Radio România Internațional

Tag: military exercise

May 6, 2024 UPDATE

EASTER Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Bright Week, the first week after Easter. Easter, the most important religious holiday in the Christian world, is also the only one that lasts 3 days.

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.

COMPANIES The number of companies deregistered in Romania increased by nearly 15% in the first quarter of this year, to over 12,000, according to the National Trade Registry Office. Most of these companies were registered in Bucharest and Ilfov County (south), Constanţa (south-east), Cluj (north-west), Timiş (west) and Iaşi (north-east), and operated in sectors like vehicle repair, wholesale and retail, and constructions.

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.

UKRAINE Russia’s army announced on Monday having seized another 2 Ukrainian villages, one in Donetsk, in the east, and the other one in Kharkiv, in the north-east. Commentators say Russia has the initiative against an enemy struggling to recruit new troops and facing a slow-down in Western aid. With the US military assistance resumed after a USD 61 bln aid plan for Kyiv approved in late April, Ukraine should be able to strengthen its forces and to try to stabilise the front.

VISIT The war in Ukraine and economic relations between China and the European Union were the main topics on the agenda of Monday’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
August 1, 2022

Tax — Part of the amendments made to the Fiscal Code, which were approved in mid-July by the Romanian Government, came into force on Monday. Among them – the increase in excise duties for cigarettes and tobacco, as well as for alcohol and alcoholic products, higher taxes on gambling winnings and lower ceilings for granting tax exemptions for salaries in constructions, agriculture and the food industry. Other changes to the Fiscal Code, most of which have already been adopted, will be applied as of January 1, 2023.

Exercise — The city port of Constanţa (south-east) is hosting as of Monday a multinational exercise organized by the Romanian Naval Forces. The exercise takes place in maritime districts off the Romanian Black Sea Coast and in the military port of Constanţa. 240 Romanian soldiers and 60 foreign soldiers from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, the United States and Turkey are participating in the exercise. The exercise contributes to increasing the level of training in the combat against makeshift bombs and against mines, as well as to strengthening interoperability between the participating forces.

Customs — The Romanian citizens who return home or go abroad for the holidays have to wait a long time at the customs points for document control. In recent days, in Vama Nădlac 2 (west), long queues have formed both on the entry and exit lanes. During the weekend, in 24 hours, almost half a million people crossed Romanias borders in both directions. According to the Border Police, almost 262 thousand people entered the country, most of them, namely 152 thousand, crossing the border to Hungary. The Border Police announces that it has taken measures, so that the control of documents should be faster.

Airport — Băneasa Airport, in the north of Bucharest, reopens as of Monday. For nine years, the airport was closed to commercial flights and underwent a program of modernization of buildings and equipment. On Băneasa airport, the time required for the formalities will be less than an hour, unlike Otopeni Airport, where passengers must go at least two hours before boarding. Băneasa Airport was inaugurated in 1920, but its history begins on August 1, 1912, when the Romanian Aviation League, led by Prince George Valentin Bibescu, establishes, in Băneasa, a flight school for military pilots.

Cereals – A first ship carrying Ukrainian cereals on Monday left from the Ukrainian port of Odesa, according to the international agreement concluded with Russia on July 22, in Istanbul, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced. In Kyiv, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, estimated that, following the Russian invasion, this year, the cereals crops in Ukraine could be diminished by half. Before the launch of the Russian invasion on February 24, Ukraine held 46% of the worlds sunflower exports, 9% of the wheat exports, 17% of the barley exports and 12% of the corn exports, according to the US Department of Agriculture. We remind you that the Joint Coordination Center, in charge of controlling Ukrainian cereals exports through the Black Sea, was officially inaugurated on Wednesday in Istanbul, according to the agreement signed by Ukraine and Russia, with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations.

Census – In Romania, the population census process has come to an end. Sunday was the last day, after the National Institute of Statistics (INS) had already extended the population counting period twice, to give additional time to those who could not do it for various reasons. According to the communication director of the INS, Cătălin Raiu, more than 90% of the Romanian population had been counted. The capital and the big cities had the lowest counting percentages. (LS)

1 August 2022
November 16, 2018 UPDATE

APPOINTMENT – Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis on Friday signed the decree to appoint Ecaterina Andronescu education minister. Ecaterina Andronescu replaces Valentin Popa who stepped down in late September. This is for the fourth time that Ecaterina Andronescu holds the education portfolio. On Wednesday, the new minister delegate for European Affairs, George Ciamba was sworn in, before the Romanian President. He replaced Victor Negrescu, who tendered his resignation. George Ciamba is a career diplomat and has been working at the Romanian Foreign Ministry since 1990.

VISIT – European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and leaders of political parties and other EU high-ranking officials will visit Bucharest next week, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has announced. The visit is aimed at discussing aspects of high interest for the future of the European Union and the management of important programmes, such as the multi-annual financial framework, Brexit, the future of the EU post-Brexit and the security policy, ahead of Romania’s taking over the EU Council presidency on January 1, 2019. Prime Minister Dancila said Romania is ready to take over and carry out successfully the EU Council presidency, saying that the events timetable is finalised and all working mechanisms have been created.

MOLDOVA – The Romanian-Moldovan inter-government committee will convene twice a year, Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip announced during the 11th meeting of the committee hosted by Chisinau. Prime Minister Filip said close cooperation involves concrete projects and that economic relations between the two states are on an upward trend, with many joint projects with high priority for the Republic of Moldova. These include cooperation with a view to boosting energy security, interconnecting electricity grids as well as social projects, such as refurbishing kindergartens using funds from the Romanian state. On the other hand, the European Commission has approved the four large infrastructure projects submitted for funding under the 2014-2020 Romania-Moldova Joint Operational Programme, with a total worth of 40.5 million euros, of which the EU will cover 24.3 million.

JUSTICE– The Romanian Ministry of Justice on Friday launched the program “Justice worth 53 million Euros, of which 45 million Euros worth of non-reimbursable financial assistance from Norway. The program will be implemented in the 2018-2024 time frame. It includes several projects in such domains as correctional services, the efficiency and efficacy of the judicial system, the consolidation of the rule of law, domestic violence and violence based on gender difference. Justice minister Tudorel Toader has underlined the importance of the programs for the judicial system, mentioning that the 2014 – 2021 exercise enjoys a double level of allocation as compared to the previous one. Norways ambassador to Bucharest, Lise Kleven Grevstad has underlined that the launch of the program is a reference point of the cooperation between Norway and Romania in the field of justice.

