Radio România Internațional

Tag: recovery

  • February 17, 2021 UPDATE

    February 17, 2021 UPDATE

    PENSIONS Romanias Parliament Wednesday passed a bill scrapping special pensions for Senators and Deputies, with 357 votes and 30 abstentions. The Chamber of Deputies Speaker Ludovic Orban said cancelling special pensions for MPs is just a first step. We will have to tackle the entire relevant legislation, so as to bring all pensions in Romania as close as possible to the principle of previous contributions, Ludovic Orban said.



    FINANCES The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that recent talks with Cabinet members focused on the preparation of projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and explained that these will primarily target hospitals, the environment, and jobs. He emphasised that the document would be ready by April, when it will be submitted to the European Commission. Johannis also said Romania may get “significant funding under the NRRP, which makes available over 30 billion euros. The head of state explained that investments are needed in Romanias hospitals and schools. Another topic approached was that of jobs. According to the president, thorough and sustainable environment programmes are also necessary.



    PROTESTS Trade unions carried on protests on Wednesday in Bucharest and other major cities. The government headquarters was first picketed by unionists from the police, public administration, social assistance, court clerks, and public finances. They were followed by trade unions from other sectors as well. Protests were also held in front of the head offices of 2 parties in the ruling coalition, the National Liberal Party and USR-PLUS Alliance. People are disgruntled with the draft 2021 budget, which they see as an austerity budget and likely to extend the economic crisis entailed by the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday employers and employees in the hospitality industry also voiced their discontent. Not least, railway unions rallied for the enforcement of the railway personnel act, which is supposed to increase salaries and provide for more investments in the sector.



    MOTION Romanian Deputies Wednesday dismissed a simple motion tabled by the Social Democrats in opposition against the health minister Vlad Voiculescu, the first motion in the current legislative term. Both the Social Democrats and AUR Party MPs voted in favour of the document. The motion demanded the resignation of the health minister, accusing him of failure to be properly involved in the efficient management of the Covid-19 vaccination and testing programmes and to take the measures necessary in order to avoid fires in hospitals. The document was discussed in the Chamber on Monday. At that time Vlad Voiculescu said the responsibility for the disastrous state of Romanias public healthcare lies with the Social Democrats. In procedural terms, a simple motion, even if passed in Parliament, does not entail the dismissal of a Cabinet member.



    COVID-19 The head of the National Vaccination Coordination Committee, dr. Valeriu Gheorghiţă, announced that, less than 2 months since the start of the vaccination programme in Romania, the benefits are already evident. According to official data, nearly 90% of the healthcare staff eligible for vaccination in the first stage of the programme have already received both doses, and more than 98% of them the first dose. Since the start of the programme on December 27, nearly 716,000 people have been immunised. Over 1.2 million doses have been administered, most of them produced by Pfizer/BioNTech, followed by Moderna and AstraZeneca. Meanwhile, over 2,800 new COVID-19 cases have been reported over the past 24 hours, out of nearly 35,000 tests run nation-wide. The total number of cases in Romania since the start of the pandemic is over 768,000, with the death toll standing at 19,588. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • February 16, 2021

    February 16, 2021

    COVID-19 2,676 new SARS-CoV-2 cases were reported
    in Romania in the last 24 hours, out of nearly 33,000 tests conducted
    nation-wide, according to the Strategic Communication Group. So far Romania has
    had around 766,000 confirmed coronavirus infections. Nearly 90% of the patients
    have recovered. The authorities also announced another 81 COVID-19 related
    deaths, taking the death toll to over 19,500. Another 943 patients are in
    intensive care.

    ECONOMY PM Florin Cîţu says a “V-shaped recovery of the Romanian economy is certain, after data made public by the National Statistics Institute for the last quarter of 2020 point to a 5.3% growth rate. He mentioned that in 2020, Romanias economy, just like the global economy, was hit by the biggest crisis of the last century. Florin Cîţu also added that last year Romania performed 5% better than originally estimated, and 2.5% in average better than all forecasts made by international institutions, the EC, financial rating agencies and other financial institutions.



    PROTESTS Representatives of the hospitality industry organise in Bucharest today new protests against the pandemic containment measures introduced by the authorities. Employers in the sector demand the payment of the promised compensations for last year, when their operations declined by 70%. In Mondays meeting with hospitality representatives, the economy minister Claudiu Năsui promised that the government earmarked over 510 million euros for financial support in the draft budget. On Monday, members of Sanitas Union Federation picketed the Finance Ministry headquarters to warn that a smaller budget for public healthcare in a year with a coronavirus pandemic is not only an injustice to the workers in the system, but also deeply immoral to Romanias citizens.



    MOTION The Chamber of Deputies is to vote on Wednesday on the first simple motion of this legislative term, tabled by the Social Democrats in opposition against the health minister Vlad Voiculescu. The Deputies discussed the motion on Monday. The Social Democrats claim that minister Vlad Voiculescu was not sufficiently involved in the immunisation and testing programmes, and that he issued messages conflicting with the coordinators of the national vaccination campaign, discouraging the healthcare workers involved in the process. Vlad Voiculescu replied that during his 2 months in office, he earmarked close to 19 million euros for investments in hospitals.



    DIPLOMACY Slovakias foreign minister, Ivan Korcok, is on an official visit to Bucharest today, when he has meetings scheduled with his counterpart Bogdan Aurescu and PM Florin Cîţu. According to the Foreign Ministry, the visit is a new opportunity to reconfirm the excellent bilateral relation and the continuity of the dialogue and historical ties between the 2 countries. The officials will also discuss the coordination of topics of mutual interest at EU level, such as fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing the multi-annual framework and the European Recovery Plan, the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Eastern Partnership and the EU enlargement process.



    TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 2 in the world, Tuesday lost in Melbourne to the American Serena Williams (no 11 WTA), 6-3, 6-3, in the eighth-finals of the Australian Open. Halep and Williams have so far had 11 matches in professional competitions, with Williams winning 9 of them. The latest match was the Wimbledon final of 2019, when the Romanian won 6-2, 6-2. In 2019, they also played against each other in the eighth-finals in Melbourne, when Williams won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • The Recovery and Resilience Facility has been adopted

    The Recovery and Resilience Facility has been adopted

    The European Parliament has adopted the Recovery and
    Resilience Facility, a 672.5 billion Euros system of loans and grants available
    to support reforms and investment undertaken by member states with a view to mitigating
    the economic and social impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.




    The instrument is expected to enter into force in the
    second half of February and member states will have to prepare recovery and
    resilience plans that set out a coherent package of reforms and public
    investment projects. 13% of the sums can be made available right away and 70%
    must be contracted until the end of next year. It is essential to defeat the
    virus with vaccines but we also have a duty to help citizens, enterprises and
    communities to get out of the economic crisis, the head of the European
    Commission Ursula von der Leyen said.




    The mechanism has been structured around several main pillars:
    green
    transition, digital transformation, economic cohesion, productivity and
    competitiveness; social and territorial cohesion; health, economic, social and
    institutional resilience; policies for the next generation.






    The new financial mechanism is expected to allow the
    EU to reach its goal of climate neutrality and make headway in the process of
    digital transition creating fresh jobs and boosting economic growth.




    Romania has been earmarked 30.44 billion euros in
    funds that can be used to build and streamline its hospitals, to fund plans for
    the institutional training and crisis response as well as for child & youth
    policies. The national recovery and resilience plans should devote at least 37%
    of total expenditure to investments and reforms that support climate objectives
    and at least 20% to digital transition. The money could not be used to fund 5G
    networks of some hostile companies from outside the EU. Funds also cannot be
    used to cover budget deficits and expenses. Romania’s recovery plan is
    currently under public discussion and permanent talks are being held with
    European Commission representatives.






    Romania’s Prime Minister Florin Citu has hailed the vote
    in the European Parliament underlining that money is important in the recovery
    of an economy affected by the medical crisis. ‘We are going to use this money
    carefully to fund investment in infrastructure, digitization, green economy and
    structural reforms. The government wants to complete as soon as possible the National
    Plan of Recovery and Resilience so that Romania may have access to this
    European funding shortly, the Romanian official went on to say.


    (bill)

  • European Parliament approves multiannual budget

    European Parliament approves multiannual budget

    The European Parliament approved
    with overwhelming majority the EU budget for the 2021-2027 period. Parliament
    also approved the recovery plan to address the crisis generated by the coronavirus
    pandemic. The vote was possible after a deal was agreed at the Brussels summit
    last week, when EU leaders managed to convince Hungary and Poland to no longer
    block this financing plan worth no less than 1,800 billion euros. The two
    countries were opposed to linking payment of European funds to compliance with
    the rule of law. The conditionality mechanism allows the EU to stop funding for
    any given member state when the European Commission deems that state to be in
    breach of the rule of law. The deadlock was overcome through a compromise that
    implies the involvement of the European Court of Justice.




    The 7-year budget allows
    the European Union to disburse significant public funds to address the
    coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. Thus, EU states may embark on
    sustainable recovery, securing and creating new jobs. The budget version approved
    by the European Parliament provides for 15 billion euros in top-ups for key EU
    programmes. The EU4Health programme will thus see its funding triple and the
    Erasmus education programme will benefit from the equivalent of an additional
    year of financing. Through this financial package, the European Parliament aims
    to ensure that funding for research, a key sector, will keep increasing. Moreover, 1 billion euros will be set aside to
    address any future needs and crises and could also be added to the EU’s flagship
    programmes.




    Under the new EU budget,
    Romania is entitled to 46.3 billion euros, which will be made available at the
    start of the new year. Romania will also benefit from an additional 30.5
    billion euros for economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis. Investment will
    focus on the worst-hit sectors.




    Concerning the recovery
    funds provided outside the regular budget to restart the economy, the European
    Parliament will make sure they are used in a transparent way. Together with the
    European Council, Parliament will check any deviation from previously agreed
    plans. (CM)

  • Agreement on the EU budget

    Agreement on the EU budget

    Gathered in Brussels for a two-day summit, the EU leaders managed to unblock the situation regarding the EU budget and the coronavirus recovery plan, which had been vetoed by Hungary and Poland. Unhappy that access to European funds was made conditional on the observance of the rule of law, the two governments contested the new Rule of Law Mechanism. A compromise was eventually reached, and the Hungarian and Polish governments lifted their veto.



    The European Rule of Law Mechanism, adopted by qualified majority following an understanding between the European Parliament and the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, allowed for the suspension of a member state’s access to European funds if the European Commission considered that the said state was violating the rule of law, and provided the member states approved the measure by qualified majority. Stating that the mechanism had no clearly set criteria and could be used as an arbitrary political tool to sanction the countries that promote policies disliked in Brussels, on November 16th, the Polish and the Hungarian governments vetoed the EU’s multi-annual budget.



    The EU budget for 2021-2017, worth 1074 billion euro, and the Next Generation EU-Covid-19 recovery package, with a fund of 750 billion euro, were adopted in July. The member states will be able to access credits and grands from this package. According to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, with the help of this plan economies can undertake the green and digital transitions.



    Following the agreement, Romania will get 46.7 billion euros from the common budget, for various policies, from agriculture, cohesion or rural development to transport and infrastructure. Also, 33.5 billion were allocated to Romania from the recovery package, in the form of grants and credits. President Klaus Iohannis has stated that Romania is ready to use these funds for reforms and investments in key sectors.



