Radio România Internațional

Tag: military

Security decisions in Romania’s Parliament

The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest, as the first party to be notified, endorsed a draft law that allows drones that illegally enter Romanian airspace to be shot down. More precisely, drones that enter national airspace illegally will be destroyed or disabled if Romanian or NATO military forces are unable to control them.

Another bill, which regulates the way military missions in Romania are carried out in peacetime, was also passed by the Chamber of Deputies. One of the measures allows the authority of specific structures in the Romanian Army to be transferred for a limited period to a commander of the Allied military forces participating in these missions.

The bills were criticised by the populist-sovereigntist opposition comprising S.O.S. Romania, the Young People’s Party (POT) and AUR. The AUR deputy, Ramona Bruynseels:

Ramona Bruynseels: “NATO is not an instrument for ceding sovereignty. We do not know who will be in government tomorrow. Do you want us to expose ourselves to the risk that, at some point, someone, anyone, will come and use this instrument to introduce repressive measures against Romanian civilians?”

The Social Democrat Daniel Suciu retorted:

Daniel Suciu: “What do you want, esteemed colleagues from the opposition who talk about a transfer of sovereignty and it is not true, it is not about this… what do you want? To have drones fall on our schools? To have drones fall on our cities and then shrug your shoulders that Parliament did not do its job?”

Along with the Social Democratic Deputies, their ruling coalition partners, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, as well as the USR in opposition, voted in favour of the draft laws.

After the documents regarding the control of the national airspace, and the management of military missions on Romanian territory in peacetime were endorsed, the defence ministry made a number of clarifications, amid “an extensive campaign of disinformation and fake news massively distributed by a number of users of various digital platforms in Romania” triggered by the 2 bills.

The defence ministry says that all the procedural steps required for these bills have been taken, including public reviews. The same source also says that attempts to depict concrete measures to strengthen Romania’s and NATO’s defence capacity as acts of national treason are part of a pattern of disinformation campaigns carried out in the public space in Romania, “including by state actors with an agenda contrary to Romania’s sovereignty and against NATO, through which an attempt is made to induce panic and to weaken confidence in the capacity of national security institutions to fulfil their constitutional missions.”

“Claims of unconstitutionality or betrayal of Romania’s interests are false and totally unjustified,” the defence ministry emphasizes, in a press release which explains in detail the content of the two laws. (AMP)

20 February 2025
January 19, 2025

UNIONS Romanian trade unionists ask the politicians in power to talk directly with the people, because social tensions are high, and the powder keg could explode at any moment. This warning was issued by the Cartel Alfa federation in a statement that says political decision-makers have abandoned open communication with Romanians. The budget deficit must be corrected by improving collection, but the government refuses to take any measures outside of recipes that have proven ineffective for years, Cartel Alfa also says.

JOBS Nearly 33,000 positions are declared vacant by employers in Romania, the National Employment Agency announced. Most of them, over 20,000, are intended for unskilled applicants or primary and secondary school graduates. Another 10,000 jobs require high school, post-secondary school or vocational education. A little over 1,900 jobs require a degree, including positions as engineers in various sectors, computer programmers, financial and accounting experts or veterinarians. Also, employers from the European Economic Area offer employment through the EURES Romania network; 100 jobs are available in Germany and Spain, and another 27 in Austria, Ireland and Malta.

ECONOMY The World Bank has revised downward its outlook for the Romanian economy this year, mainly due to the fiscal consolidation measures recently announced by the government. In its latest global economic outlook report, the World Bank lowers its estimate for Romania’s economic growth rate to 2.1% this year, as against 3.8% forecast in June 2024. Also, in 2026, Romania’s GDP growth is expected to be 2.6% compared to 3.8%, as estimated in June. On the other hand, economic growth in Central Europe is expected to recover to 2.8% in 2025 and 3% in 2026, thanks to robust private demand. Export growth in Central Europe is expected to remain modest due to slow progress in the Euro area. The level of investments, especially in Poland and Romania, is expected to improve, thanks to structural reforms and EU funding.

MILITARY Hundreds of British military vehicles are on their way to Romania by ferry, in order to take part in a major NATO exercise, London announced. 2,400 British soldiers with 730 military vehicles will form the main battle group, supported by troops from five other NATO countries, with the United Kingdom assuming command of the land component. The new Allied Reaction Force (ARF) replaced the NATO Response Force (NRF) last year, and aims to respond quickly and effectively to any threat in times of peace, crisis or conflict.

MIDDLE EAST A senior Israeli official said that Israel received a list of hostages in Gaza who are to be released today by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has resigned to protest the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli media reported today. Ben-Gvir’s far-right and ultranationalist party will leave the ruling coalition. After months of deadlock in the 15-month war in Gaza, a three-stage agreement was reached earlier this week. During an initial six-week ceasefire, 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are to be released in exchange for 1,904 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, while the Israeli army is to pull out of densely populated areas in Gaza. Meanwhile, however, the army carried on its attacks in Gaza, where at least five people were killed.

HANDBALL The women’s handball team CS Rapid Bucharest face today at home the Danish side Odense Handbold, in the Champions League Group B. The day before, in Group A, the Romanian champions CSM Bucharest defeated the Slovenian side Krim Mercator Ljubljana 36-23, also at home. In the same group, Gloria 2018 Bistriţa-Năsăud were defeated, away from home, by the Croatian team RK Podravka Vegeta Koprivnica, 26-25. In the group standings, CSM are in 4th place, with 10 points, and Gloria are in 6th place, with 6 points.

