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Statements marking the National Day of Romania

Romanians celebrated their National Day on Sunday, December 1, this year marking 106 years since all provinces with a Romanian-majority population united under a single central authority. Therefore, December 1, 1918 marks the establishment of the Romanian national state. At the end of World War I, all provinces inhabited by Romanians, previously under the authority of the Austro-Hungarian and Tsarist empires (Transylvania, Banat, Bukovina and Bessarabia) united into the Kingdom of Romania. President Klaus Iohannis, who hosted his last reception as head of state marking the National Day, conveyed a message of unity and solidarity to overcome crises and move forward with dignity. The Romanian people is strong and attached to democratic values and will continue to defend these values, the president said. Klaus Iohannis urged Romanians to look back with gratitude at the sacrifices and the fight for unity and sovereignty, but also forward to the future that must be built with wisdom.

“On December 1, 1918, our forbearers managed to fulfill their dream of having a single country, achieving, in Alba Iulia, the Great Union. Since then, we have gone through wars, dictatorship, a revolution, serious health and economic crises. Driven by unity and solidarity in the face of common objectives, we have always managed to overcome these crises, to adapt and to rise stronger than before”.

In turn, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that this year’s National Day is more important than ever, underlining the need for a Parliament that “keeps things in check”, so as not to slide “down a dangerous slope”. “This December 1 is about choosing between stability and chaos, between development and austerity”, Prime Minister Ciolacu said. The Prime Minister highlighted the need to strike a balance so as to maintain Romania on a pro-European track, to continue investments with European funds and for people to keep their jobs and pensions.

Senate Speaker Nicolae Ciucă also highlighted the duty to put stability, dialogue and respect for citizens first, in the context of the current period marked by challenges and important decisions. “Now is the time to remember the sacrifices of our ancestors, who laid the foundation of a united and sovereign state, but also the responsibility we have to carry their legacy forward”, Nicolae Ciucă said in a message marking the National Day. “I hope this day will bring us together, regardless of our differences of opinion, around the values that define us as a nation: unity, solidarity and hope for a better future. Romania has the resources and potential to grow, but this requires hard work, honesty and courage”, Nicolae Ciucă also pointed out. (VP)

2 December 2024
December 1

Happy National Day!

On this special day, when we all take pride to call ourselves Romanian, we’re airing this exclusive interview with H.E. Simona Miculescu, Romania’s Ambassador to UNESCO, someone who’s devoted her life to putting Romania on the global map of excellence.

1 December 2024
December 4, 2023 UPDATE

NATIONAL DAY – The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest met on Monday in a special session to mark the National Day of Romania celebrated on December 1, and the anniversary of 105 years since the Great Union. Attending were the leaders of the two chambers of Parliament, the government, religious denominations and members of the diplomatic corps. A bust of the great Romanian pre-war politician Iuliu Maniu was unveiled on this occasion. Celebrations marking the National Day of Romania started on Friday, when the Republic of Moldova and the diaspora joined Romanians at home to mark this special day. In the wake of WWI, on 1st December 1918, all provinces with a majority ethnic Romanian population came under Bucharests authority. Meeting in Alba Iulia, in the center, the representatives of the Romanians in Transylvania, Banat, Maramureș and Crișana, territories which were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, voted to become united with the Kingdom of Romania. Earlier, on the 28th November, a similar decision was taken at the General Congress of Bukovina, another province that had been annexed by the Hapsburgs. On 27th March 1918, amidst the dissolution of the Tsarist Empire, the Country Council in Chișinău had already voted in favour of the union with Romania of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, which today are in the former Soviet republics of Moldova and Ukraine.

COP28 – Romania has joined the International Solar Alliance, an organization numbering 120 states, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted by the United Arab Emirates. Romanias energy security will grow following this move, said president Klaus Iohannis. In his address, he reiterated Romanias firm commitment to become carbon neutral, including by using renewable energy sources. At the weekend, Iohannis had talks with the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry on expanding the climate change, environment and green transition component of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States. The Romanian president also met members of the European Youth Forum whose aims include protecting the planet and making young people part of the democratic consultation process.

HANDBALL – Romania defeated Serbia 37-28 on Sunday evening in Herning, Denmark, in Group E at the World Womens Handball Championship. Having also won their opening match on Friday against Chile, 44-19, Romania have already qualified for the competitions main groups. In their final group match, they will face Denmark on Tuesday evening. The Romanian star player Cristina Neagu, four times the winner of the best player in the world title, is yet to make an appearance at this championship. Romania is the only side to have taken part in all the 26 editions of the World Womens Handball Championship, winning the world title back in 1962, as well as two silver medals, in 1973 and 2005, and a bronze medal, in 2015. At the previous edition, Romania ranked 13th. (CM & VP)

4 December 2023
December 1, 2023

NATIONAL
DAY – December 1 marks the National Day of Romania, celebrating 105
years since the unification of Romanian principalities into a single state. On
December 1, at the end of the Great War, representatives of Romanians from
Transylvania (center), Banat, Maramureș and
Crișana (west), voted in favor of the unification with the Kingdom of
Romania, thus breaking with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Previously, on
November 28, a similar decision was taken by the General Congress of Bukovina,
another province that was previously ruled by the Habsburgs. On March 27, 1918,
after the collapse of the Russian Empire, the People’s Gathering of Bessarabia
also voted the unification with Romania. In the summer of 1940, following an
ultimatum, the USSR annexed both Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, today parts
of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, respectively.

