Radio România Internațional

Tag: order

December 30, 2024 UPDATE

GOVERNMENT On Monday, during its last meeting this year, the government of Romania passed an emergency order cutting down public sector spending in 2025. The bill agreed on by the leaders of the ruling coalition (comprising the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania) includes measures such as suspending public sector employment or freezing pensions and salaries of public sector employees at the 2024 level. In addition, overtime will no longer be paid and no bonuses or premiums will be granted. The government claims that these measures are aimed at reducing public spending by almost EUR 4 billion, i.e. 1% of GDP. To this end, the Cabinet has set up a department made up of experts working pro bono to increase the efficiency of the government’s work. The state budget law for next year will be passed by the government in January and sent to Parliament for endorsement in a special session.

PROTESTS Penitentiary police Monday picketed the Government headquarters in Bucharest, protesting the measures to reduce public expenses. They claim they would lose up to 30% of their salaries because of the enforcement of the new provisions. Also on Monday, several trade union and employer organisations in Romania issued statements criticising the measures designed to cut expenditure in the public system. Trade unions in the education sector are against the salary freeze, while the largest trade union federation in public administration and social assistance, Columna, complains that the order had been drafted without social dialogue. The energy sector employers federation also cites the lack of consultations, criticising the introduction of a tax on special constructions. The Romalimenta Employers’ Federation warns that the food industry is receiving another blow with the cancellation of tax facilities benefitting employees in the sector. In turn, representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises say that lowering the tax threshold for SMEs and increasing the tax on dividend will have catastrophic effects for Romanian entrepreneurs. The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania also voiced concerns about the fiscal measures adopted by the Government, which, it believes, put the business environment in a difficult situation and further affect economic predictability and investor confidence.

PRICE HIKES Romanians will be paying more for petrol and diesel as of January 1, due to a 6% rise in the fuel excises, according to a document released recently by the Finance Ministry. A litre of petrol will cost 3 Eurocents more, and diesel will have almost the same price. Excises on alcohol beverages will also grow by 4.4% as of January 1. Local taxes and duties will be adjusted to the inflation rate, but the decision in this respect is going to be made by city halls. The Bucharest General Council has decided to raise these taxes by 10.4%.

UNEMPLOYMENT The unemployment rate in Romania was 3.28% at the end of November 2024, with the total number of unemployed people reaching 261,511, the National Employment Agency announced. At the end of October, the national unemployment rate was 3.20%. Unemployment in rural areas is almost 3 times higher than in cities. The 40-49 age bracket and men have the highest share among the unemployed. Middle school graduates account for 33.56% of the total registered number of unemployed people, while those with university degrees only account for 4.56%.

BORDERS The Romanian Border Police is ready to join the Schengen area with land borders as of January 1, 2025, when border controls will be eliminated at 40 road, rail and port checkpoints. According to a statement issued by the Border Police General Inspectorate, as of next year travelling to and from other Schengen member states will be similar to a trip within the country. However, people who intend to travel to the territory of another Schengen state must have a valid travel document, namely a passport or identity card, because Romanian border police will carry out random checks, the statement also reads.

DIPLOMACY Romania’s foreign ministry Sunday night said that on December 18 the Romanian ambassador to NATO conveyed Romania’s disapproval over the distribution of a geographic atlas comprising maps featuring the so-called, ‘greater Hungary’. “The atlas is of an inflammatory nature with respect to the strategic partnership between Romania and Hungary and their capacity as NATO allies. The foreign ministry in Bucharest reiterates the view it has consistently conveyed to the Hungarian authorities, that any provoking statement and gesture is not likely to help consolidate the partnership relations between Romania and Hungary. The shared history must remain a subject for historians to study,” Bucharest says. Dismantled at the end of World War I, the so-called ‘greater Hungary’ included territories occupied by Budapest, which today belong to Romania, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia. (AMP)

30 December 2024
December 29, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

ORDER – The Bucharest government on Monday, in their last meeting this year, will pass an emergency order that provides for the reduction of public sector spending in 2025. The project, agreed on by the leaders of the PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition, includes measures such as suspending state employment or freezing pensions and salaries for the public sector employees at the level of 2024. Moreover, extra-hours will no longer be paid and no bonuses or premiums will be granted. According to the draft order made public by the Ministry of Finance, the measures provided for in this ordinance will have a financial impact of about 26.6 billion euros next year. In 2025, budget revenues will increase by over 1.4 billion euros, and budget expenditure will decrease by about 25.2 billion euros.The unions criticized the provisions of the document and warned that protests will follow. As for the State Budget Law for next year, it is to be adopted by the government in January and sent to Parliament for adoption.

CRASH – South Korea is observing seven days of national mourning after a Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people crashed while landing at Muan Airport, south of the capital Seoul. According to the latest data, there were only two survivors. It is the deadliest plane crash ever to occur in South Korea. The accident appears to have been caused by “bird strike, which led to a malfunction of the landing gear,” South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

SURVEY – More than half of Romanians say that 2024 has been, from an economic viewpoint, worse than the previous year for their country, according to an IRES survey. The war in Ukraine, the political crisis and the rising prices have been the main concerns in 2024. One in four Romanians is unhappy with the way they currently live, and a similar number say that they did not have a single reason for joy in 2024. The data also shows that politicians continue to be last in the ranking of categories that Romanians trust. Asked which event they think has had the most negative affect on Romania in 2024, more than 4 in 10 Romanians indicate the cancellation of the first round of the presidential elections, by the decision of the Constitutional Court. Over 60% believe that this decision was bad, while a third say it was good.

