Radio România Internațional

Tag: repatriation

March 19, 2020

Bucharest Parliament — Romania’s Parliament is having an online joint session today aimed at analyzing the request of President Klaus Iohannis on declaring a state of emergency for 30 days. It is for the first time that such a special procedure is used for debate and remote electronic voting, which was approved on Monday by the joint permanent bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. In another development, the PM Ludovic Orban announced on Thursday increased penalties for those who prevent or thwart the effort of fighting the coronavirus epidemic as well as for those who make false declarations in relation to their possible contamination. The government also decided to increase the ceiling for guaranteeing credits for SMEs by almost 1 billion Euros. Also, the executive decided to ensure the payment of 75% of the gross salary for technical unemployment, but not more than 75% of the average gross salary, said Thursday the PM Ludovic Orban. So far 277 cases of COVID-19 infections have been reported on Romania’s territory, 25 people have recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.

MAE – The Romanian Foreign Ministry informs that 89 Romanian citizens returned home from Spain on Thursday, following the intervention of the Foreign and Transport Ministries’ officials. On Wednesday they facilitated the repatriation of 100 Romanian citizens: 74 from Malta and 26 from Egypt. According to the same source, the repatriations are part of the actions undertaken by the authorities to help the Romanian citizens who were abroad temporarily to return home and to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. MAE reiterated appeals to the Romanian citizens to avoid unnecessary trips abroad and recommended the Romanian citizens who are temporarily away from home to urgently return home. Also, MAE calls on the Romanian citizens with their domicile or residence abroad to strictly observe the recommendations of the authorities of those states and underlines that travelling to Romania is not recommended.

Coronavirus world — At least 219,000 cases of COVID-19 infections have been confirmed around the world and more than 8,800 deaths. China has announced that the COVID-19 community spread has ended and the new cases reported are from those people who return from abroad. In Italy the number of victims nears the total number reported in the Hubei region in China, where the virus appeared. As many as 3,000 people have died in Italy, 475 in the past day alone, which points to the biggest death toll since the coronavirus outbreak in the north of the country. In France the number of people infected with COVID-19 is well beyond 9,000 with 264 deaths reported. The EU has closed its borders for foreign citizens and banned non-essential travel in the Schengen area in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In this context the European Central Bank announced an emergency plan of 750 billion Euros for public and private debt in a bid to control the economic impact of the pandemic. According to estimates, the GDP in the Euro zone might drop by 5% this year.

Romanian Academy — The president of the Romanian Academy Ioan-Aurel Pop says that in the context of this ‘hugely bad situation’ represented by the coronavirus pandemic, Romanians have had a lot to gain in terms of communication, dialogue and kindness. He has urged people to help instate a climate of law and order. In a Facebook post Ioan-Aurel Pop writes that ‘this is no time to lament, but this is time to better adapt to the situation and go on’.

Statistics – The population of Romania, according to the domicile criterion, numbered 22.175 million people on January 2020, lower by 0.1% as against the same month of 2019 – show data provided by the National Institute of Statistics on Thursday. At the reference date, the population residing in urban areas was of 12.5 million people. Also the process of population aging intensified as compared to January 1, 2019, with a slow drop in the share of young people and a small rise in the share of old people. (translation by L. Simion)

19 March 2020
February 8, 2020 UPDATE

Government – The PM designate of Romania, Ludovic Orban, announced he would submit, on Monday, in Parliament the list of ministers and an updated governing program with a view to starting procedures for the investment of a new government. The announcement came after President Klaus Iohannis designated the Liberal leader to from a new cabinet. The decision was made after the first Orban government was dismissed on Wednesday through a no confidence motion initiated by the main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party, following the government’s decision to assume responsibility for a bill on returning to the election of mayors in two rounds of voting, only a few months ahead of the elections. The Romanian president also reiterated his opinion that holding early elections was the best option for Romania at the moment. The interim vice prime minister Raluca Turcan said that all Liberal MPs would attend the meeting for the investiture of the new cabinet but they would abstain from voting, with a view to triggering off early elections. To call early elections the Parliament should reject two consecutive proposals of PM designate. However, before getting a vote in Parliament for the second Orban government, the Social Democrats announced they intended to notify the Constitutional Court over the re-designation of the outgoing PM Ludovic Orban as the new PM.

USR — The leaderships of the Save Romania Union party (USR), the 3rd most important party in the Romanian Parliament and of the extra-parliamentary party PLUS, led by the former PM and European Commissioner Dacian Ciolos, met Saturday in separate meetings to decide on a merger. Following internal elections called at the initiative of the USR president Dan Barna, 91% of the USR members voted for their party to be positioned on the center-right side of the political spectrum. Elected on common lists, the USR and PLUS MEPs are affiliated to the Renew Europe centrist group.