TENNIS The Romanian-Ukrainian pair Gabriela Ruse/Marta Kostiuk qualified for the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles event at the Australian Open on Sunday, after defeating Hanyu Guo (China) / Alexandra Panova (Russia) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (10/6). Ruse and Kostiuk have played two Grand Slam women’s doubles semifinals together, one in Melbourne in 2023 and one at Roland Garros in 2024. In the quarterfinals, they will take on Su-Wei Hsieh (Taiwan) and Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia). (AMP)

19 January 2025
Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe

Less than 2 weeks from now, Romania will hold the first round of its presidential election, and the campaign remains low-key, limited to predictable speeches and mutual attacks between the candidates. Analysts and commentators deplore the contenders’ almost complete disregard for major topics, such as the war in neighbouring Ukraine and the country’s preparedness for any kind of security challenges.

The military, on the other hand, are not involved in the campaign and are quite familiar with such delicate topics. Moreover, the institution they represent enjoys, unlike political parties, some of the highest public confidence rates.

A little while ago, the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, gen. Gheorghiţă Vlad, warned about the small number of reserved troops that Romania can resort to in case of a conflict, and about loopholes that restrict the armed forces’ response capacity in certain situations. It was a useful public statement, because the authorities set out to address the problems the general mentioned.

On Tuesday, on the celebration of the Armed Forces General Staff, gen. Vlad rang an alarm bell as current security indicators suggest peace is no longer to be taken for granted on the European continent. He mentioned that, in violation of international humanitarian law, the Russian Federation’s moves fuel a negative progression of the likelihood of security risks and threats. According to the military official, a defence crisis is on-going in the Black Sea region, a region of strategic interest for NATO.

The Romanian Army, Vlad emphasised, has reconfigured its defensive architecture. Procedures have been adjusted, the military’s response capability has been recalibrated and structures have been consolidated so as to improve the permanent combat service, air police and vigilance. Early warning and situational awareness capabilities have also be strengthened.

Our defensive capacity, including Euro-Atlantic relations and the Strategic Partnership with the US, remain the vectors of our national deterrence and defence posture in the Black Sea region, and the Armed Forces General Staff plays a vital role in consolidating this posture, Vlad pointed out.

In mid-September, NATO military leaders attending the Alliance’s Military Committee conference in Prague analysed the progress in implementing the defence plans approved in the 2023 Summit. On that occasion, gen. Gheorghiță Vlad said that, considering the developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine, it is becoming increasingly evident that a substantial Allied presence is necessary in the Black Sea region and that the region’s relevance must remain a priority on the NATO agenda. Credible and efficient deterrence means earmarking forces and means and ensuring the flexibility of Battle Groups so that, if necessary, they may quickly reach brigade-level organisation, the chief of the Romanian Armed Forces General Staff insisted. (AMP)

13 November 2024
November 5, 2024

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Roxana Mînzatu, Romania’s nominee for European Commissioner for People, Skills and Preparedness is interviewed today by Parliament’s specialist committees. She is one of the six vice-presidents of the European Commission, headed by Ursula von der Layen. Mînzatu aims to make the teaching career more attractive, given that at least 24 EU member states are facing a shortage of teachers, and at the same time to improve the Erasmus+ programme, viewed as far too expensive by many Romanian students. On November 12, next week, Roxana Mînzatu will be heard in the specialist committees of the European Parliament.

DEFENCE “The Romanian and French military are fully engaged in ensuring security and stability in the Black Sea region,” the Romanian defence minister Angel Tîlvăr said in Paris, at a meeting with his French counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu. The agenda included current topics related to bilateral cooperation, with an emphasis on strategic defence priorities, in the complex security context of the Black Sea region and of the Russian Federation’s continuing war of aggression in Romania’s neighbor, Ukraine. The 2 officials also discussed aspects related to the collaboration between the two states within NATO, the European Union and bilaterally. Minister Tîlvăr was among the Romanian officials accompanying PM Marcel Ciolacu, who met with his counterpart Michel Barnier on Monday.

FINANCE The Romanian finance minister, Marcel Boloş, took part in Brussels today in the meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, where they discussed VAT in the digital age, the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the annual reporting, EU statistics, international meetings and financing the climate transition. The Council will also pass two legislative acts in the field of insurance.

FORUM Bucharest is hosting the Romania-Japan Energy Forum, an event that brings together companies and public institutions in the field of energy from both countries. The forum stepped up joint projects in the field of energy, in particular the development of new generation nuclear power, the expansion of renewable energy storage capacities, the production of green hydrogen and the implementation of carbon capture, use and storage technologies. As part of the forum, the Romanian energy ministry and the Japanese company Itochu Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Tarnița-Lăpuștești investment (central Romania), a project of strategic importance for balancing the energy system in Romania in the context of increasing the share of energy from renewable sources. Relations between Romania and Japan were raised to the strategic partnership level on March 7, 2023.

ELECTION DAY US citizens today elect their president. Running for office are vice-president Kamala Harris, supported by the Democratic Party, and the former White House leader Donald Trump, the candidate of the Republican Party. Both finished their campaign in Pennsylvania, a state that could decide who the next president will be. Over 80 million voters have already cast their early vote by mail, a record number that shows interest in this election, seen by many as critical for the future of American democracy. A staggering USD 2.6 bln has been spent in the last eight months to convince the voters. Opinion polls show that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are practically tied.