ELECTIONS – The presidential elections in Romania could take place on March 23, 2025, the first round, and on April 6, the second round, according to the Bucharest media that cites political sources with the PSD-PNL-UDMR government coalition. Held on November 24, 2024, the first round was invalidated by the Constitutional Court (CCR), which, based on documents provided by the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT), grounded their ruling on the interference of an unnamed state. The second round, scheduled for December 8, was to be contested by the independent nationalist Călin Georgescu, accused of connections with Putin’s Russia, and by the leader of the USR (in opposition), Elena Lasconi. In the Diaspora, where the polling stations for the second round opened on December 6, tens of thousands of Romanians had already voted by the time the Court decided to invalidate the first round.

TRAFFIC – Over 183,600 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, have crossed the borders of Romania in the last 24 hours, the border police have announced. As of January 1, 2025, when Romania joins the Schengen free movement area with land borders, 33 border crossing points with Hungary and Bulgaria, as well as from the Black Sea and the maritime Danube, will be permanently closed. These are 17 road and railway crossing points located on Romania’s western border with Hungary and 14 road points, including ferry crossings, railway and port points on the southern border with Bulgaria and two port crossing points in Brăila and Cernavodă. As of January 2025, there will no longer be checks at the borders with Hungary and Bulgaria at the crossing points. Such checks will be carried out only randomly, based on risk analysis.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian is in the main draw of the tournament in Auckland (New Zealand), which kicks off on Monday. The Romanian (26 years old, 85 WTA) will play in the first round against Ukrainian Iulia Starodubteva (24 years old, 101 WTA), a first-time meeting. We remind you that, on Saturday, Romanians Anca Todoni and Ana Bogdan qualified for the main draw of the WTA tournament in Brisbane, Australia.

29 December 2024
December 29, 2024

A roundup of local and international news.

SURVEY – More than half of Romanians say that 2024 has been, from an economic viewpoint, worse than the previous year for their country, according to an IRES survey. The war in Ukraine, the political crisis and the rising prices have been the main concerns in 2024. One in four Romanians is unhappy with the way they currently live, and a similar number say that they did not have a single reason for joy in 2024. The data also shows that politicians continue to be last in the ranking of categories that Romanians trust. Asked which event they think has had the most negative affect on Romania in 2024, more than 4 in 10 Romanians indicate the cancellation of the first round of the presidential elections, by the decision of the Constitutional Court. Over 60% believe that this decision was bad, while a third say it was good.

ELECTIONS – The presidential elections in Romania could take place on March 23, 2025, the first round, and on April 6, the second round, according to the Bucharest media that cites political sources with the PSD-PNL-UDMR government coalition. Held on November 24, 2024, the first round was invalidated by the Constitutional Court (CCR), which, based on documents provided by the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT), grounded their ruling on the interference of an unnamed state. The second round, scheduled for December 8, was to be contested by the independent nationalist Călin Georgescu, accused of connections with Putin’s Russia, and by the leader of the USR (in opposition), Elena Lasconi. In the Diaspora, where the polling stations for the second round opened on December 6, tens of thousands of Romanians had already voted by the time the Court decided to invalidate the first round. The costs of the invalidated elections would be nearly 1.4 billion lei (280 million euros). On December 21, the second and final five-year presidential term granted to the incumbent President, Klaus Iohannis, was due to expire, but his mandate was extended until the election of a new president, to be validated by the Constitutional Court.

ORDER – The Bucharest government on Monday, in their last meeting this year, will pass an emergency order that provides for the reduction of public sector spending in 2025. The project, agreed on by the leaders of the PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition, includes measures such as suspending state employment or freezing pensions and salaries for the public sector employees at the level of 2024. Moreover, extra-hours will no longer be paid and no bonuses or premiums will be granted. The government claims that, with these measures, they want to reduce budget spending by 19 billion lei or 1% of the GDP, but not to give up on improving people’s lives and investments. The unions criticized the provisions of the document and warned that protests will follow. As for the State Budget Law for next year, it is to be adopted by the government in January and sent to Parliament for adoption.

TRAFFIC – Over 183,600 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, have crossed the borders of Romania in the last 24 hours, the border police have announced. As of January 1, 2025, when Romania joins the Schengen free movement area with land borders, 33 border crossing points with Hungary and Bulgaria, as well as from the Black Sea and the maritime Danube, will be permanently closed. These are 17 road and railway crossing points located on Romania’s western border with Hungary and 14 road points, including ferry crossings, railway and port points on the southern border with Bulgaria and two port crossing points in Brăila and Cernavodă. As of January 2025, there will no longer be checks at the borders with Hungary and Bulgaria at the crossing points. Such checks will be carried out only randomly, based on risk analysis.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian is in the main draw of the tournament in Auckland (New Zealand), which kicks off on Monday. The Romanian (26 years old, 85 WTA) will play in the first round against Ukrainian Iulia Starodubteva (24 years old, 101 WTA), a first-time meeting. We remind you that, on Saturday, Romanians Anca Todoni and Ana Bogdan qualified for the main draw of the WTA tournament in Brisbane, Australia. Ana Bogdan faced Colombian Emiliana Arango in the decisive match, whom she defeated 6-2, 6-4, and will debut in Brisbane against Russian Anastasia Potapova. Anca Todoni won the match against Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, 6-2, 6-3, and will be up against Cristina Bucsa of Spain.

