Radio România Internațional

Tag: Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu

  • Official inquiry into election interference

    Official inquiry into election interference

    Former far-right presidential candidate Călin Georgescu has been placed under pre-trial arrest for 60 days, after prosecutors questioned him for several hours on Wednesday at the Prosecutor General’s Office, where he was brought in with a warrant. Georgescu was presented with six criminal charges, some of them in aggravated form. One of these marks a premiere for Romania – incitement to actions against the constitutional order, a crime for which no one has ever been prosecuted. Georgescu was also accused of communicating false information, making false declarations regarding financial statements and the funding of the election campaign, initiating or establishing organizations with a fascist, racist or xenophobic and anti-Semitic character and joining or supporting such groups in any form, as well as publicly promoting figures who committed genocide and war crimes. Călin Georgescu denied all allegations, accusing the authorities of employing methods that are reminiscent of the communist regime.

     

    Last December, the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election, invoking external interference in the election, which is set to be reorganized in full. In the second round, Călin Georgescu, who had unexpectedly managed to rank first in the Romanians’ voting options, was supposed to face the president of the USR (Save Romania Union), Elena Lasconi. After the announcement of the indictment of the former presidential candidate, Romanian politicians reasserted their trust in the judiciary and its independence. Social-Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, stressed, however, that, given the tense electoral context, judicial authorities must present extremely solid evidence in this investigation.

     

    The leader of AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians), George Simion, expressed his continuous support of Călin Georgescu’s candidacy in the presidential election. Simion said he is waiting for incontestable evidence regarding the investigation launched by the Prosecutor’s Office. In turn, USR president, Elena Lasconi, stated that she continues to have confidence in the justice system and believes that prosecutors are fulfilling their duties responsibly. In contrast, the president of POT (Young People’s Party), Ana Maria Gavrilă, accused the authorities of terrorizing Călin Georgescu’s supporters. The new presidential election is slated for May 4 and 18. Upon leaving the Prosecutor’s Office, Călin Georgescu said that he will definitely run for the presidency this spring. (VP)

  • February 13, 2025 UDPATE 1

    February 13, 2025 UDPATE 1

    GOVERNMENT – The Cabinet led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Thursday approved two decisions regarding the prioritization of projects included in the ‘Anghel Saligny’ National Investment Program and in the program carried out by the National Investment Company (CNI). At the same time, the extension of the free zone in the Port of Constanta (southeast), on the Black Sea, was on the agenda of the Government meeting. The government thus seeks to stimulate the economic development of the region and improve trade flows in this area. Also on Thursday, new measures were adopted that support the reorganization of the National Anti-Drug Agency. On the other hand, Marcel Ciolacu announced that the ruling coalition has decided to provide financial support worth €160 euros to pensioners with low incomes. This aid will benefit approximately 2.5 million pensioners with incomes of up to €515, tantamount to the national minimum wage. The aid will be granted in two installments, in April and in the second half of the year. In the context of the latest price hikes, this measure will help maintain a minimum level of social protection for the elderly. The aid is intended to compensate for the increase in living costs and to provide essential financial support for pensioners. We recall that, earlier this year, the government decided not to raise pensions in line with the inflation rate, as planned, a move that generated society-wide dissatisfaction. (VP)

  • Statements marking the National Day of Romania

    Statements marking the National Day of Romania

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

  • Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

    Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

    NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, said during talks with Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who on Monday paid an official visit to Brussels. Romania is determined to prove it is a reliable ally and a security provider in the region and beyond, the Romanian official said in turn, adding that, in addition to allocating 2.5% of GDP to the defense sector, investments in this field will continue. The Romanian Prime Minister also said that NATO’s robust presence in Romania is a guarantee that every inch of the country’s territory is fully defended.

     

    “The violations of Allied airspace and Russia’s aggressive posture in the Black Sea show how important it is to deploy additional troops in the area and to offer a solid and united response at NATO level. In this context, I told the Secretary General that Romania understands and respects its commitments and is solidary with our allies and partners”. Romania contributes not only to strengthening the eastern flank, but much more, as its soldiers actively participate in NATO missions in different areas, the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, said, hailing Bucharest’s firm support to Ukraine.

