Radio România Internațional

Tag: negotiations

  • Three years of war in Ukraine

    Three years of war in Ukraine

     

    Three years after Russia’s invasion, EU leaders went to Kyiv to express their support for Ukraine, in a summit dedicated to a common defence and security strategy. “We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. She was accompanied in Kyiv by the College of Commissioners, and emphasised the need to strengthen military aid.

     

    According to European Commission data, the EU and its 27 member states have provided almost EUR 134 billion to Ukraine in the past 3 years, of which EUR 48 billion in military assistance. Kyiv has also received substantial support from Washington.

     

    However, Donald Trump’s new administration is approaching the situation differently. The White House said on Saturday that the US is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing the profits from Ukrainian minerals as part of efforts to end the war. Washington wants to recover the billions of US dollars given to Ukraine in military aid, which is why it is demanding rare minerals, oil or “anything we can get,” says Donald Trump.

     

    Thrown off balance by the unexpected US-Russian dialogue on Ukraine, as Washington started talks with Moscow to end the war without having the EU or Kyiv involved, Europeans fear that Donald Trump could end the war on terms favourable to Russia, without offering security guarantees to Ukraine.

     

    The successive meetings of European leaders in Paris organised last week by Emmanuel Macron have shown, on the other hand, that they are rather divided and have failed to come up with a joint response to the start of US-Russian negotiations on peace in Ukraine.

     

    As such, news agencies say, “the French president is going to Washington on Monday on behalf of his country alone, without having an EU mandate for Europe to be able to speak with one voice.” He will be followed on Thursday by British PM Keir Starmer, who travels to the White House for similar talks with the US president, the same president who recently accused the two European leaders of having done nothing to end the war in Ukraine.

     

    Attending one of the meetings in Paris last week, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, pleaded for cooperation between EU countries and the United States in resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

     

    “A just and lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved with the help of the United States, Romania’s strategic partner,” PM Marcel Ciolacu said in turn in Bucharest, in a first official reaction to the most important topic on the agenda of world leaders. The Romanian official voiced confidence that, despite the harsh political rhetoric of recent days, the steps to end the war will be successful. At the same time, Marcel Ciolacu emphasised that “Romanians have paid dearly, in economic terms, for the effects of this conflict,” and that Romanian companies should play an important role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. (AMP)

  • February 21, 2025 UPDATE

    February 21, 2025 UPDATE

    UKRAINE The interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan takes part on Monday in an online summit on ‘Defence and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan’, organised in the neighbouring Russia-invaded Ukraine, the Romanian presidency announced. On Wednesday, Bolojan took part in a meeting on Ukraine and the security challenges in Europe in Paris. The interim president stated that participants in the meeting in Paris concluded that the best way to solve the crisis is collaboration between European countries and the United States of America, so that there is a ceasefire and a just peace, which cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations.

     

    VISIT The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that the talks held on Friday in Brussels with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, focused on Romania’s key priorities. Marcel Ciolacu mentioned stepping up the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, cutting down the budget deficit without increasing the VAT, and electoral security. “We also discussed a tax reform. The VAT is not being increased, nor will the flat tax rate be touched,” Mr. Ciolacu added. He mentioned that the talks also covered Europe’s role in the peace negotiations, emphasising that “Romania must be at the table. A strong European Union means a stronger Romania! Stronger together, the EU and Romania,” Marcel Ciolacu concluded.

     

    ELECTIONS The Romanian government has approved a budget of roughly EUR 240 million for the organisation of the presidential elections on May 4 and 18. The money comes from the budget reserve funds made available to the government and included in the 2025 state budget, reads a news release issued by the government. The presidential election will take place in May after a first round held in December was cancelled under a Constitutional Court ruling which mentioned interference in the election process.

     

    TALKS The president of France Emmanuel Macron will be in Washington on Monday to discuss with his US counterpart Donald Trump the Ukraine peace negotiations that the Americans have begun with the Russians in the absence of the Europeans and Ukrainians. Since the beginning of the week, the French president has been holding a marathon of consultations with leaders of European Union and NATO member countries. He launched these consultations in an attempt to make Europe’s voice heard, as Europe cannot be left aside after all its political and material involvement in supporting Ukraine over the past three years, since Russia launched a war of aggression against its neighbour.

     

    THEFT The Dutch police have announced they apprehended a 26 year-old man, who has become the fourth suspect in the theft of the Romanian ancient artefacts from the Drents Museum in Assen. According to police sources, the artefacts have not been recovered yet. On January 25, 4 extremely valuable golden items, part of Romania’s treasure on display at the Drents Museum, were stolen. The museum was hosting an exhibition entitled “Dacia, the Kingdom of gold and silver”, which was supposed to close a day before the robbery. (AMP)

  • December 14, 2024 UPDATE

    December 14, 2024 UPDATE

     

    NEGOTIATIONS In Bucharest, negotiations on a future coalition of the pro-European parties in Parliament have made progress with respect to the structure of the new government. The Social Democratic Party will control 7 ministries, the National Liberal Party 4, Save Romania Union 3, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania 2, said the Social Democrats’ senior vice-president Sorin Grindeanu. It has not yet been decided which ministries will go to each party and the names of the new ministers. On the other hand, the Social Democrats and and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians plead for a single presidential candidate of the coalition. After the Constitutional Court cancelled the election for president, the future executive will have to decide by the end of the year on a new presidential election calendar, the UDMR believes. The pro-European parties elected in Parliament hope to come up with a cabinet by Christmas.