PLANE CRASH – At least 177 people died on Sunday after a Jeju Air plane crashed while landing in Muan, South Korea. Likely caused by a collision with a flock of birds, this is an unprecedented aviation disaster in the Far East country. It is also the first fatal accident in the history of Jeju Air, one of the biggest low-cost airlines. According to the authorities in Seoul, quoted by international press agencies, the airport control tower warned the crew about the risk of a collision with birds. The plane hit a wall at the end of the runway and was immediately engulfed by flames.

29 December 2024
June 30, 2023

PRICES The government of Romania is discussing today an emergency
order introducing temporary measures to curb the excessive rise of foodstuff
prices. Under the new regulation, food processors may charge a maximum 20%
mark-up on production costs. The combined mark-up throughout the distribution
chain, regardless of the number of distributors, may not exceed 5%, while
retailers may charge an additional maximum 20% on purchase prices plus
overheads and direct expenses. The emergency order will be valid for 90 days
after endorsement.

EU Europe’s relations with China
are on the agenda of Friday’s talks at the European Council meeting in Brussels.
Some member states believe the West relies too much on an undemocratic country
that has close ties with Russia. The invasion of Ukraine highlighted the West’s
dependence on Russian oil and gas, and there are concerns that a similar
mistake is being made with respect to China, the source of many consumer goods,
the BBC notes. On Thursday, the first day of the Council meeting, the situation
in Ukraine and Russia was in the focus on the talks. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, EU leaders have undertaken
to help Ukraine in the long run to defend itself against Russia’s military
aggression. The meeting was also attended by the NATO secretary general Jens
Stoltenberg, with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr
Zelenskyy joining in via video link. The
president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said both the EU and NATO must provide
proportional support to the R. of Moldova as well, which is waiting to take the
next step towards European integration. As regards the transit of Ukrainian
grain, which has affected Romanian farmers, the president says Romania may
provide an answer to Kyiv’s request for more intensive use of the Danube as a
transit option.

SALARIES Teaching staff in the Romanian public
undergraduate education sector will receive more benefits under the new
collective bargaining agreement signed on Thursday. The announcement was made
by the education minister, Ligia Deca. On the other hand, Sanitas trade union
announced they have secured pay raises for public healthcare staff.

PENSIONS The Constitutional Court of Romania will discuss on 26 July
a notification filed by the High Court of Cassation and Justice against the
scrapping of special pensions and the law prohibiting the payment of both
public sector salaries and pensions to the same person at the same time. Both
bills were passed on Wednesday in Parliament and are being checked for
compliance with the Constitution, before being sent for promulgation by
president Klaus Iohannis. Supreme Court judges decided to notify the
Constitutional Court with respect to the two bills, which they claim violates
several of their rights.

SUPPORT The PM of Spain Pedro Sanchez travels to Kyiv on Saturday to
reiterate the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, on the first day of Spain’s
rotating presidency of the EU Council, 1 July. The announcement was made by the
president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine is an EU candidate country
and is hoping to open accession negotiations at the end of this year.

EUROPEAN GAMES Romania is placed 13th in the nations
ranking at the European Games in Krakow-Malopolska (Poland), 9 days into the
competition. Romanian athletes have so far won 14 medals (5 gold, 4 silver and
5 bronze). Cyclist Vlad Dascălu in the mountain bike event, athlete Claudia
Bobocea in the 1,500m race, Bernadette Szocs in the table tennis final, as well
as Kinga Barabasi and Apor Gyorgydeak in teqball are Romania’s gold medallists.
Silver medals went to athletes Bianca Ghelber in the hammer throw event and
Daniela Stanciu in the high jump, to rower Cătălin Chirilă in the 500m canoe
race and to Ilinca Pantiş in the saber event. Ştefan Comănescu in the 67 kg kumite,
Andrea Miklos in the 400 m race, Mălina Călugăreanu in the foil event, Ovidiu
Ionescu/Bernadette Szocs in the mixed doubles and Elizabeta Samara in the women’s
table tennis competitions, respectively, won bronze medals. Romania takes part
in this year’s edition of the European Games with 150 athletes in 18 sports. (AMP)

30 June 2023
May 12, 2023 UPDATE

GOVERNMENT The Government of Romania passed an emergency
order on rebalancing the state budget, in a special meeting on Friday, the
finance minister Adrian Câciu announced. He outlined the key measures in the plan, including a 10% reduction on
expenditure with products and services, except for expenses in public
healthcare and education, and a ban on procuring, leasing and rentals of automobiles
and office equipment in public institutions. One exception is the car scrapping
programme for the public authorities purchasing non-polluting vehicles. The
programme is designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport
sector, by encouraging the use of eco-friendly vehicles. The
finance minister also announced that the number of advisers to officials in
central administration structures, currently standing at around 900, will be
reduced by one-half following the implementation of the emergency order aimed
at making public spending more efficient.

INFLATION In Romania,
the year-on-year inflation rate dropped significantly in April, to 11.23% compared
to nearly 15% in March. While this does not mean that products and services are
growing cheaper, the rise in prices has nonetheless slowed down. According to
data released by the National Statistics Institute on Friday, there are
products that were more affordable in April than in March, including sunflower
oil. Also on Friday, the National Bank confirmed that this downward trend in
consumer price increase will continue. But the central bank governor Mugur
Isărescu also warned those who have or are planning to take out loans in
foreign currencies, and said that interest rates for the euro and US dollar
will increase further. The National Bank forecasts a 7.1% inflation rate for
the end of this year, as against 7% announced previously, and a 4.2% rate for
the end of next year. Mugur Isărescu added that prices for fruit and vegetables
will likely continue to go up for another 2 months, as the yield will be
affected by the weather conditions in Europe, the drought in Spain and the
aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey.