GEORGIA Thousands of Georgians gathered in the centre of the capital city Tbilisi on Monday evening, to protest the results of the October 26 legislative elections, won by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, and challenged by the opposition, whose supporters are now announcing protests will continue until the election is repeated. The newly elected opposition MPs refused to enter Parliament, and described the election as illegitimate, while Western observers speak of irregularities during the campaign and the vote. The opposition parties, supported by the pro-Western president Salome Zourabichvili, claim that there have been frauds and demand an international investigation or repeat elections under ‘international administration’. Both ideas are rejected by the government. Attending the protest, Salome Zourabichvili told the demonstrators that the Republic of Moldova won, referring to the victory of her pro-European counterpart Maia Sandu, and that “Georgia must not give up either”. Russia dismissed the Georgian opposition’s accusations of meddling in the election process, and the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation last Wednesday to investigate election fraud allegations. (AMP)

5 November 2024
September 17, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION – The EC president Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled the new college of commissioners. Romania’s nominee for one of the 27 European Commissioner posts, the former minister for EU funding and incumbent MEP Roxana Mînzatu, was appointed Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness and will also be the new Commissioner for Skills, Education, Quality Jobs and Social Rights. In Bucharest, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu hailed the fact that Romania obtains for the first time since joining the EU the position of Commission vice-president, and also the fact that Roxana Mînzatu will coordinate a major portfolio with a budget of 235 billion euros – a fifth of the Union’s budget. The team proposed by Ursula von der Leyen will next be interviewed by the European Parliament. Given the length of the procedures, the new commission might begin their term in office later than scheduled, possibly as late as December.

COOPERATION – The Romanian Chamber of Deputies passed the draft law on the Romania – Moldova cooperation agreement in the military field. According to the document, the two states will support each other in all aspects regarding the preparation and participation in multinational missions and operations under the auspices of the UN, OSCE, NATO or the EU. Deputy Daniel Gheorghe said that the Chisinau administration must give up the neutrality that keeps it captive in the ex-Soviet space, and that the agreement with Romania is a step towards standardization with the North Atlantic area.

FLOODS – The government of Romania approved direct financial aid for the victims of the recent floods in the east of the country, which left 7 people dead and nearly 6,500 homes damaged. People are still accommodated in the temporary sites arranged by the local authorities, and interior ministry personnel are helped by emergency inspectorate staff from other counties, who have brought over intervention vehicles and large capacity pumps to take out the water and mud from the flooded houses. Meanwhile, water and food supplies are being distributed to the victims, both from the state reserve and from private citizens and companies that have donated clothes, footwear, blankets and mattresses. The Red Cross also dispatched trucks with water and food to the area.

DIPLOMACY – Romania will continue to stand by the Republic of Moldova on a bilateral level, on a European level in the negotiations for EU accession, but also in concrete aspects related to economic development, infrastructure consolidation and, above all, energy security, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu said Tuesday in Chisinau. The head of Romanian diplomacy co-chaired the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Partnership Platform for the Republic of Moldova. She said that the Platform was created with the goal of supporting both financially and sectorally the Republic of Moldova, seriously affected by the consequences of the war waged by Russia in Ukraine. In this context, a Joint Declaration of the Foreign Ministers of Romania, France, Germany and the Republic of Moldova was adopted, reconfirming the important role of this cooperation format and the joint commitment to support the Republic of Moldova in the European integration process, as well as in the efforts for economic development and consolidation of resilience. In Chisinau, the head of the Romanian diplomacy was received, along with the other ministers, by the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu.

FUGITIVES – The Constitutional Court of Romania postponed, for Thursday, the discussions on the notification lodged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice with respect to the so-called Fugitives Act. The law endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies in November 2023 stipulates that citizens subject to a final court sentence who fail to turn themselves in within 7 days to be incarcerated are to be declared fugitives and receive a further 6 month to 3 year sentence. The supreme court believes the law comes against the right to fair trial and individual freedom. Sorin Oprescu, a former mayor of Bucharest, and Alina Bica, a former chief of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism Offences, are some of the high-profile officials who managed to leave the country in order to escape a prison sentence. Italy and Greece are the countries preferred by the fugitives.

CLIMATE – Romania plans to be carbon neutral by 2045, as opposed to its previous target, 2050, according to a new version of the National Integrated Plan on Energy and Climate Change. Bucharest also intends to cover 38% of the country’s total energy demand from renewable sources by 2030. The energy ministry announced on Tuesday additional policies and measures to increase the share of renewable energy, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially and to implement innovating solutions in all economic sectors. The revised plan includes measures to cut emissions in essential sectors such as energy, transport, housing and industry, and aims to implement advanced technologies such as the use of renewable hydrogen.

ENESCU – The 19^th edition of the “George Enescu” International Classical Music Competition takes place in Bucharest until September 27, under the high patronage of the Romanian Presidency. Enrolled in this year’s competition are a record 667 musicians aged 13 to 35. The “George Enescu” International Competition, initiated in 1958, is one of the most important events of this kind in the world, providing a platform for rising musicians to prove their skills. Over the years, the competition has consolidated Romania’s standing in the global cultural arena, and is the only competition in the country affiliated to the World Federation of International Music Competitions. The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation is one of the co-producers of the event.