     

    EU FUNDING Romania collected EUR 1.9 billion in EU structural and cohesion funds in 2021-2027, and the overall absorption rate, 6.11%, is close to the EU average of 6.19%, the minister of investments and European projects, Adrian Câciu announced. The absorption rate for the structural and cohesion funds under centrally managed programmes is higher, namely 7.3%, Caciu said in a Facebook post. He emphasised that Romania is yet to to catch up on Regional Programmes, where the absorption rate is 3.2%, but he voiced confidence that the example set by the current coalition comprising the Social Democrats and the Liberals in terms of management and implementation of European funds, including decentralisation, will be followed by the new government, and the pace of EU fund absorption will be sustained, so as to replicate the success of the 2014-2020 period.

    PARLIAMENT On Monday the last week of work for the current legislature begins, with many bills still unfinished for Romanian Senators and Deputies. Until the new Parliament is convened, the Chamber of Deputies should adopt the new Forestry Code, which has been on the agenda for several months. The code is a benchmark in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and a priority for the Government, which says the document must be adopted by the end of the year. The bill provides, among other things, for the seizing of vehicles carrying stolen wood, for green belts around major cities, for preemptive rights and reasonably priced quality materials for local furniture manufacturers, for video monitoring of forest roads, and bans clear-cutting in all protected areas. Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill punishing holders of multiple positions financed from the state budget and on another one limiting to two the number of terms in office for the heads of the secret services. The current MPs remain in office until December 20, when the first session of the new Parliament is scheduled, following the December 1 general elections.

     

    ECONOMY Romania’s trade deficit was EUR 5.5 billion higher in the first 10 months of the year than in the same period in 2023, according to data made public by the National Bank. More than half of this deficit is the result of growing imports of goods. The central bank also says that the total foreign debt went up over EUR 18 billion and exceeded EUR 186 billion. According to analysts, along with the very high budget deficit, these are the main problems of the Romanian economy, and they must be solved concurrently, which is very difficult. They believe that through a correct budget adjustment, expenses would be cut, and revenues could be raised by eliminating corruption and through a fair tax system.

     

    ANNIVERSARY Timişoara marks 35 years since the anti-communist Revolution of December 1989, which broke out in this city in western Romania. Under the motto “35 years of freedom”, events dedicated to the 1989 heroes and celebrating the three and a half decades since Timişoara became the first city free from communism in Romania will take place between December 15 and 20. The agenda includes, as every year, religious services, wreath-laying, exhibitions and film screenings. A concert entitled Requiem in Memoriam is scheduled on Sunday at the Banat Philharmonic, Monday will see the inauguration of the Freedom Portal, a light installation that reproduces sounds from the Revolution, followed by the traditional march “Heroes Never Die”. Tuesday will be a day of mourning, and the events on December 20 will end with a concert called “Rock for revolution”. (AMP)

  • December 14, 2024

    December 14, 2024

     

    NEGOTIATIONS In Bucharest, negotiations on a future coalition of the pro-European parties in Parliament have made progress with respect to the structure of the new government. The Social Democratic Party will control 7 ministries, the National Liberal Party 4, Save Romania Union 3, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania 2, said the Social Democrats’ senior vice-president Sorin Grindeanu. It has not yet been decided which ministries will go to each party and the names of the new ministers. On the other hand, the Social Democrats and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians plead for a single presidential candidate of the coalition. After the Constitutional Court cancelled the election for president, the future executive will have to decide by the end of the year on a new presidential election calendar, the UDMR believes. The pro-European parties elected in Parliament hope to come up with a cabinet by Christmas.

     

    EU FUNDING Romania has collected EUR 1.9 billion in EU structural and cohesion funds in 2021-2027, and the overall absorption rate, 6.11%, is close to the EU average of 6.19%, the minister of investments and European projects, Adrian Câciu announced. The absorption rate for the structural and cohesion funds under centrally managed programmes is higher, namely 7.3%, Caciu said in a Facebook post. He emphasised that Romania is yet to catch up on Regional Programmes, where the absorption rate is 3.2%, but he voiced confidence that the example set by the current coalition comprising the Social Democrats and the Liberals in terms of management and implementation of European funds, including decentralisation, will be followed by the new government, and the pace of EU fund absorption will be sustained, so as to replicate the success of the 2014-2020 period.

     

    ECONOMY Romania’s trade deficit was EUR 5.5 billion higher in the first 10 months of the year than in the same period in 2023, according to data made public by the National Bank. More than half of this deficit is the result of growing imports of goods. The central bank also says that the total foreign debt went up over EUR 18 billion and exceeded EUR 186 billion. According to analysts, along with the very high budget deficit, these are the main problems of the Romanian economy, and they must be solved concurrently, which is very difficult. They believe that through a correct budget adjustment, expenses would be cut, and revenues could be raised by eliminating corruption and through a fair tax system.