ENERGY The Polytechnic University in Bucharest officially launched
the first NuScale Energy Exploration (E2) Centre outside the United States on
Friday. The centre hosts a simulator of the NuScale Power’s VOYGR™ small
modular reactor (SMR) power plant control room, and will educate and train the
next generation of nuclear engineers to operate advanced civil nuclear reactor
technologies while establishing Romania as a regional educational and training
hub for the next stage of civil nuclear deployments across Romania and Europe,
reads a news release issued by the US Embassy in Bucharest.

MUSEUMS
The National Network of Romanian Museums has announced an absolute record
number of cultural events enlisted as part of the Night of Museums – 297 in
Romania and 14 in the Republic of Moldova. Bucharest will host around 60 events
proposed by museums, art galleries, cultural centres, opera houses, choirs,
palaces, institutes, high schools and music festivals. The special guest of the
current edition is the War Childhood Museum, for the first time in Romania. The
exhibition, entitled Listen, is hosted by the Romanian Peasant Museum. Access
is free of charge.

AWARD – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will receive the Franz
Werfel Human Rights Award granted by the German Centre against Expulsions, DPA
reports. Aged 63, Iohannis will become the 11th winner of this award, granted
to him for his tireless and multilateral commitment to defending human rights
and minority rights in Romania and Europe. The award, granted every two years,
comes along with a money prize of 10,000 euros. Among the previous laureates
are former German president Joachim Gauck, the winner of Nobel prize in
Literature, Herta Muller and historian Karl Schlögel. The prize will be awarded
during a ceremony held on June 4 in Frankfurt, Germany, when a congratulatory
speech will delivered by former European Commission President Jean Claude
Juncker.

YOUTH Over 1,400 Romanian 18-year olds are among the 35,000 beneficiaries
of free EU travel passes granted this year under the Discover EU programme. In
order to find out more about the culture and history of the EU and to come in
touch with people across the continent, the beneficiaries will be able to
travel by train, individually or in groups of up to 5 people, between June 2023
and September 2024. The current round of the programme saw more than 145,000 applicants
from EU member states and Erasmus Plus countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey). (AMP)

12 May 2023
June 2, 2022 UPDATE

GOVERNMENT On Thursday the
Government of Romania passed an emergency order under which pensioners with
pension benefits below roughly EUR 400 will benefit in July from financial aid
amounting to EUR 140. The measure is intended to offset the drop in spending
power for vulnerable people, generated by the recent increase in fuel, food and
utility prices. Around 3.3 million people will benefit from the aid. Wednesday
also saw the start of a social voucher distribution programme called ‘Support
for Romania’. The EUR 50 vouchers are intended for over 2.5 million vulnerable
Romanians, and can be used for food purchases.

HOLIDAY Romania, a country
with an Orthodox majority, Thursday celebrated the Ascension of Lord Jesus
Christ, 40 days after his resurrection. Orthodox believers celebrated the event
with painted eggs and traditional Easter meals. Since 1920 Romanians have also
paid homage to their war heroes on Ascension Day. A series of events have been
staged to the memory of Romania’s heroes like religious services as well as
moments of silence in all major institutions across the country. In a message on Heroes Day, the country’s
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said ‘our thoughts of gratitude are today directed
towards those who made the supreme sacrifice for the better destiny of the
generations to come.’

POLL Over 70% of Romanians
blame the war in Ukraine on Russia, according to a poll conducted by INSCOP
Research over May 16th and 21st. Over 87% of the Romanians believe that Russian
leaders must be convicted for war crimes and 65% believe the presence of NATO
and US troops in Romania is a good thing. 50% of the respondents believe
Ukraine will win the war, whereas 26% believe Russia will be the victor.
According to the poll, only 25% of Romanians believe Russia is defending
traditional values against the decadence of the West, as compared to 41% in
February. 67% of the respondents believe that extraction of natural gas from
the Black Sea will significantly reduce the country’s dependence on Russian
gas.

LETTER Romania’s president
Klaus Iohannis has sent a congratulation letter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on her
anniversary and the platinum jubilee, the presidential administration in
Bucharest has announced. The Romanian president voiced his belief that the
Strategic Partnership between Romania and the UK will continue to be
consolidated in the future, for the mutual benefit of both nations. Starting on
Thursday, Britain is celebrating for 4 days the Queen’s 70 years of rule, the
longest in the kingdom’s history. The government has exceptionally approved a
four-day bank holiday allowing millions to participate in various events staged
on this occasion, such as street parties, concerts and military parades.
According to the BBC, the 96-year-old monarch, who has mobility issues and has
recently cancelled several public appearances, is likely to join members of the
Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the display.

REFUGEES The government of
Romania Thursday approved the provision of new emergency humanitarian aid
amounting to EUR 185,000 for the management of the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Also
as of Thursday, a governmental information platform is available to Ukrainian
nationals benefiting from temporary protection in Romania. At
protecţieucraina.gov.ro, refugees can find all the necessary information on the
rights and services they can receive, how they can enter Romania or answers to
frequently asked questions in the legal field. The Romanian Border Police
announced that on Wednesday little over 10,000 Ukrainian citizens entered
Romania, down 13% since the previous day. Since the start of the crisis in
Ukraine on February 24, nearly 1.1 million refugees have entered Romania. Most
of them transited the country towards Western Europe, but several tens of
thousands applied for asylum or temporary protection from the Romanian
government. (AMP)

2 June 2022
May 11, 2022

INFLATION The year-on-year inflation rate in Romania went up to
13.76% in April this year, as against 10.15% in March, according to data made
public today by the National Statistics Institute. Non-food prices rose by
16.35%, foodstuff prices by 13.54%, and services are 7.11% more expensive.
Yesterday, in order to curb the inflation rise, the central bank announced a
new increase in the key interest rate, which will trigger a rise in consumer
and inter-bank loan interests. The National Bank of Romania expects the
inflation rate to surge this summer more than previously forecast, and says the
rate is not likely to return to under 10% until the second half of next year.