     

    „You invest more than 2% – I believe it is now getting to 2.5% of your GDP – on defense. You host one of NATO’s battlegroups, and in addition, your soldiers make a vital contribution to NATO missions, particularly in Kosovo, but also in Iraq and other places”.

     

    In Brussels, the Romanian Prime Minister met with the President-elect of the European Council, António Costa, and also with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. During the meeting, Marcel Ciolacu said an ambitious, coherent European agenda is needed now more than ever, solidarity between member states, as well as actions in the interest of EU citizens. Romania shares the European Union’s concern for reducing the gaps between regions and social groups, as well as for ensuring a just green transition for all. These objectives should be financed from the post-2025 multiannual budget, the Romanian official also pointed out. At the same time, Marcel Ciolacu told President Metsola that Romania’s full Schengen accession this year remains a fundamental goal, while another top priority is the advancement of strategic interconnectivity projects in the Black Sea region. (VP)

  • National plan for large industry

    National plan for large industry

    Concerned about the reindustrialization of the country, the Romanian government took important steps to complete the support scheme for the large strategic investments in the manufacturing industry and the fund that underlies the Support Program for Large Industry in Romania – metallurgy, steel and the chemical industry. “The first component of the Plan for Strategic Investments in the manufacturing industry involves a state aid package worth 500 mln EUR as well as fiscal facilities for investments over 150 mln EUR, which directly creates hundreds of jobs and develops in regions with a GDP per capita ratio below the national average”, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said.

     

    The second component of the Industrial Plan is the National Support Program for Large Industry in Romania – a state aid scheme worth 1 bln EUR (about 5 bln Lei) over 6 years, for the decarbonization of production processes and energy efficiency. According to the Prime Minister, an estimated number of 30 companies in the metallurgy and chemical industry sectors will receive support of up to 100 mln EUR per beneficiary. “There are companies that will implement investments with eligible costs of at least 8 mln EUR, which will operate a 40% slash to direct greenhouse gas emissions from industrial installations and/or reduce by at least 20% the energy consumption in industrial installations in relation to supported activities. State funding will be provided from the sale of greenhouse gas emission certificates, and the investment must be maintained for 5 years from the date of its completion”, Marcel Ciolacu explained.

     

    The third component of the plan involves a state aid scheme of 1.25 bln Lei for 15 companies that implement investments in the production of industrial raw materials, such as pipes, profiles, bars, aluminum or copper. “These support programs fall in line with the measures stipulated by the Draghi Plan to increase the industrial competitiveness of the European economy. The three aid schemes will increase industrial production and the GDP through investments, reducing the trade balance deficit, creating new well-paid jobs, as well as decarbonizing production processes and increasing energy efficiency”, the Prime Minister said, adding that the government thus seeks to consolidate an economic development model based on investments. (VP)

  • Budget deficit on the rise

    Budget deficit on the rise

    The warnings regarding the consequences of the growth of Romania’s budget deficit have become increasingly frequent and come from various directions, from European bodies, as well as from experts and analysts. There is nothing speculative about them, because they are based on numbers. The latest data in this regard were provided by the Ministry of Finance, according to which, after the first two months of the year, the budget deficit reached almost 29 billion lei, the equivalent of some 6 billion euros, which account for 1.67% of the Gross Domestic Product.

    Compared to the same period last year, it is almost double. Total revenues in January and February were higher by more than 17 percent compared to the first two months of 2023, being mainly supported by the evolution of collections from insurance contributions, VAT, European funds, payroll tax and excise duties, but expenses were much higher, increasing by over 27%. “The deficit is not a catastrophe,” said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, in an attempt to ease analysts’ fears. He believes that, at the end of the year, Romania will fall within the established range.

    The budget was built on a budget deficit estimated at 5 percent of the GDP, which the opposition termed, however, as unrealistic, stating that the revenues were overestimated and expenses underestimated. The pace of growth will be sustained, the prime minister is convinced, optimistically anticipating that Romania will have the highest economic growth in Europe this year. And it will not be an economic growth based on consumption, it will continue to be triggered by investment, Marcel Ciolacu believes.