Commemoration – Commemorations of the great Romanian politicians Iuliu Maniu took place on Saturday at the Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance in Romania from Sighet (northwestern Romania) to mark 67 years since the death of the great politician. The political personality of the leader of the National Peasant Party, a prime minister of Romania in the interwar period and a member of the Romanian Academy was evoked in various speeches. A militant for national unity, a promoter of democratic principles and an adversary of Nazism and Communism, Maniu was arrested in 1947 by the puppet regime instated by the Soviet invaders and died at the age of 80 in 1953 in the Sighet prison where most of the former Democratic dignitaries had been imprisoned.

Repatriation — The repatriation procedures from Syria, through Turkey, of a family of 3 Romanian citizens have been finalized — the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. According to a press release, the Romanian diplomats in Ankara and Istanbul undertook the necessary steps to facilitate the Romanian citizens’ entry and accommodation in Turkey. The repatriation measure is part of the constant actions of consular assistance and protection granted to Romanian citizens who are facing special situations. Since the onset of evacuation operations from Syria in 2011, 790 Romanian citizens have been repatriated.

Rugby — Romania’s national rugby team was defeated by Portugal, 11-22 on Satruday evening, away from home, in the 2nd round of the Rugby Europe Championship, after having been defeated in the first round by Georgia, 13- 41, one week ago, also away from home. In the 3rd round of the Rugby Europe Championship, Romania will take on Spain on February 22 in Botosani, northeastern Romania. (translation by L. Simion)

8 February 2020
October 26, 2019 UPDATE

MILITARY Nearly 1,400 Romanian and foreign troops with 220 vehicles are taking part in the multinational exercise Scorpions Legacy 2019, held between October 25 and November 8 in Cincu, Braşov County, in central Romania, the press office of the Multinational Brigade South-East announced. The goal of the exercise is to train the staff of the multinational brigade headquartered in Craiova and of the affiliated units in Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal, though computer-assisted command drills, field training practice and shooting practice. The Headquarters Multinational Brigade Southeast ensures high-level capability to command forces deployed in the south-east of the Allied territory, with an important contribution to NATOs collective defence.

MOTORWAY The Romanian Transport Ministry has submitted a funding application to the European Commission, concerning a 122 km-long motorway connecting Sibiu in central Romania to Pitesti in the south. According to the ministry, the first stage, for which funding is requested, consists in the construction of 53 km of motorway. The project amounts to a total 1.3 billion euros, 85% of which will come from the EU budget in non-reimbursable funds, and the balance from the Romanian government. The deadline for completion is December 2023.

REPATRIATION Three Romanian citizens, 2 of them underage, were repatriated from Libya, via Tunisia and Turkey, the Foreign Ministry announced. The measure is part of the constant assistance and consular protection efforts made by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, via diplomatic offices in countries with major security risks. The Ministrys homepage continues to run a maximum-alert travel warning for Libya, reading “Major threat – leave country or area immediately!.

MIGRANTS Border police from the Nădlac checkpoint, western Romania, found 20 citizens from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and India hiding in a truck while attempting to cross the border illegally. The police say they were trying to reach Western Europe. Investigations are now conducted against the truck driver, suspected of human trafficking and against the foreign citizens for attempted illegal border crossing.

BREXIT The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states have deferred a decision regarding the Brexit postponement period to next week. Recently, they have agreed in principle on a new postponement of Britains exit from the Union, scheduled for October 31, and are now to reach a consensus on a new deadline. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, recommended a 3-month extension, to January 31. The European Parliament also agrees with this date, which would allow Britain to clarify its position and the EP to properly fulfil its duties.

TENNIS The Romanian Simona Halep, number 5 in the world, landed in the Purple Group of the WTA Finals in Shenzhen (China), held between October 27 and November 3. On Monday she will play against the Romanian-born Canadian Simona Andreescu, no 4 WTA. Halep, winner of this years Wimbledon trophy, takes part in the tournament of the worlds elite 8 for the 6th time in her career. The Purple Group also includes Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) and Elina Svitolina (Ukraine), according to Fridays draw release. This edition has record-high prizes—14 million USD, twice as much as last year.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

26 October 2019
The Week in Review 14-20.10.2019

Negotiations for the formation of a new government

The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has designated the leader of the National Liberal Party — PNL, Ludovic Orban, to form a new government after consultations with the parliamentary parties, following the dismissal of the Dancila cabinet through a motion of no confidence. Ludovic Orban has had consultations with the parliamentary parties (the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Pro Romania, the People’s Movement Party and Save Romania Union) that backed the motion in order to ensure the number of votes necessary for the investment of the new government, that is 233 of the total of 465 votes. The representatives of the national minorities announced their support for the future cabinet. So far, the idea of a Liberal government has been gaining ground. Ludovic Orban needs to present, by next week, the structure of the new cabinet and the names of the candidates that will take ministerial seats. The Social Democrats have announced they will not go in Parliament to ensure the quorum at the vote on the new government.

On October 10 Parliament passed a motion of no confidence against the Social Democratic government headed by Viorica Dancila who said that her government was leaving with their duty accomplished. She called on the President, whom she considers the mastermind of the government dismissal, to urgently appoint a capable government. The leader of the National Liberal Party, which initiated the motion, pointed out that Romania needed serious projects and a government that should prove fairness. The political battle of these days is even fiercer as the presidential election will be held next month and both the incumbent president Klaus Iohannis and the outgoing prime minister are running in the race.