17 September 2024
June 20, 2024

UKRAINE In Bucharest, the Supreme Defence Council convened today to analyse a possible transfer of a Patriot missile system to Ukraine’s armed forces, after the US president Joe Biden called on the NATO member states in Europe that own such systems to look into the possibility of donating some to Ukraine. Over a month ago in Washington president Klaus Iohannis said in a meeting with the US president at the White House that Bucharest would find a solution for a possible transfer, but emphasised at that point that it was unacceptable for Romania to be left without anti-aircraft defence. In the Council meeting today, the participants will also present Bucharest’s goals at the NATO Summit due in Washington next week, given that a deterrence posture is critical for Romania, and the country’s defence capacity must be complete. On the other hand, president Klaus Iohannis stated yesterday that after the discussion in the Council he would also make public his decision regarding his NATO leadership candidacy, after both Hungary and Slovakia had announced their support for Mark Rutte (Netherlands) as the next NATO secretary general.

DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu is on a 2-day official visit to the US as of today. She is scheduled to have political talks with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and will also have meetings with National Security Council members. The Romanian diplomat will also take part in the opening of the Romania-US Economic Forum, where she will highight the development potential of the Romanian-US economic relations, including through cooperation in the energy sector and in the Ukraine reconstruction efforts. Organised in the context of the celebration of 20 years since Romania joined NATO, the visit is an opportunity to review the progress made in the bilateral relations, in the cooperation for strengthening Euro-Atlantic security, with a focus on the Black Sea region and on identifying means to consolidate the Romania-US Strategic Partnership.

MILITARY Romania takes over for 6 months the command of a NATO vessel group operating in the Mediterranean, which also includes military ships from Italy, Spain and Turkey, officials for the Romanian Naval Forces announced. The “Viceamiral Constantin Bălescu” minelayer, with a crew of 85 Romanian and foreign troops, leaves the Constanţa military port to the port of Salamis, in Greece, where the command transfer ceremony is scheduled on Friday. The Romanian Naval Forces mentioned that, with the participation in this mission, Romania helps meet the commitments regarding regional security and strengthen international cooperation in view of maintaining stability in the Mediterranean.

VISIT Romania and Italy will continue to work together and to cooperate with all Allies towards strengthening NATO’s role in preventing any wars, president Klaus Iohannis said after a meeting with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, who was on an official visit to Bucharest on Wednesday. Klaus Iohannis highlighted the foundations for the development of the bilateral relation and cooperation with Italy, including as part of European and Euro-Atlantic structures. In turn, Sergio Mattarella said he supported Romania’s full Schengen membership. As for the European dimension, the president of Italy emphasized that the EU enlargement was a major objective.

SWIMMING The Romanian swimmer David Popovici won the 100m freestyle race on Wednesday night at the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, with 46 sec 88/100. Popovici was only two hundredths of a second away from the European record he set in Rome in 2022. The world record (46 sec 80/100) was set in February by China’s Zhanle Pan. Second in the European competition came Nandor Nemeth (Hungary), 47 sec 49/100, followed by Serbia’s Andrej Barna, 47 sec 66/100. In the 2022 European Championships in Rome, David Popovici won Romania two gold medals, in the 100m and 200m freestyle races. (AMP)

20 June 2024
May 6, 2024

EASTER Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Easter Monday, the second day of Bright Week. Easter Monday is also known as Bright Monday and it is said to be the day when the gates of Heaven and forgiveness are opened. As for specific traditions, on this day young girls and homes are sprinkled with holy water, and people visit their parents and godparents, bringing Easter cake and eggs.

STATISTICS Romania has the 3rd-lowest life expectancy in the EU, 76.6 years, according to a report released by Eurostat. The only 2 countries in the European bloc with poorer rates in this respect are Bulgaria and Latvia (below 76 years). Spain has the longest life expectancy in the European Union, 84 years, followed closely by Italy and Malta. According to Eurostat data, lower rates are reported in Eastern Europe and in the three Baltic states, whereas in Mediterranean, Scandinavian and Central European countries people live longer. On the other hand, the EU statistics office said, Romania sees the steepest increase in life expectancy, with one year gained between 2019 and 2023.

MILITARY A multinational exercise called Swift Response 24 takes place until May 24 in Romania and other countries. Thousands of troops and hundreds of vehicles and other equipment from 7 Allied and partner states are taking part. The exercise is organised by the US Army Europe and Africa, and according to the Romanian defence ministry it will include one of the largest air assault operations conducted in Europe since WWII, with around 2,000 paratroopers from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the US and the Netherlands taking part. Romania contributes 2,300 troops, several air bases and 3 firing ranges. The drills on Romanian territory are coordinated by the German Armed Forces jointly with the Romanian Land Forces, with support from the Romanian Air Forces.

RUSSIA Russia’s president Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear weapons drills “in the near future,” involving in particular troops deployed close to Ukraine, France Presse and Reuters report. According to the Russian defence ministry, the drills are designed to keep the Army trained, following “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.” Missile units from the Military District South and naval forces will take part in the drills. Russia currently has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin led to the worst deterioration of Russia’s relations with the West since the Cuban missile crisis, both US and Russian diplomats said. While Moscow claims the war is a response to NATO’s attempts to control Ukraine while expanding its military presence eastwards, the West and Ukraine define Putin’s war as intended to occupy new territory and bring Ukraine under Moscow’s control, Reuters says.