    On Monday, the European Commission published an in-depth analysis for 6 of the member states, including Romania. In our case, the community executive warns that Romania continues to face vulnerabilities related to the accounts of public finances and the external balance. High public and current account deficits, as well as the high inflation rate, which are all above pre-pandemic levels, make the economy potentially vulnerable to shocks, the European Commission points out. It notes that progress were made in narrowing the current account deficit in 2023, mainly on the back of monetary policy tightening and weaker private consumption, but with policies unchanged, risks related to its external position are expected to stay high in the following years.

    The document also reads that the pursuit of a credible fiscal consolidation strategy is the key priority of the policies aimed at mitigating the risks to the stability of the economy. This strategy will require the full implementation of the fiscal-structural reforms included in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, especially those aimed at a structural increase in government revenues and a much stricter budget execution, states the analysis of the European Commission. (MI)

  • Priorities of the new parliamentary session

    Priorities of the new parliamentary session

    On February 1, Romanian senators and deputies began a new parliamentary session, the first this year and the penultimate of the legislature. The priorities of the ruling Social Democratic Party and National Liberal Party include the bills needed to reach the milestones in the NRRP, so that Romania can submit payment requests to receive the allocated European funds. At the same time, the Social Democrats and Liberals established their strategy for the new legislative session in separate meetings. Bills on gambling and combating drug use are among the Social Democrats priorities.



    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, leader of the Social Democratic Party, has also announced a legislative initiative regarding the capping of interests on loans from non-banking institutions. According to him, the total amount that will be reimbursed will no longer exceed twice the amount obtained through the loan.



    Marcel Ciolacu: “I would like this law to pass in February. I think its a lot, it gets as high as 1,000%. Even if the amounts are small, you take a loan of 500 lei (or 100 euros), and you end up paying an interest of 1,000% because the law allows it… its a bit much.”



    The priority announced by the Liberals is a firm legislation to combat and prevent drug use. The Minister of Justice, Alina Gorghiu, called on all parliamentarians to adopt bills in an emergency procedure. Alina Gorghiu:


    ” The setting up of the National Register of Drug Traffickers; the 2 Mai Law, which stipulates that high-risk drug traffickers can no longer be released when they receive a sentence; and the third, the establishment of eight rehab and recovery centers for drug addicts.”



    In the new parliamentary session, the opposition parties want to stop potential tax increases and to prevent the violation of the Constitution. The nationalist leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, claims that merging europarlamentary and local elections is an unconstitutional process.



    George Simion: “This cannot happen, to vote mayors three months in advance, it creates instability. There is already a decision of the Constitutional Court; Elections for the European Parliament cannot be merged with another type of elections.”



    The Save Romania Union, also in opposition, has announced the start of the referral procedure to the Venice Commission regarding the scenario of merging the European parliamentary and local elections less than six months before the set deadline. If the parties in the ruling coalition agree to combine some of the elections that will take place this year, it is expected that the Parliaments agenda will also include the amendment of the legislation in this field, namely the Administrative Code. We remind you that this year, in addition to the European parliamentary and local elections, legislative and presidential elections will also take place in Romania. (MI)

  • The Vietnamese Prime Minister in Bucharest

    The Vietnamese Prime Minister in Bucharest

    Politically, Vietnam is not exactly an Asian champion of human rights and, despite the longevity of its communist regime, also not a state with an unbroken order. A few days ago, the international media announced that the justice there had sentenced ten people to life imprisonment, for armed attacks on a police headquarters in the center of the country, last June. Another 90 people received prison sentences between nine months and 20 years, under the same charge: attempted overthrow of the regime. Economically, however, Vietnam is a business partner that many democracies in Europe and the two Americas want.



    On Monday, the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, was received in Bucharest with military honors. He has been leading the government in Hanoi for almost three years, speaks Romanian and knows very well Romania, where he completed his university studies and worked in the embassy of his country here. Like all Romanian interlocutors the Vietnamese prime minister talked to, President Klaus Iohannis pleaded for the strengthening of bilateral relations, both through high-level political dialogue and sectoral cooperation. The head of state also spoke out for the expansion and diversification of the European Union-Vietnam agenda.