Brexit agreement

The leaders of the 27 EU member countries, among whom President Klaus Iohannis, approved, on Thursday evening, in Brussels, the new Brexit deal and have invited the EC, the EP and the Council of the EU to take all the necessary steps for this agreement to take effect on November 1. The agreement stipulates that Northern Ireland will remain in the UK’s customs territory but the island of Ireland will be aligned to some EU rules, meaning goods must be checked on entry to the island rather than border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic. This is to avoid the reemergence of a physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and to consequently maintain the Good Friday agreement. The British PM Boris Johnson said the deal was mutually advantageous for both the EU and the UK and called on the British MPs to vote for it. If the British Parliament ratifies the document, it could be approved by the EP during next week’s plenary session.

Repatriation of the Queen Mother Helen of Romania

The remains of Queen Mother Helen of Romania, born Helen of Greece and Denmark, were repatriated on Friday to Romania to be subsequently laid to rest with her son King Mihai I of Romania, who died in 2017, in the royal necropolis in Curtea de Arges (in the south). Queen Helen, the wife of Prince Carol II and the mother of Romania’s last king, lived her last 34 years in exile in Italy and Switzerland. She died in 1982 and was buried in Lausanne. A descendent of the royal family of Greece, Queen Helen married with Prince Carol II of Romania in 1921, but 7 years later she divorced her husband due to his infidelities. Queen Helen was devoted to the education of her only son Mihai whom she closely advised during his 7- year reign. During the War Queen Helen intervened on several occasions to persuade general Antonescu to spare the Jews targeted by the government’s anti-Semitic policy. That is why the State of Israel gave Helen posthumously, in 1993, the title of Righteous Among the Nations in recognition of her actions during the Second World war towards Romanian Jews. The last king of Romania Mihai 1 died on December 5, 2017 aged 96 at his home in Switzerland. He was also the last of the 4 kings of the German dynasty Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen instated in power in Romania in 1866 that built modern Romania.

Laura Codruţa Kövesi, validated as European Chief Prosecutor

The former head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in Romania, Laura Codruţa Kövesi, was validated as the first head of the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office by the Conference of Presidents of the EP, made up of the parliamentary groups’ leaders and the president of the EP. This was the last formal step of the appointment procedure and Parliament announced that Laura Codruta Kövesi could start her 7-year mandate at the helm of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office which is an independent office with the competence to investigate, prosecute and bring to judgment crimes against the EU budget. Laura Codruta Kövesi is the first person to occupy this position which she obtained in spite of the opposition expressed by the Social Democratic government of Romania.

Mircea Geoană is the new deputy secretary general of NATO

Romanian diplomat Mircea Geoană on Thursday officially took up his post as NATO’s Deputy Secretary General being the first Deputy Secretary General from Central and Eastern Europe. He replaced American Rose Gottemoeller, whose mandate was a first as she was the first women in the Alliance’s 70-year history that occupied such a post. Mr. Geoană most recently served as the President of the Aspen Institute Romania. He was also previously President of the Romanian Senate, Foreign Minister, and Romania’s Ambassador to the United States. (translation by L. Simion)

19 October 2019
September 3, 2019

REPATRIATION The remains of Queen Helen, mother to King Michael I of Romania, will be repatriated this autumn and taken to the new Archdiocesan and Royal Cathedral in Curtea de Argeş, following a decision of the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Princess Margareta, made public on Tuesday. Seventy-one years after Queen Helens exile and 37 years after her death, Princess Margareta decided to bring back to Romania the remains of her grand-mother. Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark was the daughter of King Constantine I of Greece and Queen Sophia of Prussia. In 1921 she married crown prince Carol in Athens, whom she divorced in 1928. In 1940 she became Queen Mother of Romania. She died in November 1982, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Unlike King Michael I, Queen Helen never saw her country again after her forced exile.

EXERCISE The Romanian Navy organises as of today the Romanian-Ukrainian exercise “Riverine 2019, on the River Danube, the segment between Tulcea (Romania) and Izmail (Ukraine), with approx. 300 marines from the 2 countries taking part. The exercise is designed to improve cross-border cooperation between Romania and Ukraine in the naval field on the River Danube. Until September 7, inspection and towing exercises as well as emergency intervention drills will be organised.

FESTIVAL In Bucharest the George Enescu International Festival continues with a concert by the London Philharmonic Orchestra together with the Academic Choir of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation. Two other performances take place in Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu. The central theme of this years edition of the festival is “The World in Harmony, and the artistic director is Vladimir Jurowski. Until September 22, Bucharest and 10 other cities in Romania and 5 other countries (Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the Rep. of Moldova) will host performances associated to the Festival. In Bucharest, over 2,500 of the most valuable musicians of the world will hold 84 concerts and recitals.

