Radio România Internațional

Tag: statistics

  • Growing trade deficit

    Growing trade deficit

    The trade balance deficit recorded in Romania in the first nine months of the current year increased by 15%, as compared to the same period of 2023, up to the value of approximately 23.5 billion Euros, according to data published on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics. In the mentioned interval, exports exceeded 69 billion Euros, decreasing by 1.4%. Imports totaled almost 93 billion Euros, increasing by 2.3%. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in the first nine months of this year, important shares in the structure of exports and imports are held by the following product categories: machines and transport equipment (almost 47% of exports and over 36% of imports) and other manufactured products. The value of intra-EU exchanges in goods exceeded 50 billion Euros in outgoings and was more than 67 billion Euros in incomings. The value of extra-EU exchanges was more than 19 billion Euros in exports and more than 25 billion Euros in imports.

     

    Also on Monday, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) raised the inflation forecast for the end of this year to 4.9%, from 4% as estimated in August. It basically returned to the forecasts from the quarterly report on inflation published in May. The governor of the BNR, Mugur Isărescu, emphasized that the Central Bank makes its forecasts only based on certain data and that the way in which the fiscal-budgetary correction will be made in order to reduce the deficits will also influence the actual evolution of inflation. He said that he expected a coherent macroeconomic correction program with strong political support.

     

    Track: “That’s what we’re waiting for. A credible macroeconomic correction program from the new government, to be supported politically, socially accepted and effective from a macroeconomic point of view, so that we can connect. We can conceive, I mean us, the Romanians, a gradual adjustment program, 0.7 per year, significantly lower than an economic growth, which we think to set at 2% per year, which can be combined with avoiding decreasing the standard of living, but not with 16% increases in gross or net or real incomes, that can no longer be done”.

     

    The National Bank anticipates that inflation will go below 3.5% per year only in 2026. Mugur Isărescu pointed out that the evolution of prices is marked by a series of risks and uncertainties. These are related to both the fiscal policy and salary increases, and to external factors, such as the evolution of the European economies with which Romania conducts most of its commercial relations, the dynamics of the oil price, in the context of increasing geopolitical tensions, and also the way the conflicts will evolve in Ukraine and the Middle East. In the latest “World Economic Outlook” report, recently published, the International Monetary Fund has revised down to 1.9% the estimates regarding the growth of the Romanian economy this year, from 2.8% as forecast in April. (LS)

  • Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

    Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

    Data from the Statistical Office of the European Union – Eurostat show that the adjusted average annual full-time salary of Romanians is the fourth lowest in the European Union. According to Eurostat, the data show an annual salary increase of approximately 2,500 Euros for 2023. However, the total amount remains less than half of the EU average. Last year, the adjusted average annual salary for the community bloc was 37,900 Euros, while in Romania it was approximately 17,700 Euros, so less than half.

     

    On the other hand, the data published by Eurostat also show that the unemployment rate in the euro zone stood at 6.3% in September, stable compared to the previous month, while in the case of the European Union the unemployment rate remained at 5.9%. In Romania as well the unemployment rate stood at 5.5% in September, stable compared to August. And the National Institute of Statistics in Romania announced that the unemployment rate was, in September, nationally, 5.5%, similar to that of August, which had increased slightly compared to the previous month. Most of the unemployed in Romania are adults between the ages of 25 and 74.

     

    Financial analyst Adrian Codirlașu believes that the slight increase in unemployment after the middle of the year was caused by the accentuation of the slowdown in economic growth: “Somehow, the unemployment rate returned to the values ​​it had in the previous year. If in the middle of the year we saw a decrease in the unemployment rate, later, starting in August, it returned to the level of 5.5%, so it increased a little, a slight increase. I would put it in the context where we see that the economy has slowed down, and this is seen in the creation of fewer jobs. It’s true, it grew extremely easily, so somehow it’s in the error margin, I would say, we still can’t say ‘yes, unemployment is generated’, but we still see a movement in the direction of a slight increase in the unemployment rate”.

     

    Adrian Codirlașu added that the unemployment rate will depend, in the future, on how the economy will perform, but he estimates that it will remain high and even increase slightly, because he does not see a significant improvement in the economy compared to this year, but on the contrary. It is possible, in the context of increasing taxation, for even more redundancies to be generated in the economy, the financial analyst warned.

     

    The National Institute of Statistics draws attention, as usual, to the level of unemployment among young people, those aged between 15 and 24, which exceeds 23%, but Adrian Codirlaşu considers it normal that the figure is much higher for this category. ‘Young people must learn, they must go to school to learn. They will be much better off, later, by accumulating that knowledge. Then there is the university, it would be ideal for as many young people as possible to go to university, because a job based on education brings the highest incomes”, the financial analyst says. (LS)

  • September 19, 2024 UPDATE

    September 19, 2024 UPDATE

    CSAT – A meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT) took place in Bucharest, on Thursday, the agenda including topics such as the war in Ukraine and the endowment of the Army in the future. The CSAT members came to the conclusion that Romania is directly interested in having industrial capacities on its territory that can ensure both the production of modern military equipment for equipping the peacetime force structure, as well as the development of new equipment that should contribute to the multiplication of military capabilities in crisis or war situations. This, in the context in which they debated the Romanian Army’s endowment plan for the next 10 years, after the major change in the regional security situation, generated by Russia’s aggressive stance in Ukraine. In this context, taking into account the recent developments in the neighboring country, the council discussed additional measures to deter and combat security threats, to be implemented at the national level, as well as with the support of NATO allies. Consolidating the Strategic Partnership with the Republic of Moldova was another topic on the agenda, and Romania reiterates its support for Chişinău’s European roadmap by supporting the implementation of reforms and the necessary public policies.

     

    Reindustrialization – The Romanian government is concerned with the country’s reindustrialization and is working on a National Plan for Large Industry worth almost 2 billion Euros. It will be focused on three main pillars: support for strategic investments in the processing industry, state aid for large companies that carry out investments capable of reducing direct greenhouse gas emissions, respectively energy consumption, and support for companies that produce raw materials. According to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the government wants to strengthen the economic development model based on investments.

