DEFICIT In the first 8 months of the year Romania’s trade balance
deficit deepened by nearly EUR 7.4 billion, to EUR 22 billion. According to data
made public by the National Statistics Institute on Monday, exports went up
25%, to EUR 60.3 billion, and imports rose by 31%, to roughly EUR 83 billion.
Vehicles and transport equipment, as well as other manufactured products,
accounted for a large part of Romania’s foreign trade. Over 70% of the total
imports and exports involved the EU market.
PILGRIMAGE
The north-eastern Romanian city of Iaşi is hosting these days a traditional
pilgrimage devoted to St. Paraskeva, commemorated on the 14 October and viewed
as the patron saint of Moldavia. Thousands of Orthodox believers from around
the country and from abroad have already come to pray at St. Paraskeva’s relics,
hosted by the Metropolitan Cathedral. The Iași pilgrimage is the largest
Orthodox pilgrimage in the country, with around 300,000 people expected to
attend this year.
REFUGEES Romania is better prepared to
receive Ukrainian refugees, although there is no indication that their number
may increase, the state secretary with the interior ministry Raed Arafat
said in Suceava, north-eastern Romania. On Sunday the Romanian official
travelled to the Suceava hub for a donation ceremony also attended by the
French ambassador to Bucharest, Laurence Auer, and the Ukrainian ambassador in
Romania, Ihor Prokopchuk. Fifteen fire engines and ambulances were brought to
the hub by 40 members of the French civil protection agency, and further
materials will reach Suceava in a few days. The largest French aid batch for
Ukraine, consisting in over 1 tonne of pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and
intervention vehicles, has reached the Black Sea port of Constanţa Sud-Agigea.
UKRAINE
Several blasts were reported this
morning in the Ukrainian capital city and in Lviv, Ternopil and Dnipro. The
Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu announced that Romanian diplomatic
staff in Kyiv is safe, although a missile hit 850m from the Romanian embassy
office. The Romanian official firmly condemns Russian missile strikes on
civilian targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities as a blatant violation of
international human rights law. Meanwhile, Russia’s Security Council convenes today at president
Vladimir Putin’s request, after Saturday’s
partial destruction of the Kerch bridge connecting Russia to Crimea. According
to Putin, this was a terrorist act committed by Ukraine. The Ukrainian
authorities neither confirmed nor denied their involvement in the incident. In
Washington, the White House declined comments on the topic and mentioned it
would continue to supply weapons to Ukraine. Also today, the UN is holding an
emergency session to discuss Russia’s recent annexation of 4 other Ukrainian
provinces. Radio Romania’s correspondent in the US mentions that the UN General
Assembly condemned the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
AIRPORT As of today, the Bucharest Otopeni Airport is upgrading its baggage
handling systems at the Departures terminal, the Bucharest National Airport
Company has announced. Until next August, the number of check-in counters will
be significantly reduced, and waiting time will be longer. The current baggage
handling system is more than 20 years old, and its replacement requires an over
EUR 20 million investment. After the works, the processing capacity will be 40%
higher, and 12 counters for passengers to drop off their own baggage without
resorting to a check-in counter will also be available, the Company announced.
VETERINARY EU experts are assessing these days the veterinary services
at the border check points Stamora Moraviţa, in Timiş County, on the border
with Serbia, and at the Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport, the National Veterinary
and Food Safety Agency announced. The assessment comes in the context of
Romania’s prospective Schengen area accession. The Czech presidency of the EU
Council announced last week that in the December summit it will seek a
unanimous decision on Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the passport-free
travel area.
SPORTS The Romanian team CSM Bucharest defeated
the Dutch side Odense Handbold, 31-27 (16-13), on Sunday, away from home, in
Group A of the women’s handball Champions’ League. Undefeated in 4 matches, the
Romanian team is to play next at home on 16 October, against DHK Banik Most. In
turn, CS Rapid Bucharest won 34-32 (19-14) against the Danish team Team
Esbjerg, in a home game on Sunday in Group B of the same competition. This was
the 3rd win for the Romanian champions in the competition. Rapid will
play next against Buducnost Podgorica, away from home, on 15 October. (AMP)