     

    ANNIVERSARY Timişoara marks 35 years since the anti-communist Revolution of December 1989, which broke out in this city in western Romania. Under the motto “35 years of freedom”, events dedicated to the 1989 heroes and celebrating the three and a half decades since Timişoara became the first city free from communism in Romania will take place between December 15 and 20. The agenda includes, as every year, religious services, wreath-laying, exhibitions and film screenings. A concert entitled Requiem in Memoriam is scheduled on Sunday at the Banat Philharmonic, Monday will see the inauguration of the Freedom Portal, a light installation that reproduces sounds from the Revolution, followed by the traditional march “Heroes Never Die”. Tuesday will be a day of mourning, and the events on December 20 will end with a concert called “Rock for revolution”.

     

    IMPEACHMENT South Korea’s prime minister Han Duck-soo Saturday vowed to ensure a stable government after the National Assembly voted to impeach president Yoon Suk-yeol over his failed attempt to introduce martial law on December 3, AFP reports. Tens of thousands of protesters cheered outside the National Assembly building as the vote was announced. Citing difficulties in passing his budget, Yoon Suk-yeol stunned the country by imposing martial law overnight, but was forced to lift it 6 hours later under pressure from parliament and the street. Under investigation for mutiny, Yoon, 63, is banned from leaving the country, as are his former defence and interior ministers and the commander of the short-lived martial law. (AMP)

  • December 5, 2024

    December 5, 2024

    COALITION – The leaders of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR), in addition to the group of national minorities, have agreed to create a coalition meant to ensure stable governance and continue reforms. The coalition seeks to avoid isolating Romania at global level, to uphold a sustainable pace of economic growth and to safeguard the country’s European track, the absorption of EU funds, implement reforms stipulated in the Recovery and Resilience mechanism and ensure Romania’s accession to Schengen and the OECD. The exact structure of the cabinet will be decided after Sunday’s second round of the presidential election.

     

    DOCUMENTS – The Prosecutor General’s office announced it would investigate the documents presented by secret services at the meeting of the country’s Supreme Defense Council, to ascertain whether there is sound legal basis to start a criminal investigation targeting Călin Georgescu, an independent candidate enrolled in the presidential race. According to documents declassified by president Klaus Iohannis, a state actor coordinated the activity of TikTok accounts, which boosted Călin Georgescu’s standing in global trends on TikTok, ahead of the first round of the presidential election. Tens of thousands of Russian cyber-attacks targeted the Permanent Electoral Authority, including on election night, intelligence services say. An independent candidate criticized for his pro-Russian, extremist views, Călin Georgescu will face pro-European candidate Elena Lasconi of USR in the presidential runoff slated for December 8.

     

    CRIME – Anti-crime prosecutors (DIICOT) have arrested a 34-year-old Columbian, suspected of planning various subversive actions. In July, the suspect devised a plan to destroy objectives of national security importance, prosecutors say. The Columbian national was reportedly radicalized by a Russian citizen. Investigators also say that the man had been trained to collect intelligence in his home country, and had taken pictures of the objectives he was planning to attack.

     

    MOLDOVA – The Moldovan government could call a state of emergency in connection to the energy crisis, the line minister Victor Parlicov said, as the Russian provider Gazprom could cut gas supplies. Prime Minister Dorin Recean said he would announce a number of measures meant to ensure energy security on Thursday, adding that gas prices will not go up over the coming months.

     

    FRANCE – Michel Barnier’s Cabinet, sworn in in September at the end of a tough negotiation, has collapsed in the wake of a no-confidence vote called by the opposition in connection to next year’s budget. The far right and the alliance of left-wing parties all voted to oust Barnier. Sources close to Emmanuel Macron say the president will announce a new Prime Minister over the next 24h. The future head of government will need to stabilize financial markets on the short term, to prove France has a leadership, and to vote the state budget for 2025. At the end of Wednesday’s Parliament sitting, the French left-wing alliance persistently called on the president of the Republic to entrust them with forming a government. In turn, the far right warned it would block any and all actions of a leftist cabinet. Given the current structure of the National Assembly, none of the three main political groups can secure absolute majority to form a government by itself.

     

    HANDBALL – Romania tonight takes on France, the Olympic vice-champions, at the European Handball Championship hosted by Austria, Hungary and Switzerland, in its first match in the main group phase. Romania will next play Sweden on Friday and Hungary on Sunday. We recall Romania has taken part 14 times in the European Championship, obtaining a single medal, bronze in 2010. Romania ranked 12th at the previous edition of 2022. (VP)

  • Who are the new leaders of European institutions?

    Who are the new leaders of European institutions?

    Meeting for the second time after the European Parliament election at the start of June, EU leaders decided who will occupy the key positions in EU institutions. Ursula von der Leyen was nominated for the presidency of the Commission, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will take over the presidency of the European Council. The three positions are thus divided between the three political groups that form the majority in the European Parliament – the European People’s Party, Renew and the Social-Democrats. As head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas will also have to tackle the issue of Union security.

     

     

    “This is enormous responsibility in this time of geopolitical tensions. There’s war in Europe, there’s also growing instability globally that are also the main challenges of European foreign policy”.