PROTEST – The metro employees in Bucharest will go on an all out strike as from November 21, between 4 AM and 4 PM, for an indefinite period of time. The announcement was made by the metro trade union leader, Ion Rădoi. We recall that on Thursday the subway employees went on a token strike, with train traffic being halted between 4 AM and 4 PM. Trade union representatives demand a 42% pay rise, whereas the Metrorex management granted a capped increase of 18%. Some 700,000 people travel by metro in Romanias capital city every day.

MILITARY – After nearly 2 and a half years of training and a wide-ranging exercise held in Cincu shooting range, Brasov County, central Romania, the first NATO Multinational South-East Brigade has been declared combat ready. Attending the 2018 Scorpions Fury exercise were 1,800 military backed by 250 pieces of military equipment. The exercise involved real-life firing drills to prove the increase of interoperability.

GAUDEAMUS FAIR – The 25th edition of the Gaudeamus International Educational Book Fair organized by Radio Romania continues until Sunday. This years edition is devoted to the Great Union Centennial and marks 90 years since the public radio was founded. Over 300 publishers are attending and organizers have prepared over 900 events, including book launches, screenings, debates and lectures.

RADIRO – Starting November 18 Bucharest plays host to one of the most important music events of the year: the International Radio Orchestras Festival – RaDiRo. The festival marks 90 years since the public radio was founded and 100 years since the Great Union. The Radio Concert Hall and the Auditorium Hall of the Fine Arts Museum will host 8 symphonic concerts and 4 jazz concerts. This year’s guests include pianist Mihai Ritivoiu and cellist Andrei Ionita, alongside the famous vocalist Aura Urziceanu. Europe’s oldest radio orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra from Germany, will return to Romania this year along with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain, Svizzera italiana – Lugano of Switzerland and RTE National Symphony Orchestra from Ireland. All concerts are broadcast live on Radio Romania and the Romanian Television Corporation, as well as members of the European Radio Broadcasting Union.

16 November 2018
November 16, 2018

VISIT – European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and leaders of
political parties and other EU high-ranking officials will visit Bucharest next
week, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has announced. The visit is aimed at
discussing aspects of high interest for the future of the European Union and
the management of important programmes, such as the multiannual financial
framework, Brexit, the future of the EU post-Brexit and the security policy,
ahead of Romania taking over the EU Council presidency on January 1, 2019.
Prime Minister Dancila said Romania is ready to take over and carry out
successfully the EU Council presidency, saying that the events timetable is finalized
and all working mechanisms have been created.

MOLDOVA – The Romanian-Moldovan inter-government committee will
convene twice a year, Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip announced during the
11th meeting of the committee hosted by Chisinau. Prime Minister
Filip said close cooperation involves concrete projects and that economic
relations between the two states are on an upward trend, with many joint
projects with high priority for the Republic of Moldova. These include
cooperation with a view to boosting energy security, interconnecting
electricity grids as well as social projects, such as refurbishing
kindergartens using funds from the Romanian state. On the other hand, the
European Commission has approved the four large infrastructure projects
submitted for funding under the 2014-2020 Romania-Moldova Joint Operational
Programme, with a total worth of 40.5 million euros, of which the EU will cover
24.3 million.

MILITARY – After nearly 2 and a half years of training and a
wide-ranging exercise held in Cincu shooting range, Brasov County, central
Romania, the first NATO Multinational South-East Brigade has been declared
combat ready. Attending the 2018 Scorpions Fury exercise were 1,800 military
backed by 250 pieces of military equipment. The exercise involved real-life
firing drills to prove the increase of interoperability.

BLACK FRIDAY – The number of online purchases as part of the Black
Friday winter holidays sales campaign went up by 56% as compared to last year,
according to data made public by PayU, the biggest online payments company in
Romania. The best-sold categories were computers, cell phones and clothing and
included buyers from Great Britain and Hungary. The average value of a basket
was 189 euros. The largest retailer in Romania kicked off its Black Friday
program at 7 AM, with nearly 43 million euros reported in sales two hours
later. The total number of products sold stood at 460,000.

RADIRO – Starting November 18
Bucharest plays host to one of the most important music events of the year: the
International Radio Orchestras Festival – RaDiRo. The festival marks 90 years
since the public radio was founded and 100 years since the Great Union. The
Radio Concert Hall and the Auditorium Hall of the Fine Arts Museum will host 8
symphonic concerts and 4 jazz concerts. This year’s guests include pianist
Mihai Ritivoiu and cellist Andrei Ionita, alongside the famous vocalist Aura
Urziceanu. Europe’s oldest radio
orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra from Germany, will return to
Romania this year along with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain,
Svizzera italiana – Lugano of Switzerland and RTE National Symphony Orchestra
from Ireland. All concerts are broadcast live on Radio Romania and the Romanian
Television Corporation, as well as members of the European Radio Broadcasting
Union.

GAUDEAMUS FAIR – The 25th edition of the Gaudeamus
International Educational Book Fair organized by Radio Romania continues until
Sunday. This year’s edition is devoted to the Great Union Centennial and marks
90 years since the public radio was founded. Over 300 publishers are attending
and organizers have prepared over 900 events, including book launches,
screenings, debates and lectures.

FOOTBALL – Romania’s under-21 team drew 3-all on Thursday at home
against Belgium in a friendly game. Both teams have already secured
qualification to the European Under-21 Championship to take place in June 2019
in Italy and San Marino. This is Romania’s second qualification to a European
Under-21 championship after the one in 1998 held in Bucharest. On Saturday,
Romania’s senior team will take on Lithuania at home in Group 4 of League C in
Nations League. Romania will next play Montenegro on Tuesday away from home.
With one win and three draws, Romania has 6 points. Serbia tops the group
tables with 8 points, followed by Montenegro with 7 points.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

16 November 2018
November 15, 2018 UPDATE

NEGOTIATIONS – Negotiations between the
Bucharest metro trade unions and the management are due to continue, following
a warning strike on Thursday morning. The metro employees threaten to go on a
general strike beginning on the 19th of November. They demand a 42%
salary increase, but were only offered an 18% increase by the management.
According to the transport minister Lucian Sova, the salaries of metro
employees have grown every year in the last four years, the last time by 21%
last year. 700,000 people use the Bucharest metro every day.