VISIT The Speaker of the Senate of Romania, Florin Cîţu, is on an
official visit to Poland today, at the invitation of his counterpart, Tomasz
Grodzki. The main topics on the agenda are opportunities to consolidate
bilateral relations between the 2 countries, the war in Ukraine and the
economic fallout of the Russian aggression. Florin Citu announced that after
his visit to Poland he will travel to the Republic of Moldova.

DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister
Bogdan Aurescu takes part today in a ministerial meeting of the Global
Coalition against Daesh, held in Marrakesh, Morocco. According to the ministry,
the meeting will be co-chaired by the USA and Morocco, with over 75
representatives of the member states and international organisations expected
to attend. Most member states are NATO and EU members, partner states in the
Western Balkans, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, as well as the EU, NATO, and
INTERPOL. The main topics will include the security
situation in Iraq and Syria, as well as terrorism-related developments in
Africa and Afghanistan. Bogdan
Aurescu will highlight Romania’s contribution as a Coalition member, including
its participation since 2016 both in the Coalition Forces (as part of Operation
Inherent Resolve and of the NATO mission in Iraq), and in the stabilisation and
reconstruction efforts in the countries affected by ISIS activities.

GOVERNMENT A draft emergency order to prevent
speculation is being discussed today by the government of Romania. The decision
comes after fuel, sunflower oil or masks and disinfectant prices skyrocketed
overnight, in the context of the war in Ukraine or before that, during the
pandemic. Speculation was criminalised before in Romania, shortly after WWII
and after the fall of the communist regime in 1990.

NATURAL
GAS A bill to amend
the Offshore Act, which will green light the development of natural gas
reserves in the Black Sea, is discussed as of today by the Senate of Romania.
According to the ruling coalition, which has tabled the bill, this is a much
more balanced text than the one drafted 4 years ago. Tax facilities have been
introduced for the companies interested in taking part in the development
project, and in a few years’ time Romania’s reliance on Russian gas is expected
to become significantly lower. The energy minister Virgil Popescu emphasised
that by amending the current legislation onshore investments will also be
encouraged, supply security will be ensured in case of an energy crisis and
Romania may become a provider of regional energy security. Under the bill, the
Romanian government will have pre-emptive rights in purchasing the natural gas.
Romania’s biggest public natural gas producer, Romgaz, and the Austrian
company OMV will extract the natural gas in the Black Sea in the coming years.

COVID-19 The 4th COVID-19 vaccine dose will be available on
request in Romania, in vaccination centres and family physician practices, as
of May 16. According to the health ministry, only Pfiser vaccines can be
administered, to people over 18 who have received 3 doses of mRNA vaccines, and
at least 4 months after they have received the 3rd dose. Meanwhile, the
health ministry announced 705 new COVID-19 cases and 7 related deaths in 24
hours. 144 COVID patients are currently in intensive care.

UKRAINE The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
commented on the situation in Kharkiv, emphasising that the Ukrainian forces
are repelling the invaders and freeing the region. Clashes continue on the
Serpent Island as well, 45 km from Romania, with Russia trying to strengthen
its vulnerable garrison on the island. Meanwhile, Ukraine has shut off the
transit of Russian gas to Western Europe in Lugansk region, and says the
occupation of its eastern part by Russian forces makes it impossible to control
the flows. Over 32 million cubic metres of natural gas are halted, accounting
for around one-third of Russia’s daily exports transiting Ukraine. In the US,
the House of Representatives approved an additional 40 billion US dollars in
aid for Ukraine. The act is to be rushed through the Senate and signed by
president Joe Biden. The funds will be used for military support and humanitarian
assistance for the civilians affected by the Russian invasion. (AMP)

11 May 2022
Government to request Parliament’s confidence over budget bill

On Monday the Government of Romania will seek Parliaments confidence vote on the 2020 state budget. PM Ludovic Orban has announced that his Cabinet will take responsibility on the state budget bill, the social security budget bill and on a bill amending Government Order 114. MPs have until Monday to introduce amendments to the bills, and the PM said those amendments that will improve next years budgets will be accepted.

In turn, the Finance Minister Florin Citu says that both the budget for public healthcare and salaries in public education will be raised. The social security budget will also be higher next year, by around 23% compared to 2019. Pensions will also be increased, but, the Labour and Social Solidarity Minister Violeta Alexandru explained, minimum pensions will be kept at the same level next year:

Violeta Alexandru: “We have decided that, given the pressure on the 2020 public budget, minimum pensions should stay the same, namely at 704 lei. Minimum pensions are those paid to the people who have never contributed to the public pension system. The principle against which pension benefits will be calculated is, as you know, that pensions are based on the amount contributed to the system.