PARADE – Over
2,400 military and specialists with the Defense Ministry, the Interior
Ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications
Service and the Penitentiary Administration took part on Friday in a special
military parade marking the National Day of Romania. 250 foreign military from
Belgium, France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Luxembourg, Poland,
Portugal, Spain, the USA and the Netherlands also took part. 130 vehicles and 40 aircraft, in addition to
23 types of military and air equipment used by allied participants were
displayed in Bucharest.

CONFERENCE – The UN Climate
Change Conference hosted by Dubai in the UAE has launched with the historic
decision to compensate poor countries most vulnerable to global warming.
Attending the Conference are 140 heads of state and government, including
president Klaus Iohannis.

WAR IN
GAZA – The ceasefire in Gaza expired on Friday morning, and the
Israeli army has resumed its air raids and shelling targeting the positions of
the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. According to the so-called Hamas
government, an air raid has killed six people in Rafah, while the Health
Ministry has counted 32 people killed by Israeli bombing, including children.
Negotiations had continued over the previous night for a new extension of the
ceasefire, in place since November 24, yet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
accused Hamas of violating the agreement and firing missiles on Israel. Eight
Israeli hostages were released on Friday in exchange for 30 Palestinians
detained by Israel.

WAR IN UKRAINE – Kyiv announced
Russian invasion forces bombed targets across the country on Thursday night,
using kh-59 missiles and 25 Shahed 136/131 attack drones in the south.
Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have shot down 18 drones and a missile. Kyiv
has accused Moscow of planning a campaign of tactical air strikes targeting the
energy infrastructure in the middle of winter. A similar operation last year
left millions of Ukrainians without power and heat over long periods of time.
Ukraine has since shored up its anti-air defenses with Western weapons,
although authorities say it will take a while before being able to protect its
most vulnerable regions.

365 DAYS OF ROMANIA – Eight Romanian
brands will live the American Dream in the iconic Times Square in New York
starting December 1 and running through 2024 as part of the project titled 365
Days of Romania in Times Square. The project enables Romanian brands to take
part and share strong messages on the most iconic billboard in the world -
Nasdaq, organizers say. The first brand to be presented in Times Square on
December 1 is Arctic, the most powerful Romanian brand according to a survey conducted
this year by Unlock Market Research & Biz. Other brands such as Romstal,
Vola.ro, Aqua Carpatica, Bittnet Group, Eazy Insure, Metaminds, 5toGo will all
start their advertising campaigns in 2024.

HANDBALL -
Romania is playing its first match at the World Handball Championships against
Chile. In the following Group E fixtures, the Romanian women’s team will play
Serbia on December 3 and Denmark on December 5. The top three teams in each
group will advance to the so-called main group stage. The best-performing
player on the Romanian team, Cristina Neagu, four-time best handballer of the
year, is currently injured and will remain benched for the first games. Romania
is the only team that has taken part in all 26 editions of the World Handball
Championship, a competition it won once in 1962. Romania played another two
finals in 1973 and 2005, and came in third in 2015. Romania was ranked 13th
at the previous edition. (VP)

1 December 2023
November 29, 2023 UPDATE

PENSIONS – President
Klaus Iohannis has ratified the public pension law, which increases the pension
point by 13.8%, from 360 EUR at present to some 410 EUR starting January 1, 2024. Starting September
1 next year, pensions will also go up after recalcuations that will observe a
new formula. The retirement age for men and women will be brought to the same
level gradually until 2035. In other news, the Constitutional Court on Tuesday
ruled that former Romanian MPs are to keep their special pensions, while
Parliament is allowed to eliminate them in the future. In June, Parliament
eliminated special pensions awarded to deputies and senators, as Romania
pledged to eliminate them as part of its Recovery and Resilience Plan.

PROSECUTION – The
Senate has greenlit the prosecution of former Liberal Prime Minister Florin
Cîțu, whom anti-corruption prosecutors accuse of abuse of office in an
investigation into the abusive purchase of anti-COVID-19 vaccines. Targeted in
the same case are also former USR Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu and Ioana Mihăilă, whose immunity was lifted after Klaus Iohannis
signed the anti-prosecutors’ request.

CORRUPTION – The mayor of the
city of Baia Mare (north-west), Cătălin Cherecheş, who fled the country after
being sentenced to 5 years in prison in a corruption case, was apprehended in
Germany, the Romanian Police announced. He was identified and taken into
custody by the police in Bavaria based on the information provided by the
Romanian authorities. Sources close to the investigation say the former mayor
was aided by an aunt and was attempting to leave Germany when he was caught.
Cherecheş had left the country on Friday, using the ID of a family member, and
the procedures for returning him to the country are under way.

NATIONAL DAY – The
Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) is organizing over 30 events abroad marking
the National Day of Romania on December 1, including concerts, exhibitions,
film screenings, debates, theatre performances and literary events. Among the
highlights are the Madrigal Choir tour of the USA, plays staged by the National
Theatre of Sibiu in Paris, a recital by soprano Teodora Gheorghiu and
bass-baritone Sorin Coliban in London, or performances by violinist Alexandru
Tomescu and pianist Sînziana Mircea in Beijing, Budapest and Vienna.
A number of concerts, film screenings, photo exhibitions are also planned in
Spain, while the Institute’s agenda in Italy includes a series of folk-inspired
carol concerts.