PRESIDENCY – Romania is ready to take over and successfully carry
out its term as holder of the EU Council presidency in the first part of next
year, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has again given assurances. The events
timetable has been finalized and all working mechanisms have been created. We
have the capacity to show our European partners that Romania is a balanced and
responsible member state, determined to contribute to the future of the
European Union, regardless of the purely political considerations at one time
or another, the Romanian prime minister also said. Tuesday’s vote in the
European Parliament is one such example and I assure you that it will not make us
stray from our objectives, said Dancila. She added that she was disappointed
with the conclusions of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism report,
given that Romania has proved to be a loyal and fair partner of the European
Union. We recall that European Parliament’s resolution and the aforementioned
report are critical of the changes to the justice laws made by the ruling
coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats.

BREXIT – The foreign ministry in Bucharest
welcomes the fact that Brussels’ and London’s negotiators have arrived at a
final version of the text of UK’s EU withdrawal agreement. This marks an
important moment in the negotiation process and paves the way for defining a
close and strong future relationship between the EU and London, which is
Romania’s strategic objective, given the bilateral strategic partnership and
the close security cooperation, which is important to maintain in the context
of the developments in the eastern neighborhood, where Romania and Great
Britain share a common objective, reads a press release from the Romanian
foreign ministry. The withdrawal agreement will guarantee the protection of the
rights of all Romanian citizens who settle in Great Britain before 31st December
2020. They will be able to continue to work, live and study in Britain after
obtaining a settled status, the ministry also says.

SIF – The Government on Thursday passed an emergency decree setting
up the Sovereign Investment Fund. The Fund is aimed at developing and helping
build profitable businesses in priority fields for the Romanian state, either
standalone or jointly with external investors or other investment funds.
Stipulated in the 2017-2020 governing platform and drawing on experience of
states such as France, Norway, Poland or Italy, the Sovereign Fund will
comprise profitable Romanian state-owned companies with a joint capital of some 2 billion euros.

SURVEY – Over 60% of Romanians have contracted loans while 37% of
them have monthly expenses tantamount to their revenue, reads a survey on
Romanians’ financial habits released on Thursday. As regards loans, 83% of
Romanians trust the banking system, saying they would take out a loan from a
bank if they needed money. Additionally, 70% of Romanians who took out loans to
finance a previous debt say their situation will improve in the future. 45% of
Romanians have no family savings and the little they put on the side is
destined for emergency situations.

EXERCISE – Some 1,800 Romanian and foreign military backed by 250
pieces of technical equipment are taking part in the Scorpions Fury multinational exercise under way at the shooting
range in Cincu, central Romania until the 16th of November. The aim
is to evaluate the capacity of the Headquarters Multinational
Brigade South East in Craiova, in the south, to ensure the command and control
of a NATO collective defense operation. The military carry out both
computer-assisted command exercises and field training and tactical combat
shooting exercises. Turkish, Polish, Bulgarian, Italian and Portuguese as well
as Romanian military are taking part.

MEETING – Romania’s Interior Minister Carmen Dan on Thursday met in Budapest
with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister for National Security Sandor Pinter. The
agenda for talks focused on bilateral and regional cooperation and the upcoming
agenda of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, ahead of Romania’s
taking over the EU Council presidency in the first half of 2019. Minister Dan
presented the priorities of Romania’s term in office ahead of the council
meeting, with complex topics outside internal security, border crossing
management and civil protection. Attending were also the heads of the Romanian
Police and the Romanian Border Police.

COMMITTEE – Members of the Romanian-Moldovan inter-Government
committee for economic cooperation on Thursday signed a cooperation protocol in
several fields. The document was signed by Moldovan Minister of Economy and
Infrastructure, Chiril Gaburici, and Romania’s Minister for the Business
Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Stefan Radu Oprea. Moldova will
cooperate with Romania in the field of economy, SMEs, and connecting certain
towns and villages in Moldova to Romania’s drinking water grid. Additional
cross-border projects were discussed, such as the Romanian Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and
Extrication (SMURD) and the bridge over the river Prut. Moldova’s energy issues
were also tackled during the meeting. Minister Oprea reiterated Romania’s
support for Moldova’s European accession. The next inter-government committee
meeting is slated for June 2019 in Bucharest.

RADIRO – Starting November 18
Bucharest plays host to one of the most important music events of the year: the
International Radio Orchestras Festival – RaDiRo. The festival marks 90 years
since the public radio was founded and 100 years since the Great Union. The
Radio Concert Hall and the Auditorium Hall of the Fine Arts Museum will host 8
symphonic concerts and 4 jazz concerts. This year’s guests include pianist
Mihai Ritivoiu and cellist Andrei Ionita, alongside the famous vocalist Aura
Urziceanu. Europe’s oldest radio
orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra from Germany, will return to
Romania this year along with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain,
Svizzera italiana – Lugano of Switzerland and RTE National Symphony Orchestra
from Ireland. All concerts are broadcast live on Radio Romania and the Romanian
Television Corporation, as well as members of the European Radio Broadcasting
Union.

MEDAL – Romanian Stefania Claudia Priceputu on Thursday scooped
bronze in the 50-kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships
underway in Bucharest. In the bronze final the Romanian defeated Lisa Ersel of
Germany. Romania so far has won another two medals: Mihai Radu Mihut won bronze
in the 63-kg Greek-Roman event, while Nicu Ojog won the silver medal in the
82-kg category. Also worth mentioning is that Romania will win either silver or
gold after Alexandra Anghel has qualified in the 72-kg category final, where
she will take on Turkey’s Buse Tosun. A total of 30 athletes represent Romania
in this year’s edition.

(Translated by C. Mateescu & V. Palcu)

15 November 2018
June 3, 2018

EXERCISE — Until June 17, 30 Romanian marines and two staff officers are participating in the multinational drill BALTOPS 18, one of the biggest joint drills in northern Europe. The maneuvers are to be held in Lithuania, Poland, Germany and the international waters of the Baltic Sea. BALTOPS 18 is an annual drill staged and funded by the United States European Command (EUCOM). The participation of the Romanian troops in these maneuvers significantly increase their training level at the same time boosting the image of Romania and its naval forces in terms of cooperation with NATO structures, the Chief of Staff of the Romanian Navy has pointed out.

NORTH KOREA — US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said North Korea must make verifiable and irreversible steps towards denuclearization if it wants the UN to lift the sanctions. The US official is attending a security summit in Singapore. US President Donald Trump will meet North-Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on June 12 in Singapore, for talks over a peaceful solution to North Korea’s nuclear programme. Pyongyang accepted to start talks on denuclearization, provided the process goes both ways.

