Radio România Internațional

Tag: Romania’s National Day

November 29, 2020 UPDATE

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Another 5,554 new COVID-19
infections and 148 related deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, the
Group for Strategic Communication announced on Sunday. The total number of
infections has exceeded 470 thousand, 70% of patients having recovered. The
national death toll has also climbed to 11,193. 1,250 people are currently in
intensive care. Bucharest is the most affected city in Romania. 6,914 Romanians
living abroad tested positive for COVID-19, 127 of whom have died.

COVID-19 IN THE
WORLD – Over 62.6 million people around the world have been infected with
SARS-CoV-2 since the beginning of the outbreak, the latest worldometers.info
update reveals. The global death toll now exceeds 1.4 million. The three most
affected countries are the United States, India and Brazil. In Europe, starting
December 1, stores will reopen in Belgium, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has
announced, although the country will remain in partial quarantine to allow
efforts to contain the pandemic. Belgium has been severely affected by the
second wave of the pandemic and has been under lockdown since October 30. In
France, the authorities are easing restrictions, allowing shops selling
non-essential products to reopen. People can also leave their homes for up to
three hours for leisure time and physical exercise. The decision comes just shy
of a month of harsh lockdown restrictions, which has led to a slump in the
number of daily infections in this country.

CAMPAIGN – The campaign for the legislative election due on December 6 continues
in Romania. As in the case of the local election, held on September 27, the
authorities have limited the number of participants to election rallies and
introduced strict health safety regulations. Citizens will be able to cast
their votes in all polling stations on election day, Prime Minister Ludovic
Orban has said, adding that citizens infected with COVID-19, currently in
quarantine or isolation, will be able to vote with the help of the mobile
ballot box. More and more towns and villages across Romania are entering
quarantine against the growing infection rate. Romanians living abroad will be
able to vote on December 5 and the 6. Representing the Romanian Diaspora will
be four deputies and two senators.

BRUA – Romania’s President Klaus
Iohannis attended the completion of the first phase in the BRUA pipeline
project, in an event hosted by Jupa in Caraş Severin County. The President said
the delivery of new natural gas supplies will better meet internal demand and
will add predictability and stability to the national distribution network.
BRUA seeks to develop a natural gas interconnector linking Bulgaria, Romania,
Hungary and Austria to the southern corridor transporting gas from Azerbaijan.
The Romanian gas company Transgaz announced the first gas supplies via the new
BRUA pipeline will be delivered next week, from Romania to Hungary.

NATIONAL
DAY
– December 1, the National Day of Romania, will this year be celebrated in a
restricted ceremony, to be attended by doctors, medical staff and foreign
ambassadors. The traditional military parade organized on this occasion was
cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restricted ceremonies will also be held
in big cities across the country, to be attended by local authorities. The
Foreign Ministry this year marks the National Day by means of a digital diplomacy
project, a virtual dialogue space where friends and partners of Romania, but
also members of Romanian communities abroad can meet and exchange opinions in a
novel environment adapted to the challenges posed by the global health context. Over November 28 – December 1, in a special
section on the Ministry website, mae.ro, the Foreign Ministry is promoting
Romanian talent and history, with a focus on classical and contemporary music,
theatre, performing and visual arts. The Ministry is also making public a
number of diplomatic documents from its archive. The virtual section will also
include an area devoted to online actions carried out by Romania’s diplomatic
missions and consular offices.

MOLDOVA – Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the Republic of
Moldova, in place until January 15, 2021. All nightclubs have been closed,
while restaurants, bars and coffee shops will close before 10 PM. Colloquiums
and sports competitions with physical attendance have been banned. Theatres,
cinemas and concert halls have also shut down. Public and private institutions
will have to introduce special working hours, with the physical presence of
only those workers who cannot work from home. According to our correspondent on
the ground, restrictions were previously introduced in the Republic of Moldova,
although they were not fully observed, not even by the authorities. Socialist
Prime Minister Ion Chicu organized his son’s wedding party, while in the
campaign for the presidential election, the acting President, Igor Dodon, held
a rally with hundreds of participants.