     

    Floods – The Romanian Institute of Hydrology and Water Management has announced that the flow of the Danube at the entrance in Romania on the Baziaş section will increase significantly, until September 24, up to 8,000 cubic meters per second, i.e. more than double the multi-year average of September. The authorities in the field give assurances, however, that the dam at Portile de Fier (Iron Gates) is ready to receive and transit the flood expected after the heavy rainfall in central Europe. Meanwhile, the risk of flooding remains in eastern Romania, already heavily affected by the passage of cyclone Boris. Code orange and yellow alerts are in effect for major runoff from slopes, torrents, streams and flash floods on small rivers. In the localities flooded last weekend, firefighters from all over the country, rescuers, gendarmes and volunteers are on alert and are intervening to help people, who also need the bear necessities. We remind you that the recent floods have claimed lives and have caused huge material damage.

     

    Statistics – The National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis (CNSP) changed the economic growth estimate for this year down to 2.8%, from the previous 3.4%. According to the Projection of the Main Macroeconomic Indicators, a GDP growth of 3.5% is estimated for 2025 and of 3.7% for 2026, then, from 2027, the trend will be downward to 3.3%, respectively 2.9% in 2028. Inflation at the end of the year is forecast at 4.5%, above the national bank target of 4%, falling to 3.8% next year and to 2.9% in 2026. The average exchange rate is projected at 4.98 lei/Euro in 2024. The current account deficit is estimated to rise to 7.7% of the GDP this year, from 7% of the GDP last year. The trade deficit will increase, according to the Commission, to 32.7 billion Euros this year, from 28.9 billion Euros last year, after a growth in exports of 1.8% and in imports of 4.5%. According to the CNSP, the average net monthly wage could rise by 14.8% in 2024, to 5,066 lei (approx. 1,020 Euros).

     

    Trafficking – Three drug traffickers (two Moldovan citizens and one Romanian) were arrested in Bucharest, after being caught red-handed with 10 kilograms of prohibited substances. The leader of the network has developed numerous connections in the drug and psychoactive substance trafficking communities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. According to the police, the psychoactive substance has a market value of 200,000 Euros. The drugs were to reach over 100,000 consumers.

     

    Elections – The electoral campaign for the presidential election in Romania will start on October 25, the Permanent Electoral Authority announced on Thursday. Electoral competitors can submit their candidacy by October 5 at the latest. The authorities will organize approximately 19,000 polling stations in the country, and the Romanian citizens abroad will be able to cast their vote in over 900 stations. According to the most recent data, there are over 18 million voters in Romania for whom ballots will be printed, and approximately 5 million ballots will be prepared for the citizens abroad, says the president of Permanent Electoral Authority, Toni Greblă. (LS)

  • February 14, 2024 UPDATE

    February 14, 2024 UPDATE

    Rome — The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu on Wednesday started a two-day working visit to Rome, the focal point of which is the third joint meeting of the governments of Romania and Italy. The previous intergovernmental summit was 13 years ago. On this occasion, there will also be an economic forum with the participation of the business environment from the two countries. The prime minister also has scheduled meetings with the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, with representatives of the Romanian community in Italy, as well as a papal audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Romanias ambassador to Italy, Gabriela Dancău, said that, a joint declaration will be signed by the prime ministers on the development of the consolidated strategic partnership, and, at the level of the ministers, several sectoral cooperation documents will be signed. On Thursday, Marcel Ciolacu will have an official meeting with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, after which they will make press statements. Italy is home to the largest community of Romanians abroad, over 1,100,000. Italy is Romanias second trading partner, with a share in our countrys total trade of approximately 9.5%.



    Cyber attack – Several hospitals in Romania, including in Bucharest, have been targeted by a cyber-attack that encrypted data on their servers, the National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC) announced. Most of the healthcare units affected by the incident had safety copies of their data. According to the health ministry, exceptional security measures have been implemented, with many units in the healthcare system disconnected from the internet for further inquiries. The Directorate Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism Offences has started a criminal investigation.



    Farmers – The European Commission has officially endorsed a regulation which grants a one-year exemption from the rule requiring farmers to keep 4% of their arable land fallow. The rule, designed to help improve environment conditions, had sparked protests across the EU, including in Romania. In exchange, farmers are now required to grow nitrogen fixing crops such as lentils or peas. The new regulation is intended to give farmers more flexibility, while also protecting biodiversity and land quality. The measure is to be applied for the year 2024. Member States have 15 days to notify the Commission of the implementation option that they choose out of the 2 alternatives available.



    Statistics — Romanias economy grew by 2% in 2023, according to the data published on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics in Bucharest. In exchange, the gross domestic product increased last year by only 0.5% both in the EU and in the euro zone. At the same time, the annual rate of inflation in Romania was 7.41% in January compared to 6.61% in December 2023. Services prices rose the most, by 1.55%, followed by foodstuffs, by 1 .3%, and non-food products, by 0.74%. More important price drops were recorded in milling products and edible oil.




    Medicines – The National Agency for Medicines in Romania will establish, this year, a list of vital medicines for our country. The decision comes after, at the European level, around 200 medicines have been identified that often miss from the markets of several member states. The European list will be transformed into a series of national lists of critical medicines, said the President of the Agency, Răzvan Prisada. About the medicines included in the document he explained that they are not necessarily in short supply at present, but that risks may arise once they become scarce. Among the causes that can lead to a shortage of medicines, Prisada identified an entire range, from commercial reasons to the lack of raw materials. He added that, at the European level, there is a seasonal problem with the lack of antibiotics, but this will be solved once the epidemiological season ends.



    Renewable energy – Romania remained the last country in the European Union that failed to regulate the trading of guarantees of origin for the export of renewable energy, which limits the national renewable energy market. This takes place in the context of the multiplication of long-term contracts for the purchase of electricity negotiated directly, against the background of the spread of energy from renewable sources. The Secretary of State in Romania’s Energy Ministry, Dan Drăgan, has given assurances that the problem will be solved. He estimates that, by mid 2024, the National Energy Regulatory Authority will become part of the European regulatory framework, and by the end of this year guarantees of origin will be able to be traded at the European level. (AMP, LS)

  • September 2, 2023 UPDATE

    September 2, 2023 UPDATE

    Budget — The European Commission might agree to a higher budget deficit than the one originally assumed by Romania for this year, says the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, after the meeting, in Brussels, on Friday, with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Romania assumed a deficit of 4.4%, but it wants to increase it to over 5%. He said that the fact that Romania was not accepted in the Schengen Area contributed to the increase of the countrys budget deficit by almost 2%. Ciolacu added that the plan to combat evasion, the reform of the administration and the measures to reduce the deficit will be included in a law for which the Romanian Government will take responsibility in Parliament in the autumn parliamentary session, which starts on Monday. He said that the value added tax for goods and services will not exceed 19%, and for foodstuffs and medicines it will be maintained at 9%.