TIFF — Marcelo Martinessi’s The Heiresses has scooped the grand prize of the Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF), one of Europe’s biggest such events hosted by Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania. The awards gala also brought an homage to Romanian director Lucian Pintilie, who recently passed away. French actress Fanny Ardant grabbed the lifelong achievement award. This year’s edition included 227 productions, 178 feature films and 49 short reels from all over the world. In the Romanian film section some 35 local productions were screened, among which Adina Pintilie’s Touch Me Not, which won the Golden Bear this year, as well as Andrei Cretulescu’s debut feature Charleston. This year’s guest of honor was opera singer Angela Gheorghiu.

ELECTION IN MOLDOVA — Moldovan citizens residing in Chisinau are today voting in the second ballot of local elections. After the first round, Socialist Ion Ceban, a close associate of pro-Russian president Igor Dodon, is running against the candidate of the Dignity and Truth platform, the former pro-European civic militant Andrei Nastase. The office of mayor was left vacant after the pro-European Liberal Dorin Chirtoaca resigned, being investigated in a corruption case which he claims to be politically instrumented.

ELECTION IN SLOVENIA — Some 1,7 million voters are today taking part in legislative election in Slovenia, where the former Conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa hopes to win a new term in office. Defeated in 2014 after campaigning out of prison, where he was serving a corruption sentence, Janez Jansa, aged 59, is seen as favourite to win, with over 25% of voters’ choice. The leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party will most likely win the election to the detriment of the current Prime Minister, Miro Cerar, whose position has been weakened during his four-year term in office, despite a record-high economic growth. His Modern Center Party will reportedly grab only 9.3% of voters’ choice. 25 political parties have enrolled in this year’s legislative election.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world number one and seeded first at Roland Garros, on Saturday secured qualification to the round of 16 at the French Open, after brushing aside Germany’s Andrea Petkovic in straight sets, 7-5, 6-nil. Another Romanian, Mihaela Buzarnescu, qualified to the round of 16. Irina Begu lost to Caroline Garcia of France, 6-1, 6-4. Begu also lost the doubles match against Andreja Klepac of Slovenia and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain, 6-3, 7-5 in the opening round of the doubles competition. Irina Maria Bara and Mihaela Buzarnescu will compete in the doubles’ round of 16, playing against Jennifer Brady and Vania King of the United States, while Sorana Cirstea and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain will play Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan and Zhaoxuan Yang of China, the competition’s eighth-seeds.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

3 June 2018
May 3, 2018

VISIT – A delegation led by the minister for the Romanians Around the World, Natalia-Elena Intotero, is currently on a three-day visit to Italy. According to a communiqué issued by the line ministry, the visit starts in Bari, in the region of Puglia and will come to a close in Rome, in the Lazio region. The agenda of the visit includes talks with representatives of the local authorities, of the associative environment, trade unions and members of the Orthodox religious denomination. Data released by the Italian National Statistics Institute show the Romanian community in Italy exceeds 1,100,000 people of a total of 5 million foreign citizens who are legally residing in Italy, being the largest foreign community in that country.

DIPLOMACY– Romanian foreign minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, is today starting a two-day official visit to Morocco, at the invitation of his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the agenda of the visit includes talks with Moroccan PM Saadeddine El-Othmani, the Speaker of the House of Councillors (the upper house of Parliament), Hakim Benchamach and with the minister of education Saaid Amzazi. The visit also has an economic dimension, meant to boost two way trade exchanges and mutual investments. Minister Melescanu is also due to meet the president of the Morocco-Romania Bilateral Chamber of Commerce, to be attended by local entrepreneurs as well. On Friday, Teodor Meleşcanu will meet his counterpart, Nasser Bourita. On that occasion, the two officials will sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Romanian and Moroccan Foreign Ministries, respectively, and a Cooperation Agreement between the Romanian Diplomatic Institute and the Moroccan Academy of Diplomatic Studies.

SEA SHIELD – Sea Shield, the biggest allied military exercise on NATOs south-eastern flank is unfolding in Constanta, south-eastern Romania, as of today. Taking part in the exercise are 21 military ships, 10 fighters, a submarine and 2,300 military from several countries. According to a communiqué issued by the Chief of Staff of the Romanian Naval Forces, during the military training exercise the military will practice NATO standard-fighting procedures against asymmetrical, submarine and maritime threats, according to a scenario based on a fictitious geopolitical situation. The Romanian Naval Forces are contributing to the exercise two frigates, two guided-missile destroyers, and two maritime dredging ships. The Romanian Air Forces also contribute three MiG 21 Lancer fighters and the Ground Forces will contribute, for the first time, an infantry detachment.

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY – Some parts of the mass media have significantly contributed to the radicalisation of the public discourse by political bias and the assimilation of themes imposed by politicians, the fake news also contaminating the media landscape in Romania and contributing to the consolidation of alternative narratives, where the actions carried out by the ruling politicians are given legitimacy and those by the contesters are incriminated. The assessment is included in the 2017-2018 Report on Press Freedom in Romania, made public today. The document also shows that the ruling power, following the December 2016 elections, has imposed new leaderships at the Romanian Television Company, TVR, and the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, SRR, the TV and radio licence fee being eliminated after several attempts by the politicians over the past few years, thus increasing the two public media institutions dependency on the political power. Celebrated every year on May 3, the World Press Freedom Day is marked by 100 events the world over. Romania is ranking 44th in a global classification of press freedom, ahead of such countries as the US or Italy and behind South Korea.

CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA – The British firm Cambridge Analytica closed on Wednesday citing a loss of business. According to the BBC, “the closure of Cambridge Analytica will not stop a probe into the firm’s handling of millions of people’s data, investigators have said. The firm has been accused of acquiring data from up to 87 million Facebook profiles for use in political campaigns. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said its investigation will still ‘pursue individuals and directors, the BBC reports

TABLE TENNIS– Romanias womens table tennis team is today facing the team of Hong Kong, in the quarter finals of the World Championships held in Sweden. Romania has qualified in the quarter-finals after securing four wins and sustaining one defeat. In exchange, the national mens team has failed to qualify for the eighth finals of the World Championships, after losing to Hong Kong.

3 May 2018
March 10, 2018 UPDATE

CONGRESS — Bucharest on Saturday played host to an extraordinary congress of the main ruling coalition party in Romania, the Social-Democratic Party. The Congress occasioned elections for the positions of executive president, secretary general and vice-presidents. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila was elected executive president after two other candidates, former Education Minister Ecaterina Andronescu and former Healthcare Minister, Nicolae Banicioiu, pulled out of the race. 16 vice-presidents were elected, 8 men and 8 women for the 8 regions of the country. The congress also tackled the issue of strengthening the strategic partnership with the USA, continuing judicial reforms and financial support for the Republic of Moldova. Some 4,000 delegates from all over the country attended the congress.