     

     

    The appointments were agreed on the sidelines of a negotiation meeting held within in a limited framework, attended by six European leaders from the three pro-European political groups, which favor the deepening of European integration and the consolidation of the EU’s prerogatives, something that irritated the head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, who was left out of these talks. Negotiating the positions were German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Polish and Greek Prime Ministers Donald Tusk and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Interim Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Meloni, whose party is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament, said the six negotiators had formed an oligarchy to decide upon the next positions without taking into account will of citizens who voted in the European Parliament election of June 6-9. The election confirmed an increase in voters’ choices for Eurosceptic conservative parties, without, however, overturning the majority formed by the EPP, S&D and Renew. Leaders of EU member states also adopted the strategic agenda of the Union for the next five years, with economic competitiveness, the defense of democratic values, internal reforms for the expansion of the Union and security among the top priorities. The agenda also stipulates budget allocations for defense spending. According to Ursula von der Leyen, the EU needs an additional 500 bln EUR for defense in the next 10 years

     

     

    Ukraine remains another priority, both in terms of EU accession and financial and military assistance. During talks regarding the EU Strategic Agenda, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, said the document must reflect joint commitments to continue efforts towards a stronger, more resilient and more influential EU at global level. (VP)

  • June 23, 2024 UPDATE

    June 23, 2024 UPDATE

    PENTECOST Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians in Romania Sunday celebrated the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus, a feast day also known as the Pentecost and in Romanian as “Rusalii”. The Pentecost is a symbol of the establishment of the Christian Church, 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ and 10 days after Ascension Day. Believers evoke the moment when the Holy Spirit gave the 12 Apostles the gift of speaking many languages to preach to the crowds, and when the first 3,000 people were baptised, thus establishing the first Christian community.

     

    FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu takes part on Monday in the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, focusing on the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the developments in Georgia. The EU foreign ministers will also have an informal exchange of opinions with their counterparts in the Western Balkans, as part of a working luncheon. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, talks on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will focus on the recent developments on site and the support the EU must provide to Ukraine, particularly in the military area. The participants will also discuss new restrictions against Russia and Belarus, the EU-Ukraine security commitments and will assess the Ukraine Peace Summit held in Switzerland on June 15-16.

     

    MOLDOVA The Republic of Moldova’s Sovereignty Day was marked in Romania’s neighbouring country on Sunday. Since it adopted its Sovereignty Declaration on June 23, 1990, Moldova has struggled with difficulties, but it has remained a peaceful and democratic state, in which the Moldovan nation has been sovereign and has decided the fate of the state, the country’s president Maia Sandu pointed out. She added that the citizens will decide whether to join the EU in a referendum scheduled for this autumn. In her address, Sandu also said that the years of independence have taught Moldova democracy and freedom cannot be taken for granted and must be defended every day.

     

    TIFF The winner of this year’s Transylvania International Film Festival is the Indian film “Girls Will Be Girls”, directed by Shuchi Talati, a drama on the condition of women in a repressive system. Another Indian film, “The Adamant Girl,” by Vinothraj Palani, received the jury’s special award. The Indian director was also awarded at TIFF in 2021, for his debut work, “Pebbles”. Also at the TIFF Gala, the director Sebastián Quebrada won the best director award for “El Otro Hijo.” The best actor award went to the Iranian Hasan Pourshirazi, for his performance in “The Old Bachelor”, while “Dismissed” by Horia Cucută and George ve Ganćaard was voted the best feature in the Romanian Film Days.

     

    EU Next week the European Union starts its accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The EU Council’s Belgian presidency announced the official opening will take place on June 25, and that the 2 countries’ accession roadmaps will be assessed separately. The EU Council brings together the 27 Member States, which have already approved the accession and negotiation frameworks for the 2 candidate states. Chişinău and Kyiv submitted their candidacies shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

     

    FOOTBALL Romania lost 2-0 to Belgium, on Saturday night in Cologne, but remains top placed in the most evenly balanced group at the European Football Championship. Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine all have 3 points each ahead of the last round in Group E, with better goal differences for Romania and Belgium. Romania’s decisive match for qualification in the eighth-finals is scheduled on Wednesday against Slovakia, in Frankfurt. Moving up into the next stages of the competition are the top 2 teams in each group and the best 4 third-ranking teams in each group. (AMP)

  • The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine can begin their EU accession negotiations

    The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine can begin their EU accession negotiations

    The European Commission has announced that Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova have met the right conditions to be able to start negotiations to join the bloc. According to Brussels, Ukraine has made the last amendments to the laws regulating lobbying activities, as well as in the field of minorities, while the Republic of Moldova has operated changes to its legal system. In both cases, the Commission will be monitoring the implementation of the aforementioned amendments, but the steps taken by the two countries will allow them to kick off the negotiations for EU accession.

    The first stage after this moment is for the community countries to endorse the Commission’s recommendation in the European Council. Kyiv submitted its EU-entry application in February 2022 after the conflict it had with Russia in the east for several years, was followed by a large-scale invasion of the latter’s troops. A month later, the Republic of Moldova – whose pro-Russia breakaway region of Transdniester had also caused a lot of concern after the war in early 90s – asked to join the European Union.

    European leaders officially recognized Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova as accession candidates in June last year. The next stage, after the EU members have approved the Commission’s recommendation, will be the setting up of an inter-governmental conference with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, a moment, which is actually the beginning of the negotiations aimed at bringing their entire legislations in line with the European one.