    According to the EU, the long-term budget and the Next Generation package, a temporary plan devised to boost recovery post-Covid19, will make up the largest incentive package funded from the EU budget. The new budget was conceived so as to strengthen flexibility mechanisms, in order to meet unforeseen needs.



    Next Generation will help fix the economic and social damage caused by SARS Co-V2. It is hoped that, after the Covid-19 pandemic, Europe will be greener, more digital, more resilient and better prepared to meet current and future challenges. (M. Ignatescu)

  • The Week in Review November 21-18

    The Week in Review November 21-18

    Romania, 9 months since its first coronavirus case


    Nine months after the first coronavirus infection was reported in the country, during which hundreds of thousands of other cases have been confirmed, the daily number of Sars-CoV-2-related deaths remains high, and so does the number of patients in intensive care.



    Experts warn that although the daily number of new cases has been on a slight decrease since the beginning of this week compared to last week, this is not enough to be optimistic. They believe that only after 14 days with a positive trend can the situation be assumed to be stable.



    Authorities introduced local lockdowns in areas with high infection rates. The results are already evident, and the rate is dropping. The restrictions introduced nation-wide, such as the compulsory face covering both indoors and outdoors, nighttime curfews and the switch to online classes in schools have also played a part.



    President Klaus Iohannis said Romania will not go under full lockdown after the general election due on December 6. However, this is not the time for relaxation, he said, and urged citizens to continue to observe the safety measures and to spend the winter holidays with the members of their own households.



    The president also voiced hopes that as soon as conclusive data is published, Romanians will be less skeptical with respect to a vaccine. According to a poll run by the Avangarde Social and Behavioural Studies Group, only 30% of the Romanians would get the coronavirus vaccine as soon as one is available in the country.



    Meanwhile, Romanian authorities are presenting the anti-COVID vaccination strategy, which is seen as a matter of national security. The strategy will be submitted for endorsement by the Supreme Defence Council next week. Healthcare and other key sector personnel and high-risk social categories will be the priority groups to receive the vaccine.



    The National Defence Ministry will play a very important role in supporting inter-institutional efforts during the anti-COVID vaccination campaign, providing the logistic means for this national campaign. The distribution strategy also takes into account the specific transport and storage requirements for each vaccine.



    The government approved the 3rd budget adjustment this year


    The Romanian Government Monday adopted the 3rd and last budget adjustment this year, one that takes the budget deficit to roughly 19.5 billion euros. Unlike earlier predictions, the budget deficit will reach 9.1% of GDP by year end, and the economy will shrink by 4.2%.



    PM Ludovic Orban said the adjustment was required in order to cover the expenditure incurred with the COVID-19 pandemic, with the payment of increased pension benefits and balancing local budgets. He explained that new challenges and expenses had to be handled, as the pandemic and a number of recent laws have increased the pressure on the state budget.



    Additional funds will be earmarked to the Labour Ministry for pension, furlough and flexible working time payments. The Health Ministry will also get more money for the anti-COVID efforts, including bonuses for ambulance staff, who had not been included in the original regulation providing bonuses to healthcare staff fighting the pandemic.



    The finance minister Florin Cîţu announced an increase in Romanias contribution to the EU financial effort to produce a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. He explained that this budget adjustment also ensures that public investment projects worth around 11 million euros will be carried on. Public education and agriculture have also received additional funds. The Agriculture Ministry will therefore be able to pay compensations to the farmers affected by this years drought. On the other hand, budget cuts were operated, affecting the Finance Ministry and the Interior Ministry, the Presidential Administration and the Chamber of Deputies.




    Bucharest presents National Recovery and Resilience Plan


    The Government of Romania Thursday night presented the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which will use EU funding to help the Romanian economy overcome the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is designed to ensure the accelerated development of the country in the coming 4 years, and the EU money will be spent on new hospitals, hundreds of kilometres of motorway, school infrastructure and the digitization of public administration.



    Under the plan, over 30 billion euros will be invested in the most important sectors of the Romanian society. Of the total, non-reimbursable grants amount to nearly 14 billion euro, and loans at favourable interest rates contracted by the European Commission on behalf of the member states account for the balance.



    The plan has been subject to public debate as of Thursday, with civil society invited to make suggestions, to be reviewed by the Government. After that, the plan will be sent to Brussels. Several NGOs working in the education, healthcare and social fields have already voiced their intention to contribute to the document, which, they say, must include first and foremost support measures for vulnerable categories and pay special attention to underprivileged youth and children, helping them to complete their education. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • November 27, 2020 UPDATE

    November 27, 2020 UPDATE

    Coronavirus
    Romania.     Almost 8,500 new coronavirus infections and 172 related deaths were
    reported on Friday in Romania. More than 450,000 people have been infected so
    far and almost 11,000 people have died to the virus in Romania. 1,226 patients
    are in intensive care. Several villages around the capital city are now in
    quarantine after seeing a spike in infection rates. Doctors say the measures
    taken by the authorities are not enough to keep the pandemic in check. They are
    asking for harsher restrictions, warning that the number of beds in intensive
    care units across the country is getting lower by the day. In another
    development, the National Authority for Consumer Protection has submitted seven
    notifications regarding uncertified masks in Romania, which have already been
    filtered through the EU’s rapid alert system. The Authority has recently put a
    trade ban on nearly 33 million such masks in Romania.