VISIT The war in Ukraine and economic relations between China and the European Union are the main topics on the agenda of today’s talks in Paris, held as part of a 2-day state visit by China’s president Xi Jinping to France. The Chinese official called for a consolidated strategic coordination between China and the EU, as major world powers, at the start of a 3-party meeting with president Emmanuel Macron and with the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen. President Macron pleaded in turn for “fair rules for all” in the trade between China and Europe. “The future of our continent will very clearly depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced manner,” Macron said, and added that “coordination” with Beijing on “major crises” including Ukraine and the Middle East was “absolutely decisive.” In turn, the EC president Ursula von der Leyen said that China and the EU have a shared interest in peace and security, and emphasized the determination to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to achieve just and long-term peace.

GAZA On Monday the Israeli armed forces started to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah, ahead of a planned military move in this town in the south of Gaza, an Israeli radio station, Army Radio, has announced. The Israeli Army said it “encourages” residents in eastern Rafah to move to an extended humanitarian area close by. Seven months since the start of its attack on Hamas, Israel says Rafah is hosting thousands of Islamist Palestinian fighters and that the town is critical for its victory. But with over one million Palestinian civilians relocated to Rafah, the prospect of a military operation with a large number of victims is a concern for the West and for neighbouring Egypt, Reuters reports. (AMP)

6 May 2024
April 22, 2024 UPDATE

VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday started a three-day official visit to South Korea, the first country in the Asia-Pacific region which Romania has a strategic partnership with. Iohannis laid a wreath at the National Cemetery in Seoul. Political consultations will focus on issues related to the consolidation of the Strategic Partnership, political-diplomatic and defense cooperation, the main regional and global challenges and boosting trade and investments in various sectors. Among them are green and nuclear energy, new technologies, IT&C, environment and climate change management, infrastructure, health and education. The meeting will also emphasize the special inter-cultural exchanges, which have been consolidated in recent years. The Romanian president’s visit to South Korea is the first in 16 years.

MISSIONS – Parliament on Monday greenlit the participation of Romanian military in demining naval missions in the Black Sea following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, in response to the Romanian president’s request. Romania will deploy general staff and a military vessel with an 85-strong crew. Parliament also approved the participation of the Romanian Army in the EU maritime security mission in the Red Sea. 3 Romanian servicemen will join the Prosperity Guardian mission led by US in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the territory of Bahrain.

AIRCRAFT – Three F-16 aircraft purchased by Romania from Norway, landed on Friday at the “General Emanoil Ionescu” 71^st Air Base in Câmpia Turzii (center). It is the second series of three such aircraft bought by Romania from the Norway, the first being received last November. According to the Defense Ministry, through the 32 multirole F-16 aircraft that will endow two more squadrons of the Air Forces by the end of next year, Romania is strengthening its air defense at a level adapted to the security challenges in the region.

SERVICEMEN – The Romanian army faces a shortage of professional servicemen. The first conscription campaign held over February-April, over 6,400 people applied for the 5,100 vacancies, 24% failed the fitness test, 18% the psychological test and 12% the medical test. The total number of candidates who passed was 2,626. The Romanian Defense Ministry says the level of difficulty for the fitness test is average, allowing people aged 18-45 with normal fitness development to pass it without major difficulties.

EP – The European Parliament convenes in a new plenary sitting in Strasbourg, as of today until Thursday. The meeting’s agenda includes topics such as violence against women, the revision of the EU’s Agricultural Policy and combating money laundering. Iran’s attack on Israel, the ban on the EU market for products manufactured through forced labor, the effects of the so-called Russian interference in the European Parliament, the assessment of the results of the Russian elections and the situation of the state of law in Hungary will also be discussed. The plenary sitting this week is the last one of the current European Parliament makeup, before the European elections on June 9. (EE & VP)

23 April 2024
US military train in Cincu

The American military stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Base have trained for a week at Cincu training ground, in Brașov county. They form part of the 101st Airborne Division and simulated infiltrating enemy territory using Black Hawk helicopters to land in training areas. It is the third exercise of this kind they have participated in, since their arrival in Romania. The Romanian land forces were kind enough to let us train in their area, Captain Joseph Palazini, said. We have shootings with teams of 9-10 soldiers, who infiltrate here, in this complex, under real shooting conditions and do different maneuvers, the military commander also said. I have seen these days how people are progressing and they do much better with the equipment they have, using this terrain and these conditions, Captain Joseph Palazini, of the 101st Airborne Division, concluded. Several thousand American soldiers are permanently stationed at Romanian bases to strengthen defense on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States has reached its third 9-month rotation in Romania.

The Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, met with his counterpart from North Macedonia, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, who was on an official visit to Romania on February 26 and 27. Talks focused on the security situation, with an emphasis on the West Balkan region, and on NATO’s Eastern Flank, enhancing bilateral and allied collaboration, as well as collaboration within regional initiatives. The Chief of Defense highlighted the contribution of the three rotations of the North Macedonian military to the Southeast Multinational Brigade. “Joint training, as well as participation in NATO and EU missions, strengthens the partnership between the two armies, increases the level of training and interoperability. We have identified new opportunities for cooperation, given the priority of maintaining stability in the West Balkans, and strengthening the allied deterrence and defense posture in the context of the security crisis generated by the war in Ukraine”, General Gheorghiță Vlad said.