The third bill that the Government wants rushed through Parliament scraps most provisions in the Government Order 114, and introduces fiscal measures based on which next years budget has been drafted. The Prime Ministers chief of staff Ionel Danca says the Order 114 provisions concerning the energy sector will also be eliminated:

Ionel Danca: “The provisions regarding a 2% tax on the turnover of energy companies and caps on the natural gas and electricity prices have been repealed. Transitional measures have been introduced with respect to deregulating the natural gas and electricity market as of July 1 and December 31st, 2020, respectively.

Caps have also been introduced as regards allowances for public offices, merit allowances as well as food allowances, public pensions and public salaries can no longer be received concurrently, and increments for difficult working conditions will be 25% of the whole-economy minimum wages.

The Social Democratic Party in opposition says the government taking responsibility before parliament for the state budget is a very bad idea. They threatened they would take the matter to the Constitutional Court if the parliamentary debates and vote are bypassed.

The state budget for 2020 is based on an estimated 4.1% economic growth rate, a 3.6% budget deficit and an estimated average inflation rate of over 3.1%.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

19 December 2019
November 19, 2019

ELECTION In Romania, the campaign for the second round of the presidential election continues. The vote is scheduled for Sunday, November 24th. Competing are the incumbent president, Klaus Iohannis, backed by the National Liberal Party in power, and the former Social Democrat PM Viorica Dancila. According to data made public by the Central Electoral Bureau and validated on Friday by the Constitutional Court, in the first round Klaus Iohanis got 37.82% of the votes and Viorica Dăncilă 22.26%. The turnout was 51.19%. Abroad, where Romanian citizens were able to vote Friday through Sunday, record-large numbers of voters showed up in polls (over 675,000). In the runoff as well, the Romanians living abroad will have 3 days to cast their ballots, between noon on Friday and Sunday at 9 PM, with a possible extension to midnight.

AUTOMOTIVE In October Romania was the most dynamic automobile market in Europe, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association announced. Last month, around 11,000 vehicles were registered in Romania, up 58.1% since the same month last year. In the first 10 months of 2019, around 135,000 automobiles were registered in Romania, accounting for an annual growth rate of 18.9%, whereas the European automobile market saw a 0.7% decline. Dacia reported a 7.8% rise in sales in Europe in October, to 40,687 units. The Romanian carmaker Dacia was taken over by Renault in 1999. Relaunched in 2004 with the new Logan model, Dacia turned into a major player in the European automobile market.

TRAGEDY The owner of the Romanian company that provided pest extermination services for 2 apartment buildings in Timişoara, western Romania, was arrested for 24 hours this morning, under charges of manslaughter, bodily harm and trafficking in controlled substances. The court will decide whether he will be kept in pre-trial arrest. Recently, 3 people died following a pest and rodent extermination operation—a 9-day baby, a 3-year old and his mother, while 20 other people, adults and children, are hospitalised. The 2 buildings have been evacuated. Preliminary investigations reveal that the intoxication was caused by neurotoxins. The tragedy caused panic among the locals, with scores of people requesting medical check-ups.

STATISTICS Over one-quarter (27.7%) of the population of Romania were living in 2018 in households without indoor toilets. The figure is down from the 29.7% reported in 2017, but still more than 10 times above the EU average of 2.1%, according to data made public today by Eurostat, on World Toilet Day. In as many as 19 member states, the percentage of people living in housing without indoor toilets in 2018 was below 1%, including Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden where the figure is very close to zero. At the opposite pole, Romania is preceded by Bulgaria with 15.3%, Lithuania (10.6%), Latvia (9.9%) and Estonia (5.3%). Still, the number of people living without proper sanitation services in the EU dropped from 3.3% in 2010 to 2.1% last year, and in Romania it fell from 40.9% to 27.7%.

THEATRE The Government of Japan awarded the Order of the Rising Sun to the actor Constantin Chiriac, director of the Radu Stanca National Theatre in Sibiu and president of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, in recognition of his contribution to promoting the Japanese culture in Romania and the cultural exchanges between the 2 countries. The Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875, and is one of the most important decorations bestowed by the Japanese government, second to the Order of the Chrysanthemum, and is the highest awarded to foreign citizens, for distinguished achievements in international relations, for the promotion of the Japanese culture and of projects aimed at preserving the environment.

FOOTBALL Romanias Under-21 football team are playing tonight away from home against Northern Ireland in the 2021 European Championship qualifying Group 8. With 3 wins and a loss in previous matches, the Romanians rank second in the group, after Denmark. The senior team Monday lost to Spain, 0-5 away from home, in Group F of next years European Championship qualifiers, and finished 4th in the group. After the defeat, manager Cosmin Contra announced his resignation. The only chance left for Romania to qualify into the final tournament is the Nations League playoff due in March. The draw for Euro 2020 will take place in Bucharest on November 30. The Romanian capital city will also host 3 group matches and an eighth-final.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

19 November 2019
November 14, 2019

FINANCE For the past 3 years, Romanias economy has been managed according to 2 budgets, one presented in Parliament and for which no PM or finance minister in the former Social Democratic governments has taken responsibility, and another one containing accurate data and used for financing party barons, the new Finance Minister Florin Cîţu told a press conference on Thursday. The added he would notify the competent authorities. According to the minister, the budget deficit for the first 10 months of the year is 2.84% of the GDP, above the estimate for the entire year, and unless measures are taken in the next one and a half months the figure will exceed 4%. Some 500 million euros in the public pension budget is unaccounted for, Cîţu added, and explained that this years budget should be adjusted downwards.

ORDER The Government of Romania passed an emergency order on the status of the British citizens living in Romania in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Romania was the only EU member state still to regulate the matter. The Prime Ministers chief of staff, Ionel Dancă, explained that the order was necessary and had been requested by the British side.