MEETING – The
president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday met Eastern-Catholic priests
at the Blaj Bishopric as part of an event marking 75 years since the communist
authorities banned the Eastern-Catholic Church of Romania. Defined as an
official Church of Romania under the Constitution in the interwar period, the
Eastern-Catholic Church was outlawed after the war by the puppet regime
installed by Soviet occupation troops. Countless Eastern-Catholic bishops,
priests and churchgoers were imprisoned, many of them dying in communist
detention. The Eastern-Catholic Church was reinstated after the 1989 anti-communist
revolution. (AMP & VP)

29 November 2023
December 2, 2022

VISIT – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, is paying a two-day
visit to Greece, where he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Katerina Sakellaropoulou
and Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. According to the Presidency,
the visit confirms the continuous top-level dialogue and close cooperation
between Romania and Greece with respect to hot topics on the current agenda.
Talks will also focus on the potential of developing bilateral relations in the
fields of economy and investments, culture, education, civil protection and
tourism. Special attention will be devoted to infrastructure and
interconnection projects, including in the energy sector, designed to curb
dependency on Russian gas and boost the energy security of both Romania and
Greece. Other topics on the agenda for talks include Russia’s illegal war in
Ukraine and the consequences of this conflict at several levels.

UNESCO – The Romanian traditional embroidered blouse known as ‘ie’
was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity. Romania had submitted the application jointly with the Republic of
Moldova. The decision of the UNESCO Committee convened in Rabat, Morocco, comes
in recognition of the identity and value of this element, also sending out a
strong signal to Romanian and Moldovan cultural institutions that they should
support and promote the art of the traditional embroidered blouse, which
represents the centerpiece of the Romanian traditional festive outfit. Lipizzan
horse breeding traditions in Romania and other European countries are also part
of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity.

BUSINESS – The number of foreign startups in Romania has gone up in
the first ten months of the year by 30.7% compared to the same period of last
year, the National Trade Register Office reports. Some 6,100 new businesses were
set up this year with a total capital of 35 million USD. By the end of the
October, over 243 thousand companies with foreign capital participation
operated in Romania, with a total subscribed capital of 67 billion USD. The
largest number of companies with foreign participation had Italian investors, while
Dutch businesses had the largest share of capital.

WAR IN UKRAINE – President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that
Ukraine will restrict the activity of Russian-affiliated religious
organizations on its territory and will challenge the status of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church, which is still connected to the Moscow Patriarchate. The
announcement comes after Ukrainian security services searched several church
buildings in November. Ukrainian services confiscated a few thousand USD and
pro-Russian literature. Ukraine has two separate Eastern Orthodox
ecclesiastical bodies: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which in spring
broke ties with the Moscow Patriarchate due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,
and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which in 2019 was formally recognized
by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople as a separate, independent and equal
member of the worldwide communion of Orthodox churches.

DIALOGUE – The presidents of the United States of America and
France, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron respectively, have expressed their joint
intention of coming up with a solution to end the war in Ukraine without
reducing however their countries’ assistance to Kyiv. During a visit paid to
Washington by the French president, the White House leader said he is ready to
talk to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, if the latter is willing to
reach a solution to end the war. Prior to the invasion of Ukraine on February
24, president Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned Russia
about the consequences of such an attack. Since then, the US president has had
no direct contact with Moscow, although high-ranking US officials maintained
communication channels open. In turn, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron,
confirmed his readiness to talk to Vladimir Putin, particularly regarding
sensitive topics such as civilian nuclear power and the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The
last official meeting between Macron and Putin was held on September 11.

NATIONAL DAY – December 1, the National Day of Romania, was
celebrated on Thursday at home and abroad. Despite the rain, thousands of
people attended the military parades held in Bucharest and Alba Iulia. Over
1,500 servicemen took part in the event, alongside 150 military from Belgium,
France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Portugal, the USA and the
Netherlands, as well as from other countries part of NATO structures in
Romania.

GAUDEAMUS – The 29th edition of the Gaudeamus Book
Fair hosted by Radio Romania kicks off next week. 200 publishers will be
exhibiting their latest and current releases in various formats, addressing all
age brackets and fields of interests, music as well as educational games. 600
events have been announced in addition to various related projects. Pavilions
are also available online on gaudeamus.ro. The Gaudeamus Book Fair is
financed by the Ministry of Culture. (VP)

2 December 2022
November 29, 2022 UPDATE

NATO SUMMIT
– Russia is solely responsible for the war in
Ukraine, which represents a blatant violation of international law and the UN
Charter, NATO Foreign Ministers said in Bucharest in a joint statement signed
at the end of the first day of the NATO Foreign Affairs summit. NATO officials
say the Russian aggression has disrupted global food supply chains and endangered
the most vulnerable countries and nations. Additionally, NATO Foreign Ministers
also spoke of a Russian crusade against Ukraine, including forced
displacement, torture and barbaric behavior towards women and children. NATO
officials have condemned all parties, including Belarus, that actively the
campaign against Ukraine. NATO is not part of the Ukrainian conflict, but we pledge to support Ukraine
for as long as it is necessary, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on
Tuesday in Bucharest in the opening of the Foreign Affairs NATO Summit in
Bucharest. NATO members must support Ukraine to help this country remain a
sovereign state, Jens Stoltenberg argued, adding that NATO will remain vigilant
and defend every inch of its territory. The NATO official also said NATO
members will supplement the assistance package for Ukraine, including
non-lethal support made up of fuel and generators that will help Ukrainians
cope with the aftermath of Russian missiles hitting key Ukrainian energy
infrastructure. Attending the summit, president Klaus Iohannis pointed out that
the Black Sea is a strategic objective for Euro-Atlantic security, and Member
States must carefully monitor developments in this region. The Romanian
president also said Romania remains a staunch supporter of open-doors policy
and hopes that Finland and Sweden would quickly join the Alliance. This is the
first such event Romania is hosting since it joined NATO and the first of its
kind held in a country on the Alliance’s eastern flank since the start of the
war in Ukraine. The summit comprises 3 working sessions, 2 of which will be
attended by the Allies together with Sweden and Finland. Taking part in the
third session will also be the foreign ministers of Bosnia – Herzegovina,
Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. The war in Ukraine and the provision of
long-term political and practical support from the Allies will be the main
topic of discussion. NATO’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg arrived in
Bucharest on Monday, and had meetings with president Klaus Iohannis, Prime
Minister Nicolae Ciucă and Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.