HANDBALL – Romania’s women’s
handball team are preparing for the European Championship hosted by Denmark
between December 3 and 20. Romania is playing in Group D in the final
tournament, alongside Norway, Germany and Poland, with the games taking place
in the town of Kolding. On December 3, Romania will play Germany. On December 5
it will take on Poland, then it will play Norway on December 7. Denmark is the
sole host of the tournament after the second designated host, neighboring
Norway, pulled out. On November 16, only 17 days before the first game was due,
Oslo announced that healthcare constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic
prevent it from organizing the competition.

BASKETBALL – The Romanian men’s basketball
team on Monday is playing the world champion, Spain, in Valencia, in a fixture
counting towards the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 preliminary Group A. On Saturday,
Romania lost 91-61 to Poland. After three matches, Romania has zero points and
is bottom of the group tables. The last group fixtures will be played next
year. The top three teams in each group will qualify to the 2022 European
Championship. (V. Palcu)

29 November 2020
December 1, 2018

National Day — On December 1, Romania marks 100 years since the setting up of the Romanian unitary nation state. On this occasion as many as 450 public events have been scheduled all across the country. Over 550 thousand people are expected to participate despite the very cold weather. Bucharest venued, in the morning, the biggest military parade of the past decades, which was a unique moment both through the big number of military that passed under the Arch of Triumph and the military equipment and technology presented. 4 thousand military marched in Bucharest of whom more than 500 soldiers from 20 partner and allied states. More than 200 technical equipment items were presented and as many as 50 planes have flown over the capital. The fighting equipment included for the first time the Patriot missile air-defense system and the Piranha 5 armored vehicles which starting this year are being manufactured in Romania. Another military parade took place in Alba Iulia, the city in the center of the country where the union of Transylvania with Romania was proclaimed don December 1, 1918. This is also the biggest parade ever organized in the city of the union. Previously, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church Daniel and the Patriarch of Jerusalem Teofil III held a religious service in front of the Cathedral in Alba Iulia. Also in Alba Iulia a new edition of the Congress of the Romanian Spirituality was opened which is being attended by representatives of the Romanian communities from all over the world. The representative offices of the Romanian Cultural Institute from abroad in cooperation with Romania’s diplomatic missions are organizing cultural events to mark Romania’s National Day.

Congratulations messages — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has told all Romanians, on the occasion of the National Day and of the 100th anniversary of the Romanian unitary nation state, that the nation needs everybody’s energy and involvement. He said that Romania’s history was full of obstacles but the country managed to have a mature society, with courageous, responsible and more civically- engaged people, who have the power to fight for a better life for themselves and for their children. President Iohannis invited all Romanians in the country and aboard, to build the Romania of the next century together, united by such values as democracy, freedom and equality before the law. In turn, the PM Viorica Dancila expressed confidence that the Romanian society still has enough resources to reach consensus, balance and political wisdom so as to promote its interest as a European nation. Romanians also received congratulations messages from abroad on their national day. The EC wrote on its Facebook page that the EU would not be complete without Romania and posted a short video featuring symbols of Romania. The Moldovan PM Pavel Filip said in turn that Romania was more than a friend and partner for Moldova. Also the American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a congratulations message to the Romanian people, on behalf of the American administration, posted on the website of the US Department of State that quote: “On this day, we celebrate with all Romanians the 100th anniversary of the creation of modern Romania and we reflect on our friendship and strategic partnership” unquote. Also Pope Francis has conveyed cordial congratulations to the Romanian people.

Bucharest winter lights — On Friday evening the winter lights were turned on in Bucharest, earlier than in the previous years, to mark the Great Union centennial. The city was adorned with 9 million light bulbs, three times more than in the previous years. 40 kms of boulevards and streets have been decorated with winter lights. In the center of the capital an installation was set up representing the endless Column which measures 12 meters in height and weighs 110 kilograms. The festive lights dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Romanian unitary nation state were turned on by two eminent students in the Constitution Square, which also hosts a Christmas Fair that will be open until December 26.