PROGRAMME The EU programme designed to encourage children to eat fruit, vegetables and dairy at school continues in 2019. Of the total budget of 250 million euro, Romania will receive this academic year over 17 million euro. Last year, more than 20 million children in the EU benefited from this programme implemented in schools, whose goal is to promote healthy eating habits.

EARTH Romanian students won one gold and 3 silver medals in this years edition of the International Earth Science Olympiad held in Daegu, South Korea between August 26 and September 3. The International Earth Science Olympiad encourages cooperation between students from various countries, by setting up international teams that receive research topics on environment issues in a specific geographic area and must come up with a project with proposed solutions to the respective issues. Taking part in this 13th International Earth Science Olympiad were 163 students from 41 countries.

SPENDING EU citizens spent an average 377 euro for a holiday, and Romanians rank at the bottom of the list with around 135 euro earmarked for a vacation, according to data released by Eurostat on Tuesday. The biggest holiday spenders in the EU are the citizens of Luxembourg, with an average 769 euro for a holiday in 2017.

TENNIS The young Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu, of Romanian descent, qualified into the quarter-finals of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year, after defeating the American Taylor Townsend in 3 sets. It is the first time that Andreescu (aged 19, number 15 in the world) takes part in the US Open, and also her first Grand Slam quarter-final. Taylor Townsend (116 WTA), had previously outplayed 2 Romanians, Simona Halep and Sorana Cîrstea. In the quarter-final Andreescu will take on Belgiums Elise Mertens (26 WTA).

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

3 September 2019
August 7, 2019 UPDATE

VISIT The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, will be received at the White House on August 20 by the US President Donald Trump. The announcement was made last night in Bucharest and Washington. The White House news release reads that President Donald Trump looks forward to celebrating together with his Romanian counterpart 30 years since the fall of communism in Romania and the 15th year of Romanias membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The White House also announced that the 2 leaders will discuss how best to meet the many shared security challenges facing the United States and Romania and ways to advance fair and reciprocal trade and energy partnerships. According to the Romanian Presidency, Klaus Iohannis will emphasise that Romania will continue to be a reliable strategic partner and a responsible and trustworthy ally of the US.

CARACAL INVESTIGATION Romanian investigators Wednesday resumed searches at the Caracal home of Gheorghe Dincă, who alleged, after being apprehended more than a week ago, that he had killed and then incinerated 2 teenagers. On Tuesday, the investigators found in a forest near Caracal new bone and tooth fragments, which forensic experts found to be human. So far, only traces of 15-year old Alexandra Macesanus DNA were found in the ashes at Gheorghe Dincăs residence. A number of people were questioned and storage devices were searched. An outrageous series of mistakes made by the authorities in relation to the case has already led to high-level dismissals and resignations. The prosecutor division of the Higher Council of Magistrates requested the Judicial Inspection unit to check the activity of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism and the prosecutors offices attached to courts, focusing on the way of handling criminal cases involving human trafficking and child trafficking, as well as offences like kidnapping and manslaughter in cases of missing persons. On Wednesday, State Secretary with the Interior Ministry Raed Arafat presented PM Viorica Dăncilă with a report on ways to improve the emergency call tracking system. Arafat coordinates an inter-ministerial committee set up in late July in the wake of the Caracal case.

NAVY The Romanian Black Sea port of Constanţa launched a series of events devoted to Navy Day, traditionally celebrated on August 15. On Wednesday, the Day of sea resources and navy education, military divers held diving workshops for the 80 winners of a Facebook competition. Also, the military port hosted a ceremony welcoming the Mircea Training Ship from a sail devoted to the celebration of the vessels 80 years in the service of the Romanian Navy. Mircea sailed more that 8,500 miles in 93 days and stopped in 12 European ports, welcoming over 12,000 visitors on board. Until August 15, other Danube and Black Sea ports will also host concerts, book launches and interactive workshops devoted to the Romanian Navy Day.

REPATRIATION A group of 15 people, Romanian citizens and their Syrian families, were repatriated on Tuesday via Turkey, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. The operation was completed with support from the Romanian embassies in Damascus and Ankara, of the Romanian Consulate in Istanbul and of Romanias Honorary Consul in Iskenderun. The Foreign Ministry also mentioned that since the start of evacuation operations in Syria, in 2011, 784 Romanian citizens and their families have been repatriated. At present, the Romanian Embassy in Damascus provides assistance and consular protection to citizens from various states, including Australia, Canada, France, the Republic of Moldova, Portugal, and others, based on individual requests.

DIASPORA Nearly 9,000 Romanian citizens who intend to vote in this autumns presidential election, whether by post or in polling stations abroad, had enrolled on the dedicated online platform until Wednesday. The Romanian citizens who wish to vote by mail must fill in an online form posted on www.votstrainatate.ro, enclosing a scan or photo of their ID and a copy of the document proving their right to stay in a foreign country. The registration forms will be active until September 11. Approximately 9.7 million Romanians live abroad, according to data communicated by 70 diplomatic missions and centralised by the Ministry for the Romanians Abroad.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

7 August 2019
September 20, 2018 UPDATE

EU COUNCIL MEETING – President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday attended the informal meeting of the European Council held in the Austrian city of Salzburg. The President argued in favour of closer post-Brexit cooperation with London authorities in terms of foreign security and policy. Bucharest also wants the European Union to maintain a unitary and coherent voice in the negotiations with the UK in order to arrive at a Brexit agreement that is fair to all sides. Romania’s priority is protecting the rights and interests of its citizens who live in the UK and a close as possible a relationship between the EU and the UK after Brexit, the Romanian president also said. In terms of internal security, President Iohannis said Romania wants to strengthen European borders, both by means of regulations and by increasing FRONTEX personnel.