PARTNERSHIP
Ahead of US secretary of state Antony Blinken’s visit to Bucharest to take part
in the NATO summit, the US Department of State hailed the celebration of 25
years since the Strategic Partnership with Romania was signed. A US Department
of State news release mentions Bucharest’s contribution to NATO and
multinational operations, the fact that the country hosts several NATO and
American military structures, including the missile defense system in Deveselu.
On Tuesday, during his visit in Bucharest, Secretary of State Antony Blinken
met Romania’s Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu. Talks focused on the
celebration of 25 years since the signing of the partnership, based on the
joint commitment to promoting and consolidating trans-Atlantic ties and
democratic resilience. Both parties pledged to further develop the partnership
at all levels. The Romanian Foreign Minister pointed out that Romania’s
Strategic Partnership with the United States represents a key pillar of
Romania’s foreign policy, also highlighting its importance in ensuring the
country’s security, all the more so amidst security challenges in the Black Sea
region. Moreover, Minister Aurescu reiterated the importance of including
Romania in the Visa Waiver program. Talks also tackled an increase in US
military presence in Romania, consolidating NATO’s posture in the Black Sea
region, Romania’s bid to join OECD and furthering joint projects in the field
of civilian nuclear power. Also on Tuesday, Antony Blinken met with president
Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă.

REFUGEES – The Border
Police Inspectorate announced on Tuesday that some 63 thousand people entered
Romania on Monday, of whom over 7,000 were Ukrainian nationals, accounting for
a 9% drop compared to the previous day. According to a press release published
on Tuesday, close to 3 million Ukrainian refugees have entered Romania starting
February 10, most of whom were en route to countries in Western Europe. Over 80
thousand Ukrainians have chosen to stay.

NATIONAL DAY – The Romanian Cultural
Institute organizes 50 events until December 10, to celebrate the National Day
of Romania in 31 cities abroad. According to the president of the Institute,
Liviu Jicman, the events held in emblematic locations in the respective
countries place the works of Romanian artists among the most important cultural
landmarks of today and contribute to raising awareness among foreign cultural
and arts communities and the general public with respect to the Romanian
culture. On December 1, the National Day of Romania, a parade
will be organized in Bucharest and another one in Alba Iulia. On Monday, the
Parliament celebrated 104 years since the Great Union in a special meeting. (AMP
& VP)

29 November 2022
Parliament session on National Day

December 1st is Romania’s National Day: in 2022, Romanians
celebrate 104 years since the completion of the plebiscite process through
which the Romanian state gathered Romanians and the provinces where they lived
between the same borders. A military parade, impressive speeches and the famous
smoked beans, these are the staples of this special day. Already, on Monday,
the Romanian Parliament gathered in a solemn meeting dedicated to this day.

The prime minister, the presidents of the Chamber of
Deputies and the Senate, as well as representatives of the parliamentary groups
held speeches on the occasion. They talked about patriotism, about country
projects and solutions proposed by parties for the well-being of Romanians, but
also about the crisis generated by the war in Ukraine. Liberal Prime Minister
Nicolae Ciucă appealed to the political class, civil society and the media for
a moratorium and, together, to try to use the year 2023 as an electoral
respite.

He also urged the Power and the Opposition to sit down at
the table for rational discussions on the future of Romania, because – Prime
Minister Ciucă said – the politicians of the moment have the historical duty to
place Romania among the great European democracies, through an increased
integration in the Western space of freedom and prosperity, which also means
joining Schenen:

The accession to the Schengen Area is not only an
expression of the reforms and investments that Romania has made so far, it is
also an expression of trust and the surest guarantee from our European partners
that Romania is and will remain firmly anchored in the western development
axis.

In turn, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, the
social democrat Marcel Ciolacu, stated that December 1 represents an example of
the way in which the Romanian people have always found, in the most difficult
moments, a huge internal force to overcome borderline situations. That is
precisely why, now, when Romania is going through several overlapping crises,
Romanians must be in solidarity with those who need support the most – he
added.

Over the past year, Romania has gained a stable government
and the appreciation of international partners as a provider of security and
stability in the region – the interim president of the Senate, the liberal
Alina Gorghiu, also stressed. From the Opposition, the USR leader, Cătălin
Drula, spoke from the rostrum of the Parliament about the patriotism that must
characterize every politician in Romania, meaning the defense of democracy,
civil rights and fundamental freedoms. As for the leader of the Alliance for
the Union of Romanians, George Simion, also in the opposition, he wished Happy
National Day to the Romanians working abroad. (MI)

29 November 2022
November 28, 2022 UPDATE

NATO. Romanian
President Klaus Iohannis has stated that, in the context of the war in Ukraine,
the North Atlantic Alliance needs to be strong and united more than ever
before. After a meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, he
said that he expected the meeting of the NATO foreign ministers, due on Tuesday and Wednesday in Bucharest, to
reconfirm this goal. In turn, Stoltenberg has stated that NATO will do
everything necessary to protect and defend all allies. He also said that the
foreign ministers will look for ways to further support Ukraine and to face the
Russian pressure in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova and Georgia. As a neighbor to Ukraine, you have proven a generous host to over
1.5 million refugees. You assist with the export of millions of tons of
Ukrainian grain to help ease the global food crisis. And you provide
significant military assistance to Ukraine. We cannot let Putin win, the
NATO Secretary General said.