    Talks. Romanian prime minister Ludovic Orban on Friday had talks in
    videoconference format with German chancellor Angela Merkel. The two officials
    reviewed topical issues on the bilateral and European agenda, with an emphasis
    on ways to deepen Romanian-German cooperation, in particular the economic
    sector. Ludovic Orban hailed the efforts made by the German presidency of the
    Council of the EU, including with respect to tackling the challenges posed by
    the coronavirus pandemic. He also highlighted the stringent need to reach an
    agreement on the multiannual financial framework for the 2021-2027 period and
    the European economic recovery plan to allow for the release of European funds
    as soon as possible. The Romanian prime minister also reiterated how important
    accession to the Schengen area is for his country. Romania already fulfils the
    technical criteria in this respect and a favourable decision soon would
    reconfirm Romania’s status as a fully committed member of the European Union.
    The two officials also exchanged views on the latest developments in the
    eastern and southern neighbourhood, with a focus on the post-election situation
    in the Republic of Moldova. They agreed on the need to continue support,
    including at European level, for the democratic reform process in the Republic
    of Moldova.




    Recovery.
    The Government in Bucharest has submitted for public consultation the National
    Recovery and Resilience Plan, a post-COVID economic recovery plan, under which
    Romania will receive 30 billion euros worth of European funds. The plan is
    designed to uphold an accelerated growth rate over the next four years. The
    European funds will be used to build new hospitals and hundreds of kilometers
    of motorway, to develop school infrastructure and digitise local
    administrations. Of the 30 billion euros, 14 billion euros represent
    non-refundable grants, while the rest accounts for low-interest loans the
    Commission has taken out on behalf of all Member States.




    Black Sea.
    Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Friday reiterated Romania’s
    commitment to consolidate regional cooperation in the wider Black Sea area as a
    means of promoting stability and prosperity. He was speaking at the 42nd
    meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of the Black
    Sea Economic Cooperation held in videoconference format. Romania held the
    presidency of the organisation in 2020, with Albania taking over in the first
    six months of next year. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of
    Bulgaria, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, North
    Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine and the deputy foreign ministers of Greece, the
    Russian Federation and Turkey, as well as the national coordinator in Armenia
    and the secretary general of the Permanent International Secretariat of the
    organisation.




    Statistics. Romanian business
    managers are expecting a slump in activity and a drop in the number of
    employees in constructions and services and a stability of prices in the
    processing industry and constructions in the next three months, according to a
    poll published on Friday by the National Institute for Statistics. According to
    forecasts, turnover will also see a drop in the next three months, as will
    artistic activities and the hospitality industry.







  • July 23, 2020

    July 23, 2020

    COVID-19 The large number of new coronavirus infections over the past few days in Romania prompted authorities to raise the alarm about the healthcare situation. The National Public Health Institute urges citizens to observe basic protection rules, including proper face covering and physical distancing, along with strict hand hygiene. On Thursday the Strategic Communication Group reported a record-high rate of COVID-19 infection in 24 hours, 1.112 new cases out of over 20,000 tests. The total number of cases in 5 months has exceeded 40,000. Over 5,500 patients are hospitalised, with nearly 300 in intensive care. Authorities also reported 25 new deaths, bringing the total death toll to over 2,126.



    NATO The Cincu Training Centre in central Romania is today hosting a ceremony devoted to the establishment of NATOs Headquarters Multinational Division South-East. Attending the event are president Klaus Iohannis, defence minister Nicolae Ciucă, and chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Daniel Petrescu. A drill involving nearly 1,000 troops and 200 vehicles will follow the ceremony. The exercise is designed to improve the integration and performance of complex military actions. The NATO Headquarters Multinational Division South-East has been set up in order to coordinate the structures deployed in this region, security strategy expert Alexandru Grumaz explained for Radio Romania. Over 400 high-ranking officers from various NATO member countries will work in Sibiu starting this autumn. With the establishment of the headquarters, NATOs entire south-east European flank will be coordinated from Sibiu, retired general Alexandru Grumaz said.



    ECONOMY Accessing European funds was the key topic of Wednesday nights Government meeting in Bucharest, which focused on legislation facilitating the countrys economic recovery. The Cabinet also discussed options to grant non-reimbursable loans to SMEs and entrepreneurs, both for investments and working capital. Funds will also be granted to limited liability companies without employees, to self-employed professionals, cultural NGOs and to family physicians who treated COVID-19 patients. Another bill concerns the provision of funds for SMEs to lease equipment and tools. The 80 billion euros earmarked by the EU for Romania will be spent for national reconstruction, president Klaus Iohannis said prior to the Cabinet meeting, after a discussion with PM Ludovic Orban. The money will come from 2 sources, the EU 2021-2027 multiannual budget and the post-COVID-19 recovery fund. The first source will cover ongoing projects, and the money will be accessed under a national plan which is virtually ready, the head of state explained. The EU economic recovery plan provides access to 34 billion euros for Romania, especially in non-reimbursable funds and also in low-interest loans.



    EU The European Parliament convenes today in a special session devoted to the multiannual budget and the economic recovery plan, endorsed on Tuesday by the EU leaders. Attending the session will be the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Council president Charles Michel. Political groups in the EP have agreed on a resolution to be adopted by Parliament. MEPs will ask for clarifications regarding the connection between accessing EU funds and the rule of law, after this issue was left unanswered by the EU leaders at this weeks summit, the EP president David Sassoli said on Wednesday, quoted by Reuters. He added that the multiannual budget must be able to cover the main challenges facing Europe in the medium run, such as the green deal, digitisation, economic vulnerabilities and fighting inequities. Previously, EU leaders agreed on setting up a European recovery fund worth 750 billion euros and on the Unions budget for 2021-2027, amounting to 1,074 billion euro, but their official statement includes no reference to making access to funds conditional on observing the rule of law.