MEETING — The leaders of the main ruling party in Romania, the Social-Democratic Party, will convene on Friday after an open letter signed by leading members of the party call on Liviu Dragnea to step down, both as party leader and as Chamber of Deputies Speaker. Cosigners claim Liviu Dragnea’s run-ins with the law have weakened the party’s position, particularly ahead of the European Parliament election of 2019 and the legislative election of 2020. They also want Prime Minister Viorica Dancila to be interim party president pending the organization of the next congress.

REPATRIATION — Romanian Minister of Defence Mihai Fifor and US Ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm on Thursday attended a special ceremony in Campulung Muscel, southern Romania, hosted to welcome back the 30th Carpathian Eagles battalion. The mission of the Romanian military was to secure an important area around the military air base in Kandahar, in Afghanistan. They also provided training to the Afghan army. The battalion is mostly made up of military from the Dragoslavele 30th Mountain Troops Battalion who have also taken part in missions in theatres of operation in Kosovo, in 2005 and Afghanistan, in 2008. In April, the Mountain Troops from Campulung was the target of a car bomb attack. Eight military were initially believed to be injured, but in the end only one needed more thorough medical investigations at a hospital in Germany.

EBRD — The president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Suma Chakrabarti, has called on Bucharest authorities to step up reforms aimed at facilitating the development of infrastructure. Chakrabarti claims the EBRD is interested in funding investment projects in road and rail infrastructure and help privatize state enterprises. The statement follows after the EBRD president earlier this week attended the Three Seas Initiative summit in Bucharest. So far the EBRD has invested over 8 billion euros in Romania.

RULING — The Constitutional Court of Romania has postponed for October 16 the debate on the notifications filed by president Klaus Iohannis and opposition parties regarding the administrative code. The president claims the draft law was passed by the Chamber of Deputies in an unconstitutional extraordinary session. Several articles are vague and the code eliminates an integrity criterion for appointing members of Government. In turn, the notification filed by the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union claims special pensions for local officials stipulated under the administrative code are in breach of the principle according to which all citizens are equal before the law.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Irina Begu on Thursday advanced to the quarterfinals of the Seoul tournament totaling 250 thousand dollars in prize money. Begu brushed aside Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in straight sets. This is Begu’s first win against the Polish player. On Friday, Begu will take on Maria Sakkari of Greece.

(Translated by C. Mateescu & V. Palcu)

20 September 2018
July 27, 2018 UPDATE

VISIT — Romanian PM Viorica Dancila who is on an official tour of the West Balkans, visited Skopje on Friday, where she met with her Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev. Dancila reconfirmed Bucharest’s strong commitment to supporting Macedonia in its bid to join the EU and NATO. Dancila also discussed with Zoran Zaev about the Macedonian citizens in Romania and about the Aromanians in Macedonia. She also said she was confident that there are excellent opportunities for cooperation in the field of agriculture.

JUSTICE – The Justice Ministry in Bucharest announced on Friday that it would resume the procedure for proposing a candidate for head prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA). The selection of candidates will start on August 6th and it will last one month, with the interviews to be held at the beginning of September. A conclusion will be presented on September 6, the Justice Ministry announced. The Ministry announced that all four candidacies submitted for the position of chief prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Directorate were rejected and that the procedure would be resumed. The four candidates were interviewed on Thursday by line minister Tudorel Toader. The four are Florentina Mirică, head prosecutor for the anti-corruption service of the DNA, Cristian Lazăr — head prosecutor with the criminal investigation section, Marius Iacob, deputy head prosecutor, and Elena Grecu, head prosecutor with the central section of the DNA. The position became vacant when former chief prosecutor Laura Codruţa Kovesi was dismissed by presidential decree on 9 July, compelled by a Constitutional Court ruling.

BUDGET – The general consolidated budget deficit in Romania in the first semester of this year reached 3.2 billion Euro, 1.61% of the GDP, according to the Finance Ministry. In the first half of the year, revenues were almost 13% higher, but expenditure rose more sharply, by almost 19% more than the same period of 2017.

BIAS — Baneasa Airport in Bucharest is hosting on Saturday the Bucharest International Air Show & General Aviation Exhibition, the biggest air show in Romania. Over one hundred pilots and parachutists from 13 countries will attend, with 150 civil and military aircraft. Poland will be attending for the first time, alongside pilots from Greece, Hungary, the US, Spain, Italy, Turkey and Germany.