Serbia. The Prime Minister
of Romania, Nicolae Ciuca, had a meeting in Bucharest on Monday with his Serbian counterpart, Ana Brnabic,
with whom he discussed the need to revive bilateral dialogue and sectoral
cooperation. The Head of the Romanian Government emphasized the importance of
implementing projects in the field of energy connectivity and transport, through
the development of the Romania-Serbia gas interconnector and the commissioning
of the connection between the Timisoara – Moravita motorway and the Belgrade -
Vatin high-speed road. Regarding the issues related to the Romanian
community in Serbia, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca reiterated his special
appreciation for the Serbian authorities’ decision to unconditionally cede the
Luceafărul complex in Varset to the Romanian state. PM Ciuca
emphasized that this approach will contribute to the advancement of bilateral
relations and sectoral collaboration, reiterating the interest of the Romanian
side in the opening of Cultural Institutes between the two countries.

Schengen. Romania and
Croatia are ready for accession to the Schengen Area, is the conclusion of the
meeting between the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, and
his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Radman, who is visiting Bucharest. Minister
Aurescu said that both states are part of the solution that the European Union
needs at this moment to strengthen its external borders and manage migration. The
two officials also discussed the strengthening of bilateral political and
economic relations, the promotion of joint projects, but also the security in
the region in the context of the war started by Russia in Ukraine. The visit of
the foreign minister of the Republic of Croatia to Romania marks 30 years since
the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

National Day. A solemn meeting of the
Bucharest parliament was held on Monday to mark 104 years since the Great Union.
Romania’s National Day will be celebrated on December 1st with a
military parade, in which over 1,500 troops and staff of the defense ministry,
the interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special
Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, as
well as 120 pieces of military equipment, including 40 aircraft, will
participate. Also on December 1, more than 850 troops will parade in Alba
Iulia, including a French unit part of the NATO battlegroup deployed in Cincu,
Braşov County.

MLM. The transatlantic
unity in the context of the war in Ukraine was ‘a strategic surprise to
Russia’, said, on Monday, in Bucharest, the President of Romania, Klaus
Iohannis, in his address at the Munich Leaders’ Meeting. We are more united, more determined to protect
our core values: democracy, human rights, rule of law and the right of every
nation to choose its friends and allies. Unity means also solidarity. Our
solidarity with Ukraine must carry on in a coordinated manner. All partners
should continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend its sovereignty
and democracy for as long as it takes, the head of state pointed out, in the
speech he delivered at the Munich Leaders Meeting.

Center. The Save the
Children organization has inaugurated, in Bucharest, the Counseling and
Integrated Services Center for Refugees from Ukraine, which provides assistance
to more than 7,100 beneficiaries, approximately half of whom are children. They
receive information and advice in the legal, financial, educational or social
fields, as well as other types of services. The center has a mother and child unit,
spaces for children and places for teenagers. There are specialists who can
offer counseling and individual or group therapy, and non-food products are
distributed to those who need them. They can also benefit from financial
support, mostly vouchers, but also cash. International studies show that 50% of
the children who fled Ukraine for fear of war suffer from anxiety, and the figure
is even higher, close to 75 percent, in the case of teenagers above 16. Although
attending school reduces the risk of feeling alone, the rate of participation
in classes is worryingly low, Save the Children specialists say. Official data provided
by the Ministry of Educations show that, in Romania, approximately 3,000
applications for enrollment of refugee children from Ukraine in the national
education system have been registered so far. (MI)

28 November 2022
November 26, 2022 UPDATE

National Day. Over 1,500 soldiers and specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, as well as approximately 120 pieces of equipment, including 40 aircraft, will participate on 1 December in the military parade organized in Bucharest on the occasion of Romanias National Day. According to a press release from the Ministry of Defense, approximately 150 foreign soldiers from Belgium, France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Portugal, the United States of America and the Netherlands will march in the parade, as well as soldiers representing the allies contributing to the NATO structures on the territory of Romania. On Romanias National Day, representatives of the Romanian Army will participate, at the request and with the support of the local authorities, in the preparation, organization and holding of ceremonies in some garrisons where military units are deployed. The Romania. soldiers on mission abroad will also organize events on the occasion.

NATO. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will arrive in Bucharest on Monday to participate in the meeting of the NATO foreign ministers, the US State Department has announced. Together with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, Blinken will visit the photo exhibition “We, the people – 25 years of strategic partnership”, which recalls the key moments of the partnership between Romania and the United States, since 1997. The US Secretary of State will have separate meetings with President Klaus Iohannis, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The meeting of the foreign ministers of the allied states will focus, among other things, on the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, on the implementation of the new NATO strategic concept and on energy security.