The agenda of the North Macedonian Chief of Defense included visits to the units of the Southeast Multinational Brigade. At the ceremony held at the 1st Olt Infantry Battalion in Caracal, the deployment unit of the Macedonian contingent, honorary distinctions were handed out to some Romanian and Macedonian soldiers. At the same time, the members of the delegation met with the soldiers of the Macedonian contingent and visited the barracks and the facilities made available to them. General Gjurchinovski thanked for the support provided by the Romanian military in the training program and said: “As a commander, you cannot feel a greater satisfaction than to witness the progress made since the beginning. For us, the military of the Republic of North Macedonia, to take part in these activities means a lot, in spite of the fact that we are only a platoon of 34 soldiers. Our nation has to start somewhere, and thanks to our partners and allies, we are building a stronger force, based on lessons learned and improving national doctrines and concepts.” (EE)

6 March 2024
High school students in Fagaras learn French with the support of NATO military

The NATO military from France, on a mission to Cincu, central Romania, have forged a partnership with Doamna Stanca National College in Fagaras, with the purpose of helping high school students learn French. For three months now, the French classes at the college in Fagaras are held in the presence and support of the French soldiers. This activity will continue and the French soldiers hope that such classes will also be introduced in other education units in Fagaras and Cincu. “We have initiated this activity in order to boost partnership ties among military in Cincu and Fagaras, especially to get in touch with the students. We are here not only to enhance military forces but also to renew the relations among us “, Francois Xaviar, representing the French troops, said.

This is not the first such event. At the beginning of the month, Brigade General Loic Girard, Deputy Commander of the Southeast Multinational Division Command and French National Representative in Romania, discussed about the military career with students of the French High School in Bucharest. The first French General on duty in Romania after General Berthelot in WW1, Loic Girard is a graduate of the prestigious military school in Saint Cyr. France currently has around 1,000-1,200 soldiers in Romania who train jointly with Romanian and allied soldiers from the NATO Battle Group in rotations lasting 4-6 months. At the same time, in the event of a degradation of the security situation and the increase in the threat level in the region, France has committed to increase the military participation from the current regiment level to brigade level, which is to a force of 4000-5000 soldiers, obviously French and allied troops.

Craiova (southern Romania) hosted at the headquarters of the “Neagoe Basarab”, 26th Infantry Battalion, the authority transfer ceremony of the military contingents from Poland, the 13th and 14th rotations. The Polish military contingent within the South-East Multinational Brigade is part of the joint initiative, with the mission of contributing to ensuring the advanced presence adapted on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance, in accordance with the measures adopted at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016.

At Cincu training base, Belgian and French soldiers with the NATO Battle Group, along with Romanian, Portuguese and North Macedonian detachments from the South-East Multinational Brigade, participated in the allied exercise Eagle Thunder, simulating a battle between armored vehicles. During the exercise, more than 680 NATO soldiers with over 100 armored vehicles trained together for trench and urban warfare and fired with the weapons from the equipment of the armored vehicles. The purpose of this exercise was to strengthen military cooperation among different allied nations, engaging in the field most of the NATO allies present in Romania.

The French soldiers with the NATO Battle Group in Romania, fired real shots from Capu Midia range (south-east), at offshore targets, as part of the Royal Eagle 24.1 exercise. The M270 LRU multiple rocket launchers, 155mm Caesar self-propelled howitzers and 20mm guns mounted on armored vehicles were used. (Bogdan Dinu)

21 February 2024
February 6, 2024 UPDATE

MOLDOVA Romania will continue to support the Republic of Moldova in its EU accession negotiations, PM Marcel Ciolacu said in a meeting with Moldovas new foreign minister Mihai Popşoi. The latter also had talks in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart Luminiţa Odobescu, as part of his first foreign visit since taking over the office. The agenda of the talks included, apart from Moldovas EU accession, topics related to energy interconnection and security. “Moldovas reform efforts are visible and appreciated. The authorities in Chişinău proved courage and political determination in tackling reforms in critical areas for the EU integration,” Odobescu said. The Moldovan foreign minister promised the two countries will preserve an active relationship. “The past 2 years were a major challenge for Moldova, but also an opportunity for a positive transformation, towards EU integration. In this process, we benefited from massive assistance from Romania in the development, modernisation and resilience of our state. We appreciate this strong and steady support,” Popsoi added.

HEALTH Healthcare trade unions have been promised a 15% salary increase, which will add to the 5% increase applied to public sector employees at the start of the year. After extensive negotiations with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the leaders of the Sanitas Federation said salaries will increase in two stages, in March and June, although it is unclear which categories of personnel will benefit from the increase and when. Talks with the authorities will continue, trade unions say. Representatives of the Sanitary Solidarity Federation are disgruntled with the governments latest counteroffer, the Federation leader Viorel Rotilă argues, adding that the increase will only affect base salaries, meaning health workers salaries, which also include bonuses, are expected to increase by a little over 14%. Protest actions will thus continue, Viorel Rotilă went on to say.