    FOOTBALL The Bucharest-based club FCSB last night won the Romanian Football Cup, after defeating Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe 1-0 on neutral ground in Ploieşti. FCSB thus booked its place in the Europa League qualifiers, alongside another Romanian team, FC Botosani. The national football championship is also drawing to an end, after being suspended in March over the coronavirus pandemic and resumed last months. Topping the charts is CSU Craiova, followed by defending champions CFR Cluj. All football matches in Romania are played without public access. (translated by: Ana Maria Popescu)

  • July 22, 2020 UPDATE

    July 22, 2020 UPDATE

    Coronavirus Romania. Romania reports a record 1,030 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and 27 new deaths. The number of confirmed cases thus hits 40,100, while the death toll rises to 2,101. Almost 25,000 people have recovered. A law regulating the conditions for quarantine and isolation came into force on Tuesday, which, according to the health minister Nelu Tataru, lays down the instruments required in order to reduce the number of new cases. The minister warned however that the next two weeks will be difficult, with lots of active cases. As of Wednesday, the village of Cartojani in Giurgiu County in the south is under lockdown, after reporting 32 infections through community spread for a total population of 3,600. Local authorities say epidemiological risks are extremely severe, given that current protection measures are not observed. Another village in Prahova County, also in the south, is under a 2-week lockdown as well, while similar measures are being considered in several localities in Arges County.



    Coronavirus world. Global coronavirus infections near 15.1 million, while the death toll nears 620,000. In his coronavirus press briefing, which he resumed after many weeks of interruption, US president Donald Trump told Americans that the pandemic may get worse before it gets better and urged them to wear face coverings where they cannot maintain physical distance, something he had previously opposed. The US saw more than 600,000 new cases for the 8th day in a row. On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation said it would bring together scientists and experts from various fields as part of a project to combat disinformation, a relatively new threat to public health. In another move, a number of British researchers told the British Parliament that people would have to live with the pandemic for many years, believing it is unlikely for a possible vaccine to eliminate this coronavirus definitively.



    Industry President Klaus Iohannis and a governmental team headed by PM Ludovic Orban Wednesday discussed
    means to correlate the 2 national plans through which Romania will have access to
    nearly 80 billion euro under the European Union’s post-coronavirus economic
    recovery plan. Some of the money may be accessed this year, if the related national plan
    is prepared quickly, as the Cabinet intends, the President explained. Also on Wednesday, but in Craiova, in the south, Iohannis said that the automotive industry is vital for Romania and it
    still has a lot of growth potential. He visited the Ford production unit in
    Craiova, southern Romania, which has resumed its 3-shift working hours, and has
    a production volume comparable to the one before the pandemic. The management
    announced having initiated additional investments of 30 million USD for parts
    and components. The American carmaker has already invested over 1.5 billion
    euro in the plant in Craiova, which employs nearly 6,000 people. Another major
    carmaker operating in Romania is the French company Renault, producing the
    Dacia brand in Pitesti, in the south of the country, and employing over 17,700 workers.



    Deficit. Government deficit grew both in the eurozone and in the European Union in the first quarter of the year compared with the previous quarter, because of the lockdown to contain the spread of the pandemic, according to the latest figures published by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office. In the eurozone, the government deficit grew from 0.7% of GDP in the last quarter of last year to 2.2% in the first quarter of this year. Malta, with 8.5%, Romania, with 7.2%, and Belgium, with 6%, have the highest deficit levels in the European Union.



    Judiciary. The Romanian senators rejected a bill to dismantle the special department to investigate offences in the judiciary. The Save Romania Union, the party that initiated the bill, said the department is criticised by magistrates, European institutions and various organisations in the field, while the Social Democratic Party said it guarantees the independence of the judiciary. The Chamber of Deputies has already rejected the bill, but the Senate was the decision-making body in this case.


    (translated by: CM, Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • 21 July 2020, UPDATE

    21 July 2020, UPDATE

    EU recovery plan. EU member states on Tuesday morning reached an agreement on a historic economic
    recovery plan for the Union after 4 days of marathon face-to-face talks in
    Brussels. The 750 billion euro post-crisis plan adds to the EU’s multi-annual
    budget of 1,074 billion euros for the 2021-2027 period. Of the 750 billion
    euros, 390 billion will be granted in grants to the countries worst hit by the
    coronavirus crisis, while 360 billion euros will be available in loans.
    President Klaus Iohannis says Romania is to receive 80 billion euros, which
    will go into to building schools and hospitals and upgrading major public infrastructure.




    Coronavirus Romania. 994 new
    coronavirus cases were reported in Romania on Tuesday, with the total number
    passing 39,000. 36 more people died since the previous report, with the total
    death now toll standing at 2,074. As many as 1.087 patients have been released from
    hospital at their request, while nearly 300 others are still in intensive care.
    Prime minister Ludovic Orban has once again called on citizens to comply with
    protection rules and use face masks indoors. Checks
    in crowded areas, such as markets, outdoor restaurants and public transport, have
    been stepped up. Health minister Nelu Tataru said doctors and other medical
    staff would have to be posted to help with intensive care. Postings will at
    first be voluntary, and if necessary, even obligatory. We are currently seeing
    a progressive rise in the number of cases and in the next two weeks we will try
    to return to quarantine and isolation at home or at hospital, the health
    minister also said. In another move, the Romanian airline Tarom has suspended
    commercial flights to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia,
    Turkey and Lebanon until 15th August, as a result of the travel restrictions
    imposed by the authorities.