    Summit — The US President Joe Bidens special envoy on climate issues, John Kerry, is coming to Bucharest. The US State Department announces that, on Wednesday, he will participate in the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, a diplomatic format that includes 12 member states of the European Union located between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas. John Kerry will talk about how an accelerated transition to clean energy strengthens energy security and resilience in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as about new nuclear technologies, including Romanias role in the construction of small modular reactors. John Kerry was Secretary of State between 2013 and 2017, during the second term of President Barack Obama.



    Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea qualified, for the first time, in the round of 16 of the US Open tournament, the last Grand Slam competition of the year, on Friday, in New York, after her surprise victory over Kazakhstans Elena Rîbakina, with the score 6 -3, 6-7, 6-4. The Romanian (30 WTA) achieved her best performance at Flushing Meadows. In the round of 16, Sorana Cîrstea will face the Swiss Belinda Bencic. Also in New York, in the womens doubles, the Romanian-Ukrainian pair Gabriela Ruse/Marta Kostiuk qualified for the round of 16, after defeating the Russian-Australian pair Irina Hromaceva/Daria Saville 6-2, 6-2. Ruse and Kostiuk reached the semifinals of the doubles event at the Australian Open this year, stopped in the round of 16 at Roland Garros and in the second round at Wimbledon.



    Statistics – Romania imported in the first half of this year over a third less than in the same period of last year, show data provided by the National Institute of Statistics. Domestic production increased in the first six months of this year by 6%. According to the estimates of the National Strategy and Forecast Commission, natural gas production is estimated to rise at an average annual rate of 3.6% in the period 2023-2026, after a decrease of approximately 1% in 2022. As regards imports of natural gas, for this year a sharp decrease of almost a quarter is forecast, a trend that will be maintained until 2026. According to the National Institute of Statistics the import of natural gas registered a decrease of 16.5% last year.



    Air traffic – Air traffic for passengers in Romania increased in the first half of this year by over 26%, compared to the same period of last year. According to the National Institute of Statistics, from almost 9 million passengers in 2022, 2023 saw more than 11 million passengers. The largest flows were recorded at “Henri Coandă” Airport in Bucharest, “Avram Iancu” in Cluj-Napoca (north-west) and Iasi International Airport (north-east). In international passenger transport, most passengers disembarked in Romania took off from Luton airport in London, Bergamo in Milan and Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv. Most passengers from Romania boarded planes heading for London, Milan and Brussels. The passengers disembarked in Romania mainly came from such countries as Italy, Great Britain, Germany and Spain.



    Covid – The number of people sick with COVID-19 has increased at a “quite alarming” rate, warned the manager of the “Sfânta Parascheva” Infectious Diseases Hospital in Iasi (northeast). He said that this is due to the people’s crowing during the holidays and to the small number of tests for Covid. Wearing a protective mask remains the most effective method of prevention, according to physicians. They also recommend testing at the first signs of illness, avoiding crowded spaces, avoiding contact with infected people, washing hands and vaccination to avoid severe forms of the disease.



    Swimmer – The Romanian librarian Avram Iancu finished, on Friday, his swimming race on the Rhine, through which he wanted to support, in his own way, the importance of Romanias accession to the Schengen Area. A multi-sport athlete, he managed to cover the 1,032 kilometers of the river in 48 days, without a neoprene suit or other aids, making an effort that he described as titanic and unimaginable. In the summer of 2017, Avram Iancu became the first man in the world who managed to cross the Danube River using only the strength of his arms. (LS)

  • August 11, 2023 UPDATE

    August 11, 2023 UPDATE

    Inflation – Romanias annual inflation rate dropped to 9.4% in July from 10.3% in June, while the price of foods went up by over 16%, of non-foods by 4.25% and of services by almost 12%, according to data published on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics. The National Bank of Romania revised its inflation forecast for the end of year up to 7.5% from 7.1% and to 4.4% for the end of 2024, the central bank governor Mugur Isărescu said on Wednesday. The projection is based on the legislation in force and does not take into account the impact of the fiscal consolidation measures recently proposed by the authorities.



    Transit — The Romanian Transport Minister, Sorin Grindeanu, announced that measures will be taken in the next period to increase the transit capacity of Ukrainian grains through Romania from 2 to 4 million tons per month. The statement was made following discussions with high officials from the US, the European Union and the Republic of Moldova about alternative transport routes, following Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The meeting took place on Friday in Galati, a port on the Danube, in eastern Romania. The importance of Romanian land, rail, and naval transport routes for maintaining a continuous flow for exports and imports from Ukraine was emphasized. “Despite Russias merciless destruction of Ukrainian port infrastructure and grain warehouses, we remain committed to ensuring the uninterrupted continuity of Ukrainian grain exports to meet global demand,” the US Embassy in Bucharest announced. The US officials again accused the Kremlin of “turning food into a weapon and of endangering global food security.”



    Football – Romanias football champions Farul Constanța defeated Flora Tallinn of Estonia 3-nil on Thursday evening at home in the first leg of the third preliminary round of the UEFA Conference League. In the same leg, the vice-champions FCSB drew nil-all against FC Nordsjaelland of Denmark in a match in Bucharest, while the winner of the Romanian Cup, Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe, drew 1-all at home against FC Aktobe of Kazakhstan. The decisive matches will be held next week.