    These negotiations will end with the accession per se. The Council’s presidency is being currently held by Belgium, a country, which wants to summon the first inter-governmental conference during its mandate, namely by the end of this month.

    After Belgium, the EU rotating presidency will be taken over by Hungary, a country, which has repeatedly questioned the opportunity of EU enlargement.

    On Thursday at the meeting with the EU ambassadors accredited to Bucharest, occasioned by the conclusion of the Belgian presidency, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis highlighted the ‘significant reform efforts’ accomplished by both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova under extremely difficult circumstances.

    He pleaded for the continuation of the accession process of these two countries and for summoning intergovernmental conferences by the end of the Belgian presidency. The Romanian president has repeatedly mentioned Romania’s support for the two countries during their European integration process.

    Furthermore, press agencies announced as early as Wednesday that a group of eleven out of the 27 EU members have called on the Belgian presidency to endorse the negotiation frameworks for the EU accession of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova so that the inter-governmental conference with the two may be summoned late this month.

    Opening accession negotiations would offer additional motivation to both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, the eleven signatories, Romania included, of the ‘Joint Letter on EU Accession have said.

    (bill)

  • May 3, 2024

    May 3, 2024

     

    EASTER        Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians mark Great and Holy Friday, when they commemorate the Crucifixion and burial of Christ. Tonight believers attend the Vespers of the Taking-Down from the Cross, when an epitaphios is carried in procession to a low table in the church nave which represents the Tomb of Christ, with the epitaphios itself representing the body of Jesus wrapped in a burial shroud. The holy light from Jerusalem is to be brought to Romania on Saturday night and distributed to all parishes. The light is believed to be an Orthodox miracle, taking place every year on Holy Saturday in Jerusalem, at the end of Holy Week, a period of prayer when the faithful revisit the events of the last day in the life of Jesus Christ.

     

    GAZA Negotiations continue for a ceasefire and a new prisoner exchange in Gaza. The talks take place amid threats that Israel would strike the border town of Rafah, where the last Hamas units are located. But Rafah also hosts half of the population of the Gaza Strip, and the international community has warned that a land offensive there would cause a humanitarian disaster. A high-level UN official said the funds for the reconstruction of war-hit Gaza may reach as much as USD 40 bln. The UN Assistant Secretary-General Abdallah al-Dardari told a press conference that the scope of the destruction is unprecedented. Meanwhile, Gaza-related protests carry on in universities in the US. The police cleared a pro-Palestinian protest camp at UCLA in Los Angeles, with at least 200 people arrested. In Washington, president Joe Biden said that while he would always uphold the right to free speech, order must prevail.

     

    FARMERS The European Commission has extended the temporary framework enabling member states to provide state aid more easily to the farmers affected by the impact of the war in Ukraine. The mechanism was introduced in March 2022, after Russia attacked Ukraine, which triggered skyrocketing energy and fertilizer costs. The temporary crisis framework allowed member states to earmark up to EUR 280,000 in aid to affected farms until June 2024, and up to EUR 335,000 to fishery and aquaculture enterprises, as a derogation from the EU’s strict state aid rules. The agriculture ministers in 15 member countries also demanded an increase from EUR 20,000 to EUR 50,000 of the ceiling for the aid granted to an enterprise without consulting Brussels, but the request was dismissed.

     

    DISTINCTION Romanians have received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Second of May from the Community of Madrid, for their integration and for representing a cultural and economic asset for the region. “Apart from being hard-working, Romanians with their effort and courage help us create jobs and opportunities for others,” said the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuos. “The Romanian community in Madrid is not only the largest foreign community here, but also the one that contributes the most to the social and economic development of the local society,” the charge d’affaires with the Romanian embassy in Madrid, Raluca Mihăilă, said in turn. More than one million Romanians are currently living in Spain.

     

    SPORTS Romania came out 4th at the qualifiers for the European artistic gymnastics championships in Rimini (Italy), with Sabrina Voinea ranking 4th at the all-around event. Romania’s team, comprising Sabrina Voinea, Ana Maria Bărbosu, Lilia Cosman, and Amalia Ghigoarţă, was outperformed by Italy, the UK and France. On Sunday the Romanians take part in 4 apparatus finals—Ana Bărbosu in the vault final, Lilia Cosman in the beam final and Sabrina Voinea in the beam and floor finals. Maria Ceplinschi did not attend the qualifiers for health-related reasons. (AMP)

  • Negotiations for EU enlargement

    Negotiations for EU enlargement


    On Wednesday the European Commission recommended the launch of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the granting of candidate status to Georgia, once the latter meets certain conditions.



    The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said this enlargement of the bloc was “the call of history.” “Completing our Union also has a strong economic and geopolitical logic. Past enlargements have shown the enormous benefits both for the accession countries and the EU. We all win,” Ursula von der Leyen pointed out.



    In turn, the president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola voiced her satisfaction with these countries being on the right path towards opening accession negotiations. The Commissions recommendation must next be approved by the 27 members at the EU Summit of December 14-15.