Ukraine. Approximately 130,000 people in Kyiv, a city with three million inhabitants, were still without electricity on Saturday, according to local authorities. Repairs to restore the entire network would be completed within 24 hours, the military administration in Kyiv said, by which time all heating systems should be operational again. On Wednesday, Russia launched dozens of missiles at Ukraines energy infrastructure, causing severe damage. Electricity, water and heating have been cut in many areas of the country, with major fears that such crucial services are at risk of not working properly in the cold months ahead. The Ukrainian authorities are gradually restoring the electricity supply, helped by the reconnection of the countrys four nuclear power plants, but millions of people are still without heat and electricity after these Russian airstrikes, the most devastating since the beginning of the war .

Agriculture. The Romanian Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, has announced that the national strategic plan for agriculture will be endorsed by the European Commission in December. He said that the document allows the allocation of almost 16 billion euros for agriculture and for the development of the Romanian countryside. Minister Daea has also stated that he has the confirmation of the European Commission regarding the aid of 365 million lei (equivalent to more than 70 million euros) approved by the government for farmers who suffered due to the drought, and the money is due to arrive soon.

Visit. The State Secretary for Romanians Abroad, Gheorghe Cârciu, is on a working visit to the United States, until November 30. He will participate in a series of events organized by the Consulate General of Romania in Chicago and the Romanian community, devoted to the programs and actions developed to support the activity of Romanians in this area, as well as the celebration of Romanias National Day. The Secretarys agenda also includes meetings with local authorities and representatives of religious denominations, i the Department for Romanians Abroad has announced.

Concert. More than 600 Italians and Romanians participated, on Friday evening, in the concert held by the ConTempo quartet in Venice, to celebrate 160 years of diplomatic relations with Italy, as well as Romanias National Day, December 1. According to the Radio Romania correspondent in Rome, the National Day will be celebrated on Sunday in most Romanian churches in Italy, as well as through numerous events organized by Romanian associations. Over one million Romanians live in Italy. (MI)

26 November 2022
November 26, 2022

National Day. Over 1,500 soldiers and specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, as well as approximately 120 pieces of equipment, including 40 aircraft, will participate on 1 December in the military parade organized in Bucharest on the occasion of Romanias National Day. According to a press release from the Ministry of Defense, approximately 150 foreign soldiers from Belgium, France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Portugal, the United States of America and the Netherlands will march in the parade, as well as soldiers representing the allies contributing to the NATO structures on the territory of Romania. On Romanias National Day, representatives of the Romanian Army will participate, at the request and with the support of the local authorities, in the preparation, organization and holding of ceremonies in some garrisons where military units are deployed. The Romania. soldiers on mission abroad will also organize events on the occasion.

NATO. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will arrive in Bucharest on Monday to participate in the meeting of the NATO foreign ministers, the US State Department has announced. Together with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, Blinken will visit the photo exhibition “We, the people – 25 years of strategic partnership”, which recalls the key moments of the partnership between Romania and the United States, since 1997. The US Secretary of State will have separate meetings with President Klaus Iohannis, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The meeting of the foreign ministers of the allied states will focus, among other things, on the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, on the implementation of the new NATO strategic concept and on energy security.

Ukraine. 15 residents were killed and 35, including a child, were injured in bombings by the Russian invasion army on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, from where Moscows troops had withdrawn two weeks ago. An official of the citys military administration wrote on social media that several “private residences and high-rise buildings” were damaged. “The Russian invaders opened fire on a residential area, using (…) rocket launchers. A large building caught fire”, the Ukrainian governor of the Kherson region, Yaroslav Yanushevich wrote. “Due to the constant Russian bombings, we are evacuating patients from hospitals in Kherson”, announced the Ukrainian Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, who stated that a train has already left for Khmelnytskyi, “with the first 100 citizens (…), including 26 children, seven immobilized patients and six disabled people”. More than six million Ukrainian households were affected by the power outages, caused by the Russian bombings on critical infrastructure. In the capital, Kyiv, “a third of the homes (…) already have heating (…). Half of the users are still without electricity” – mayor Vitali Kliciko stated. The operation of mobile phone networks was also disrupted in some neighborhoods of the capital.

Agriculture. The Romanian Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, has announced that the national strategic plan for agriculture will be endorsed by the European Commission in December. He said that the document allows the allocation of almost 16 billion euros for agriculture and for the development of the Romanian countryside. Minister Daea has also stated that he has the confirmation of the European Commission regarding the aid of 365 million lei (equivalent to more than 70 million euros) approved by the government for farmers who suffered due to the drought, and the money is due to arrive soon.

Visit. The State Secretary for Romanians Abroad, Gheorghe Cârciu, is on a working visit to the United States, until November 30. He will participate in a series of events organized by the Consulate General of Romania in Chicago and the Romanian community, devoted to the programs and actions developed to support the activity of Romanians in this area, as well as the celebration of Romanias National Day. The Secretarys agenda also includes meetings with local authorities and representatives of religious denominations, the Department for Romanians Abroad has announced.

Concert. More than 600 Italians and Romanians participated, on Friday evening, in the concert held by the ConTempo quartet in Venice, to celebrate 160 years of diplomatic relations with Italy, as well as Romanias National Day, December 1. According to the Radio Romania correspondent in Rome, the National Day will be celebrated on Sunday in most Romanian churches in Italy, as well as through numerous events organized by Romanian associations. Over one million Romanians live in Italy. (MI)