    Exercise — Approximately 250 soldiers from France and Luxembourg and 65 pieces of technical equipment from the NATO Battle Group in Romania will participate, between August 14 and 18, in the DEPLOYEX exercise in the Babadag range (south-east), the Defense Ministry announced on Friday. The movement of troops and technical means will take place on Monday, and the purpose of the DEPLOYEX organization is to practice the rapid deployment of the troops and equipment of the Battle Group, according to the aforementioned source. Also, this exercise contributes to improving the level of interoperability of the forces within the NATO Battle Group. This group contributes to increasing Romanias military cooperation with the participating countries – France, the Netherlands and Belgium (by rotation), as well as with Luxembourg and, implicitly, contributes to consolidating the security of the Euro-Atlantic area on the Eastern Flank.



    Deposit-refund – The deposit-refund scheme will become functional in Romania as of the end of November, announced the Environment Minister, Mircea Fechet. This means that, from that date, bottles, PETs and aluminum cans can be returned to stores. In exchange for them, citizens will receive money or vouchers, as happens in the other EU member states. The deposit-refund scheme is to help Romania reach the 55% recycling rate imposed by Brussels by 2025.



    Navy – The Romanian Naval Forces are carrying out activities dedicated to the Romanian Navy Day in the run-up to 15th August, the Christian holiday of the Assumption, the Virgin Mary being considered the patron of sailors. Various events are scheduled in the capital city, in the Romanian Black Sea ports of Constanţa and Mangalia and the Danube ports of Brăila, Tulcea and Galaţi. On 15th August, Constanţa will play host to a demonstration exercise entitled The Romanian Naval Forces 2023 on the maritime stage in from the Fleet Command. The opening ceremony involving helicopters and speed boats flying the flags of Romania and NATO, will be followed by a parade by Romanias flagship vessel, Mircea. (LS, CM)

  • August 9, 2023

    August 9, 2023

    Coalition – The Liberal leader, Nicolae Ciucă, rules out the possibility of breaking the governing coalition or triggering early elections. He says that together with the social democrats, solutions will be found so that the tax reform should not involve new taxes for companies. The clarifications come after new discussions with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu about the reforms prepared by the government through an emergency ordinance in the administration and fiscal domains. The Prime Minister, leader of the Social Democratic Party – PSD, said that these discussions are taking place with his mandate on the table, and he will not hesitate to resign if the Liberal Party withdraws its support for this package of measures aimed at maintaining the budget deficit within the limits agreed upon with the European experts. New consultations between the coalition partners are announced for these days. The draft emergency ordinance regarding the elimination of some fiscal facilities and the modification of some taxes is still under debate. The measures aim, among others, at increasing taxes for small and medium-sized enterprises, changing the VAT or taxing the salaries of programmers who exceed a monthly income of 10,000 lei (approx. 2,000 Euros). The goal is to increase revenues to the state budget and comply with the commitments assumed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The representatives of IT companies criticize the proposed fiscal measures and claim that they would seriously affect this field. They state that some companies are already analyzing the possibility of moving their businesses to nearby countries.



    BNR – The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has revised upward the inflation forecast for the end of this year to 7.5% and to 4.4% for the end of 2024, according to the data presented on Wednesday by the governor of the BNR, Mugur Isărescu. The Central Bank estimated, in May 2023, an inflation rate of 7.1% for the end of 2023. Mugur Isărescu pointed out that only some increased taxes lead to an increase in inflation, namely the direct taxes on consumption, the excise taxes and VAT taxes. Ample uncertainties are mentioned regarding the projected trajectory in the context of the likely adoption of some fiscal correction measures to boost budget revenues, which are likely to have a direct impact on inflation, such as increases in indirect taxes — the VAT and excises.



    Statistics – The trade balance deficit in the first half of this year was 13.3 billion Euros, lower by 2.1 billion Euros (-13.9%) than the one recorded between January 1 and June 30, 2022, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) announced today. In the first six months of this year, exports totaled 47.4 billion Euros, recording an advance of 5.9%, and imports totaled 60.7 billion Euros, increasing by 0.8% compared to the same period of 2022. According to the INS, between January 1 and June 30, 2023, machinery and transport equipment (45.1% for export and 36.3% for import) and other products manufactured goods (30.2% for export and 28.8% for import) held important shares in the structure of exports and imports.



    Night of the Museums – The Night of Museums in the Villages, a new Romanian national cultural event, will take place, for the first time, this year, on September 2, with Radio Romania Regional being a partner of the event. The number of institutions participating in this first edition has so far reached 79, from 27 counties. The registration session is open until August 15, and the goal of the organizers is to reach 100 institutions. On the occasion of this first edition of the Night of Museums in the Villages, the National Network of Museums in Romania will launch a national support campaign for the development of educational programs for children and young people from rural communities, by exploiting the collections and cultural heritage they own.



    August 10 – The General Prosecutors Office of Romania has announced that it has taken legal action against the former leadership of the Gendarmerie for the way in which they coordinated the law enforcement’s intervention at the anti-government rally of the diaspora on August 10, 2018, in Bucharest. The former leadership is mainly accused of abuse of office and abusive behavior. The prosecutors specify that the gendarmes acted not only against the people who demonstrated violently, but also against the peaceful demonstrators who represented the vast majority of the protesters. More than 300 participants in the protest are demanding moral and material damages in this case. (LS)

  • July 13, 2023

    July 13, 2023

    Resignation — The Romanian Labor Minister Marius Budai has resigned today against the backdrop of the scandal regarding the care centers for the elderly. The Romanian authorities continue checks at residential social centers throughout the country. More than 1,500 centers have been controlled so far, and 15 nursing homes for the elderly, the disabled and children have been closed. The activity of another 26 has been suspended. The authorities issued 60 fines worth almost 800,000 lei (the equivalent of about 160 thousand Euros). A nursing home that was operating illegally was identified and a criminal case was also opened for abuse of office, fraud, false declarations, unlawful practicing of a profession and tax evasion in the case of a commercial company that owns three nursing homes. On the other hand, the Bucharest Court of Appeal will judge on July 20 the appeals made by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) regarding the placement under house arrest, under judicial control or the failure to take any measures in the case of the 20 defendants detained last week in the investigation regarding the nursing homes for the elderly and the people with disabilities from Ilfov county (south, near Bucharest), where the so-called beneficiaries were beaten, insulted, starved, subjected to forced labor and deprived of minimum hygiene conditions.