    The interest of our country is for Romanian products to be present in Vietnam – Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu told his counterpart, according to which the value of trade exchanges does not reflect the true potential of the two states. That’s why we aim for a constant increase in bilateral trade, which will lead to the doubling of the volume by the year 2030, the head of the Romanian government said. He also mentioned joint-venture agreements already concluded between Romanian and Vietnamese companies, such as the construction this year of a used tire recycling factory in Romania, collaboration in the IT field with an investment of about two million dollars and the creation of a center of support and assistance for software in the automotive industry.



    The Vietnamese government delegation also went to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, which hosted a business forum. The President of the Chamber, Mihai Daraban, specified that the number of workers from Vietnam present in the Romanian economy with proper documents is over two thousand. I think we need additional guarantees from both governments that this will work under optimal conditions moving forward, Daraban said. The economies of Romania and Vietnam are complementary and can increase commercial exchanges in numerous fields – the Minister of Economy, Radu Oprea, also stated there. The Romanian-Vietnamese business forum was attended by over 85 companies active in fields such as construction, tourism, consulting, finance, banking and IT. (MI)


  • Net investments on the rise in Romania

    Net investments on the rise in Romania

    The net investments made in the Romanian economy increased significantly in the first nine months of last year, reaching 118 billion lei (the equivalent of about 23.6 billion euros). It’s 14% more compared to the period January-September 2022 – reveals the data provided, in the first days of this year, by the National Institute of Statistics. Most of the investments belong to the majority private sector, almost 98 billion lei.



    According to the NIS, the money invested in new construction works and the purchase of machinery, including means of transport, totalled over 74 billion lei, representing 62% of all investments in the national economy. In the first nine months of last year, the number of building permits decreased, however, by approximately 8,000, to 26,000, mostly issued for rural areas, and the number of completed household units decreased to approximately 50,000, which was 3,000 less compared to the period January-September 2022.



    Romania, a construction site, headlines, however, the economic press in Bucharest, which takes a look at the large energy infrastructure or transport works financed by the state, as well as those launched by county councils or local administrations. Regarding the road network, for example, this year, for the first time, there will be three motorways fully under construction, at the same time: Moldova motorway (east), with 13 lots, Bucharest Highway (in fact, a bypass of the Capital), with four lots, and the Bucharest-Nădlac Motorway (west), with three lots, Transport Ministry officials have announced. In addition, works will begin on Unirea Motorway (center) and the first express road built in Romania, Craiova-Pitesti (south), which totals 120 kilometers, will be rendered operational.



    The cited sources also state that, currently, execution contracts are concluded for 760 kilometers of high-speed roads, tenders are in progress for another 120 kilometers, and the launch of tenders for more than 750 more is planned. The year 2024 must continue in the same direction, says Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The Social Democratic head of the PSD-PNL Government promises that his executive team will continue to meet the milestones of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which will allow Romania to achieve an economic growth of 3.4%, the second highest in the European Union.



    This year will be the year of investments, says the prime minister, recalling that a record amount of 120 billion lei was allocated to this sector in the state budget, i.e. more than 7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The parliamentary opposition, on the other hand, believes that the government is overly optimistic about the Treasury’s ability to collect money for the budget, which will inevitably affect the investment sector as well. (MI)

  • Statements concerning Schengen

    Statements concerning Schengen

    As long as they are not welcomed into the free-movement Schengen Area, Romanians and Bulgarians will continue to feel like second-class citizens of the European Union – the press and the political class in Bucharest and Sofia have been warning for years. The topic becomes all the more urgent as, this year, in June, the Union will elect a new Parliament, and the frustration caused by this undeserved exclusion feeds the electoral share of Eurosceptic or outright anti-European parties in the two countries.



    Members of the EU structures since 2007, Romania and Bulgaria have been kept in the Schengen antechamber for more than a decade, while Croatia, which entered the Union only in 2013, was already co-opted, a year ago, into the free movement area. There, more than 400 million people can travel freely, without internal border controls.