Condolence message – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Saturday conveyed a message of condolences to his American counterpart Donald Trump, on the death of America’s 41st president, George H.W. Bush. According to Klaus Iohannis, George H.W. Bush was a great leader and a genuine man of state, who left behind a valuable political heritage, including for Eastern Europe. Thanks to his efforts, Romania alongside the other states of the former Soviet bloc, has regained its freedom and started on its way to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. George H.W. Bush also set the basis for what later became a deep and valuable Strategic Partnership between the USA and Romania. George H.W. Bush died on Friday at 94. (translation by L. Simion)

1 December 2018
December 1, 2017

Romania’s National Day — As many as 3,500 military and experts with the National Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Romanian Intelligence Service with more than 350 military equipment, of which 50 airplanes, as well as soldiers from several allied or partner countries have participated today, December 1, in the military parade held in Bucharest on the occasion of Romania’s National Day. The over 300 foreign military come from Bulgaria, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, the US, Turkey and Ukraine. Also in Bucharest, a military and religious ceremony took place, when wreaths of flowers were laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Romania’s national day was also marked in the theaters of operations where Romanian soldiers have been deployed. In Kandahar, Afghanistan, a military and religious ceremony was held and 15 Romanian soldiers in Afghanistan were promoted to a higher rank on the occasion of the national day and another 20 received distinctions from their American partners. Romania’s National Day is also celebrated abroad through cultural events organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute representations in cooperation with Romania’s diplomatic missions. December 1 became Romania’s National Day after the December 1989 anti-Communist revolution and it marks the completion, at the end of WWI, in 1918, of the process of creating the Romanian unitary nation state, when all the provinces included in the neighboring multinational empires, with a majority Romanian-speaking population, came under the authority of Bucharest.

Messages on December 1 — In a video message on Romania’s National Day the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that, ahead of Romania celebrating 100 years since the great union of 1918, Romanians have the opportunity to think of what their country would look like in the future. He underlined that only together, involved and determined, Romanians would manage to build a strong and respected country in Europe and the world. In turn, PM Mihai Tudose said that the centenary of the Great Union represented Romanians’ commitment to redefining the national values. The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, said that Romania should have an ideal, that of a sovereign and prosperous country, respected in the world, while the speaker of the Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu said that we are currently experiencing a period when the rights and freedoms of citizens are threatened, a period when it seems that Romanians cannot decide their future on their own. He expressed his conviction that Romanians would overcome these difficulties as they have done in the past 25 years. On Romania’s National Day, the Royal Family of Romania wished the Romanian people happy anniversary and paid homage to the Romanian nation that made great sacrifices to achieve the great union.

Visa waiver — The European Commission has hailed Canada’s decision to lift visa requirements, as of December 1, for all Romanian and Bulgarian citizens. According to the Commission representatives, this decision is the result of intense diplomatic efforts and of permanent negotiations at political and technical level between the EU, Canada and Romania and Bulgaria. The citizens of the two countries will be able to travel without visas to Canada, as of December 1, for stays of 6 months at the most, for tourist purposes, based on a valid passport. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, those who intend to travel to Canada by plane have to obtain previously, online, an Electronic Travel Authorization, eTA. Those who travel to Canada by sea or land need just a valid passport.

Handball — From December 1st to 17th Germany will be hosting the World Women’s Handball Championship. Romania will play in Group A alongside France, Spain, Slovenia, Angola and Paraguay. In the debut match on December 2, the Romanian handballers will take on the team of Paraguay. Of the 4 groups, the first 4 teams of each group will go to the eighth finals. In the previous World Championship of 2015 Romania won the bronze medal, being the only team to have participated in all the 22 editions of the championship held so far. Romania’s handball team is now being trained by Spanish Ambros Martin.