    Schengen — The European Parliament reconfirmed its support for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area. Through a resolution adopted on Wednesday, with a large majority, the MEPs ask the Council of the European Union to approve the candidacy of the two states by the end of this year. The document shows that Romania and Bulgaria meet all the criteria to join the free travel area and that the exercise of the right of veto, “without having presented any justification of a legal nature related to the accession criteria”, fuels anti-European sentiment and harms the economy. The European Parliament emphasizes that Romanians and Bulgarians are discriminated against, because they face delays, bureaucratic difficulties and additional costs when traveling or doing business abroad, in comparison with the Schengen Area citizens. The European Parliament also asks the Commission to estimate the financial losses, lost gains and environmental damage that Romania and Bulgaria have incurred, since June 2011, due to not being members of the Schengen area and to analyze the possible compensation mechanisms.



    Statistics — The Border Police General Inspectorate (IGPR) informs that on Wednesday, 123,649 people entered Romania through the border points, of whom 16,483 were Ukrainian citizens. According to a press release issued on Thursday, starting on February 10, 2022, two weeks before the Russian army invaded their country, 4,998,837 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania. The number of Ukrainian citizens who took up employment in Romania after the start of the war reached a new record last month – said the Romanian Labor Minister, Marius Budai. According to him, at the national level, 6,810 employment contracts were concluded for Ukrainian citizens, the highest level since February 24, 2022 until now. All in all, the minister said, 7,972 active contracts of Ukrainian citizens are registered, of which 6,810 were concluded after the start of the Russian invasion. Most Ukrainians employed in Romania, 1,452, work in the manufacturing industry, and 1,181 in the construction industry. Another 737 are employed in the trade domain. From the point of view of the areas in which they chose to work, the most (2,770) found work in Bucharest, and 418 in Timiş county (west).



    Football — Romanias football champions, Farul Constanţa (southeast), defeated, on Wednesday evening, at home, 1-0, Sheriff Tiraspol from the Republic of Moldova, in the first leg of the first preliminary round of the Champions League. The return match takes place next week, in Tiraspol. The qualified team will play in the next round with the winner of the two-legged tie between Maccabi Haifa (Israel) and Hamrun Spartans (Malta). In the first match, the Israelis won 4-0. We remind you that three Romanian teams are participating in the Conference League. In the 2nd preliminary round, the former champions CFR Cluj (north-west) will meet Adana Demirspor, from Turkey. The winner of Romania’s Cup and Supercup, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe (center) will play against CSKA Sofia from Bulgaria, and the runner-up FCSB (Bucharest) with CSKA 1948 Sofia. The first leg takes place on July 27, and the return leg a week later.



    Inflation – The annual inflation rate slightly decreased in Romania in June 2023, to 10.3%, from 10.64% in May, in the context in which the prices food stuffs rose by 17.88%, of non-foods by 4.84%, and of services by 11.5%, according to data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics. In June compared to May, the inflation rate was 0.4%. The National Bank of Romania (BNR) revised upward to 7.1% the inflation forecast for the end of this year and maintained the estimate of 4.2% for the end of 2024, according to data presented in May by Governor Mugur Isărescu. (LS)

  • December 30, 2022

    December 30, 2022

    Statistics — The governor of the National Bank of Romania – BNR, Mugur Isărescu, enjoys the highest confidence among Romanians – 39%, shows a survey conducted by IRES – the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy. He is followed by the head of state, Klaus Iohannis, and the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, both with 21%. According to the data, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă obtained the trust of 19% of the citizens. The survey also highlights that the occupation least trusted by Romanians is that of politician, followed by that of policeman and journalist. At the opposite end, the professions of firefighter, IT specialist and engineer are at the top of the trust list. Three quarters of Romanians believe that Romania is going in the wrong direction, while only 1 in 5 believes that the direction is right. The opinion poll was conducted by IRES between December 7-12 on a sample of over 1,600 respondents over 18 years and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5%.



    Presidency — The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, made, this year, 21 trips abroad, totaling expenses of over 16.6 million lei (the equivalent of about 3.3 million Euros), shows the Presidential Administration, which answered the request of the AGERPRES news agency. The most frequent destination was Brussels, where Iohannis took part in the summit meetings of the European Union and NATO. In September, the Romanian head of state attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain in London. Also in September, he led the Romanian delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), organized in New York, after which he went for two days to the West Coast of the United States, to San Francisco, where he also met with representatives of the Romanian Diaspora. Paris, Madrid, Athens, Prague, Riga, Vilnius, Kiev and Sharm El-Sheikh, in Egypt, were other destinations of President Iohannis.



    Corruption — The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) from Romania informed, on Friday, that in November, 28 final court decisions were made for crimes of bribe taking and giving, influence peddling, abuse of office and European funds embezzlement. According to the quoted source, the punishments given by the judges vary between 4 years and 3 months in prison and 10 months with postponement of punishment.



    Swimming — The Romanian swimmer David Popovici was included on a select list, drawn up by the Spanish news agency EFE, of the ten athletes who achieved unique performances in 2022. Double world and European champion in the 100m and 200 m freestyle events, the young Romanian, at only 18 years, became the fastest swimmer on the planet, after which he broke the legendary 100m freestyle world record of the Brazilian Cesar Cielo, which dates back to 2009 this is how EFE describes the Romanian swimmer, who appears in the Top 10 alongside, among others, the Argentinean football star Lionel Messi, in turn the new world champion, alongside his team.



    Pele – The former great Brazilian footballer Pele died at the age of 82, the family announced on Thursday. He had been hospitalized for a month in a clinic in Sao Paulo, due to a serious illness. By his real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele was the only footballer who held three world titles. He scored almost 1,300 goals in his career. He was designated the athlete of the 20th century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999, the footballer of the 20th century by FIFA in 2000, and he is the winner of the Ballon dOr. The death of the football “King” comes two years after the disappearance of another football icon, the Argentinian Diego Armando Maradona. The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, decreed three days of mourning.



