Radio România Internațional

Tag: switch to the Euro

  • April 12, 2018

    April 12, 2018

    INFLATION — The annual rate of inflation went up to 5% in March 2018, from 4.7% the previous month, against the backdrop of a rise in the prices for food and non-food products and services, the National Institute for Statistics has announced today. The inflation rate was higher only in June 2013, when consumer prices went up by 5.37%. This February the National Bank of Romania revised its inflation forecast for the end of the year, from 3.2 to 3.5%. The Bank estimates an annual inflation rate of 3.1% for 2019.



    SYRIA — There is an uncrossable red line for Paris in the case of Syria, and that is the use of chemical weapons, the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Bucharest, upon meeting his Romanian counterpart, Teodor Melescanu. Le Drian said France is ready to act. In turn, Teodor Melescanu said Romania supports an enquiry in the case of the latest attack in Syria, carried out by a special body which should also decide the course of action. The United States said all options are on the table in response to the alleged chemical attack perpetrated in Syria. The White House blames Syria and Russia for this incident. Activists, members of rescue teams and doctors said dozens were killed in Saturday’s attack in the rebel-held city of Douma. The Syrian Government, currently receiving military support from Russia, has denied any involvement.



    FORUM — Romania’s Interior Minister Carmen Dan is as of today taking part in the two-day Salzburg Forum Vienna Process inter-ministerial conference. High on the agenda are topics important for member states, particularly for countries that will take over the rotating presidency of the European Council. Talks will also focus on EU security, migration, asylum-granting procedures at EU level, police cooperation and combating terrorism. Romania is currently holding the presidency of the Salzburg Forum for a six-month term. The Forum is a security cooperation organization comprising states from Central and Eastern Europe, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.



    EURO — The first session of the National Commission for the switch to the euro is today taking place in Bucharest. The Commission is convening to discuss the criteria for adopting the European single currency, and it includes the Prime Minister, the National Bank Governor and the President of the Romanian Academy. According to Bucharest authorities, Romania is expected to join the Eurozone in 2024.



    HEALTHCARE — Members of the SANITAS trade union federation in the healthcare sector have announced a new series of protests, unhappy with the level of their net income after the recent salary increase and the introduction of the new bonus scheme. The leader of the federation’s branch in Iasi, Iulian Cozianu, said unionists will be protesting in front of the Iasi County prefecture starting Friday. Unionists demand the increase of the cap on bonuses above 30% for public healthcare units and the payment of the same bonuses in all healthcare units. The 30% cap means hundreds of employees will see their incomes slashes by as much as 280 euros. Last month, SANITAS announced stage an all-out strike.



    SPOTLIGHT — The fourth edition of the Spotlight Festival is kicking off today in Bucharest. The festival consists in projecting large images on the city’s iconic buildings. For four days, the city center will become an open-air exhibition. This year’s edition of the festival is entitled United We Shine and brings to Bucharest 27 installations, projects and video mapping sessions from France, Australia, Israel, Germany, China, Russia, Italy, Spain and Romania. For the first time, the organizers will project famous works of art on the facades of several buildings, including the Romanian Athenaeum.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • April 9, 2018 UPDATE

    April 9, 2018 UPDATE

    EASTER — Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians in Romania on Monday celebrated the second day of Easter and a new day in Easter Week, which follows the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this day people attend mass while priests’ vestments are white. The first day of this week is believed to be the day when the gates of heaven are open and all sins are forgiven. People who die on this day go straight to Heaven without undergoing the Last Judgment. Psalms are not recited on this day, while funeral services are replaced by Resurrection mass.



    EURO — The National Commission for the switch to the euro will convene on Thursday in its first session. Talks will focus on convergence criteria for adopting the European single currency. Two weeks ago Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced the setup of the commission, whose role is to prepare the roadmap for Romania joining the Eurozone, as well as the necessary actions to prepare the Romanian economy and society for this move.



    ELECTION — Viktor Orban has secured a new term as Prime Minister after his party Fidesz won the parliamentary elections in Hungary by a landslide. The right-wing nationalist politician says the result will ensure the security of Hungary. Orban’s party grabbed nearly half of the vote and will hold two thirds of the seats in Parliament. The nationalist Jobbik party won 26 seats, while Hungarian socialists won 20 seats. The Democratic Coalition led by former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsnay could win 9 seats, while the ecologist LMP party will get 8 seats. The Together party won one seat while an independent and a representative of the German minority will each get one seat. The final results will be made public at the end of the week. On Monday, the leader of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, congratulated Viktor Orban on his win.