ELECTION — The Chisinau Parliament decided on Friday that the next parliamentary elections in Moldova to be held on February 24th, 2019. The mandate of the current Parliament expires on November 30, and elections must be held three months after this date at the latest, that is end-February 2019, in keeping with the Moldovan law. Experts say the next election will be based on the mixed election system passed in 2017 against the Venice Commission’s recommendations.

EXTRADITION – Serbia rejected the Romanian Justice Ministry’s request for the extradition of former Romanian MP Sebastian Ghita. The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Belgrade has decided that Ghita is eligible for being granted asylum in Serbia. Being investigated in a number of criminal cases, Sebastian Ghita fled Romania in December 2016. After an international arrest warrant was issued, Ghita was detained, in April 2017, in Belgrade, after presenting a fake passport. In May, Serbia’s Supreme Court approved his release on bail.

REPATRIATION — The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has announced it finalized the procedure to repatriate from Syria, via Turkey, a group of seven people, six Romanian citizens, five of them minors, and a Syrian citizen, a member of the same family. The Ministry reiterates its firm calls on Romanian citizens to leave Syria. Since the beginning of evacuations from Syria, in 2011, over 750 Romanian citizens and their families were brought back to the country.

FIRE — In Greece, the number of victims of the fires close to Athens has reached 87, but the toll could be higher, since a number of people are still reported missing. The authorities, accused of having intervened too slowly, said that there are strong indications that the fires may be the result of criminal acts. In Bucharest, the Foreign Ministry announced that there is no information regarding Romanian citizens being among the victims. We recall that Romania sent two airplanes in support of the authorities in Greece: one fire fighting aircraft, and a C-130 Hercules for logistical support.

27 July 2018
May 27, 2018 UPDATE

ROMANIANS WORLDWIDE – The large Romanian Diaspora contributes to the promotion of our identity, each Romanian national being the message bearer of our culture and customs, says Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, in a message conveyed on the Day of the Romanians Worldwide, which is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of May, as of 2015. “The state institutions should make the Romanians worldwide regain confidence in their country. This way, the Romanians can return home and use their skills, renewed mentality and the experience accumulated abroad to the benefit of community, and thus contribute to developing a stronger Romania, the president also says in his message. President Iohannis on Wednesday received a group of Romanians who hold public positions in their countries of residence, to underline how important it is to get them involved in the communities in which they live and to take a first step forward towards creating informal networks of professionals to promote the exchange of experience and good practices. To celebrate the Day of the Romanians Worldwide, musician Mircea Florian gave an electronic and folk-rock music concert in downtown Bucharest. The event was part of a festival devoted to the culture of the Romanians worldwide, which also included an exhibition of Romanian painters living in the country and outside its borders.

JUSTICE – To avoid sanctions, the provisions of the EU Directive on the presumption of innocence should be transposed into the national law until the European Commission notifies the European Court of Justice, the relevant minister, Tudorel Toader said on Sunday. The European Commission has launched the infringement procedure against Romania for failing to transpose the provisions of this Directive into its Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes, respectively. Infringement is a standard procedure used by the European Commission against the EU member states which do not announce in due time the transposition of the measures included in the EU Directive, AGERPRES news agency on Friday quoted an EC spokesperson as saying. According to the spokesperson, the procedure envisages 10 EU member states, and the transposition of the provisions of the respective Directive into the national law does not run counter to the legitimate objective of fighting corruption.

REPATRIATION – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced the bodies of the nine Romanian citizens who died in a car accident in neighbouring Hungary on Tuesday have been repatriated. According to a communiqué issued by the aforementioned ministry, the repatriation efforts have been coordinated by a crisis cell, set up at the level of the institution. The repatriation expenses have been covered by the ministry, from the special emergency fund, the communiqué also reads. The minivan involved in the car crash was coming from Slovenia, heading for Romania.

COMMEMORATIONS – A series of commemorative events were held in Sighetu
Marmaţiei (northern Romania), on Sunday, when the bust of Elie Wiesel, the 1986
Nobel Peace Prize Winner was unveiled. Many guests, among whom representatives
of the authorities, historians, members of the Jewish communities in Romania
attended the events at the Ellie Wiesel Memorial House. Elie Wiesel, a
Holocaust survivor, was born in Sighetu Marmaţiei, in 1928, and passed away in
New York, two years ago. He was an
American writer, philosopher and member of the American Academy of Arts and
Letters and honorary member of the Romanian Academy.

EUROPEAN ROWING JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – Romania won seven medals- one gold, five
silver and one bronze at the 2018 European Rowing Junior Championships which
came to a close on Sunday in Gravelines, France. The gold medal was grabbed by the women’s
four, cox-less. Romania has had the second largest number of rowers in the competition,
42, after Italy, with a total of some 470 rowers.