MILITARY – Over 1,700 Romanian and foreign troops are taking part until March 15, in a large-scale multinational exercise, organized by the Romanian Navy, in Dobrogea (south-eastern Romania) and in the international waters of the Black Sea. Spring Storm 18 is based on a unique training concept which brings together the navy, air and land forces, as part of a NATO immediate assurance action plan adopted at the 2016 Summit. Romanian troops are training jointly with fellow military from the US, France and Bulgaria, and from partner countries like Georgia and Ukraine.

FLU — The Romanian National Public Health Institute announced another two people died to the flu virus, raising the death toll to 90 across Romania. Health Minister Sorina Pintea says there is no reason to declare an epidemic at this stage.

STUDY — One in three Romanian teenagers is barely literate in reading and mathematics, reads a recent World Bank report. The document points out that the expanse of technology risks sinking Europe’s poorest countries further in poverty, deepening economic gaps between states. Another factor of concern is the fact that young people are not interested in learning a trade. In the last 15 years the number of jobs involving physical labour has dropped by 15% at EU level, while the number of jobs requiring analysis and creativity has gone up, the report further reveals.

BOOK FAIR — Romania is guest of honor at the International Book Trade Fair in Leipzig, Germany. Attending the events are writers Mircea Cartarescu, Nora Iuga, Andrei Plesu and Varujan Vosganian. The Ministry of Culture and National Identity is organizing some 60 events at Romania’s pavilion under the motto “Romania. Zoom In”, including a concert by Ada Milea, with lyrics translated into German by Herta Muller, the Romanian-born winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2009. The International Book Fair in Leipzig started on Friday and will close on Sunday and is aimed at promoting contemporary literature.

WHITE HOUSE — The White House has announced President Donald Trump has agreed to meet North-Korean leader Kim Jong-Un only if Pyongyang will undertake concrete action. Previously the White House leader said sanctions on North Korea stand until an agreement is reached. Additionally, President Trump said military operations with South Korea won’t be cancelled. On the other hand, Kim Jong-Un expressed commitment to work towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and promised to renounce testing further nuclear missiles.

HANDBALL — Romanian champions CSM Bucharest on Saturday lost narrowly 24-25 away from home to Rostov-Don of Russia in the last fixture of Champions League Group 1. CSM ranks third in the group tables and will play Ferencvaros of Hungary or Metz of France. Also on Saturday SCM Craiova qualified to the EHF Cup semi-finals after winning 26-23 away from home against Lada Togliatti of Russia. In the first leg the Russian side won 25-23. On Sunday, also in the EHF Cup, HC Zalau is playing Kastamonu Belediyesi of Turkey. In the first leg, Zalau won 29-28.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

10 March 2018
March 2, 2018

VISIT — Minister for Romanians Worldwide Natalia Intotero is as of today paying a two-day visit to Ukraine. Her agenda includes meetings with representatives of local and regional authorities, members of the business community, representatives of Romanian-language media as well as promoters of Romanian culture and values in the cities of Chernivtsi and Solotvino. Ukraine is currently home to nearly half a million Romanians.

FLU — Another person died on Thursday to the flu, taking the death toll to 69 across Romania, the National Institute for Public Health reports. 800 people have the flu virus, mostly in Bucharest and the counties of Constanta in the south-east, Olt in the south, Brasov in the center, and Iasi in the north-east. Health Minister Sorina Pintea says Romania is not faced with a flu epidemic.

BUCHAREST — Romania’s capital city Bucharest will be promoted as tourist destination at the Light Bridge Romania-China, an event hosted tonight by the Romanian Ministry of Tourism jointly with the Bucharest City Hall. Graphic works will be projected on the National Theatre building in Bucharest, pertaining to the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year. The Romanian Ministry of Tourism says the event will contribute to promoting Bucharest as a tourist destination, as the event will be uploaded to ecty2018.org, the site of the European Travel Commission.

MILITARY EXERCISE — Over 1,700 Romanian and foreign military are taking part in one of the biggest multi-national military exercises, organized by the Romanian Naval Forces over March 5-15 in Dobrogea, southern Romania, and in the international waters of the Black Sea. Dubbed Spring Storm 18, the exercise is based on an unprecedented training concept bringing together naval, air and ground forces, with a focus on specific amphibious operations under allied command, as well as naval mine simulations close to the shore. The exercise is part of NATO’s reassurance plan adopted at the Warsaw Summit in 2016. The Romanian military will be training alongside peers from the United States, France and Bulgaria, as well as two NATO partner states, Georgia and Ukraine.

COMMEMORATION — On Sunday Romania marks 41 years since the devastating earthquake of March 4, 1977, the most powerful that ever hit Romania. Measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, the earthquake killed 1,570 people, mostly in Bucharest, and caused damages worth over $2 billion. Around 230,000 homes were destroyed or seriously damaged and 760 economic facilities became inoperative. The earthquake generated a severe economic and social crisis, which historians say the communist authorities never fully overcame before their demise in 1989. Specialists warn that hundreds of buildings in Bucharest are at risk in case of a similar event.

POLAND — MEPs on Thursday voted the procedure whereby the European Commission plans to sanction Poland under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty for what it considers a serious breach of the rule of law in this country. The Commission’s proposal was passed in Parliament with 422 votes in favour, 147 against and 48 abstentions. Concerned with the reform of the judiciary and restricting freedom of the press in Poland, the EU has triggered procedures under Article 7 to have Poland sanctioned, which in theory would suspend this country’s right to vote in the European Council, unless the Conservative Government in Poland rolls back all reforms prior to March 20, which the Government considered necessary to curb corruption and streamline the country’s judiciary. Political pundits claim the procedure is unlikely to go through, as it requires the unanimity of all Member States. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has already announced he would oppose the move.