COMMISSIONER The Romanian MEP Adina Vălean, nominated for the transport commissioner post, is heard today in the European Parliaments specialist committees, along with the commissioners nominated by France and Hungary. On Tuesday she was given the green light by the Committee on Legal Affairs, which looked at possible conflicts of interest. Also on Tuesday, Vălean was heard by the joint European affairs committees of the Romanian Parliament, whose opinion is advisory. When the formal hearings are over, the president elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will present the full commission and its programme to the European Parliament on the 27th of November.

GROWTH Romanias GDP is up 4% in the first 9 months of this year, compared to the corresponding period of 2018, the National Statistics Institute announced. However, the economic growth rate slowed down in the 3rd quarter, to 3% as against 4.4% reported for the 2nd quarter. In its autumn economic forecast made public recently, the European Commission estimates a 4.1% economic growth rate for Romania in 2019, and expects the rate to drop to 3.6% in 2020 and 3.3% the following year.

TRAVEL 230 operators from 16 countries are attending until Sunday the largest Tourism Fair in Romania, organised in Bucharest. Taking part are representatives of travel agencies, tour operators, and associations and local authorities promoting their regions. Visitors can purchase holiday packages for this winter and for 2020, with discounts of up to 45%.

FOOTBALL Romanias Under 19 football team is playing today at home against Finland, in Group 8 of the 2021 UEFA European Under 19 Championship qualifiers. Denmark tops the group with 9 points, followed by Finland with 7 and Romania with 6 points. In the Euro 2020 qualifiers, Romanias senior team are facing Sweden at home on Friday. Group F is dominated by Spain with 20 points, who have already secured their qualification, followed by Sweden with 15 points and Romania with 14. To qualify, Romania need to defeat Sweden and draw against Spain away. The two best-placed sides in each group will qualify. The drawing of lots for Euro 2020 will take place in Bucharest on the 30th of November. The Romanian capital will also host four European Championship matches, three group matches and a quarterfinal.

HANDBALL Romanias mens handball champions, Dinamo Bucharest, are undefeated in the Champions League, after a draw against the Swedish side IFK Kristianstad, 29-29, in Group D. Dinamo, already qualified into the play-offs, ranks first in the group with 13 points, followed by GOG Gudme (Denmark), with 9 points, Orlen Wisla Plock (Poland) with 7, Kadetten Schaffhausen (Switzerland), with 6, IFK Kristianstad (Sweden) with 5 and Cehovskie Medvedi (Russia) with 4 points. Dinamo is next to take on Cehovskie Medvedi at home on November 20.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

14 November 2019
November 13, 2019 UPDATE

COMMISSIONER The Liberal MEP Adina Vălean, Romania’s pick for the position of EU transport commissioner, will be interviewed on Thursday by the European Parliament’s specialist committees alongside the French and Hungarian nominees. On Tuesday, she was given the green light by the Committee on Legal Affairs, which looked at possible conflicts of interest. Also on Tuesday, Vălean was heard by the joint European affairs committees of the Romanian Parliament, whose opinion is advisory. When the formal hearings are over, the president elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will present the full commission and its programme to the European Parliament on the 27th of November. Adina Vălean has said that if she becomes EU commissioner, she will support the continuation of the European Interconnection Mechanism, under which 1.24 billion euros worth of investment reached Romania for transport infrastructure and 500 million euros more for energy. The mechanism aims to connect the transport, energy and telecommunications infrastructures in the European Union.

GOVERNMENT The new Liberal government Wednesday passed an emergency order to provide social protection for the miners about to lose their jobs in the Jiu Valley, in the centre-west. The order comes in response to the demands of the employees of the coal mines in Paroşeni and Uricani, who recently barricaded themselves underground for 11 days. An estimated 360 people are to be laid off this year, with another 700 due to lose their jobs by 2024. Also on Wednesday, the Government passed an emergency order on the status of British citizens in Romania in the event of a no-deal Brexit. According to the Prime Ministers chief of staff Ionel Danca, this order is necessary and requested by the British side, and is aimed at ensuring mutual terms for the status of the Romanian citizens living in Britain post-Brexit. In late October, the ambassadors of the 27 EU member states agreed to extend the Brexit deadline to January 31.

FINANCE In the first 9 months of the year, the current account on the balance of payments saw a deficit of over 8.1 billion euros, as against 6.8 billion in the corresponding period of last year, the National Bank of Romania announced. Foreign direct investments in Romania totaled over 4.2 billion euros in the first 3 quarters, which is approx. 280 million euro less than in the first 9 months of 2018. The central bank also announced that the total foreign debt rose by nearly 8.4 billion euros in the first 9 months, exceeding 108 billion euros.

MOLDOVA Igor Dodon, the pro-Russian president of the Republic of Moldova, Wednesday nominated the presidential adviser Ion Chicu as prime minister. The decision comes after the Socialist MPs agreed to the presidents proposal to form a government of technocrats, and after the negotiations with the pro-European bloc ACUM failed. Dodon invited parliamentary parties to talks on Wednesday on a new majority, following the dismissal of Maia Sandu’s pro-European cabinet through a no-confidence vote on Tuesday. The parties have three months to form a new government and avoid early elections. Sandu accused her former Socialist partners, de facto led by Dodon, of bringing down the government because they are afraid of the law. Romania and the European Union have warned the Republic of Moldova that their support, including of a financial nature, is conditional on the continuation of reforms and respect for the rule of law and for democratic standards.