    Handball — Romania’s mens national handball team was ranked 3rd at the Carpathian Trophy, after defeating the Algerian team 33-25, on Thursday evening, in the tournament’s third place match hosted by Oradea (north-west Romania). The trophy went to Egypt, ranked fourth at the 2020 Olympics, which defeated Slovakia in the final, 33-29. Egypt and Algeria are preparing for the World Championship, which will take place in January next year, in Poland and Sweden. The Carpathian Trophy is a competition organized by Romania for many years. (LS)

  • November 20, 2022

    November 20, 2022

    Conference — The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, will co-chair on Monday, in Paris, the third Ministerial Conference of the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova, a permanent support tool created at the initiative of the foreign ministers of Romania, Germany and France this spring to mobilize the financial contributions of the international community and to support the necessary reforms for EU accession. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry — MAE, Minister Aurescu will co-chair this event together with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, and the Foreign Minister of Germany, Annalena Baerbock. The conference will enjoy the participation of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The meeting in Paris takes place in the context in which the Republic of Moldova is facing major energy, economic, humanitarian challenges and challenges to its resilience, against the background of the brutal war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.



    Summit — During the Francophonie Summit, held in Djerba, in Tunisia, Romania has emphasized the serious impact on security and stability at the regional and global level generated by Russias military aggression against Ukraine, as well as the particularly vulnerable situation of the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population) in this context. At the Conference of Heads of State and Government from the French-speaking countries, Romania was represented by presidential adviser Sergiu Nistor, the Francophonie representative of Romanias president, Klaus Iohannis. Sergiu Nistor emphasized the need to urgently address the issues of the risk of manipulation and propagation of false information, disinformation and narratives on social networks in the French-speaking digital space. He also highlighted Romanias solid contribution to the promotion of the French language and the values ​​of the Francophonie, underlining Bucharests active commitment to international cooperation and assistance for development in the French-speaking space, by financing programs carried out in French-speaking Africa or in the member states of the International Organization of La Francophonie from Central and Eastern Europe. The representative of the President of Romania for La Francophonie also highlighted the continuation of the main emblematic programs of La Francophonie, run by Romania, such as the “Eugene Ionescu” doctoral and postdoctoral scholarship program or the course intended for officers who will operate within the UN peacekeeping operations carried out in Francophone areas.



    Football — The World Football Cup in Qatar, the first to be held in the Middle East, starts today with the match between the representative of the host country and Ecuador, in Group A. The final tournament in Qatar, with 32 teams, will have 64 matches, which will be hosted by 8 stadiums, and it will end on December 18. This final tournament will be the last with 32 participating teams — as from 2026, 48 countries will participate. The holder of the world title is France. Romania is not participating in this years tournament. Instead, three Romanians will be present on the list of referees – István Kovács, in the center, and Ovidiu Artene and Vasile Marinescu, as assistant referees. Kovacs was appointed the fourth official referee in the opening match. The press agencies note that, since Qatar was designated, at the end of 2010, for the organization of this global event, it has been the constant target of numerous criticisms regarding accusations of corruption, inhuman working conditions for migrants, criticisms related to the respect for the women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the impact on the environment. The accusations were categorically rejected by the authorities in Doha, who emphasized that they had reformed labor laws, as well as by the World Cup organizers, who gave assurances that members of the LGBTQ+ community would be accommodated without discrimination, despite laws that criminalize sexual relations between people of the same sex in this country.



    COP27 — COP27, the annual UN climate conference, adopted on SUnday a resolution that provides for the creation of a fund to finance climate damage already suffered by “particularly vulnerable” countries, a decision described as historic by its promoters. The decision was adopted by consensus, in the plenary assembly, at the end of the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The resolution emphasizes the immediate need for new, additional, predictable and adequate financial resources to help developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the economic and non-economic impact of climate change. The ways of implementing the decision are to be developed by a special committee and will be adopted at COP28 at the end of 2023, in the United Arab Emirates.



    Statistics – In the last 4 years, more than half of the companies in the EU have carried out innovation activities, according to a Eurostat report. Investing in innovation means investing in the future of Europe, the EU officials say, and most companies in the community space are already implementing strategies based on technology, science and research. According to the latest Eurostat report, 73% of large companies with over 250 employees are the most interested in completely new strategies. They are followed by medium-sized companies, 60% of which have introduced new elements in their production processes. In the top of the countries with the biggest number of enterprises using new technologies are Greece, Belgium and Cyprus, and countries such as Hungary, Spain and Poland register values ​​below the European average of 53%. Romania is ranked on last position, with only 11% of companies interested in innovative activities. (LS)

  • Economic growth in Romania

    Economic growth in Romania

    Romania
    reports the highest economic growth rate in the European Union compared to the
    previous quarter, on the same level with Cyprus, while other member states have
    seen growth rates below 1% or even negative rates.


    The
    first estimates made public by the National Statistics Institute indicate that
    in the 3rd quarter of the year, the Gross Domestic Product went up 1.3%
    compared to the previous quarter and by 4.7% compared to Q3 2021. The data, the
    institution explains, was adjusted by seasonality and number of working days.


    For
    the first 9 months of the year, the economic growth was estimated at 4.3% compared
    to the corresponding period of last year.


    With
    the new data included in the quarterly reports, the Statistics Institute has
    revised downwards both the growth rate for the first quarter of this year, from
    6.4 to 4.4%, and the rate for the second quarter, from 5 to 3.9%, compared to
    the corresponding previous quarters.


    The
    economic analyst Constantin Rudniţchi believes that, while Romania’s economy
    has a strong seasonal factor to take into account, such substantial corrections
    are not desirable, because they may have a negative impact on companies’
    business plans.


    Constantin
    Rudniţchi: An investor interested in opening a business in Romania may take
    this decision based on this 6.4% economic growth rate, because obviously such a
    rate, quite exceptional under the current circumstances, makes a market
    attractive to investors. But if the growth rate is smaller, only 4%, of course
    they will think twice. So these figures may influence an investment decision.


    Economic
    growth figures also influence all the decisions concerning pensions and wages, and
    if statistics change so much, it means those decisions were mistaken, which is
    by no means a good thing for the economy, Constantin Rudniţchi also says.