RUGBY — Romania’s national rugby team on Saturday will take on Russia at home in Cluj, northwestern Romania. The match counts towards the third round of the 2018 Rugby Europe International Championship. After losing to Spain in the previous match, Romania needs a win and a bonus point to keep alive its chances of qualifying to the 2019 World Rugby Cup hosted by Japan. Last year in Sochi Romania won 30-10 against Russia. Our team is ranked 16, while Russia is in 20th position. (Translated by V. Palcu)

2 March 2018
February 10, 2018 UPDATE

INFLATION – The National Bank of Romania has revised upward, to 3.5%, the inflation rate forecast for the end of the year, the governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu, has announced. According to an earlier forecast, the inflation rate was estimated at 3.1%. Isarescu explained the main engine of economic growth is consumption, a situation which has had negative effects on the trade deficit which increased by 30% in 2017. Mugur Isărescu has also mentioned some structural problems with a significant impact on the economy, among which tensions on the labour market, the growing difference between the level of imports and exports, the fiscal and income policy which is currently being pursued and whose effects are likely to disappear only as of next year.

MEDICINES – The process of introducing the European Medicines Verification System (EMVS) has officially been launched in Romania. The system will become operational in all EU member states next year. Consequently, as of February 9, 2019, only the medicines which respect the new security regulations in the field will circulate across the EU. The relevant authorities, representatives of the line industry and pharmacists say the initiative is essential in ensuring the patients safety and health, given that there is a growing risk of fake products entering the commercial chain. According to the new regulations, pharmacists will no longer be allowed to open medicine boxes and to sell only a few tablets, if patients make such a request.

TOURISM – The most exquisite Romanian tourist project, the ice hotel at Bâlea Lake has been officially inaugurated, in the presence of the Canadian ambassador to Bucharest, Kevin Hamilton. The theme of the ice hotel this year is music. The 14 rooms and igloos are decorated with ice statues featuring such famous artists as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. Tourists had the opportunity to get accommodation in the ice hotel as early as December 2017. A double room costs 100 Euros. Those who want to only visit the hotel should pay a ticket worth 3 Euros for adults and 2 Euros for children. Tourists can reach Bâlea Lake, at an altitude of over 2,000 m, by cable car, which covers a distance of 3,700m, over Balea Valley. The ice hotel is the only of its kind in Romania.

JOINT DRILLS – One hundred Romanian troops will take part, as of Monday in joint military exercises alongside some 200 military from the United States, Moldova, Bulgaria and Ukraine. The exercises will be unfolding for five days, at a military base in Babadag, in Tulcea County, south-eastern Romania.

MALTA – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has confirmed, based on data provided by the representatives of the consular office in Catania (Sicily, Italy) that a Romanian citizen died and another one was injured during a storm which hit Malta on Saturday. Romanias Consulate in Catania is monitoring the situation, is in permanent contact with the local authorities as well as with the Romanian national who has sustained injuries, providing the necessary consular assistance. The two Romanian nationals were travelling by a van which was hit by a falling tree. Gale force wind and torrential rain hit Malta, submerging roads, after months of low-level precipitations.

WINTER OLYMIC GAMES– The first of the 28 Romanian athletes taking part in the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, which come to a close on February 25, on Saturday ran in the first competitions. They took part in the cross-country skiing, luge and biathlon events. PyeongChang in the Taebaek Mountains got the right to organise the Winter Olympic Games after having submitted its candidacy three times, in 2010, 2014 and 2018. It is the first edition of the Winter Olympic Games and the second edition of the Olympic Games hosted by South Korea. PyeongChang is also the third Asian city to host the Winter Olympic Games, after Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998, both in Japan. Over a period of more than two weeks, PyeongChang will host 102 sports events. This edition of the Olympic Games is attended by over 2,900 athletes from 95 countries.

10 February 2018
September 19, 2017 UPDATE

ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM – The Romanian government will grant funds from the state budget to cover the damage caused by Sundays violent storm that hit several counties in western Romania, the Romanian PM Mihai Tudose has announced. He added that the authorities wanted the implementation of an integrated public alert and warning system for major risk situations, similar to that in other European states. The prime minister has discussed the issue with experts in the field and with the representatives of mobile phone operators. We recall that 8 people died and almost 140 were injured on Sunday during the violent storm that wreaked havoc in 15 counties in the west, centre and north of Romania.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS – The Romanian Minister for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, said on Tuesday that Romania has a well balanced positioning in the relations with the EU and the US. He also said the country can play the role of active mediator between the two sides. Victor Negrescu made these statements at the meeting “The Transatlantic Relation. 20 years on- Romania-the U.S. Strategic Partnership, organised in Bucharest by the European Institute in Romania.

EU FUNDS- The EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, said in the western city of Cluj on Tuesday that the Romanian authorities should simplify procedures for accessing European funds and step up the pace of the process. Corina Cretu also said the national authorities should support city halls in the effort to access European funds and added that special emphasis should be laid on innovation. In turn, the minister delegate for European Funds, Rovana Plumb, said that Bucharest has managed to reduce some of the delays in accessing European funds. Minister Plumb has said huge steps forward have been taken in an effort to simplify procedures for accessing European funds. The statements have been made during a working meeting with local and regional public authorities.

MILITARY EXERCISE – Exercise Fire Shield 2017, a multinational, combined training exercise with Moldovan and Romanian troops is unfolding in a military base in the Republic of Moldova. According to a communiqué of the Moldovan Defense ministry, the exercise is meant to jointly train artillery small units and to boost the interoperability level between the two armies. As many as 300 officers and non-commissioned officers of the Moldovan army artillery small units and more than 20 Romanian soldiers are taking part in the exercise, that is unfolding from September 18 to 22. The exercise takes place in the context in which Moldovas pro-Russian president, Igor Dodon, has recently started a conflict with the government and the leadership of the Defence Ministry over the issue of sending Moldovan military to the “Rapid Trident drill in Ukraine, on account that the drill was also being attended by troops of NATO member countries.

19 September 2017
June 25, 2017 UPDATE

POLITICAL TALKS – The leaderships of the main political parties in Romania are completing the mandates for Mondays talks with President Klaus Iohannis, for the designation of a new prime minister. Talks are also held between political leaders to consolidate a parliamentary majority. We recall that the leftist cabinet led by Sorin Grindeanu was toppled by a no-confidence motion tabled by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party, PSD, and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, ALDE, which supported it following the legislative elections of December 2016. The Social Democrats and their ALDE partners say they further hold a parliamentary majority and will make a nomination for a new prime minister on Monday. The centre-right opposition made up of the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party rule out any collaboration with PSD, whereas the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania hasnt taken a clear stand so far.