Brussels — The European Parliament on Thursday passed, in Brussels, the EU budget for 2018, whose rapporteur was the Romanian MEP Siegfrid Mureşan. The EU budget amounts to 160 billion euros. According to Siegfrid Mureşan, the EU allotted for the first time in the annual budget for 2018, 4.9 million euros for fighting disinformation and fake news. He added that the EU would finance, in 2018, a pilot project worth 12 million euros for providing at least 30 thousand free train tickets for the young people of member states who turn 18 in 2018 and who want to visit other EU states. The EU budget provides for an increase in allocations for investments, jobs for the youth, research, innovation, and security as well as in allocations for states in the eastern neighborhood, including the Republic of Moldova. The total value of structural and cohesion funds stands at 46 billion euros, higher by 54% as compared to the 30 billion allotted in 2017. (translated by Lacramioara Simion)

1 December 2017
November 22, 2017 UPDATE

LANGUAGE – The Romanian Government passed on Wednesday a series of measures aimed at granting direct support to the Romanian ethnics who study in their mother tongue in the neighbouring Ukraine and also to the teachers who teach courses in the Romanian language. The measures, proposed by the Ministry for the Romanians Abroad, consolidate the legal framework that allows for educational support from Romania for the Romanian ethnics in Ukraine. The Ministry for the Romanians Abroad will continue dialogue with the Ukrainian side, in trying to promote and protect the minorities’ right to study in their own language. The purpose is to find solutions so that the Romanian ethnics’ right to linguistic identity be respected.

EC — The European Commission has established that Romania took no effective action in response to the EU Council’s recommendation of June to correct its significant deviation from the adjustment path towards the medium-term budgetary objective, according to a EC release on Wednesday. In this context, the Commission proposes that the EU Council should adopt a revised recommendation to Romania, of an annual structural adjustment of at least 0.8% of the GDP in 2018. The European Commission recommends Bucharest to use any windfall gains for budget deficit reduction, while the budgetary consolidation measures should secure a lasting improvement in the general government structural balance, in a growth-friendly manner. Romania must report to the EU Council by April 2018 on the action taken in response to the EC’s recommendation.

WAR CRIMES — Former Bosnian Serb army leader Ratko Mladic was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of genocide, for atrocities committed during the Bosnian war from 1992 to 1995.The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted Mladic of crimes it labelled as some of the “most heinous” in human history. Mladic, aged 75, is responsible for the slaughter of 8,000 unarmed Bosnian Muslim men and boys in the town of Sebrenica and for his role in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, during which 100,000 people were killed and another 2.2 million displaced. Mladic had pleaded not guilty to all charges. His legal team said he would appeal against the verdict.

SMART CITIES – Romania is a good place for investors, but there are two things that scare business people off, namely, the unpredictable legal system and the bribes, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday in Ploiesti, in the south. Taking part in the debate “Romania’s cities 100 years since the Great Union. A smart future for Ploiesti”, the head of state signalled again the fact that the government’s so-called fiscal reform created confusion likely to affect investors’ confidence. Iohannis also said that the concept of smart city means a more active involvement of the citizens in the local governing and the communitys life.

PARLIAMENT — The no-confidence motion introduced by the right wing opposition against the ruling coalition in Bucharest will be debated and voted on in full Parliament session on Thursday, as decided by the two chambers on Wednesday. The motion calls for the resignation of the cabinet headed by the Social Democrat Mihai Tudose, who is accused of sparking confusion in the economic environment and the legal system, as well as of lowering the living standard of the population. In response, PM Tudose claimed that the fiscal reform will bring more money to the budget and the pension fund, while companies will benefit from simplified procedures.

PARADE — About 3,500 Romanian and foreign soldiers take part in the December 1st parade in Bucharest for Romanias National Day, the Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday. 50 aircraft will fly over the city’s Triumphal Arch, with 300 vehicles being part of the parade. December 1st marks the moment, right after WWI, when Greater Romania was formed of formerly divided territories with a majority Romanian population. This date was proclaimed the national day after the 1989 regime change in Romania.