    Quarantine. In
    Romania, a new law on quarantine and self-isolation took effect on Tuesday. The
    bill introduced by the Government was drastically amended by Parliament after
    the Constitutional Court ruled that such restrictions can only be imposed by
    law, even in the case of COVID-19 patients. The Cabinet met on Tuesday morning
    to incorporate the provisions of the new law into an executive order that
    extends the state of alert by 30 days as of July 17. Under the new law,
    healthcare authorities may decide that patients be hospitalised for 48 hours for
    an assessment of their medical condition, after which doctors may either extend
    the hospitalisation period or send the patient home, if the risk of disease
    transmission is low. Patients may challenge in court the obligation to
    self-isolate. The same applies for quarantine measures, which concern people
    coming from high-risk areas or who have been in contact with infected people.
    The law also stipulates that doctors and nurses may be posted to hospitals
    experiencing staff shortages, but only for 30 days, and they are entitled to
    bonuses for their work. The law defines the conditions for local or regional
    lockdown, a measure the authorities have often mentioned in recent days.




    Exercise. Two
    Romanian military vessels are taking part in a multinational NATO exercise
    called Sea Breeze 20, held between July 20 and 27 in Ukraine’s territorial waters,
    the Black Sea international waters and the port of Odessa. Over 20 military
    vessels, 19 aircraft and nearly 2,000 troops and officers are taking part.

    Defence talks. Romanian defence minister Nicolae Ciuca on Tuesday met
    general Andre Lanata, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Talks
    focused on the world crisis generated by the coronavirus outbreak and NATO’s
    involvement in managing it, as well as the impact of the health crisis on
    allied activities. The Romanian official said his country remains committed to
    allocating 2% of its GDP to defence and that the Romanian army continues to
    train and carry out exercises together with its partners and to participate in
    international missions.




    Football. The
    football sides FCSB from Bucharest and Sepsi OSK from Sfântu Gheorghe will be
    playing the Romanian Cup final on neutral ground in Ploiesti on Wednesday evening.
    In the semi-finals, Sepsi defeated CSM Poli Iaşi, while FCSB defeated Dinamo
    Bucharest. The domestic championship resumed last month, after being suspended
    in March because of the coronavirus outbreak. The current leaders in the
    ranking are CSU Craiova followed by the defending champions CFR Cluj. All
    football matches in Romania are played without spectators. (CM)



  • July 21, 2020

    July 21, 2020

    RECOVERY The 27 EU member states this morning in Brussels have reached an agreement on a historic economic recovery plan for the Union. The 750 billion euro post-crisis plan adds to the EUs multi-annual budget of 1,074 billion euro for 2021-2027. Of the 750 billion euros, 390 billion will be granted in subsidies to the countries worst hit by the corona crisis, while 360 billion euro will be available in loans. President Klaus Iohannis announced that Romania will receive 80 billion euros, to build schools and hospitals and upgrade major public systems.



    COVID-19 According to the latest report released by the Strategic Communication Group, the last 24 hours saw 994 new COVID-19 cases in Romania, bringing the total number to 39,133 since late February. 36 people died over the past 24 hours, with the total death toll standing at 2,074. As many as 1.087 patients have been released at their request, while nearly 300 others are still in intensive care. PM Ludovic Orban has once again called on citizens to comply with protection rules and to use face masks indoors. He said the authorities would not like to introduce new restrictions or measures that would impact the economy. The number of checks and inspections in crowded areas, such as markets, outdoor restaurants or public transport, has been increased.



    LAW In Romania, a new law on quarantine and self-isolation has taken effect today. The bill introduced by the Government was drastically amended by Parliament, after the Constitutional Court ruled that such restrictions can only be imposed by law, even in the case of COVID-19 patients. The Cabinet convened this morning to introduce the provisions of the new law in an executive order that extends the state of alert by 30 days, as of July 17. Under the new law, healthcare authorities may decide that patients be hospitalised for 48 hours, for an assessment of their state, after which doctors may either extend the hospitalisation period or send the patient home, if the risk of disease transmission is low. Patients may challenge in court the obligation to self-isolate. The same applies for quarantine measures, which concern people coming from high-risk areas or who have been in contact with infected people. The law also stipulates that doctors and nurses may be transferred to hospitals experiencing staff shortages, but only for 30 days, and they are entitled to bonuses for their work. The law defines the conditions for local or regional lockdowns, a measure that the authorities have been talking about recently.



    PANDEMIC With many restrictions lifted and the holiday season in full swing, the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has doubled in the past 7 weeks, to 15 million, of which 5.3 million active cases at present. Over 614,000 people died. The most affected countries remain the US, Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa, Peru, Mexico, Chile, and the UK. In Europe, the countries with the highest death tolls are the UK, Italy, France and Spain. Asia also sees large numbers of cases in India, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The WHO warns that indigenous peoples in the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the world, accounting for nearly half a million people, are highly vulnerable and measures must be taken as soon as possible.



    MILITARY Two Romanian military vessels are taking part in a multinational exercise called “Sea Breeze 20, held between July 20 and 27 in Ukraines territorial sea, in the Black Sea international waters and the port of Odessa. Over 20 military vessels, 19 aircraft and nearly 2,000 troops and officers take part in this NATO exercise.



    SPORT The football sides FCSB from Bucharest and Sepsi OSK from Sfântu Gheorghe will be playing the Romanian Cup final on neutral ground in Ploiesti this Wednesday night. In the semi-finals, Sepsi outplayed CSM Poli Iaşi, and FCSB defeated Dinamo Bucharest. Last month, the domestic championship was resumed, after being suspended in March over the COVID-19 epidemic. Topping the standings is CSU Craiova, followed by defending champions CFR Cluj. All football matches in Romania are played without public access.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • July 20, 2020

    July 20, 2020

    SUMMIT The EU leaders convened in Brussels to carry on negotiations on a post-crisis economic recovery plan, in one of the largest EU summits in 2 decades. According to European sources, a new plan will be presented to the 27 delegations, proposing 390-billion euro subsidies. This is a substantial decrease from the 500 billion euro stipulated in the original plan of the European Commission and rejected by the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. The initial plan was worth a total 750 billion euro, with 250 billion euro in loans and 500 billion in subsidies. Attending the summit, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said intensive talks are held within the European Council with respect to the conditions for granting the amounts, with some Member States pleading for more relaxed conditions and others for strict control by the Council or the Commission. He also added that many states agreed to make the allotment of funds conditional on compliance with the rule of law. Klaus Iohannis said that the rule of law is not a problem in Romania and he is not against such conditions.