27 May 2018
September 13, 2017 UPDATE

Romanias President Klaus Iohannis appreciated in a communiqué issued on Wednesday the call for unity with the aim of consolidating the European project made by the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Junker during his state of the Union address in the European Parliament. The Romanian head of state also hailed the proposal made by Juncker that a special EU summit be held in Sibiu, central Romania, on March 30th 2019, when Romania will be holding the sixth month presidency of the EU Council. The summit would focus on strategic matters concerning the future of the EU. Also, the Romanian president appreciated the Commissions support for Romanias Schengen accession. Jean-Claude Juncker said that Romania and Bulgaria should be accepted immediately into the free movement area. He also stood for the introduction of measures to help the EU members that wish to adopt the Euro. Juncker tackled other issues such as Brexit, terrorism, illegal migration, economic growth and jobs. He also said that the products sold in Eastern Europe should not be lower in quality than those marketed in the West.

On Wednesday, the Romanian Government approved the first adjustment of the 2017 budget, maintaining the budget deficit of 2.95% of the GDP. The Finance Minister Ionut Misa has stated that the adjustment is positive, given that in the first six months of the year, Romania registered an economic growth higher that estimated initially, which triggered a GDP growth of some 4.8 billion Euros. According to the Government, all public institutions will fully benefit from the allocated amounts. The ministries of agriculture, health, internal affairs and the ministry for the business environment will get more money. On the other hand, the ministries of regional development, transportation and communications will get less.

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies has rejected the simple motion of no-confidence filed by the opposition National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union against the proposals made by the Justice Minister. The signatories say the amendments proposed by Tudorel Toader to the justice laws are an attempt to cancel the progress made in this area. Minister Toader has responded that the amendments are necessary, given that the laws in question date from 2004 and the Superior Council of Magistracy has called for them to be updated. Some of the changes, criticized by both civil society and the media, refer to the fact that the president is no longer to appoint the heads of the National Anticorruption Directorate and the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, the transfer of the Judicial Inspectorate to the Ministry of Justice and increasing the length of service required to promote magistrates. Earlier this year, a government attempt to ease criminal legislation on corruption triggered some of the largest street protests in post-communist Romania.

The 26th edition of the most important annual meeting of public broadcasters from around the world, organized by Radio Romania, ended on Wednesday. Gathered in the mountain resort of Sinaia, in central Romania, the participants discussed the future of public media, its role in defending cultural diversity and the pride of serving communities. On Tuesday, the 150 participants in the conference agreed that, regardless of financing methods and the development of technology, public media institutions must continue to focus on three fundamental directions: information, education and entertainment.

Romania ranks 42nd out of 130 countries around the world in terms of human capital development, reads a report published on Wednesday by the World Economic Forum. Although above the world average, Romania, with 66% of its human capital developed, lags behind countries in the region, such as Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic, but it is ranked better than Portugal, Spain and Greece. According to the report, only 62% of the worlds human capital is developed. Top of the list is Norway, with more than 77%, followed by Finland, Switzerland, the US, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the procedure for the repatriation from Syria, through Lebanon, of a group of five Romanians and one Syrian member of their family had been completed. Since the start of the evacuation operations from Syria, in 2011, 735 Romanians and family members have been repatriated. The Romanian Embassy in Damascus provides protection and support also for citizens from Australia, Canadian, France, the Republic of Moldova and Portugal, currently on Syrian soil.

13 September 2017
March 21, 2017

DEFENCE – The Supreme Defence Council convenes in Bucharest today, at the initiative of President Klaus Iohannis. The main topics on the agenda are the army equipping programme and Romanias stand at the NATO summit due to take place in Brussels in May. The Council members will review the progress made last year with respect to the army upgrading and equipping programme by 2026 and after that date, as well as the activity of national security institutions in 2016 and their main goals for this year. The previous meeting of the Supreme Defence Council was held on January 31.

MILITARY CEREMONY – The south-eastern Romanian port city of Constanta has hosted today a repatriation ceremony for the Romanian troops in Battalion 341 Infantry, known as “the White Sharks. Between August 2016 and March 2017 they took part in the NATO-led mission Resolute Support in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The 420 troops were in charge with the security of the Kandahar Airport and the coalition forces deployed there. According to data made public by the Defence Ministry, 25 Romanian military died in missions in Afghanistan, in which Romania has been taking part since 2001 as a member of the international coalitions led by NATO and the USA. Over 100 other troops have been wounded in missions in that country.

FRANCOPHONIE – The French section of Radio Romania International won the Francophonie Award, granted by the group of Francophone embassies, delegations and institutions in Romania. Our colleagues were handed the award yesterday, on the International Day of La Francophonie, for their outstanding contribution to promoting the French language and the values of La Francophonie in Romania. Also yesterday, in central Bucharest, a bust was unveiled, in memory of Leopold Sedar Senghor, co-founder of La Francophonie. Many cultural, artistic and scientific events were also organized abroad, by Romanias diplomatic missions. The International Francophonie Day is celebrated on March 20 every year. Romania has been a member of this organization since 1993.

