Radio România Internațional

Tag: Reporters without Borders

  • Reporters Without Borders – Report on the freedom of the press

    Reporters Without Borders – Report on the freedom of the press

    The lack of transparency of media financing, especially from public funds, as well as the market difficulties undermine the reliability of information and confidence in the media – writes the report on Romania drafted by the organization ‘Reporters without Borders. The authors of the report admit that the Romanian media landscape is diverse and pluralistic and provides fertile ground for strong public interest investigations. In the 2023 press freedom index, Romania ranks 53rd out of 180 countries, up in the ranking against last year, when it was ranked 56th.



    Large parts of the Romanian population tend to believe the false information often provided by the Russian propaganda, which leads to disinterest and mistrust in the quality journalism – the report also shows. The Romanian state remains at the bottom of the classification of European states in terms of respecting and guaranteeing the freedom and safety of the press, as well as the unrestricted access to information of public interest – said, last month, the president of the local non-governmental organization ActiveWatch, Liana Ganea. Her statement comes after the vice-president of the European Commission for values ​​and transparency, Vera Jourova, had stated that the situation of the media in Romania was not very rosy and that there was a lot of room for improvement.



    One of the main problems, the two aforementioned officials said, remains the fact that the big political parties non-transparently finance the press, a fact that leads to reasonable suspicions that the public agenda in the mass media is distorted. At the same time, the few journalists who are critical of the politicians became the target of smear campaigns initiated either by political actors or by media institutions with a long history of deviations from professional ethics. Moreover, journalists remain the targets of threats, including death threats. In 2022, the courts handed down two criminal convictions against people who committed crimes aimed at the safety of journalists. One of these convictions, which is not final, was related to the plotting to kill a journalist, Liana Ganea explained.



    Radio Romanias correspondent in Paris also notes that, according to the Reporters Without Borders report, the conditions for exercising the profession of journalist are difficult in seven out of ten countries of the world. More than 50% of the world’s population lives in countries where the situation is very unfavorable and less than 1% enjoys the privilege of real freedom of the press. Last year, 55 journalists were killed during or because of the exercise of their profession, and another seven since the beginning of this year. At present, more than 500 journalists are currently arrested or detained for press offences. Propaganda, politics, economic manipulations, false content generated by artificial intelligence generate disinformation, which is presented in the report as the major threat to press freedom in the world. (LS)

  • December 29, 2020

    December 29, 2020

    Covid-19 Ro. Today, the second tranche of vaccines against Covid 19 has arrived in Romania, which is over 140 thousand doses necessary for the immunization, in the first phase, of the medical staff. The first tranche of 10,000 doses was delivered on Saturday, and vaccination began the next day. Over 4,600 new cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Romania today. Bucharest reports the largest number of infections in the country. In terms of incidence, Ilfov, near the capital, is the only county with over 5 cases per thousand inhabitants accumulated in the last 14 days, and Bucharest has reached just over 4. The number of patients with COVID-19 in Intensive Care has decreased to about 1,162. 135 people died from infection with the new coronavirus in 24 hours. More than 85% of those with COVID-19, since the beginning of the pandemic, have been declared cured.



    Visit. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, is today paying an official visit to the Republic of Moldova, at the invitation of his new counterpart from the neighboring state with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population, the pro-West president Maia Sandu. It is the first high-level visit received by Maia Sandu since she became president following the November 15 elections, in which she defeated the former head of state, the pro-Russia socialist Igor Dodon. According to the Presidential Administration in Bucharest, the visit of the Romanian head of state to Chisinau will provide the framework for sending a strong message of support for the new president and the Moldovan citizens, in their effort to democratize the country, to irreversibly implement the principles of the rule of law and consolidate both the countrys European path and the privileged relations with Romania. The two presidents will adopt a joint declaration, which aims to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership, reaffirming the special relationship between Bucharest and Chisinau. Holder of Romanian citizenship, an economist with a masters degree in public administration at Harvard University, former adviser to the executive director of the World Bank, former minister and former prime minister in Chisinau, Maia Sandu became, at the age of 48, the first woman president of the Republic of Moldova, three decades after the proclamation of the countrys independence from Moscow.



    Ro. Parliament. The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest gathers today in plenary session, the first in which bills will be debated, in the new legislature that began on December 21. Last week, the plenary session was held, in which the deputies took the oath, the standing committees were set up and the president of the chamber and the members of the permanent bureau were elected. The president of the National Liberal Party, the former prime minister Ludovic Orban, was elected president of the Chamber of Deputies.