CRIMINAL LEGISLATION – The Romanian Justice Ministry next week starts a series of public demands on amending criminal legislation on the “abuse of office, in agreement with the rulings issued by Romanias Constitutional Court. A debate with representatives of civil society and of the business environment is scheduled for June 28, whereas a similar meeting with representatives of institutions in the judicial system, the magistrates professional associations, members of the academia and representatives of legal liberal professions is due on July 3. The debates will be held at the ministrys headquarters. On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court ruled that criminal provisions in force regarding the crime of abuse of office are formulated in broader, vague terms. Also, the Court ruled that the provisions of an article on the prevention, discovery and punishing of corruption acts related to attempted abuse of office are not constitutional.

MILITARY EXERCISE – A Romanian-U.S. military air exercise is unfolding at the Campia Turzii Base in northwestern Romania. Participating are some 200 Romanian troops, pilots and technical staff, using MiG-21 LanceR fighters and IAR-330 Puma helicopters, alongside some 300 U.S. military, using F-15 fighters and the required technical equipment. According to the Romanian Interior Ministry, the exercise which will unfold until late August, gives the chance to Romanian military to practice tactics, techniques and standard procedures specific to air operations, at NATO standards and to carry out joint flying missions with their American partners.

DIPLOMACY – The Romanian foreign minister, Teodor Melescanu, and his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Janelidze, on Sunday exchanged messages of congratulations marking 25 years since the inception of bilateral diplomatic relations. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, Romania is one of the most constant and staunchest supporters of Georgia’ European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The very good political dialogue between the two countries materialised in many bilateral meetings, which have been on the rise particularly in recent years, both at ministerial and expert level. Romania recognised the independence of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia in August 1991 and bilateral diplomatic relations were established in June 1992.

ENERGY – The price of energy in Romania is still at high levels in the first half of the year and there are no signs that prices will go down, says the president of the Association of Electricity Suppliers, Ion Lungu. According to him, the situation is not specific to Romania alone, but to the entire region, and it is caused by a lack of cheap energy sources, such as hydro and wind energy, against the backdrop of an increasing consumption. In another move, the National Energy Regulatory Agency on Friday announced electricity prices for domestic consumers will increase by 8% as of July 1.

25 June 2017
June 25, 2017

POLITICAL TALKS – The leaderships of the main political parties in Romania are completing the mandates for Mondays talks with President Klaus Iohannis, for the designation of a new prime minister. Talks are also held between political leaders to consolidate a parliamentary majority. We recall that the leftist cabinet led by Sorin Grindeanu was toppled by a no-confidence motion tabled by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party, PSD, and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, ALDE, which supported it following the legislative elections of December 2016. The Social Democrats and their ALDE partners say they further hold a parliamentary majority and will make a nomination for a new prime minister on Monday. The centre-right opposition made up of the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party rule out any collaboration with PSD, whereas the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania hasnt taken a clear stand so far.

MILITARY EXERCISE – A Romanian-U.S. military air exercise is unfolding at the Campia Turzii Base in northwestern Romania. Participating are some 200 Romanian troops, pilots and technical staff, using MiG-21 LanceR fighters and IAR-330 Puma helicopters, alongside some 300 U.S. military, using F-15 fighters and the required technical equipment. According to the Romanian Interior Ministry, the exercise which will unfold until late August, gives the chance to Romanian military to practice tactics, techniques and standard procedures specific to air operations, at NATO standards and to carry out joint flying missions with their American partners.

SUMMER EUROPEAN COUNCIL – The future Romanian government will have to get an agreement on the relocation of the European Medicines Agency from Great Britain to Romania, post-Brexit, given that the country is competing with Sweden, France, Denmark, Hungary and Bulgaria, countries which have already forwarded their offers, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said at the end of the European Summit in Brussels. Iohannis also said the future government will also have to breathe fresh air into the defence industry, because it will be able to use resources made available under the new European Defence Fund. The Romanian President demanded at the European Council that the new internal security instruments be applied in a coherent and unified manner, at the level of the whole EU, without any difference between the Schengen member and non-member states like Romania, but which apply Schengen regulations to a large extent. The Schengen membership issue has also been approached by the Romanian President in a bilateral meeting he had with French President Emmanuel Macron, who showed openness to Romanias prospective Schengen accession. Klaus Iohannis said however, he does not believe Romania will make other significant progress in the field until the elections in Germany and the appointment of a new government in the Netherlands. As regards the situation of the Romanians in the Great Britain, post-Brexit, Klaus Iohannis said the declarations made by the British PM Theresa May relative to European residents are promising, but he added he is waiting to see them materialising in concrete documents.

RUGBY – Romanias national rugby team defeated Brazil on home turf, 56-5, in the last test match of the month of June. The two teams have never met so far, as they are performing in different performance categories, according to a world classification. Romania has been a constant presence at world tournaments, whereas rugby is at the start of the road in Brazil. Ahead of the match, the Romanian rugby players have played in a tournament in Asia and North America, during which they defeated Canada, 25-9, and lost to Japan, 33-21.

25 June 2017
June 1, 2017 UPDATE

VISIT – Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, will pay a working visit to the US, as of Sunday. The most important moment of the visit will be an official meeting in Washington on June 9 with US President Donald Trump, the Romanian Presidential Administration has announced. The White House has also officially confirmed the meeting. The White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, has said President Trump is looking forward to discussing ways to boost ties between the US and Romania and to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In a message posted on Facebook on Thursday, President Iohannis has also said that during the meeting with Donald Trump he will reiterate Romanias firm commitment to further be a trustworthy ally of the US. During his visit to the US, President Iohannis will be the honorary guest of the Global Forum of the prestigious organisation American Jewish Committee, which will award the Romanian President its highest distinction, Light Unto the Nations. This award is offered to heads of state or government in recognition of the significant international impact they have had in the domain of peace, security, democracy and the promotion of human values. Last but not least, the visit to the US by President Klaus Iohannis will also include a meeting with representatives of the Romanian community in the US.

INTL CHILDRENS DAY – Romanians enjoyed a day off on June 1st, to celebrate the International Childrens Day. Last year, MPs declared June 1, a day off from work, for parents to spend the day with their children. Special events, contests, shows and exhibitions were organised across the country to mark the International Childrens Day. In a message launched on the occasion, PM Sorin Grindeanu, said he would like Romanian children to benefit from a good quality education system, meant to encourage true values and able to take measures to reduce school dropout, as well as from proper conditions to grow up healthily and proud of their native country. The International Childrens Day is celebrated on June 1 by approximately 50 countries the world over. Also, a day devoted to children is celebrated on various days of the year, by another 100 countries.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT – The Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile on Thursday made a criminal complaint at the General Prosecutors Office, denouncing the inhuman treatments applied during the communist regime in three foster care centres and hospitals, which caused the death of some 800 children, aged under 18. The respective centres were located in Cighid (in the west), Pastraveni (in the east) and Sighetu Marmatiei (in the north). The President of the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile, Radu Preda, has told Radio Romania that 10,000 victims of the system have been identified so far. Those children “have been beaten, starved and sedated instead of receiving proper medical treatment in those institutions.

