Defense – The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu welcomed the proposals launched by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, regarding the exemption of defense spending from the excessive deficit procedure, a solution for which Romania has constantly advocated, he said. In a message posted on Facebook, the prime minister also stated that Romania supports the allocation of additional funds for weaponry, provided that the money reaches Romanian factories. He also specified that Bucharest remains on the same coordinates so far, namely in favor of increasing the defense spending and against sending Romanian troops to Ukraine. The President of the European Commission proposed the creation of a new “ReArm Europe” plan, which could mobilize almost 800 billion Euros for defense investments in the European Union and for military aid for Ukraine invaded by the Russian army.
Russia – The air and naval military attaché of the Russian Federation in Bucharest and his deputy have been declared persons not welcome (personae non gratae) on the territory of Romania. The decision of the Romanian authorities was communicated on Wednesday to the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, who was summoned to the Foreign Ministry headquarters. The institution specifies that the two military diplomats were sanctioned for carrying out activities that run counter to the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. Recently, the name of the deputy Russian military attaché, Evgheni Ignatiev, appeared in the criminal file of the former presidential candidate, the pro-Russian extremist Călin Georgescu. Prosecutors claim that people around Georgescu are in contact with Russian military attaches, suspected of being agents of the military intelligence service in Moscow. On Wednesday, Calin Georgescu’s complaint against the judicial control measure was heard in Bucharest, in the file in which he is being investigated for six crimes, including incitement to actions against the constitutional order. According to him, a decision is expected on Thursday. He was placed under judicial control by prosecutors from the General Prosecutor’s Office last Wednesday for 60 days.
Travel Fair – Romania’s tourist offers are promoted over March 4-6 at the Berlin International Tourism Exchange (ITB Berlin), the world’s largest travel trade fair. Germany, Romania’s number one trade partner, is also the largest market for Romanian tourism, Economy Minister Bogdan Ivan says. Last year, Romania reported a 10% increase in the number of German tourists, totaling some 240 thousand. At the ITB Berlin, Romania is promoted by means of cultural circuits, active and adventure tourism, holidays on the Black Sea coast and in the Danube Delta, rural tourism and city breaks. One of the top attractions this year is also the “George Enescu” International Festival. The 27th edition will be held over August 24 – September 21 in Bucharest, bringing together 4,000 musicians, reputed orchestras, conductors and soloists which are bound to turn Bucharest into the capital of classical music.
EU funds – Romania has received over 100 billion Euros worth of European funds since its accession to the European Union in 2007, said, Wednesday, the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Marcel Boloş. According to the official, Romania is no longer an economic periphery, but a country that is quickly catching up, surpassing Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Greece in terms of the GDP per capita, an essential indicator of the standard of living. Minister Boloş recalled that the European funds received are found in the infrastructure, almost 900 km of motorways and expressways having been built in the last two decades, are also found in the expansion of the sewage network, in grants granted to companies to develop, in thousands of renovated, equipped or expanded schools and hospitals or in the creation of new stable jobs. The reality is that the EU has been and remains Romania’s partner in development, Marcel Boloş concluded.
EU – The citizens of European Union member states, including Romanians, can apply, as of Wednesday, to obtain the electronic travel authorization required from April 2 to enter the United Kingdom or to transit this country on the way to another destination. Requests must be sent on the official UK ETA application. The Romanian Foreign Ministry specifies that the electronic visa will be valid for two years and can be used for multiple trips to the United Kingdom throughout this period. ETA costs 10 pounds, around 60 lei, for all age categories, including minors. The fee will be paid at the time of application, and the money will not be refunded in case of refusal, the Bucharest diplomacy also specifies.
Transparency International – The global picture regarding the corruption perception index has deteriorated in the last 12 years, shows a study published on Wednesday by Transparency International. In the European Union, the average score decreased by two points in 2024 compared to the previous year. Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Slovakia and Hungary recorded negative trends. Other member states, such as Romania, stagnated below the Union average. Romania is on 65th place out of the 180 included in the study, on the same level as Montenegro, Kuwait and Malta. Among the recommendations of the Transparency International organization for Romania is the increase in awareness regarding the law that protects whistleblowers in the public interest, especially in areas such as public procurement, the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, environmental protection and public health.
Football – Romania’s football champions, FCSB, on Thursday will take on Olympique Lyon of France at home in the round of 16 of Europa League. The return leg is scheduled for March 13 in France. The Bucharest club advanced to the round of 16 of Europa League after a two-leg win over PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece coached by the Romanian Răzvan Lucescu.
Investigation – The Florida Attorney General’s Office is officially investigating the British-American influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, after the two arrived in Florida last week, dpa reports. The Tate brothers are also being investigated in Romania for human trafficking and exploitation of young women. They were arrested in Romania in December 2022 and were initially subject to a ban on leaving the country. However, Romanian authorities eventually allowed them to leave, and the two went to Florida. According to the German news agency, their release is rumored to have been brokered by the Trump administration, but the White House leader has denied any involvement. Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer, has become a symbol of online misogyny in recent years, along with his brother Tristan. Romanian prosecutors accuse the two of coercing women to produce commercial videos with sexually explicit content. Investigations have revealed at least 34 alleged victims, including a 15-year-old girl. Both brothers deny any wrongdoing. (LS)