    Among the member states of the European Union, only Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the islands of Cyprus and Ireland, are not part of the Schengen Area. It includes, however, four non-EU countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. For the admission of new members, the unanimous acceptance of the old ones is needed, and the Netherlands has so far blocked Bulgaria’s candidacy, while Austria stood against Romania’s admission. At the end of last year, the governments in The Hague and Vienna seem to have become more flexible and renounced, though partially, their objections to Romanias and Bulgarias joining Schengen.



    The two countries from the south-east of the Union will join the Schengen area in March, but only with the air and maritime borders. Controls will be eliminated only in sea port and airport customs. The Otopeni Henri Coandă airport, the largest in the country, has been prepared for Schengen operation since 2011, itsmanagement told Radio Romania, stressing that two thirds of the passengers fly to and from Schengen countries.



    It is a day of great pride for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a message published on the Internet in Romanian and Bulgarian. The European states today support our legitimate right to be members of the Schengen area. Romanians deserve dignity and equal treatment along with all European citizens , stated the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The parliamentary opposition, on the other hand, accuses the government of delivering a pseudo-victory to the Romanians in an election year, because they will continue to stand for hours at the border, and the national economy will continue to lose huge amounts, due to many hours wasted by carriers at customs.



    In parallel, the Government has promised that the negotiations to lift the restrictions at the land borders as well will continue. But for the moment it is not clear when this step will be taken, given that, as the Radio Romania correspondent in Brussels notes, Austria is still questioning Romanias and Bulgarias ability to manage the migration issue. (MI)

  • Schengen, not yet

    Schengen, not yet


    In the absence of the unanimity of the EU member states, the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area is not yet possible, although both have, for many years, met all the technical criteria required. Moreover, projects are underway that are strengthening the border of the European Union better than ever. Austria and the Netherlands stick to their unfavorable position, at least for now. Last year, at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, Austria voted against the acceptance of both countries in Schengen, while the Netherlands voiced reservations only with regard to Bulgaria.



    Under these conditions, currently, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is waiting to find out what decision the Netherlands will adopt regarding the acceptance of Bulgaria, after the early legislative elections recently held in Romanias neighboring country:


    “First of all, Romania and Bulgaria, as you well know, come together in this. We are first waiting for the decision of the Netherlands regarding Bulgaria and we will see what Romania will do next”.



    As for Austria, Foreign Minister Luminiţa Odobescu says that, recently, communication on this matter has improved, and efforts are continuing to reach a mutually agreed solution. Luminiţa Odobescu:


    “There is a dialogue with the Austrian side, the matter is still being discussed, there are diplomatic steps. We are supported in this by both the European Commission and the other member states. We are working to identify a solution as soon as possible and, obviously, we will see in the next period what are the exact steps to be taken.”



    According to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the moment was not favorable from a political point of view for Romania to ask for a new vote at the JHA Council that took place on Tuesday evening, in Brussels. However, this could happen this month, within an extraordinary council meeting.


    “We could not be on the agenda, unless we wanted to force a vote that we would have known in advance, not necessarily the vote of Austria against Romania, we would have known very clearly the vote of the Netherlands against Bulgaria. The procedure in the Netherlands is more complicated than in Romania, it is first voted on Parliament, and then the Prime Minister goes with a mandate from Parliament to vote in a European Council. The only solution, at this moment, is to wait for the reaction of the Netherlands – and it will come soon. And you know that I also had discussions with Mr. Frans Timmermans regarding Bulgaria and the convening of an extraordinary JHA meeting on this matter.”




    Tuesday evening, at the end of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson, stated that the European Commission still wanted a decision on the enlargement of the Schengen area, by accepting Romania and Bulgaria this year. Spain, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the Union, also wants Romania and Bulgaria to become members of the area of ​​free movement of persons and goods before December 31. (MI)


  • Romania condemns the attacks on Israel

    Romania condemns the attacks on Israel

    Many wonder how it was possible
    for a country like Israel, boasting highly-trained intelligence spread across
    an entire network in the Middle East, to actually be so vulnerable. A number of
    questions have started to arise. Some analysts say this vulnerability, which
    few had believed could exist, stems from Israel’s growing weakness amidst the ruling coalition’s efforts to promote a
    controversial judicial reform. The opposition, the civil society and some
    representatives of the army and law enforcement agencies, have challenged this
    law, claiming it undermines the country’s democratic fabric. Beyond the state’s
    responsibility, the hard reality on the ground, the fate of the civilians
    caught in the middle of this conflict, sparks the darkest fears of the
    international democratic community. The attacks of the Hamas terrorist
    organization on Israel have been strongly condemned by Western states.

