companies, operating especially in the field of constructions. According to the Italian Statistical Institute, nearly 1.2 million Romanians were living in Italy in 2018.




    TRADE FAIR Romanian furniture producers are taking part for the 2nd consecutive year in the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York – ICFF, an American global design platform. Between May 19 and 22, Romanian companies will president their products alongside more than 900 other participants from 72 countries. The Romanian pavilion is organised by the Ministry for the business environment, trade and entrepreneurship, jointly with the Romanian Furniture Producer Association. According to the Ministry, in last years edition the quality, the environment-friendly raw materials used, the innovative finishing and diversity of styles brought Romanian producers contracts of around 1 million UDS.




    HANDBALL The mens handball team CSM Bucharest Saturday won the Challenge Cup, defeating the Portuguese side Madeira Andebol SAD in the decisive leg of the finals, 26-20. In the first leg, in Portugal, the 2 teams had drawn, 22-22. Challenge Cup is the 3rd-tier inter-club competition in Europe. The current Cup holders are Potaissa Turda, from north-western Romania. Another 3 Romanian teams have also won the trophy so far: CSA Steaua Bucharest (in 2006), CS UCM Reşiţa (in 2007, 2008, 2009) and HC Odorheiu Secuiesc (in 2015), while CSU Bucovina Suceava was a finalist in 2009. In womens handball, CSM Bucureşti was kicked out from the Champions League quarter-finals by the French team Metz, after having qualified into the so-called Final Four for the past 3 years, and after having won the trophy in 2016.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)