    An
    incurable optimist, the PM Nicolae Ciucă promises Romania does not risk a
    recession:


    Nicolae
    Ciucă: We have taken measures to strengthen the economy, to keep it in balance
    so as not to go into recession. The data we have available at this point
    clearly indicates that by the end of the year Romania may well have a roughly
    5% economic growth rate, and for next year we expect an economic growth rate of
    around 1.5%.


    Nonetheless,
    forecasts coming from major international financial institutions are rather
    gloomy and point to a slowdown of the global economy. And a perfect storm, i.e.
    a mixture of elements such as the war in Ukraine, the rise in energy prices and
    the inflation pressure, may hit hard some national economies. (AMP)

  • Economic growth in Romania

    Economic growth in Romania

    Romania
    reports the highest economic growth rate in the European Union compared to the
    previous quarter, on the same level with Cyprus, while other member states have
    seen growth rates below 1% or even negative rates.


    The
    first estimates made public by the National Statistics Institute indicate that
    in the 3rd quarter of the year, the Gross Domestic Product went up 1.3%
    compared to the previous quarter and by 4.7% compared to Q3 2021. The data, the
    institution explains, was adjusted by seasonality and number of working days.


    For
    the first 9 months of the year, the economic growth was estimated at 4.3% compared
    to the corresponding period of last year.


    With
    the new data included in the quarterly reports, the Statistics Institute has
    revised downwards both the growth rate for the first quarter of this year, from
    6.4 to 4.4%, and the rate for the second quarter, from 5 to 3.9%, compared to
    the corresponding previous quarters.


    The
    economic analyst Constantin Rudniţchi believes that, while Romania’s economy
    has a strong seasonal factor to take into account, such substantial corrections
    are not desirable, because they may have a negative impact on companies’
    business plans.


    Constantin
    Rudniţchi: An investor interested in opening a business in Romania may take
    this decision based on this 6.4% economic growth rate, because obviously such a
    rate, quite exceptional under the current circumstances, makes a market
    attractive to investors. But if the growth rate is smaller, only 4%, of course
    they will think twice. So these figures may influence an investment decision.


    Economic
    growth figures also influence all the decisions concerning pensions and wages, and
    if statistics change so much, it means those decisions were mistaken, which is
    by no means a good thing for the economy, Constantin Rudniţchi also says.


    An
    incurable optimist, the PM Nicolae Ciucă promises Romania does not risk a
    recession:


    Nicolae
    Ciucă: We have taken measures to strengthen the economy, to keep it in balance
    so as not to go into recession. The data we have available at this point
    clearly indicates that by the end of the year Romania may well have a roughly
    5% economic growth rate, and for next year we expect an economic growth rate of
    around 1.5%.


    Nonetheless,
    forecasts coming from major international financial institutions are rather
    gloomy and point to a slowdown of the global economy. And a perfect storm, i.e.
    a mixture of elements such as the war in Ukraine, the rise in energy prices and
    the inflation pressure, may hit hard some national economies. (AMP)

  • October 28, 2022

    October 28, 2022

    POPULATION Between July 2021 and July 2022, Romania lost over
    100,000 residents, according to data released today by the National Statistics
    Institute. From over 22
    million people with permanent residence in Romania, the number dropped to 21.9
    million. The urban and female population make up a majority, accounting for 56.2%, and 51.2% of the total,
    respectively. The average age was 42.1 years
    old, 0.1 years more than on July 1, 2021. Population ageing is also
    significant, as the proportion of old people has increased and the share of
    youth aged up to 14 has decreased slightly. The NSI data refers to individuals
    with Romanian citizenship and permanent residence in Romania, and it may
    include migrants as well. According to the Institute, in 2060 Romania may have between 16.3
    million inhabitants, in an optimistic scenario, and 12.5 million, in a
    pessimistic scenario.


    SOCIAL The government of Romania will simplify procedures for the
    migrants who work in Romania. A bill discussed in today’s Cabinet meeting
    stipulates a reduction in the number of documents required when migrants seek
    to change jobs. The government also intends to increase the number of
    education units in which students can receive hot meals from 350 to 450. And,
    under a separate emergency order, the government plans to create the legal
    framework for pensions valid in all EU member states. Based on EU standards,
    this kind of pension will primarily benefit citizens with employment contracts
    in several EU countries and who want a customised pension product with
    identical operation standards in all member states. The government is also
    working on a bill allowing Romania to pull out of an international convention
    on scientific information exchange, signed in Moscow in 1969.


    SCHENGEN PM
    Nicolae Ciucă was on an official working visit to Brussels, where he was
    promised full support for Romania’s Schengen accession. Positive signals were
    also received with respect to the lifting of the Cooperation and Verification
    Mechanism. The Romanian PM discussed the topics with the president of the
    European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, while the justice minister Cătălin
    Predoiu, who accompanied him to Brussels, had talks with the EC vice-president
    Vera Jourova and with the EU commissioner for justice, Didier Reynders.
    Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Schengen accession may be included in the agenda of
    the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting of December 8-9, 2022.


    PENSIONS
    Pensions in the Romanian public system may be raised as of January 1, 2023,
    with authorities planning the increase to be at least 10%. One of the
    obstacles, namely the pension expenditure ceiling stipulated under the National
    Recovery and Resilience Plan, would be replaced by an indicator related to
    budget capacity and other financial discipline criteria, the PM Nicolae Ciucă
    announced in Brussels. He had talks in this respect with the European
    Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, with technical details to be defined
    by experts.


    UKRAINE The International Atomic Energy
    Agency is set to visit 2 Ukrainian sites this week at Kyiv’s request, as the
    Russian president Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of destroying evidence that it
    was preparing a dirty bomb. Previously, Putin had requested an IAEA mission as
    soon as possible. According to him, Ukraine is planning to use radioactive
    weapons and to claim subsequently that Russia had launched a nuclear attack. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is sending Ukraine a new military and aid
    package amounting to USD 275 mln, to help efforts to drive Russian forces away
    from key areas in the south of the country. On the other hand, the US defence
    secretary Lloyd
    Austin Thursday warned Vladimir Putin that a nuclear attack would prompt a significant
    response from the international community. The US official said Russia using
    this type of weapons or even speaking about it was dangerous and irresponsible.
    Meanwhile, clashes continue in Ukraine, with Russian forces launching over 30
    drones in the past couple of days, and the Ukrainian Army destroying 23 of them,
    according to Kyiv. Since February, Russia has launched 4,500 missile attacks
    and over 8,000 air raids over Ukraine, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. (AMP)

  • Romania reports surprising economic growth

    Romania reports surprising economic growth

    Romanias economy grew by 5.8% in the first semester of this year, compared to the same period of 2021, the National Institute of Statistics announced, thus taking experts by surprise. At the same time, in the second quarter, the Gross Domestic Product recorded an appreciation of 2.1% compared to the previous quarter. Finally, compared to the same quarter of 2021, the GDP increased in the same period of 2022 by 5.3%. The good news was also confirmed in Brussels: Romania recorded, among the EU member states for which data are available, the second most significant economic growth in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the previous three months, of 2.1 %.