FRENCH ELECTIONS – Centrist Emmanuel Macron strengthened his leadership in polls ahead of the forthcoming presidential election in France, after the first TV debate last night between the top 5 out of 11 candidates. Macrons pro-European rhetoric was counterweighed by the leader of the far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who tried to blame all Frances problems on immigration and the EU, and promised an EU membership referendum and the implementation of nationalist policies. Originally seen as the election frontrunner, but severely affected by a judicial scandal, the Conservative François Fillon presented an economic and social programme based on ultra-Liberal measures. The presidential election in France is scheduled for April 23rd and May 7th. According to current polls, Marine Le Pen will likely win the first round, but will be defeated by Emmanuel Macron in the runoff.

HOLY SEPULCHRE – Conservation works on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalems old city centre have been finalised, and the site where Jesus Christs body is buried, according to Christian belief, will be reopened tomorrow. The last restoration works were performed over 200 years ago, and authorities were concerned with the stability of the site. The project lasted for 9 months and cost 3.3 million euros, contributed primarily by the Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian churches. The Holy Sepulchre dates back to the 12th Century, and it was built over a 4th Century structure.

FOOTBALL – Romanias national football team is preparing Sundays home match against Denmark, in preliminary Group E for next years World Cup in Russia. After a clear win, 5-0 in Armenia, two draws, 1-1 on home turf in Montenegro and 0-0 away from home in Kazakhstan, and a severe defeat, 0-3 in Bucharest against Poland, Romania ranks 4th in the group with only 5 points. During this season the national football team is for the first time in history coached by a foreigner, the German Cristoph Daum, brought in last autumn after a poor performance at Euro 2016 in France.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

21 March 2017
November 8, 2015 UPDATE

The death toll following the fire in Bucharest’s Colectiv club rose to 44. Three more people died of their injuries on Sunday and nine people on Saturday. Authorities and doctors have warned that the number of deaths might increase. Over 40 people continue to be in critical condition in Bucharest hospitals, due to severe burns. Some 20 patients have already been transferred to hospitals abroad. The blaze at Bucharests Colectiv club on October 30 was started by fireworks. The firm contracted to ensure the pyrotechnics show at the club on the night of the tragedy is being investigated, its owners having been arrested. They are also suspected of having tried to destroy evidence. The three club owners are also under arrest, on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter and involuntary bodily harm, as the venue was overcrowded, lacked the required number of emergency exits, and may not have been authorised to hold such a concert. Cristian Popescu-Piedone, the former mayor of Bucharest District 4 where the tragedy occurred is also under arrest, for having issued permits for the club’s functioning in spite of the fact that the club did not qualify. Concerns that safety at the club was compromised because of corruption – a long-standing issue in Romania – have further fuelled public anger against the political elite. Thousands of protesters are holding daily rallies in Bucharest and several other cities, which have triggered the resignation of the left-of-centre government led by Victor Ponta.

The state institutions’ well-functioning is the condition for a state’s freedom and stability, which cannot exist without laws, competence and ethics, King Michael said in a message on Sunday, on the occasion of the Day of St. Michael and St. Gabriel. The former monarch, who was forced to abdicate by Soviet-backed communists more than six decades ago, has mentioned in his message the young people, who have been protesting in Bucharest and several other cities these days, against corruption and for sweeping reforms of state institutions and the political class. In his opinion, having the best possible laws and the most active civil society are not enough to secure a solid institutional life. “I am sure that the young generation will be able to find, in their Romania, the right balance between civic attitude and state institutions,” the King has said. “I have lived almost 100 years out of the 150 of the Crown, which entitles me to say to our young people: The time of your Romania has come!” the former monarch has also said.

As many as 140 Romanian tourists have been repatriated from the Red Sea resorts of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. The operation was conducted by the Romanian Transport Ministry, with the support of the Romanian Foreign Ministry and the Romanian citizens received consular assistance during the repatriation process. Several countries have decided to repatriate their citizens and restrict flight to and from the Egyptian resorts following information that that it was possible a bomb on board had brought down the Russian plane which crashed last week, 23 minutes after takeoff from the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The crash on Saturday killed all 224 people on board. Russia, which had 78,000 tourists in Egypt and Britain, with around 20,000 tourists, have organised aerial bridges to evacuate holidaymakers as soon as possible. The Russian-Egyptian investigation teams have detected a explosion on board the plane but have said it is too early to say what caused it. A group of Egyptian jihadist have claimed the attack.

Croats are voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election, against the background of the refugee crisis. This is their first parliamentary election since joining the European Union in 2013. The opposition HDZ-led Patriotic Coalition is in favor of a tougher stance than its main rival, the ruling Social Democrats, led by PM Zoran Milanovic on the migrant issue, seeking stricter border controls to manage the flow of people crossing Croatia on their way to Western Europe. Over 330,000 migrants have passed through Croatia since mid-September.

Romania ranked first in the EU last year in terms of number of people working in the field of agriculture, with 25.4%, the Romanian Statistics Institute has announced. Greece with 13% and Poland with 11% follow. The Czech Republic, on the other hand, has the biggest number of people working in the industry sector, 38.3%, followed by Slovakia with 35.5%. In Romania, the number of people working in industry stood at 30,1% in 2014 while 44.5% worked in the field of services.

8 November 2015