    In the meantime, the countries will have to implement some key measures in this respect. As far as Chișinău is concerned, these conditions concern fighting corruption and improving financial regulations. Moldova has made the best progress of the countries that wish to join the European Union, the Commission says, but out of the 9 steps towards launching accession negotiations, the justice reform, fight against corruption and de-oligarchisation still remain unfulfilled. The Commission mentions the length of judicial proceedings, low clearance rates and the large backlog of cases. Also, there has been no significant progress in the prosecution of high-profile corruption cases.



    This is why the Commission urged Chișinău to ensure a transparent and merit-based process for appointments to the main judicial and prosecutorial governance bodies, including for the appointment of a Prosecutor General, and ensure that anti-corruption institutions are functioning within a clear organisational structure and with adequate resources.



    The president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, hailed the Commissions decision to open accession negotiations. “Moldova is firmly on the path for EU membership and we will continue working relentlessly towards this goal,ˮ Maia Sandu said.



    As for Ukraine, the Commission recommends that negotiations be opened once Kyiv meets the remaining conditions concerning the fight against corruption, the regulation of lobby activities and strengthening minority protection standards. The recommendation is a major milestone on Kyivs path towards European integration, and a strategic move for the European bloc, given that Ukraine has been struggling with Russias military invasion since February 2022. The European Commission finds that the country has proved to be capable of progress in harmonising its laws with the EU legislation, even in times of war. (AMP)


  • The priorities of the second parliamentary session

    The priorities of the second parliamentary session

    The Romanian Senate and Chamber of Deputies on Monday began the second ordinary parliamentary session of the year. According to the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, the priorities include, besides the government’s taking responsibility before Parliament for a legislative package aimed at fiscal changes and administrative reform, a new pension law and tougher punishments for drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs:



    Marcel Ciolacu: “We know that there are many inequities in the old pension law. We continue to have in Romania pensions of 1,500 lei (almost 300 Euros), and also of 30-40,000 lei (that is 6 – 8,000 Euros). I have also discussed with my colleagues about the package that will be included in a single law, the law on assuming responsibility, which includes measures for combating evasion, for reforms in the local administration, as well as measures to accommodate a smaller deficit than last year”.



    Moreover, the Prime Minister tried, the other day, in Brussels, to convince the European Commission of the capacity of the Romanian government to respect a new budget deficit target this year, higher as compared to the one assumed by Romania, of 4.4%, to cover the aid that Bucharest granted to neighboring Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNNRand special pensions were also at the center of recent negotiations. The governing partners of the Social Democrats, the Liberals, announced that a new pension law, which would solve the inequities in the system, represents a priority. For the moment, however, the document regarding the reform of special pensions has been declared partially unconstitutional by the judges of the Constitutional Court of Romania, even if the changes made to special pensions represent a requirement under the PNRR.



    On the other hand, the opposition announces a censure motion if the package of fiscal-budgetary measures is adopted by the government’s taking responsibility for it before Parliament. The Save Romania Union leader, Cătălin Drulă, believes that an increase in fees and taxes is not a viable solution.



    Cătălin Drulă: “Ciolacu is preparing to bury Romanias economy! He has already slowed economic growth, businesses are complaining, there are no more orders, sales are decreasing and they want to increase taxes and drive investors away from Romania. Why? To pay the bill for the budget fraud”.



    However, Marcel Ciolacu gave assurances in Brussels that Romania is a credible and responsible and above all a fair partner, both of the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament. The Romanian government experts continue to discuss with European officials about the renegotiation of the PNRR, taking into account the principles established by the prime minister at the meetings he had in Brussels. After the European Commission sees the reforms that the government is making, it will propose to the European Council a renegotiation of the value of the budget deficit, which will allow Bucharest to obtain a higher deficit. A decision on the new percentage could be made by the end of the year. (LS)

  • August 9, 2023

    August 9, 2023

    Coalition – The Liberal leader, Nicolae Ciucă, rules out the possibility of breaking the governing coalition or triggering early elections. He says that together with the social democrats, solutions will be found so that the tax reform should not involve new taxes for companies. The clarifications come after new discussions with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu about the reforms prepared by the government through an emergency ordinance in the administration and fiscal domains. The Prime Minister, leader of the Social Democratic Party – PSD, said that these discussions are taking place with his mandate on the table, and he will not hesitate to resign if the Liberal Party withdraws its support for this package of measures aimed at maintaining the budget deficit within the limits agreed upon with the European experts. New consultations between the coalition partners are announced for these days. The draft emergency ordinance regarding the elimination of some fiscal facilities and the modification of some taxes is still under debate. The measures aim, among others, at increasing taxes for small and medium-sized enterprises, changing the VAT or taxing the salaries of programmers who exceed a monthly income of 10,000 lei (approx. 2,000 Euros). The goal is to increase revenues to the state budget and comply with the commitments assumed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The representatives of IT companies criticize the proposed fiscal measures and claim that they would seriously affect this field. They state that some companies are already analyzing the possibility of moving their businesses to nearby countries.



    BNR – The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has revised upward the inflation forecast for the end of this year to 7.5% and to 4.4% for the end of 2024, according to the data presented on Wednesday by the governor of the BNR, Mugur Isărescu. The Central Bank estimated, in May 2023, an inflation rate of 7.1% for the end of 2023. Mugur Isărescu pointed out that only some increased taxes lead to an increase in inflation, namely the direct taxes on consumption, the excise taxes and VAT taxes. Ample uncertainties are mentioned regarding the projected trajectory in the context of the likely adoption of some fiscal correction measures to boost budget revenues, which are likely to have a direct impact on inflation, such as increases in indirect taxes — the VAT and excises.