26 November 2022
Restricted ceremonies on Romania’s National Day

On December 1, 1918, representatives of Romanian
communities in Transylvania convened in the city of Alba Iulia and signed in
favor of the unification with the kingdom of Romania. Previously, Romanians
from Bessarabia and Bukovina opted to unite with Romania. Treatises signed as
part of the Paris Peace Conference enshrined Romanians’ efforts and sacrifices
to accomplish the great union. After the anticommunist revolution of 1989,
December 1 was proclaimed the National Day of Romania, celebrated at home and
abroad. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about restrictive measures
which impacted manifestations held on this occasion. Modern technologies have
allowed Romanians around the world to celebrate this special day. In Alba
Iulia, the streets of the city, once filled with people gathered in
celebration, were empty, especially as local authorities announced an extension
of the quarantine imposed last week. In Bucharest the traditional military
parade of soldiers and military equipment was cancelled. The square before the
Triumphal Arch venued only a restricted official ceremony attended by President
Klaus Iohannis, who had this to say:

Our thoughts today go out to the heroes of this
year, the medical personnel and everyone risking their lives to prevent the
spread of the virus, as well as to the victims of this deadly virus and their
families. We are aware and we feel the substantial efforts undertaken by health
workers since March, and we will always pay tribute to the sacrifice made by
doctors, nurses and ambulance workers.

On December 1 the President decorated medical
doctors as well as medical schools in Romania. On a more colorful note, the
Niagara Falls in Canada was lit up in red, yellow and blue, describing the
national flag of Romania. In Dubai, the Romanian flag was projected on the
famous Burj al-Arab tower as part of an initiative of the Romanian Embassy in
the United Arab Emirates. In Petra, Jordan, for the first time ever the flag of
a foreign country, our flag, was officially raised in front of the Treasury
building. The Government building in Madrid was also lit-up with the colors of
the Romanian flag, while the National Police Orchestra of Spain performed our
national anthem, Awaken, thee, Romanian! (V. Palcu)

2 December 2020
Restricted ceremonies on Romania’s National Day

On December 1, 1918, representatives of Romanian
communities in Transylvania convened in the city of Alba Iulia and signed in
favor of the unification with the kingdom of Romania. Previously, Romanians
from Bessarabia and Bukovina opted to unite with Romania. Treatises signed as
part of the Paris Peace Conference enshrined Romanians’ efforts and sacrifices
to accomplish the great union. After the anticommunist revolution of 1989,
December 1 was proclaimed the National Day of Romania, celebrated at home and
abroad. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about restrictive measures
which impacted manifestations held on this occasion. Modern technologies have
allowed Romanians around the world to celebrate this special day. In Alba
Iulia, the streets of the city, once filled with people gathered in
celebration, were empty, especially as local authorities announced an extension
of the quarantine imposed last week. In Bucharest the traditional military
parade of soldiers and military equipment was cancelled. The square before the
Triumphal Arch venued only a restricted official ceremony attended by President
Klaus Iohannis, who had this to say:

Our thoughts today go out to the heroes of this
year, the medical personnel and everyone risking their lives to prevent the
spread of the virus, as well as to the victims of this deadly virus and their
families. We are aware and we feel the substantial efforts undertaken by health
workers since March, and we will always pay tribute to the sacrifice made by
doctors, nurses and ambulance workers.

On December 1 the President decorated medical
doctors as well as medical schools in Romania. On a more colorful note, the
Niagara Falls in Canada was lit up in red, yellow and blue, describing the
national flag of Romania. In Dubai, the Romanian flag was projected on the
famous Burj al-Arab tower as part of an initiative of the Romanian Embassy in
the United Arab Emirates. In Petra, Jordan, for the first time ever the flag of
a foreign country, our flag, was officially raised in front of the Treasury
building. The Government building in Madrid was also lit-up with the colors of
the Romanian flag, while the National Police Orchestra of Spain performed our
national anthem, Awaken, thee, Romanian! (V. Palcu)

2 December 2020
November 29, 2020

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Over 11,000 people have died
to the COVID-19 virus since the start of the outbreak, and some 466 thousand
people got infected, 70% of whom have recovered. 1,249 people are in intensive
care. Bucharest is the most affected city in Romania. 6,914 Romanians living
abroad tested positive for COVID-19, 127 of whom have died.

COVID-19 IN THE
WORLD – Over 62.6 million people around the world have been infected with
SARS-CoV-2 since the beginning of the outbreak, the latest worldometers.info
update reveals. The global death toll now exceeds 1.4 million. The three most
affected countries are the United States, India and Brazil. In Europe, starting
December 1, stores will reopen in Belgium, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has
announced, although the country will remain in partial quarantine to allow
efforts to contain the pandemic. Belgium has been severely affected by the
second wave of the pandemic and has been under lockdown since October 30. In
France, the authorities are easing restrictions, allowing shops selling
non-essential products to reopen. People can also leave their homes for up to
three hours for leisure time and physical exercise. The decision comes just shy
of a month of harsh lockdown restrictions, which has led to a slump in the
number of daily infections in this country.

BRUA – Romania’s President Klaus
Iohannis attended the completion of the first phase in the BRUA pipeline
project, in an event hosted by Jupa in Caraş Severin County. The President said
the delivery of new natural gas supplies will better meet internal demand and
will add predictability and stability to the national distribution network.
BRUA seeks to develop a natural gas interconnector linking Bulgaria, Romania,
Hungary and Austria to the southern corridor transporting gas from Azerbaijan.
The Romanian gas company Transgaz announced the first gas supplies via the new
BRUA pipeline will be delivered next week, from Romania to Hungary.