    Budget deficit. In the first 11 months of this year, Romania registered a budget deficit of 8% of the GDP, accounting for 84 billion lei (about 17 billion euros), according to data made public by the Ministry of Finance. In the same period of the previous year, the deficit was 3.5% of the GDP. According to the Ministry, the increase was triggered by the unfavorable evolution of the budget revenues, as well as the postponement of the payment of some fiscal obligations by companies during the health crisis. The deficit difference was also determined by the exceptional payments generated by the pandemic.



    Protests. One of the largest trade union confederations in Romania, Cartel Alfa, announces protests today, dissatisfied with the level proposed by the executive to increase the minimum wage. The confederation claims that 70 lei (15 euros) in addition to the minimum wage, as announced by the Government, does not even cover the additional expenses for masks and other elements of individual protection. The Cartel Alfa confederation also says that prices have increased and will continue to raise, and currently the minimum wage in Romania does not cover even half of the minimum expenses necessary for a decent living. The government is expected to make a decision on this matter during Wednesdays meeting.



    Journalist. 50 journalists have been killed in connection with their activity in 2020, more than half in countries where there was peace, the Reporters Without Borders Organization has announced today. The organizations annual report shows that, although the number of journalists killed in conflict areas has dropped, such journalists are increasingly targeted because of their investigations into corruption, organized crime or environmental issues. Mexico, India and the Philippines are the states where most such crimes have taken place. Last year, 53 journalists were killed while doing their job. (M. Ignatescu)

  • December 19, 2017

    December 19, 2017

    JUSTICE LAWS – The Senate is today debating a bill on modifying the statute of judges and prosecutors. Adopted last week in the Chamber of Deputies, the bill on Monday got a positive opinion from Parliaments special committee on the justice laws, which analyzed the amendments tabled by senators. One of the main changes introduced by representatives of the ruling coalition allows the President to refuse only once to appoint certain prosecutors and compels him to motivate his refusal publicly. Another amendment provides for prosecutors decisions to be rescinded by their superiors if the latter deem them unlawful or ungrounded. Also today MPs continue debates over the second draft law on modifying the justice laws, the one focusing on judicial organization. On Monday Parliament debated the amendments tabled to the first articles in the law. Alternatively, hundreds of magistrates protested in front of courts of law in Bucharest and other cities against the judicial overhaul that the Social-Democrats and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats are planning, a process that magistrates say lacks transparency.



    BUDGET – The Romanian Parliament is debating the draft budget for 2018. Todays session is debating the addendums, after the body of the text and its articles was adopted on Monday, together with the funds allotted to the main credit release authorities: the Presidency, the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, and the Governments General Secretariat. A final vote has been scheduled for Thursday. Romanias budget for next year is based on an economic growth rate of 5.5%, an exchange rate of 4.55 lei against the euro, an average monthly income of €565 and a budget deficit of 2.97% of the GDP. The priorities for 2018 are healthcare, education and infrastructure. The right-wing opposition has criticized the Government, saying the budget projection is risky and will most likely increase public debt.



    COMMEMORATION – Commemorative events continue in Timisoara, western Romania, to mark 28 years since the 1989 anti-communist revolution and in memory of those who lost their lives. Events will continue until December 20, Victory Day, when Timisoara will play host to a rock concert. Started out as a grassroots movement against the local authorities abusive decisions, the revolution spread quickly across the country, and led to the demise of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu on December 22. Over 1,000 people were killed and nearly 3,400 were wounded over December 16-25. Romania was the only country from the Soviet bloc where the anti-communist revolution ended in violence with the dictatorial couple being executed. Prosecutors with the Military Prosecutors Office on Monday said a military diversion was orchestrated on the night of December 22, which led to a massive loss of lives and destruction.



    SURVEY – Over 85% of businesspeople in Romania are against the transfer of social security contributions from employers to employees, reads a recent survey commissioned by the Council of SMEs. 60% of respondents said they encountered serious difficulties in implementing and negotiating the move starting January 1, 2018. Ovidiu Nicolescu, the honorary president of the Council of SMEs, has warned that many net salaries will drop. The survey was conducted over December 12-18 with a sample population of 328 businesspeople.