MILITARY Reintroducing compulsory military service is out of the question, but the defence ministry is interested in regulating voluntary military service, the defence minister Angel Tîlvăr told a television station. He said the Romanian Army has seen its forces reduced from 320,000 to 80,000 troops. Tîlvăr emphasised that there are no risks of Romania going to war. Meanwhile, MPs in the defence, public order and national security committees discussed with Tîlvăr on Tuesday about the security situation at the Black Sea. Special attention was paid to the need to bring the Army procurement programmes in line with the national defence industrys needs for development and consolidation of its production facilities. Another topic was the legislation in the defence sector.

INTERNET Several Romanian lawyers warn that the national legislation must be adjusted in order to tackle online crime, and say children in particular are vulnerable. Experts say the best ways to protect from online scams are to not access links from unknown sources, not to disclose personal and banking data on unauthorised platforms and not click posts promising various immediate substantial profits. The International Safer Internet Day was marked on Tuesday in around 200 countries, at a time when more and more people are victims of cybercrime.

TENNIS Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea has advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE), offering over 920 thousand USD in total prizes. This was the first win of the year for Cîrstea (26 WTA), who ousted Caroline Garcia of France, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. The Romanian player will next take on third-seed Maria Sakkari of Greece (9 WTA). Cîrstea leads 2-1 head-to-head, the Greek player having won the last match 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the second round at Cincinnati. (AMP, VP)

6 February 2024
A joint training program, air policing missions and a multinational exercise

The
Henri Coanda Air Force Academy, based in Central Romania’s Brasov County, over December
4th and 15th, with the support of a mobile training team and part of the Inter-European Air Forces Academy, played host to the Basic Instructor
Course. The course is a form of military training placing the trainees in the
role of the instructor, through the step-by-step correction of the training
method. Taking part in the aforementioned program there were 23 trainees,
officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and professional enlisted
soldiers from the USA, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia,
Georgia and Romania.

The
administrative representative of the Inter-European Air Forces Academy,
Major Melissa Guldan, stated for the Military Journal radio show:

The mission
of the institution is to offer, through education and training, optimal inter-operability
circumstances for the military of the two continents. The course was very important
in that it contributed to the development of the inter-personal abilities, but
also to a high degree of implementation of the tactics, techniques and procedures among
militaries from various countries.

Instructors
and students alike were impressed by the Romanian food, by the tradition and
history of the Romanian people. The food is delicious, now that the Christmas
fairs are open, we had the chance to enjoy the locals’ hospitality and friendship
said a student in the Basic Instructor Ccourse, sergeant Candon Hopkins.

These
days, four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets of the German Air Force completed
their mission in Romania. Under NATO command, the German pilots, members of
the 150-strong contingent of militaries who were posted to Romania have carried
air policing missions jointly with the Romanian Air Force. Apart from the
fighter jets, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu military base, located in south-eastern
Romania’s Constanta County, the German troops also brought a high-performance drone-detection
system with a range of flight standing at more than 40 kilometers. We are prepared
to defend the Romanian air space and NATO territory said the commander of the
German contingent, lieutenant-colonel Markus Kuchenbaur.

We
stay with the Mihail Kogălniceanu military base. The command of the US troops deployed in Romania for the strengthening of the allied Eastern flank has been handed over to the one of the US army’s best-known units, the 82nd Airborne
Division. The authority transfer ceremony, from the 10th Mountain Division to
the famous US division was held last week. The rotation of the command
structure is in accordance with the US Amy resolution to maintain its presence
in south-eastern Europe for the support of the NATO allies and the partners, To
that end, here is what the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division,
Major General J. Patrick Work, said: It is an extraordinary privilege for the 82nd
Airborne Division to be here, in Romania, and in the entire eastern flank of
the Alliance. We respect the professionalism of the Romanian Army and we truly
understand Romania’s strategic perspective. The Alliance’s and Romania’s success
is our success as well.

Romania has played host to a training exercise, with the
participation of the NATO Battle Group Forward Presence military. The exercise
was held at the Training Base of the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion
in Babadag, in the east. Dacian Winter was held over December 11 and 15,
targeting the training of the battle group’s command point. Also taking part in
the exercise were soldiers of a French brigade. In command of the exercise was the
Multinational Division Southeast.

The commander of the Battle Group Forward Presence, French
colonel Patrick Guillaume, said: We cooperate with military from Belgium and
Luxembourg, as they are part of the multinational battalion. We have been
working on their integration. We work with a multinational brigade, with
Spanish, Romanian, US military. We work with a lot of nations, together, as we
are aware that together we are strong.

20 December 2023
Romanian Army Day

The Romanian Army Day was celebrated on October 25
with various military and religious ceremonies organised in the main military
units in the country, as well as in the theatres of operations where Romanian
troops are deployed.

These are times when global peace and the security climate
are threatened by regional conflicts able to escalate, and in this context the
role of the Romanian Army in ensuring national and regional security is all the
more important, the country’s top officials emphasised on this occasion.

In his address, the president of Romania highlighted
that Europe was facing the worst crisis since WWII as a result of the Russian
Federation’s invasion of Ukraine and of the October 7 terrorist attack against
Israel, which threatens to fully destabilise the Middle East in the long run.

Klaus Iohannis: The Romanian troops, as well as the
Allies deployed to Romania, whom I also thank on this occasion, are key
elements in maintaining the NATO deterrence and defence posture at the Black
Sea, a region of strategic importance for the Euro-Atlantic zone.