    AIR FORCES Ceremonies have been held today, in a low-key form in keeping with the coronavirus containment measures, to celebrate the Day of the Romanian Aviation and Air Forces. PM Ludovic Orban attended an event in Bucharest, where he thanked all professionals in the field for their work, courage and professionalism. 15 military aircraft flew over the Air Heroes Monument in Bucharest, where a religious service was also held.



    COVID-19 Romania reports a total of over 38,100 COVID-19 cases, with 681 new infections confirmed in the last 24 hours, the Strategic Communication Group announced today. The total number of deaths caused by SARS CoV-2 has reached 2,038. Nearly 22,700 patients have recovered, accounting for 60% of the total number. Abroad, 5,215 Romanian nationals have tested positive for the virus, with the death toll standing at 122. The health minister Nelu Tătaru said he was concerned with peoples disregard for health protection measures at the seaside and in the mountain resorts where many Romanians are on holiday. He does not rule out reducing the working hours of outdoor restaurants and bars, which are highly popular in Romania at this time of the year.



    PARLIAMENT The Parliament of Romania is working this week as well in a special session. The agenda of the Senate includes a citizen initiative under which convicted criminals are no longer allowed to hold public office. The bill has already been endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies, but has been pending on Parliaments agenda for over a year.



    CRISIS In Bulgaria, the COVID-19 crisis overlaps a political crisis, with Parliament scheduled to discuss today an anti-corruption motion initiated by the Socialist Party and backed by the ethnic Turkish party. The vote will most likely be held on Wednesday. Meanwhile, anti-corruption protesters are set for a new week of rallies, demanding the resignation of PM Boiko Borisov and of prosecutor general Ivan Gheshev, whom they see as working with the organised crime networks in Bulgaria.



    PANDEMIC The total number of coronavirus infections worldwide passes 14.6 million, with the death toll in excess of 600,000, according to worldometers.info. The US and Brazil remain the worst hit countries, and the global daily rate of new cases is still on the rise. The scientific coordinator of the World Health Organisation (OMS), Soumya Swaminathan, said researches into the coronavirus genome started in January and great progress has been made so far. The WHO is currently testing over 20 vaccines, and the chances of all of them failing are rather slim, Soumya Swaminathan added. She explained that a vaccine might be available as of early next year, with hopes for mass production and distribution in mid-2021. Oxford Universitys coronavirus vaccine, which is apparently already being slated for production by a pharmaceutical company, is in the most advanced stage in Europe. Amind growing tensions between the UK and Russia, the British foreign secretary Dominic Raab accused Russia of attempting to steal information used by the coronavirus vaccine researchers, while the Russian Ambassador to London, Andrei Kelin, dismissed the accusations.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The State of Alert has been prolonged in Romania for another month

    The State of Alert has been prolonged in Romania for another month

    Romanians will have to wait to get back to the life
    without restrictions, the lifestyle they enjoyed before the pandemic outbreak.
    The announcement was made on Wednesday by the country’s president Klaus
    Iohannis.




    Klaus Iohannis: ʺUnder the
    present circumstances when the number of infections isn’t going down but on the
    contrary is on the rise, it is only normal that the state of alert be extended for
    another 30 days. However, only the restrictions now in force will be kept. No further restrictions are to be added but as
    I said, under the present circumstances we cannot speak about relaxation
    either.




    Prior to the president’s announcement, the government
    passed a resolution in this respect. Let’s have a look at some of the restrictions
    still in place: wearing masks in indoor public spaces, like supermarkets,
    public transportation and workplaces is still mandatory. And so is hand hygiene
    and physical distancing.


    Outdoor events like rallies and demonstrations are
    banned, while groups larger than 6 cannot travel around the cities unless they
    are a family.




    Private indoor events cannot exceed 20 people while
    outdoor events with more than 50 participants are not permitted. Restaurants
    remain closed but outdoor beer gardens are open.


    Malls and supermarkets are open, whereas cinemas and playgrounds
    remain closed. Indoor religious services are permitted but participants are to
    wear masks and observe physical distancing. Last but not least, some flights
    are still cancelled and some border checkpoints remain closed. Against this
    restrictive background, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has given assurances
    that measures aimed at the country’s economic recovery and growth are likely to
    continue.


    Klaus Iohannis: ʺThe
    government is working on and going to present fresh laws and regulations aimed
    at supporting the country’s economic recovery programme, which has been
    presented. Economic recovery is extremely important after this difficult period
    we have been through.


    Economic recovery is also expected to be high on the
    agenda of the European Council session on Friday and Saturday and according to president
    Iohannis, it is very important for Romania to obtain a significant amount of
    money to jump-start its economy.



    (translated by bill)

  • July 9, 2020

    July 9, 2020

    COVID-19 Romania ranks 1st in the EU by number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in 24 hours, with 555, which is more than during the state of emergency. The death toll is over 1,800. The number of patients in intensive care is also close to the highest number reported during the state of emergency. The number of cases has grown lately due to failure to comply with containment rules, an attitude reinforced by fake news and by peoples distrust of the authorities, says dr. Virgil Musta, head of the COVID ward at the Victor Babeş Hospital in Timişoara (west). He explained that unless measures are taken immediately, the virus may spread at alarming rates and the healthcare system might become unable to handle the situation. The health minister Nelu Tătaru said he is not considering a new state of emergency at this point, but a decision in this respect will be based on further assessments. Tǎtaru also mentioned that new relaxation measures are also out of the question until the number of new cases is steady.