    RWB – 65 journalists were killed in 2017 worldwide, of whom 50 professionals, 7 bloggers and 8 freelancers, reads the Reporters without Borders annual report, made public today. According to the report, 2017 was the less deadly in the last 14 years, which is mostly due to a better protection of reporters, and the fact that most journalists have already fled countries located in hot zones across the globe. Same as last year, Syria ranks first in terms of the largest number of journalists killed (12), followed by Mexico (11), Afghanistan (9), Iraq (8) and the Philippines (4).



    UN – The United States on Monday vetoed a UN draft resolution rejecting Donald Trumps recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. The text was voted by all the other 14 members of the Security Council. The resolution states that the status of Jerusalem must be solved via negotiations, and that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded. We recall that President Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel has prompted the unanimous opposition of the international community. Israel annexed the eastern part of Jerusalem after the 1967 war, then voted a law making the Holy City “indivisible. The annexation has never been recognized by the international community, and Palestine considers Eastern Jerusalem as the rightful capital of their future state.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • December 19, 2016 UPDATE 2

    December 19, 2016 UPDATE 2

    BREAKING NEWS – A lorry ploughed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12people and injuring over 50 others. According to the German local media, there are suspicions of a deliberate act. The German police confirmed the driver of the lorry has been arrested. Apparently, the co-driver has died in the incident.



    PARLIAMENT –President Klaus Iohannis has announced that he will convene the new Parliament on Tuesday, and will hold talks with the parliamentary parties on Wednesday and Thursday. This week the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, which together hold 54% of the seats in the new parliament, will announce their proposal for the new prime minister. After the President has appointed the PM, the latter will have 10 days to put together a cabinet and the governing program, after which he is to request Parliament’s vote of confidence.




    COOPERATION — Social-Democrat and ALDE leaders Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Daniel Constantin respectively signed the cooperation protocol between the two parties making up the governing coalition for development and democracy. The coalition will have three main objectives: ensuring sustainable economic growth and making new jobs available, observing citizens’ rights and liberties and increasing financial welfare and living standards. The governing program compiles the two parties’ election programs. The cooperation protocol also shows the two parties will nominate a single candidate for the position of Prime Minister. Liviu Dragnea said the president will be notified in a letter regarding the protocol and the fact that the two parties will come for consultations on Wednesday, when they are also expected to nominate a Prime Minister candidate.



    COMMEMORATION – The western Romanian city of Timişoara on Monday commemorated the fourth day of the anti-communist revolution of December 1989, with a conference organised by the Romanian Academy. Twenty-seven years ago, protesters were killed and wounded, and on December 20, Timişoara became the first Romanian city free from communism. Sparked by the locals’ opposition to an abusive measure of the city authorities, the protests quickly spread across the country, culminating on December 22nd in Bucharest, when the protesters stormed the headquarters of the central committee of the Romanian communist party. This is when dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife attempted to flee by helicopter. They were caught and executed on December 25, after a summary trial. Over 1,000 people died and nearly 3,400 were wounded in the clashes, and Romania remains the only Eastern Bloc country where the communist regime was brought down through violence and the communist leaders were executed.



    ASSASSINATION — The Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov died on Monday in a hospital in the Turkish capital after being shot while attending a photo exhibition opening at the Contemporary Art Centre. According to the Turkish media, the attacker impersonated a member of the ambassador’s security detail. The attack comes ahead of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu’s visit to Moscow, where he is expected to hold talks with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.



    RSF — This year 57 journalists have been killed around the world, especially in countries affected by war, according to a report made public by Reporters without Borders, an NGO based in Paris. The largest number of deaths, 19, was reported in Syria, followed by Afghanistan, Mexico, Iraq and Yemen. Most journalists lost their lives in their own countries, and one-third of them were targeted by deliberate attacks. Apart from the 57 journalists, 9 bloggers and 8 media collaborators were assassinated. As for the journalists incarcerated or detained this year, their number has increased particularly because of the situation in Turkey, where more than 100 media workers are currently imprisoned.



    UN — The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for deploying UN observers in rebel-held eastern Aleppo. Observers will oversee the evacuation of civilians and combatants. The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, called on the immediate implementation of the resolution and for overseeing the evacuation from eastern Aleppo, currently host to tens of thousands of people. Some 50 children, blocked in an orphanage, were among to the first to be evacuated, BBC reports.