FAIR – The 24th edition of the Gaudeamus – Book of Learning International Fair, organized by the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, opened on Wednesday in Bucharest. It features 300 participating companies and over 800 editorial and professional events. The honorary president of the fair is Matei Visniec, a French based writer and journalist from Romania while the honorary guest this year is the European Commission. The event marks 60 years from the signing of the Rome Treaties, three decades since the launch of the Erasmus program, and 10 years since Romania joined the EU.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

22 November 2017
December 1, 2016 UPDATE

NATIONAL DAY – Romania’s National Day is marked each year on December 1 by all Romanian citizens in the country and abroad as well as in the theaters of operations where Romanian military are participating in international missions. Military parades were organized in several cities of Romania and the authorities prepared concerts, traditional public meals and fireworks shows. The most important parade was held in Bucharest with the participation of more than 3 thousand military and experts with the National Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Intelligence Service. Also parading were military vehicles and tens of aircrafts among which the multirole F-16 Fighiting Falcon, the latest acquisition of the Romanian Air Forces. This year the parade held in Bucharest paid homage to the heroes killed in WWI in the context in which Romania marked in 2016 100 years since it entered the War. Military detachments from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Slovakia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Spain and the US participated, for the first time, in the National Day parade. The National Day was also celebrated abroad through various cultural events organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute Representations in cooperation with Romania’s diplomatic missions.

MESSAGES ON DECEMBER 1 – President Klaus Iohannis said Thursday on the occasion of the party given on Romania’s National Day that December 1 was a symbol of unity, solidarity and national pride and told Romanians not to doubt themselves and their country. Previously, the PM Dacian Cioloş had conveyed a message in which he referred to the Great Union of 1918, which he considered a miracle of history. On December 1 Romanians also received messages of congratulation from the US authorities on behalf of the American people and of President Barack Obama. The document posted on the website of the US Department of State highlights the importance of the US- Romania Strategic Partnership, the fact that Romania remains a trustworthy ally within NATO, which contributes significantly to international peace and security. On Wednesday Romania’s Ambassador to the US, George Maior, met with Jackie Walorski, a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, who gave assurances that the bilateral Strategic Partnership would be intensified and would focus on issues of common interest during the future American administration. George Maior reiterated Romania’s firm commitment to increasing the budget for defense to 2% of the GDP in 2017 and to maintaining it at this level for the next 10 years.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS – During the month of December Bucharesters as well as visitors of Romania’s capital will have the opportunity to enjoy more than 3 million holiday lights decorating the capital on the occasion of the winter holidays. Besides the festive lights that cover some 23 kms, Bucharest also boasts a 25-m tall fir tree decorated with thousands of lights, which is located in the center of a traditional Christmas Fair. This year the Fair is organized near the Parliament Palace. Visitors are expected by more than 100 wooden houses and traditional dishes, Santa’s House, a skating rink and many gifts. Also various shows will be held during the month of December.

RETURN GUIDE – The Department of Policies for the Relation with the Romanians in the Diaspora within the Romanian Foreign Ministry has drafted and published a “Return Guide” for the Romanians living outside Romania. The document was drawn up based on the questions asked by those Romanians who intend to return home and includes basic information and useful contacts that could make their reintegration in Romania easier. According to estimates made by the Foreign Ministry, between 3.5 and 4 million Romanians are now living abroad.

EUROSTAT – In 2015 households in Romania allotted almost 22% of their total consumption expenses for their homes, water supply, electricity, gas and other fuels as compared to 21% in 2005, show the latest data made public by the European Statistical Office. At the level of the EU, families allotted a quarter of the money for consumption to these expenses, the total sum of 2 thousand billion euros accounting for the largest category of household expenses in the member states.