The worsening of the regional security situation was
also mentioned by PM Marcel Ciolacu. It is one more reason to have an army able
to handle the new challenges, Marcel Ciolacu said:

Marcel Ciolacu: Discouraging and fighting efficiently
the various types of threats we are facing can only be achieved with massive
investment in equipment as well. This is why as of this year we have earmarked 2.5%
of GDP to the defence sector.

A professional soldier, with experience in the theatres
of operations where Romania is present together with its allies, the former PM
Nicolae Ciucă, currently the speaker of the Senate, mentioned that the Romanian
Army is a respected institution in the country and an appreciated one abroad:

Nicolae Ciucă: While it may sound paradoxical, our
troops are the ones with the highest respect for peace, and are prepared to
safeguard it at the cost of their own lives. The Romanian Army as we know it
today enjoys a good standing among the NATO and EU members.

In his turn, the defence minister Angel Tîlvăr
mentioned that the Army is already up to NATO standards in many respects, while
the deputy secretary general of the North-Atlantic Alliance Mircea Geoană sent
a message highlighting that the borders of the Romanian state are safer than
ever, in spite of the war near it and the multiple current crises. The NATO official
also mentioned that the importance of this day for the entire nation has to do
with the patriotism and sacrifice of the Romanian soldiers, past and present.

The events held in the capital city on Army Day were
concluded with a traditional torch parade, a symbolic ceremony signifying the
Romanian troops’ loyalty and sacrifice for the motherland. (AMP)

26 October 2023
Russia – UPDATE

RUSSIA Bucharest is closely monitoring the
developments in Russia. President Klaus Iohannis announced he was updated
constantly and that Romania is in contact with the Allied countries. A similar
message came from PM Marcel Ciolacu, who said he was receiving regular updates
from the defence and the foreign ministries. The US, UK, France, Germany, Italy,
Poland and the European Union and NATO in turn announced they were monitoring
the situation. The leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated on Saturday that he entered Russia with his
troops in order to topple the country’s military leaders, and vowed he was
ready to die alongside his 25,000 troops in order to liberate the Russian
people. Russia’s prosecutor general’s office announced a mutiny investigation
was underway against Prigozhin, who accused the army of striking his fighters. The
Russian authorities have tightened security in Moscow and a few other regions
in Russia. President Vladimir Putin accused Wagner of treason, and said all
those taking part in the armed
uprising would be punished. Until
recently, Wagner mercenaries were deployed in Ukraine alongside the regular
Russian army. (AMP)

24 June 2023
June 24, 2023

PRICES
Romania is the EU member country with the smallest prices for foodstuffs and soft
drinks, according to the European Statistics Office. Specifically, in Romania, such
products were nearly 30% cheaper than the European average. In fact, Romania
also saw the lowest levels of household end consumer prices. At the opposite
pole, Ireland, Denmark and Luxembourg are the most expensive countries to live
in. The most significant differences were in terms of alcohol and tobacco
prices-such products are over 3 times more expensive in Denmark compared to Bulgaria.
The latter country also reports the lowest prices in the hospitality industry.

RUSSIA In an emergency tv broadcast on Saturday,
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin said
an armed uprising by the Wagner paramilitary group would be considered
treason and that anyone rising against the Russian army will be punished. He also
added that decisive action will be taken to stabilise the situation in Rostov-on-Don,
the southern city where the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claims his fighters
have taken control of military facilities. Previously, Prigozhin hinted that his mercenaries
were heading for Moscow, Reuters reports. Prigozhin accused the Russian army of striking a
Wagner military camp, which he used as a
pretext for what he called a march of justice, arguing that he had 25,000 men
ready to fight the evil at the top of the army. Yevgeny Prigozhin was accused of armed rebellion, and
the authorities ordered he be arrested. Russia’s
National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced an anti-terrorist alert in and around
Moscow.

BLOUSE Every year on 24 June, the Romanian blouse is
celebrated both in the country and in Romanian communities around the world. The
Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse is a cultural diplomacy instrument and a
means to promote Romanian culture and traditions. The country hosts events
devoted to the traditional blouse, ia, including an Art Safary exhibition of
folk costumes in Bucharest, screenings and creative workshops for children, as
well as a fashion show featuring the traditional blouse as a street wear element.
Some museums, including the Ethnography Museum in Braşov and ASTRA Museum in
Sibiu, received visitors free of charge if they come dressed in traditional
blouses. Last year the Romanian blouse was included in the UNESCO Heritage list.

THEATRE
The central Romanian city of Sibiu, a European capital of culture in 2007, is
hosting the International Theatre Festival, currently in its 30th
year. This year’s theme is Miracle.
Until 2 July, 825 indoor and outdoor events
will take place, bringing together some 5,000 artists and guests from 75 countries.
All the outdoor performances are free of charge. The festival also keeps its
online section, which includes 40 shows. The official opening took place on
Friday night, with the play A Cathedral Full of Organs staged at the Lutheran
Cathedral of St. Mary in Sibiu.

HOLIDAY Orthodox and Greek-Catholic
Christians celebrate today the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the last Old
Testament prophet. St. John the Baptist was born 6 months before Jesus; he
urged people to repent their sins and baptised them in the River Jordan. John
also baptised Jesus, presenting him to the world as the Mesiah. The Christian
feast day of St. John the Baptist overlaps a pre-Christian tradition in which
24 June was devoted to the Sânziene, gentle fairies believed to bring fertility
and wealth. (AMP)

24 June 2023