    US
    President Joe Biden highlighted Israel’s undisputed right to defend itself and
    warned forces hostile to Israel, such as Iran, against taking advantage of the
    current developments. European institutions and states have also harshly
    condemned the attacks, and Bucharest made no exception. We stand with Israel
    in these terrible times. Our thoughts go to the families of the victims and to
    the people who were attacked, president Klaus Iohannis tweeted. The president
    strongly condemned the large-scale terrorist attack on Israel, adding it has a
    highly toxic potential of further destabilizing the security context in the
    Middle East. For a very long time, the international community has been trying
    to identify solutions in this region, and unfortunately today’s events
    backtrack these efforts. This attack could potentially destabilize the Middle
    East, and I hope the situation will be brought under control swiftly and all
    parties will resume diplomatic talks, president Iohannis went on to say.
    According to the Romanian official, Israel has a clear right to defend itself
    in the given situation.

    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also condemned the
    attacks on Israel, calling for an immediate ceasefire. The head of government
    conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families, also expressing Romania’s
    solidarity with Israel. The Romanian Foreign Ministry also firmly condemned the
    Hamas attacks, including those targeting the civilian population, the
    terrorists who infiltrated the country and took people hostage. The Romanian
    MFA expressed its deep regret for the victims of these attacks and conveyed
    messages of condolence to families in mourning and of solidarity to the
    families of the wounded. The Foreign Ministry underscored Israel’s sovereign
    right to defend itself and in turn condemned terrorism in all its forms. (VP)



  • Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy

    Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy


    The 23rd Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy, traditionally held before Diplomacy Day on September 1st, is the first in-person meeting after the previous three online editions.



    The main themes of this years Romanian Diplomacy Meeting are related to the management of challenges in the Black Sea area and maximizing opportunities. At the meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions and directors of the Romanian cultural institutes, president Klaus Iohannis has reiterated the fact that Romania will keep supporting Ukraine as long as necessary. Bucharest will also stay by the side of the Republic of Moldova, helping it with financial assistance, expertise and political support, for an irreversible European path, but also in the building of a safe and prosperous state.



    According to the Romanian head of state, the priority of the moment is obtaining a political decision to start EU accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Also, Iohannis stressed, its Romanias duty to continue to be a genuine provider of security and prosperity in the region, so that the Black Sea becomes a region where peace and prosperity can no longer be subject to any threat. A big issue in the process of full integration into the European Union, Romanias joining the Schengen Agreement remains a priority for the coming period, the president also said. This goal must be achieved, both based on the already recognized performances of our country and as a confirmation of the fact that the EU is able to respond to the need for cohesion, resilience and increased security.



    Romanian diplomacy has managed to place the country among the important regional players, said in turn Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. “We are preparing to create our own contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine, just as we will continue to strengthen the resilience of the Republic of Moldova”, stressed the head of the Romanian Government. The prime minister also called on the Romanian diplomats to support Romanian companies to enter as many foreign markets as possible. On the other hand, he drew attention to the fact that next year there will be three types of elections for Romanian citizens abroad, which must be organized properly.



    For his part, the Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, has stated that Romania has proven that it is a reliable partner in the region, ensuring the transit through the solidarity corridors established at the level of the European Union and through the initiative regarding the export of grains through the Black Sea.