NATIONAL
DAY
– December 1, the National Day of Romania, will this year be celebrated in a
restricted ceremony, to be attended by doctors, medical staff and foreign
ambassadors. The traditional military parade organized on this occasion was
cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restricted ceremonies will also be held
in big cities across the country, to be attended by local authorities. The
Foreign Ministry this year marks the National Day by means of a digital
diplomacy project, a virtual dialogue space where friends and partners of
Romania, but also members of Romanian communities abroad can meet and exchange
opinions in a novel environment adapted to the challenges posed by the global
health context. Over November 28 -
December 1, in a special section on the Ministry website, mae.ro, the Foreign
Ministry is promoting Romanian talent and history, with a focus on classical
and contemporary music, theatre, performing and visual arts. The Ministry is
also making public a number of diplomatic documents from its archive. The
virtual section will also include an area devoted to online actions carried out
by Romania’s diplomatic missions and consular offices.

HANDBALL – Romania’s women’s
handball team are preparing for the European Championship hosted by Denmark
between December 3 and 20. Romania is playing in Group D in the final
tournament, alongside Norway, Germany and Poland, with the games taking place
in the town of Kolding. On December 3, Romania will play Germany. On December 5
it will take on Poland, then it will play Norway on December 7. Denmark is the
sole host of the tournament after the second designated host, neighboring
Norway, pulled out. On November 16, only 17 days before the first game was due,
Oslo announced that healthcare constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic
prevent it from organizing the competition.

BASKETBALL – The Romanian men’s basketball
team on Monday is playing the world champion, Spain, in Valencia, in a fixture
counting towards the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 preliminary Group A. On Saturday,
Romania lost 91-61 to Poland. After three matches, Romania has zero points and
is bottom of the group tables. The last group fixtures will be played next
year. The top three teams in each group will qualify to the 2022 European
Championship. (V. Palcu)

29 November 2020
December 2, 2019

NATIONAL DAY – The Chamber of Deputies
and the Senate are today convening in a solemn joint session to mark the
National Day of Romania. Addressing Parliament will be President Klaus
Iohannis, Senate Speaker Teodor Melescanu, Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel
Ciolacu, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban as well as representatives of
parliamentary groups. The list of guests includes former heads of state, the
Custodian of the Royal Crown, Margareta, Romanian Orthodox Church Patriarch
Daniel, the archbishops of the Roman-Catholic and Eastern-Catholic Churches,
the presidents of the Constitutional Court, the High Court of Cassation and
Justice, the Romanian Academy, the Court of Accounts and the Legislative Council.
Attending will also be National Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu, Ombudsman Renate
Weber, Bucharest City Hall Mayor Gabriela Firea, the directors of the Romanian
Intelligence Service, the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service, the Protection
and Guard Service, the Special Telecommunications Service as well as members of
the Government. December 1 became Romania’s National Day after the December
1989 anti-Communist revolution and it marks the completion, at the end of WWI,
in 1918, of the process of creating the Romanian unitary nation state, when all
the provinces included in the neighboring multinational empires, with a
majority Romanian-speaking population, came under the authority of Bucharest.

JHA – The Justice and Home Affairs
Council of the European Union is convening in Brussels on December 2-3. High on
the agenda are topics such as the future EU policies on migration and asylum,
home security, combating terrorism, environmental crime and alternative
detention measures. On Tuesday, the new EU chief prosecutor, Romanian Laura
Codruta Kovesi will present her vision and plans for the European Public
Prosecutor’s Office. The institution is set to start its activity in November
2020, by which date the chief prosecutor must coordinate the setup and
functioning of the new structure. The EPPO will investigate cross-border fraud
cases at community level. So far 22 Member States have officially adhered to
the EPPO.

BILL – Save Romania Union leader Dan
Barna said the draft law on the organization of local elections in two separate
rounds should be adopted by the end of Parliament’s current session. Prime
Minister Ludovic Orban claims the Liberals support the bill, warning however it
requires the vote of at least 165 MPs, while the Liberal Party is supported by
a fragile majority in Parliament.

UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate in
Romania stood at 2.98% in October, a slight decrease compared to the same month
in 2018 and to the previous month this year, the National Employment Agency
announced on Monday. The total number of unemployed was below 260 thousand,
most of whom were reported in rural areas. Most of them are aged 40-49,
followed by those above 55 years of age. Broken down in terms of training,
unemployed people without any diplomas and those with basic education had the
largest share of total number of unemployed.

NATO – London on Tuesday and Wednesday
is hosting the NATO summit, celebrating 70 years of NATO existence. High on the
agenda are the fight against terrorism, arms control and relations with Russia
and China. Representing Romania will be president Klaus Iohannis. According to
the presidency, Klaus Iohannis will highlight Romania’s contribution as a NATO
member and the need to continue determent and security efforts on the eastern
flank and in the Black Sea region.

HANDBALL -
Romanian champions Dinamo Bucharest on Sunday defeated GOG Gudme of Denmark
32-31 in Group D of the men’s Champions League. Dinamo is undefeated at the end
of the group phase, with 7 wins and 3 draws. They are top of the tables with 17
points, followed by Orlen Wisla Plock of Poland with 11 points, GOG of Denmark
with 9 points, IFK Kristianstad of Sweden with 9 points, Cehovskie Medvedi of
Russia with 8 points and Kadetten Schaffhausen of Switzerland with 6 points. In
the playoff, Dinamo will play Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. The first leg will
be played away from home in February, with the return leg scheduled in
Bucharest. The two teams faced off in last year’s edition of the playoffs as
well, when Sporting won 32-31 in the first leg and 27-26 in the return leg. In
women’s handball, at the World Cup in Japan, Romania will play Kazakhstan on
Tuesday. Romania so far lost 16-31 to Spain and defeated Senegal 29-24.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

2 December 2019