    Statistics – The trade balance deficit in the first half of this year was 13.3 billion Euros, lower by 2.1 billion Euros (-13.9%) than the one recorded between January 1 and June 30, 2022, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) announced today. In the first six months of this year, exports totaled 47.4 billion Euros, recording an advance of 5.9%, and imports totaled 60.7 billion Euros, increasing by 0.8% compared to the same period of 2022. According to the INS, between January 1 and June 30, 2023, machinery and transport equipment (45.1% for export and 36.3% for import) and other products manufactured goods (30.2% for export and 28.8% for import) held important shares in the structure of exports and imports.



    Night of the Museums – The Night of Museums in the Villages, a new Romanian national cultural event, will take place, for the first time, this year, on September 2, with Radio Romania Regional being a partner of the event. The number of institutions participating in this first edition has so far reached 79, from 27 counties. The registration session is open until August 15, and the goal of the organizers is to reach 100 institutions. On the occasion of this first edition of the Night of Museums in the Villages, the National Network of Museums in Romania will launch a national support campaign for the development of educational programs for children and young people from rural communities, by exploiting the collections and cultural heritage they own.



    August 10 – The General Prosecutors Office of Romania has announced that it has taken legal action against the former leadership of the Gendarmerie for the way in which they coordinated the law enforcement’s intervention at the anti-government rally of the diaspora on August 10, 2018, in Bucharest. The former leadership is mainly accused of abuse of office and abusive behavior. The prosecutors specify that the gendarmes acted not only against the people who demonstrated violently, but also against the peaceful demonstrators who represented the vast majority of the protesters. More than 300 participants in the protest are demanding moral and material damages in this case. (LS)

  • Higher pensions in Romania

    Higher pensions in Romania

    The parties in the governing coalition in Romania have had long and difficult negotiations on the topic of the percentage by which pensions should be increased, a percentage practically dissolved, in the last year, by a galloping inflation rate, which exceeded 15%. The Social Democratic Party – PSD, number one in the governing coalition, would have pleaded for a differentiated increase, which was to mainly benefit people with small and medium pensions, that actually represent the majority. For their part, the Liberals (PNL) have constantly pleaded in favor of a flat percentage, which would eliminate the possibility of attacking the decision on grounds of discrimination.



    Finally, PSD, PNL and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania – UDMR announced, on Monday evening, that contributory pensions will increase by 12.5% ​​from January 1. The percentage is valid for all pensioners, regardless of the amount of their pension, but those with low incomes will, in addition, receive an aid from the state, which will be granted next year, in two installments. From January 1 next year, the pension point will be 1,784 lei, a little over 360 Euros. Senior citizens with pensions under 3,000 lei will benefit from additional aid, differentiated according to the amount of the pension. Also, people who have pensions lower than 1,700 lei will receive special vouchers of 250 lei next year, once every two months, throughout the year. The government will also grant support of 1,400 lei for the payment of energy bills, for retirees over 60 who have pensions of less than 2,000 lei.



    State child benefits will be linked with the rate of inflation, disabled people will receive a 13th allowance, and veterans and war widows will have their allowances linked with the rate of inflation. The period we are going through is marked by multiple crises worldwide, and we must mitigate the effects generated by high inflation. That’s why the Liberals firmly opposed increases of less than 15% and obtained in negotiations total increases that exceed 15.8%, the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă explained. According to the Social-Democratic leader, Marcel Ciolacu, the PSD thought that each category should be helped differently, and that the support from the state should go to a higher extent to those who feel the full effects of the economic crisis.



    Today, 91% of pensioners across Romania have pensions below 3,000 lei and it is our moral duty to index-link their incomes or, when we have the opportunity, to increase their incomes even more, said the deputy prime minister and leader of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor. From the opposition, the USR leader, Cătălin Drulă, claims that the 12.5% ​​increase in pensions does not even cover the 15% inflation rate. On the other hand, Drulă accuses that neither PSD nor PNL want to eliminate the special pensions of the parliamentarians, and from January 1, the mayors will receive additional special pensions. The reform of special non-contributory pensions which are several times higher than the ordinary pensions, is assumed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan but it has not been implemented yet. (LS)

  • December 26, 2021 UPDATE

    December 26, 2021 UPDATE

    CHRISTMAS New Style Orthodox Christians, and Greek and Roman Catholic Christians
    around the world Sunday celebrated the second day of Christmas. In Eastern
    Christianity, this day is devoted to Mary, mother of God. In his Nativity
    service on the 25th December, Daniel, Patriarch of Romania spoke about the
    meaning of the gifts presented by the 3 kings to the new-born Jesus.At the Vatican, Pope Francis warned that the world is growing so insensitive
    to crises and suffering that these now go unnoticed. Old Style Orthodox believers in Russia, Ukraine,
    Serbia, and Georgia celebrate Christmas on 7th January.