    Only the Netherlands, whose growth was in the same range, had a bigger growth rate of 2.6%. Economic growth was also registered in Sweden, Spain, Hungary and Bulgaria, while decreases in the economic growth rates were recorded in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Portugal. As compared to the second quarter of last year, the GDP increased by 3.9% in the euro zone and by 4% in the European Union between April and June 2022, with all EU member states for which data are available reporting increases. Eurostat confirms, in the case of Romania, the annual growth rate of 5.3% in the second quarter of 2022, after an annual growth of 6.4% in the first three months.



    The economy grew steadily in the second quarter, despite pessimistic expectations, Ziarul Financiar reports, noting, however, that, lately, economists have shown that they like being taken by surprise. Institutions that conduct economic analyzes have increased the growth forecasts for the Romanian economy in recent months. For instance, the European Commission, in the summer forecast, had increased the estimate for the entire year 2022 from 2.6 to 3.9 %, thanks to the solid growth in the first quarter, the previously quoted publication writes. The biggest surprise is the 2.1% growth in the second quarter, according to analysts. “With everything that is happening around us, it is an exceptional result”, economist Aurelian Dochia told Ziarul Financiar.



    “It is a very big surprise for us too, but the surprise is even bigger for the market”, says Ionuţ Dumitru, the chief economist of an important private bank. Industry, which accounts for 20 % of GDP, is reporting loss in mid 2022, the constructions sector is barely moving, agriculture, due to the drought, will have a negative contribution to the GDP, and household consumption has increased by a little over 3%. So, what is the explanation for growth? Ziarul Financiar asks. Economist Laurian Lungu believes that the main effect comes from the price index and, partially, from investments. The important thing is what will happen in the second part of the year, Laurian Lungu thinks. He estimates that the economy has not entered a period of contraction, though, even if people received employment contracts, wage increases are below the level of inflation, which has reached almost 15%, and will affect consumption. (LS)

  • August 17, 2022 UPDATE

    August 17, 2022 UPDATE

    Measures – The measures to cap and compensate for the energy price will remain active in Romania in the formula necessary to protect citizens and the economy, the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă informed, during the first meeting of the Interministerial Committee for ensuring energy resilience and implementing energy infrastructure projects. According to a press release, the prime minister established an action plan to ensure predictability from the point of view of energy production, as well as from a budgetary point of view. At the request of the Prime Minister, the Energy Ministry will present, on August 22, the situation of the investment programs in the production capacities, both of the state companies and in those developed by the private sector. We remind you that electricity and natural gas prices increased with the complete liberalization of the market, in January 2021.



    Visit — The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, will pay a visit to Prague on Thursday, at the invitation of his counterpart, Jan Lipavsky, in the context of the Czech Republic holding the presidency of the EU Council. According to a Foreign Ministry press release, the discussions will focus on Romanian-Czech cooperation within the EU, with an emphasis on coordinating the two states’ stands. The visit is an important opportunity for boosting bilateral political dialogue and intensifying economic cooperation. Bogdan Aurescu and Jan Lipavsky will address current topics on the regional, European and security agenda, including the multiple consequences of the illegal war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The two ministers will also discuss the cooperation of the two states within NATO and the implementation of the decisions of the Madrid Summit, especially regarding the consolidation and efficiency of the deterrence and defense posture on the Eastern Flank, including in the run up to the meeting of the NATO countries’ foreign ministers. The meeting will be hosted by Romania in Bucharest at the end of November.



    Statistics – The Gross Domestic Product of the European Union and the Eurozone registered an increase of 0.6% in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the previous three months, show preliminary data published on Wednesday by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat). In the first quarter of 2022, compared to the previous three months, the Gross Domestic Product registered an increase of 0.5% in the euro zone and of 0.6% in the EU. Among the EU member states for which data are available, the most significant economic growth rate in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the previous three months, was recorded in the Netherlands (2.6%), Romania (2.1%) and Sweden (1.4%). Compared to the second quarter of 2021, the GDP increased by 3.9% in the euro zone and by 4% in the European Union between April and June 2022, with all the EU member states for which data are available reporting increases. Romania registered an annual economic growth rate of 5.3% in the second quarter of 2022, after an annual growth rate of 6.4% in the first three months. The National Institute of Statistics announced that Romanias economy grew by 2.1% in the second quarter of the year, compared to the previous quarter, while compared to the similar period of 2021, the growth rate was 5.3%.



    Covid — 7,500 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been registered in the last 24 hours, 3,900 more than the previous day, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday. 274 patients are in intensive care, most of them unvaccinated. In the last 24 hours, 42 deaths were reported in COVID patients. We remind you that Romania has not imposed any coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions since March 9 this year. The first case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 was declared at the end of February 2020 and, for about two years, there have been five pandemic waves resulting in almost 2.8 million infections, 2.6 million recoveries and about 65 thousand deaths associated with Sars-CoV-2.



    Swimming — The Romanian swimmer David Popovici, world and European champion in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, withdrew from the 400m freestyle final, scheduled for Wednesday evening at the European Swimming Championships in Rome, according to a Facebook post of the Romanian Swimming Federation. A few hours ago, Popovici, 17 years old, had qualified with the fourth time of the heats to the 400m freestyle final. The busy schedule of the next period, the very great effort that he would have made in the final and his wish to prepare as well as possible for participation in the World Junior Championship in Lima are the reasons behind this decision, Romanian Swimming Federation sources pointed out. (LS)