    HANDBALL — Norway’s women’s team Sunday won the gold medal at the European Handball Championship in Sweden, after having defeated the Netherlands, 30-29 in the final. Norway thus won the 7th European champion title in 12 editions of this competition. In the match for the 3rd place, France beat Denmark, 25-22. Romania came out 5th in this edition of the European championship. The national team had a good performance overall, but failed to qualify into the semi-finals after losing the match against Denmark. In this competition the Romanian players defeated the Olympic champions Russia, as well as Hungary, Croatia and the Czech Republic, and lost a tightly contested match against the European and world champions, Norway.


    (Translated by V. Palcu, updated by D. Vijeu)

  • April 20, 2016

    April 20, 2016

    Official visit – The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, will be on an official visit to Romania on Thursday. He will have meetings in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis and with PM Dacian Cioloş. In February, the two presidents had a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich International Security Conference. The talks highlighted the progress made in several bilateral areas and the willingness of both sides to make headway in implementing the ongoing joint projects. The last high-level meeting took place on March 17, 2015, when Klaus Iohannis travelled to Kyiv.




    Eurovision – Romania risks being excluded from the Eurovision, unless it immediately pays over 9 million euros to the European Broadcasting Union, the organiser of this European song contest. The Romanian public television corporation, which is experiencing severe financial difficulties, has accrued debts of nearly 15 million euros since 2011. Recently, the management of the public broadcaster announced the Romanian authorities that apart from Eurovision there are other major competitions, such as the forthcoming European football championship in France or the Rio Olympics, which might not be covered because of the debts and under-financing. According to its annual report, in 2015 the Romanian television corporation had losses of over 5 million euros. This year Eurovision will be held in Stockholm, between May 10 and 14. Romania, which has been taking part in the competition since 1994, is to be represented by Ovidiu Anton, with a song called “Moment of Silence.



    Judicial cooperation – The Romanian Justice Minister, Raluca Prună, and her Spanish counterpart, Rafael Catala Polo, discussed on Wednesday in Bucharest the efficiency of the judicial systems of the two states, the organisation of courts, the strengthening of the prison infrastructure. The two officials also discussed aspects related to the judicial cooperation in criminal and civil matters. On Tuesday, Rafael Catala Polo had a meeting with the Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazăr Comănescu. They discussed the situation of the Romanians who live in Spain and apply for dual citizenship and the two countries joint project regarding the establishment of an International Court against Terrorism.



    Judiciary – Romanias former right-wing president, Traian Băsescu, has been charged with a continuing offence of money laundering in a case prosecuted by the Office of the Prosecutor General. According to judicial sources, the case is related to land transactions in the Bucharest area. In 2000, when he was mayor general of Bucharest, Traian Băsescu purchased a substantially under-priced plot of land, which he subsequently sold for a lot more money. The ex-president confirmed, on his Facebook account, that he had been notified by the Prosecutor General of his being a suspect in a money laundering case. He mentioned however that in 2012 the criminal charges against him had been dropped. The case was re-opened in 2015.




    Stock Market – The Bucharest Stock Exchange, jointly with various brokerage firms, promoted Romania as an investment destination to the global investors taking part in the annual conference in New York. These efforts are aimed at improving knowledge of the Romanian capital market and at attracting new capital flows into the national economy. Taking part in the New York conference were 45 investors, representing 31 investment funds which manage a combined 1,100 billion US dollars. A total of 15 companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange had separate meetings with fund administrators.




    Defence – The defence ministers of Romania, Bulgaria and Greece have recently agreed in Luxembourg that their countries should take steps to strengthen cooperation in the field. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The three ministers also discussed aspects related to the migration crisis and to the security structure, and agreed that joint action is required in order to handle the inflow of refugees.




    NATO-Russia – NATO and Russia today resume ambassador contacts after two years of tensions generated by the Ukrainian crisis and Moscows annexation of Crimea in 2014. The Alliances Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said the talks would tackle the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements, regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, as well as means to prevent future incidents between NATO member countries and Russia, such as the recent one in the Baltic region, when Russian planes were too close to American vessels and aircraft. At Moscows request, terrorism was also included on the agenda.




    Media Freedom – World press freedom declined in all regions in 2015, particularly in the two Americas, according to the annual report made public by Reporters without Borders today. Romania ranks 49. The country with the highest press freedom rates are Finland, the Netherlands and Norway. At the opposite pole are Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea. The World Press Freedom Index covers 180 countries, has been published since 2002 and takes into account aspects like pluralism, mass media independence, self-censorship, the legislative framework, transparency, infrastructure and abuse.