NAVY The King Ferdinand frigate is taking part in an international anti-submarine warfare exercise organised by the Turkish Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and which is under way until the 20th of November, the Navy Chief of Staff has announced. The Romanian crew will be carrying out specific training activities in Turkey’s territorial waters and neighbouring international waters alongside colleagues from Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Jordan, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, the United States and Turkey.

TENNIS The Romanian-Dutch pair Horia Tecău and Jean-Julien Rojer Wednesday defeated the world no. 1 and Wimbledon and US Open winners Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah of Colombia in the ATP Finals in London. This is the first victory for the pair in this years edition of the ATP Finals. In the first match of Group Max Mirnyi on Monday, Tecău and Rojer lost to the Roland Garros champions Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies in 3 sets. The Romanian-Dutch pair won the ATP Finals in 2015 and also qualified for this tournament in 2014 and 2017. This year, they won the titles in Madrid and Basel.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu, Cristina Mateescu)

13 November 2019
March 5, 2019 UPDATE

JUDICIARY The Government of Romania Tuesday passed changes to the controversial Emergency Order 7 on the justice laws, which had triggered protests across the country. Under the changes announced by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, only prosecutors with at least 15 years of seniority may hold top positions in the Public Ministry, and only the prosecutors division of the Higher Council of Magistrates, instead of the entire body, is required to give an advisory opinion on appointments. Also, good reputation will no longer be a criterion in dismissing magistrates, and the salaries of IT experts in the judicial system remain unchanged. Tudorel Toader made no comments on the controversial provisions regarding the new division investigating magistrates, which stay in place. The new changes have been operated despite the negative opinion of the Higher Council of Magistrates. Last Sunday in Bucharest and other major cities nearly 8,000 people protested against Emergency Order 7 modifying the justice laws. The prosecutors and judges in some 80 courts and prosecutors offices in half the country have also protested these days, by suspending work or by picketing court buildings.

VISIT The Romanian PM Viorica Dăncilă announced a working visit to Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, when she will attend 2 events devoted to equal opportunity and promoting womens rights and will have meetings with senior EU officials, including the European Commission first vice-president Frans Timmermans and the Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier. This years edition of the Womens European Council is held in a partnership with the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU, and will focus on better representation of women in politics and on promoting women into leadership positions, Viorica Dăncilă said. The second event will be organised by Romanias permanent representation to the EU, and will also be devoted to gender equality. The Romanian PM also added that on Thursday and Friday in Brussels, the Justice and Home Affairs Council will convene, chaired by Interior Minister Carmen Dan and Justice Minister Tudorel Toader. The agenda includes EU-wide cooperation in the field of the judiciary and border security, the Common European Asylum System and the Unions response to migration and terrorism.

FLU Two more people died in Romania because of the flu, the National Centre for Infectious Disease Monitoring and Control confirmed on Tuesday. The 2 women were over 80 and also suffered from other, chronic conditions, and only one of them had been immunised against the flu. The total number of deaths caused this season by the flu has reached 165. According to the latest data, over 1.3 million people have been vaccinated so far.

VOLLEYBALL The Romanian womens volleyball team CSM Alba Blaj Tuesday defeated Ştiinţa Bacău 3-0, in the return leg of the Romanian semi-final of the CEV Cup, the second top official competition in Europe. Alba Blaj had also won the first leg, in Bacau, 3-0, a week ago. Last year, Alba also played the Champions League final, which they lost in Bucharest to the Turkish club VakifBank Istanbul. The other semi-final of the CEV Cup pits Hungarian team Swietelsky Bekescsaba against Yamamay e-work Busto Arsizio of Italy.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

5 March 2019
Anti-government protests

Thousands of people again took to the streets in Romania on Sunday evening to show their solidarity with the magistrates who say Emergency Order no. 7 recently adopted by the government hinders their activity. In Bucharest and other cities around the country such as Sibiu, Cluj, Constanta, Iasi, Timisoara and Galati, the protesters demanded the resignation of the justice minister Tudorel Toader, the repeal of the order and the dismantling of the special department for investigating magistrates. A march was held in Bucharest and the actors of the National Theatre staged a protest on the stairs of the theatre.

The government said it had no intention to give up the order that has sparked massive protests among magistrates. Last week, Tudorel Toader said, however, that he drafted an emergency order that would repeal a number of provisions contained in the previous order. The document was presented to prime minister Viorica Dancila and submitted to the Superior Council of Magistrates. According to the president of this body, Livia Savonea, the provisions in questions refer to re-assignments and the prerequisite of good reputation.

The street protests come as magistrates from prosecutors offices and courts around the country voiced their dissatisfaction, including by stopping working. The anti-governmental protests also targeted another emergency order, known as no. 114, one that was mentioned by the European Commission in its six-month country report as a risk factor threatening the normal running of the financial sector.

The Social Democratic Party, the main force in the ruling coalition, has admitted that changes can be made to this order as long as the main objectives are retained, namely for the population and businesses to benefit from loans at lower interest rates.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the finance ministry are having talks with those of the Romanian Association of Banks to analyse the need for changes to this order in respect of a number of fiscal measures. The representatives of the Association of Building Entrepreneurs have submitted amendments to the order ahead of its being discussed by the Chamber of Deputies. They say the order contains some good provisions for the constructions sector, but also measures that should be modified. In turn, representatives of local gas companies have warned that implementing the order would have a negative impact on both investors in the sector and the state budget.

(translated by: Cristina Mateescu)

4 March 2019