    BILL A bill on self-isolation and quarantine drafted by the Government is on the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies as of today. The Government passed the bill on Monday, after the Constitutional Court dismissed previous bills on compulsory isolation and quarantine as unconstitutional, on grounds that they are lacking in clarity and predictability, and do not guarantee that certain fundamental rights and freedoms are complied with. The Constitutional Court also found that introducing quarantine under a government order is a violation of fundamental rights. The Social Democrats in opposition announced they would substantially alter the text of the bill, because it comes against citizen rights and freedoms. On the other hand, the Government accuses the Social Democratic Party of irresponsibility over postponing debates on this bill, which according to the Cabinet enhances the efficiency of COVID-19 containment measures while at the same time complying with the Constitutional Court ruling. The Senate will cast the decisive vote on this bill early next week.



    EU The German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented the European Parliament with the programme of the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which Berlin will be holding for the next 6 months. The German official once again called for solidarity and unity among member states, so that they may emerge stronger from the coronavirus crisis. Merkel described this health crisis as the biggest challenge for the EU and explained that the future multi-annual budget as well as the post COVID-19 recovery fund must not only help in the short run, but also lead to a long-term reform of the Union. In turn, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen warned politicians and institutions not to disregard the multi-annual budget in favour of the economic recovery instrument, dubbed “Next Generation EU. Member states must overcome divergences over a number of issues, such as the funds earmarked for the recovery plan, its duration, the loan-to-grant ratio or the criteria for fund allotment to member countries.



    DEFENCE The Romanian Army Chief of Staff, lieutenant-general Daniel Petrescu, takes part in a meeting of the EU Military Committee in Brussels. According to the Defence Ministry, the agenda includes topics like the EU-NATO cooperation, assessments of security threats, and the prospects of military training missions in the Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia. Participants will also discuss the security issues related to migration flows and the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic for command and control structures.



    PANDEMIC The total number of COVID-19 cases worldwide is over 12.1 million, with the death toll reaching 552,000, according to worldometers.info. One-quarter of the total number of cases were confirmed in the US, while Brazil, the second hardest hit country, has more than 1.7 million infection cases. The US secretary of state Mike Pompeo says progress has been made in the talks with the EU on reopening borders to travellers from the US, France Presse reports. EU countries agreed to reopen EU and Schengen borders as of July 1 to passengers from 15 countries, in a list that includes China, under certain conditions, but not the USA. The list, based on epidemiologic criteria, was approved by EU member states following difficult negotiations, at the start of the summer tourist season. The US had in turn introduced travel restrictions for EU citizens during the pandemic. The US president Donald Trump said at that time that the large number of infections in the US was owing to the travellers coming from Europe, because, he claimed, the EU failed to ban travel to and from China in due time.



    FOOTBALL FCSB is the first team to qualify into the Romanian Cup final, after defeating another Bucharest-based club, Dinamo, 3-0 and 1-0 respectively. The other semi-final, due tonight, is pitting CSM Poli Iasi against Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe. In the first leg, Sepsi won 5-1 on home turf. The games are played without public. the final is scheduled on July 22 in Ploiesti. (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • A government plan for Romania’s economic recovery

    A government plan for Romania’s economic recovery

    Romania’s
    government and president on Wednesday launched an ambitious economic recovery
    plan under the name ‘Rebuilding Romania’. The plan, which unfolds on a period
    of 10 years and has a budget of 100 billion euros, is aimed at raising the
    standard of living of every citizen through massive investment and changing the
    country’s model of development.




    The
    plan is focusing on the country’s transport and energy infrastructure, its
    healthcare, investment in education, local development, agriculture,
    environment and sporting activities. The objective promoted by the Executive is
    to achieve convergence with the European economies so that the GDP at
    purchasing power per capita may reach 87% of the EU average in 2025. According
    to the initiators, the major difference would be the investment-based economic
    growth, which is supposed to replace the previous model based on consumption.
    Here is Prime Minister Ludovic Orban with more on the plan.






    Ludovic Orban: We
    want to invest in modernizing the transport infrastructure to raise the
    competitiveness of companies, in order to increase Romania’s investment
    attraction, which fosters the creation of fresh jobs, development and
    eventually revenues of the state budget. Romania is a rich country with
    resources and capitalizing on these resources must be done smartly through
    earmarking money to those activities and domains, which could make the most of
    all the resources Romania has




    Under
    the aforementioned plan, investment in infrastructure accounts for 60% out of
    the total 100 billion euros. The government has presented big infrastructure
    projects including 3000 kilometers of highway and the same number of railway by
    2030. The document includes rapid measures to provide assistance to big and
    small companies with 3 billion Euros worth of grants.




    The
    government pledges to shell out money from the state budget to provide
    assistance to companies, which resorted to technical unemployment, part-time
    and house working. Investment in hospitals and schools is also ambitious as the
    plan provides for the construction of three regional emergency hospitals,
    thousands of schools as well as kindergartens built or modernized. Here is the
    country’s president Klaus Iohannis.




    Klaus Iohannis: The Romanians deserve to have a highway
    network at European levels, a strong and reliable energy system at national and
    regional level, competitive industries and services. And we can have all these
    only by stepping up major investment projects in an effective, professional and
    transparent manner. However, any ambitious investment plan requires good
    funding and for this reason, European funds must become an essential pillar of
    our development.




    According
    to the Social-Democratic opposition, the government’s plan is only meant to
    attract votes in the upcoming election though, being ungrounded and based on EU
    funds without saying anything about how these funds are going to be attracted.




    (translated
    by bill)