MILITARY EXERCISES – Eight NATO military convoys, taking part in the multinational exercise Noble Jump 2017, on Thursday crossed the border into Romania. The convoys are made up of some 300 troops and over 150 vehicles and helicopters. They are expected to reach the Cincu shooting range in central Romania by Sunday. We recall that exercise Noble Jump 2017 is held between May 26 and June 16 on the territory of three countries: Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. A total number of 4,000 troops from Romania and 11 other NATO member countries as well as 500 pieces of technical equipment are taking part in the exercise.

MULTINATIONAL DIVISION SOUTHEAST – The first military of the contingent Poland contributes to the Multinational Division Southeast arrived in Craiova, southern Romania, on Thursday. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Defence Ministry, a first echelon is made up of 48 troops and 18 pieces of technical equipment. Poland contributes a contingent made up of 230 troops and 47 technical means to the 26th Infantry Battalion “Neagoe Basarab, as part of the Multinational Division Southeast. The other Polish troops will arrive in Romania in the following weeks, thus complying with the pledge the two countries made at the NATO Summit in Warsaw. The Romanian and Polish troops will train together, as part of the strengthened allied presence on the eastern flank.

INVESTIGATION – The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether Romania’s gas transmission system operator Transgaz has been hindering gas exports from Romania to other EU Member States. The Commission will investigate whether Transgaz has abused a dominant market position in breach of EU rules. The Commission also underlined that consumers throughout the EU should enjoy secure energy supplies at affordable prices and therefore an integrated and competitive single European energy market is essential in this regard. Romania is the third largest natural gas producer in the European Union, after the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and has important gas reserves, including newly discovered natural gas “fields in the Black Sea. Transgaz is the sole operator of the natural gas transmission system in Romania.

RESIGNATION – Nicusor Dan, the leader of the Save Romania Union, USR, an opposition parliamentary party on Thursday announced he would step down from the position of party president and would also leave the party he founded in 2016. His decision comes after the USR leadership stood against the idea of redefining the notion of family in the Romanian Constitution. In early May, the Chamber of Deputies adopted a draft aimed at revising the fundamental law of the country, in an attempt to redefine family as being based on the consensual marriage between a man and a woman. If the draft is also be endorsed by the Senate, Romanians will be called to vote in a referendum within 30 days since the draft is adopted. This revision of the Constitution has been demanded by a citizens initiative signed by 3 million Romanians. At present, the Constitution stipulates that family is based on the consensual marriage between spouses.

THE UN – Romanias Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Wednesday reiterated Romanias commitment to the UN and underlined the added value that Bucharest can bring to multilateral diplomacy. Melescanu is in New York to formally launch a campaign to promote Romanias candidacy for a term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council between 2020 and 2021. He had a meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who underlined that Romania is an example of cooperation with the UN. Romania forwarded its candidacy in 2006, for a new term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The voting is due to take place in June 2019. Since becoming a member of the United Nations in 1955, Romania has held a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council four times.

1 June 2017
June 1, 2017

VISIT – Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, will pay a working visit to the US, as of Sunday. The most important moment of the visit will be an official meeting in Washington on June 9 with US President Donald Trump, the Romanian Presidential Administration has announced. The White House has also officially confirmed the meeting. The White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, has said President Trump is looking forward to discussing ways to boost ties between the US and Romania and to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In a message posted on Facebook earlier today, President Iohannis has also said that during the meeting with Donald Trump he will reiterate Romanias firm commitment to further be a trustworthy ally of the US. During his visit to the US, President Iohannis will be the honorary guest of the Global Forum of the prestigious organisation American Jewish Committee, which will award the Romanian President its highest distinction, Light Unto the Nations. This award is offered to heads of state or government in recognition of the significant international impact they have had in the domain of peace, security, democracy and the promotion of human values. Last but not least, the visit to the US by President Klaus Iohannis will also include a meeting with representatives of the Romanian community in the US.

INTL CHILDRENS DAY – Romanians enjoy a day off, for the first time on June 1st, to celebrate the International Childrens Day. Last year, MPs declared June 1, a day off from work, for parents to spend the day with their children. Special events, contests, shows and exhibitions are held in Romania today to mark the International Childrens Day. In a message launched on the occasion, PM Sorin Grindeanu, says he would like Romanian children to benefit from a good quality education system, to encourage true values, to take measures to reduce school dropout, as well as from proper conditions to grow up healthy and proud of their native country. The International Childrens Day is celebrated on June 1 by approximately 50 countries the world over. Also, a day devoted to children is celebrated on various days of the year, by another 100 countries.

THE UN – Romanias Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Wednesday reiterated Romanias commitment to the UN and underlined the added value that Bucharest can bring to multilateral diplomacy. Melescanu is in New York to formally launch a campaign to promote Romanias candidacy for a term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council between 2020 and 2021. He had a meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who underlined that Romania is an example of cooperation with the UN. Romania forwarded its candidacy in 2006, for a new term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The voting is due to take place in June 2019. Since becoming a member of the United Nations in 1955, Romania has held a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council four times.

MILITARY EXERCISES – Eight NATO military convoys, taking part in the multinational exercise Noble Jump 2017, are today crossing the border into Romania.The convoys are made up of some 300 troops and over 150 vehicles and helicopters. They are expected to reach the Cincu shooting range in central Romania by Sunday. We recall that exercise Noble Jump 2017 is held between May 26 and June 16 on the territory of three countries: Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. A total number of 4,000 troops from Romania and 11 other NATO member countries as well as 500 pieces of technical equipment are taking part in the exercise.

ROLAND GARROS – The best-ranking Romanian woman tennis player of the moment, Simona Halep, no.4 WTA is today facing German Tatjana Maria (no. 104 WTA) in the second round of the Roland Garros Tennis Tournament, the second largest Grand Slam tournament of the year. Also today, in the same round, Sorana Carstea (no.64 WTA) meets Spanish Carla Suarez Navarro (no.23 WTA). Four other Romanian women tennis players Irina Begu, Monica Niculescu, Ana Bogdan and Patricia Ţig got eliminated in the inaugural round.

1 June 2017