ROYAL TRAIN – The Romanian royal train ended its annual trip on Thursday in the central city of Sibiu. This year the trip was dedicated to the anniversary of 150 years since the setting up of the Royal House of Romania and to the promulgation of the 1866 Constitution. During the two-day trip, Crown Princess Margareta of Romania, Prince Radu and Princess Maria were accompanied by representatives of the royal families of Belgium and Bulgaria as well as by eminent students, teachers and personalities of Romania’s civil society. The first Romanian Constitution was drafted in 1866 during the reign of Carol of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, after the model of the Belgian Constitution, which was considered, at the time, the most democratic Constitution in Europe. (translation by L. Simion)

1 December 2016
November 30, 2016 UPDATE

NATIONAL DAY – On December 1st Romania’s National Day will be celebrated across the country and abroad, including in theatres of operation, with parades, religious ceremonies, exhibitions of combat military technology and weapons, and cultural events. The date of 1st of December 1918 remains a symbol for the union of all Romanians. Declared an official holiday after the anti-communist revolution of 1989, 1st of December marks the completion, at the end of World War I, of the creation of the Romanian nation state following the union of all provinces with majority Romanian populations, that had been part of multinational empires. More than 3,000 military and experts from the defence and interior ministries and the Romanian Intelligence Service made the final rehearsals for the National Day parade in Bucharest. The parade route will again pass underneath the Arch of Triumph after being hosted by the Constitution Square for the last two years as the Arch was undergoing restoration works. The Romanian military will be joined by their counterparts from other allied and partner states such as the UK, Italy, Germany, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and the US. The list of cultural events dedicated to the National Day celebrations include a host of traditional music concerts and performances organised by the Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi Institute for Romanians Abroad and the Romanian Cultural Institute between the 27th of November and 4th of December for the large Romanian communities in Spain and Italy.

ST. ANDREW’S DAY — Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic believers from all over the world, Romania included, celebrated on Tuesday St. Apostle Andrew. He is the first of Jesus Christ apostles who preached Christianity in the south of Romania, in Dobrudgea. He also preached the Gospel in Greece died as a martyr in the Greek town of Patras, being crucified on an X shaped cross. Over 700 thousand Romanians named after St. Andrew celebrated their name day on Tuesday.

MESSAGE — The United States has congratulated Romanians on their National Day. A message posted on the Internet page of the US State Department, signed by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, says “On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer my sincerest congratulations to the people of Romania as you celebrate the 98th anniversary of your nation’s Unification Day on December 1.” The message also says that the US Government places a high value on its strategic partnership with Romania, a trusted NATO Ally and a major contributor to international peace, security, and the rule of law.

ROYAL TRAIN – The royal train started on Wednesday its annual journey dedicated this time to the anniversary of 150 years since Romania’s Royal House was established and to the promulgation of the 1866 Constitution. Accompanying princess Margarita, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Prince Radu and Princess Maria on this two-day trip will be representatives of the royal families of Belgium and Bulgaria and also students with notable results, professors and personalities of the civil society. On Wednesday the train reached the mountain resort of Sinaia. The journey will be resumed on December 1st, on Romania’s National Day. Its final destination is the city of Sibiu.

SECURITY — The security of the European Union and that of the Western Balkans are inseparable, so solution can only emerge from a close cooperation among the countries in this region and the EU, Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu said on Monday in Warsaw, where he attended the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Visegrad Group and the Western Balkans. The meeting was also attended by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini and by Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Romania, and Slovenia. The V4 Ministers reiterated, among other things, their continued interest in and support for the Western Balkan countries on their EU path.

FUNERALS – Thousands of Cubans have lined the streets of Havana to see a caravan carrying the ashes of the former president Fidel Castro, from Havana to the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, 800-km away. The ashes will retrace the route taken by Fidel Castro from Santiago to the capital after his victory over Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, only in reverse. The ashes will be interred Sunday, ending the nine-day mourning period for the man who ruled the country for nearly 50 years. Fidel Castro died on Friday, aged 90. State funerals will be held on Sunday in Santiago.

DEBT — Romania has to pay over 1.26 billion euros in 2017 to the EU and the World Bank of the stand-by loan taken out in 2009, according to the Romanian finance Ministry. Over 1.25 billion euros are to be paid back to the EU and only 9 million euros to the World Bank. This year Romania has paid 113 million euros to the EU and the World Bank, covering interests rate and commissions. Romania has to pay, until 2023, over 4.77 billion euros worth of debt to the two international bodies.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

30 November 2016