    The Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy is an opportunity to update priorities in a context dominated by Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, an unprecedented threat to peace, security and international order based on rules, believes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu. According to her, citizens must benefit from the opportunities provided by the actions undertaken by the Romanian diplomacy, even in this extremely difficult context. According to the Romanian Foreign Minister, more steps will be taken to strengthen Romanias profile within the European Union, NATO and internationally. (MI)




  • August 4, 2023

    August 4, 2023

    Tour. The Romanian Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu has officially confirmed that a tour of Africa is being prepared for Romanias President Klaus Iohannis. “Romania aims to bring ties with Sub-Saharan Africa to a higher level, adapted to the new Romanian and African realities and the new strategic interest of each partner. This revival will be done by pursuing common values ​​and interests, mainly in political and economic terms, of multilateral and international cooperation. The political reconnection to the African space is done through the development and diversification of bilateral relations with African states, including through the revitalization of high-level visits both in Romania and on the African continent”, said the Romanian official.



    Traffic. Naval traffic is very intense at the exit from the Danube to the Black Sea, after Russia attacked the Ukrainian ports of Reni and Izmail. In this situation, the Romanian officials of the River Administration of the Lower Danube in Galati decided, on Thursday, to only allow vessels to go out to sea and only then to sail in the opposite direction. The measure is in force also today. After Russias withdrawal from the agreement that allowed the safe export of Ukrainian grain to the Black Sea, the Danube is used as an export route for agricultural products from Ukraine. The grains are loaded on barges that pass through the territorial waters of Romania to the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanța.Neptun Deep. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu says the Neptun Deep project, which involves the extraction of gas from the Black Sea, is a strategic one, and Romania will become the largest producer of natural gas in the European Union. The development plan for the Domino and Pelican South deposits in the Neptun Deep perimeter has been confirmed by the National Agency for Mineral Resources, according to a post on the Governments Facebook page. According to the cited source, OMV Petrom and Romgaz will invest up to 4 billion euros in this stage of project development, which will generate a production of about 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The first quantities of gas from the Black Sea would be extracted in 2027.




    Reform. The emergency ordinance regarding the public administration reform would come into force in Romania starting September 1, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has stated. A more flexible state is needed, it is essential to reduce costs and merge institutions whose activities overlap, said the prime minister, who asked the Ministry of Finance to finalize as soon as possible the normative act that must substantially reduce expenses in the budget system. The Prime Minister said that he will not give up on this reform, regardless of pressure. The trade unionists, however, demand that the Government abandon the draft ordinance and start consultations with the stakeholders. They argue that the solution is not to cut employees means of subsistence, namely meal vouchers or food allowances, but rather to significantly reduce the overburdened central government apparatus, to implement the referendum decision to reduce the number of parliamentarians or even to cut public subsidies for political parties . The trade union confederations warn that, in its current form, the normative act will drastically reduce incomes in the budget sector and will trigger large-scale social conflicts.



    Firefighters. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu congratulated the Romanian rescuers who completed their mission in Greece on Friday for their “altruism, courage and efforts”. He wished success to the Romanian firefighters who are replacing them to continue the mission of helping the population and the authorities to put out the fires in other countries. “Romania and Europe stand in solidarity with the Greek people, who are in need of support, and we hope that, together, we can return things to normal as soon as possible!”, stated Marcel Ciolacu. On Friday, Romania sent to Greece a new specialized module for extinguishing forest fires, in the context of the massive vegetation fires that the Greek state has been faced with recently. 90 Romanian firefighters from the Inspectorates for Emergency Situations replaced their colleagues who participated in a similar mission in the last two weeks, within the European Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union.




    Football. The Romanian teams Farul Constanța, FCSB and Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe have qualified for the third preliminary round of the UEFA Conference League. CFR Cluj missed the goal, being eliminated by the Turkish team Adana Demirspor. The Romanian champion Farul Constanta got past the Armenian team Urartu with a double 3-2, at home and away, and is going to take on FC Flora Tallinn from Estonia. The winner of the Romanian Cup, Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe, won last night 4-0 and got 6-0 on aggregate against ŢSKA Sofia of Bulgaria. Sepsi is now preparing for the two matches against FC Aktobe from Kazakhstan. The vice-champion FCSB defeated the Bulgarian team ŢSKA 1948 3-2 (1-0) and will play against the vice-champion of Denmark, FC Nordsjaelland. The matches in the third preliminary round for the Conference League will be played on August 10 and 17. (MI)