    COVID-19 As many as 349 new SARS-CoV-2 infection cases have been reported
    for the past 24 hours, along with 15 related fatalities, the Strategic
    Communication Group announced on Sunday. Some 450 patients are in intensive
    care, over 90% of them being unvaccinated. One year since the start of the Covid vaccine roll-out in Romania,
    nearly 7.8 million Romanians are fully vaccinated, and around 2 million also
    have the booster dose. This indicates that interest in vaccination has not been
    high, except for a few brief periods of enthusiasm or fear triggered by the
    pandemic’s successive waves.


    EXPENSES The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis travelled abroad 16
    times this year, with expenses totalling over 1.5 million euros, according to
    the Presidency’s response to a question sent by AGERPRES news agency. The
    President’s office also announced that by 14 December, 971 decorations were
    awarded by the President, and 2 of them were returned by their recipients.


    STRATEGY The EU has a new
    strategy in place to compete with China – Global Getaway is a response to China’s
    2013 New Silk Roads, under which investments of 140 billion euros have been
    made so far. With the new instrument, the EU seeks to consolidate the digital
    sector, transports and the healthcare, education and research systems around the
    world. The investments planned until 2027 amount to 300 billion euro. The EU is also
    considering the option of introducing a European export credit mechanism to
    help ensure fairer competition conditions for EU
    companies in 3rd markets.


    UKRAINE Germany and Russia have agreed on a
    meeting in early January, between the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s foreign
    and security policy adviser Jens Ploetner, and Kremlin’s negotiator for Ukraine,
    Dmitry Kozak, as part of the efforts to settle the Russian-Western crisis over
    the Ukrainian border, AFP reports. For over a month now, Western countries have
    been accusing Russia of deploying more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian
    border for a possible military intervention, and have repeatedly warned Kremlin
    on this topic. Russia claims its military is not a threat to anybody and
    demands security guarantees from the West, especially with respect to NATO’s
    eastwards enlargement.



    SPORTS Romania’s men’s handball
    team is taking part as of Monday in a new edition of the traditional Carpați
    Trophy, hosted by the city of Cluj-Napoca (north-west). In the opening match,
    Romania plays against Turkey. On Tuesday Turkey take on Iran, and on Wednesday
    Iran plays against Romania. Originally chosen as the 4th participant,
    Switzerland eventually declined the invitation over several COVID-19 cases
    found amid its players. After this training tournament, Romanian handballers
    are playing in Cluj on 7-9 January in the World Championship qualifiers,
    against the national teams of Israel, Cyprus and
    the Republic of Moldova. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • December 26, 2021

    December 26, 2021

    CHRISTMAS New Style Orthodox Christians, and Greek and Roman Catholic Christians
    around the world today celebrate the second day of Christmas. In Eastern
    Christianity, this day is devoted to Mary, mother of God. In his Nativity
    service on the 25th December, Daniel, Patriarch of Romania spoke about the
    meaning of the gifts presented by the 3 kings to the newborn Jesus: the gold
    means our belief, the incense is a symbol of prayer and the myrrh symbolises a
    clean life. At the Vatican, Pope Francis warned
    that the world is growing so insensitive to crises and suffering that these now
    go unnoticed. Pope Francis, who also called for the Covid vaccine to be made
    available in poorer countries as well, said the pandemic undermines the
    efforts to settle international conflicts. Old Style Orthodox believers in Russia, Ukraine,
    Serbia, and Georgia celebrate Christmas on 7th January.


    COVID-19 One year since the start of the Covid vaccine roll-out in Romania,
    nearly 7.8 million Romanians are fully vaccinated, and around 2 million also
    have the booster dose. This indicates that interest in vaccination has not been
    high, except for a few brief periods of enthusiasm or fear triggered by the
    pandemic’s successive waves. As many as 349 new SARS-CoV-2 infection cases have
    been reported for the past 24 hours, along with 15 related fatalities, the
    Strategic Communication Group announced on Sunday. Some 450 patients are in
    intensive care, over 90% of them being unvaccinated.


    STRATEGY The EU has a new
    strategy in place to compete with China-Global Getaway is a response to China’s
    2013 New Silk Roads, under which investments of 140 billion euros have been
    made so far. With the new instrument, the EU seeks to consolidate the digital
    sector, transports and the healthcare, education and research systems around
    the world. The investments planned until 2027 amount to 300 billion euro. The EU is also
    considering the option of introducing a European export credit mechanism to
    help ensure fairer competition conditions for EU
    companies in 3rd markets. At present, 165 countries have debts of at
    least 385 billion US dollars to China for projects under the New Silk Roads
    initiative, while 42 small and medium revenue countries have debts to China in
    excess of 10% of their GDP.


    UKRAINE Germany and Russia have agreed to
    hold a meeting in early January, as part of the efforts to settle the
    Russian-Western crisis over the Ukrainian border, German governmental sources
    quoted by AFP said. The meeting will be held by the German Chancellor Olaf
    Scholz’s foreign and security policy adviser Jens Ploetner, and Kremlin’s
    negotiator for Ukraine, Dmitry Kozak. For over a month now, Western Europe has
    been accusing Russia of deploying more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian
    border for a possible military intervention, and has repeatedly warned Kremlin
    on this topic. Russia claims its military is not a threat to anybody and
    demands security guarantees from the West, especially with respect to NATO’s
    eastwards enlargement. (tr. A.M. Popescu)