    MARCH — The “Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi” Institute for Romanians Worldwide, an institution subordinated to the Ministry for Romanians Worldwide, in cooperation with the Lauder-Reut Educational Complex, is organizing “The March of Holocaust Survivors — Let’s Learn Together”, held over April 9-13 in Poland. Taking part in the event are young people from 52 countries. The march has an educational purpose, aimed at familiarizing participants with a tragic chapter in world history. Romania’s delegation is made up of students and teachers from the Lauder-Reut school in Bucharest, but also from the Republic of Moldova. The project is part of the IEH-led program “Caravan of Romanian Identity”, which involves a series of cultural actions, aimed at promoting Romanian culture and consolidating Romania national identity. The project is also part of the Romanian Cultural Space strategic programme devoted to the celebration of one hundred years since the Great Union of 1918.



    AIRPORT — A few dozen Romanians were left stranded on Sunday on Ciampino Airport in Rome, after Ryanair canceled its flight to Bucharest. Some of the passengers were rescheduled for flights on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Those who accepted to change their flight schedule will receive accommodation for just one night. Others bought tickets with other flight operators at double or triple the price. Ryanair has cancelled flights in the past without providing too many explanations.



    RUSSIA — Russian authorities believe the latest US sanctions on Russia have no legal grounds and will entail a response, including regarding ongoing trade agreements, Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev said on Monday. On Friday, Washington announced fresh sanctions against thirty-eight Russian individuals and entities accused mainly of taking part in Russia’s attacks against western democracies, France Press reports. Seven Russian oligarchs and their companies have been targeted as well as 17 senior government officials, a state-owned weapons trader and its subsidiary, a Russian bank. All those targeted will have their assets under US jurisdiction frozen. The US has taken these measures in response to Russia’s malign actions such as the annexation of Crimea, the incitement to violence in eastern Ukraine, the support of the Syrian government and its malicious cyber activities, France Press quoted a US official as saying.



    BOOK FAIR — The 47th edition of the International Book Fair in London will take place over April 10-12. Romania’s participation in the fair is under the aegis of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Under the heading “Writing and Making History: Remembering the Great War Generation”, events organized at Romania’s pavilion are first of all evoking Romania’s participation in the first world war and the Great Union by means of literary and artistic echoes of these two crucial moments in history.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • April 9, 2018

    April 9, 2018

    EASTER — Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians in Romania on Monday celebrated the second day of Easter and a new day in Easter Week, which follows the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this day people attend mass while priests’ vestments are white. The first day of this week is believed to be the day when the gates of heaven are open and all sins are forgiven. People who die on this day go straight to Heaven without undergoing the Last Judgment. Psalms are not recited on this day, while funeral services are replaced by Resurrection mass.



    EURO — The National Commission for the switch to the euro will convene on Thursday in its first session. Talks will focus on convergence criteria for adopting the European single currency. Two weeks ago Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced the setup of the commission, whose role is to prepare the roadmap for Romania joining the Eurozone, as well as the necessary actions to prepare the Romanian economy and society for this move.



    ELECTION — Viktor Orban has secured a new term as Prime Minister after his party Fidesz won the parliamentary elections in Hungary by a landslide. The right-wing nationalist politician says the result will ensure the security of Hungary. Orban’s party grabbed nearly half of the vote and will hold two thirds of the seats in Parliament. The nationalist Jobbik party won 26 seats, while Hungarian socialists won 20 seats. The Democratic Coalition led by former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsnay could win 9 seats, while the ecologist LMP party will get 8 seats. The Together party won one seat while an independent and a representative of the German minority will each get one seat. The final results will be made public at the end of the week. On Monday, the leader of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, congratulated Viktor Orban on his win.



    MARCH — The “Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi” Institute for Romanians Worldwide, an institution subordinated to the Ministry for Romanians Worldwide, in cooperation with the Lauder-Reut Educational Complex, is organizing “The March of Holocaust Survivors — Let’s Learn Together”, held over April 9-13 in Poland. Taking part in the event are young people from 52 countries. The march has an educational purpose, aimed at familiarizing participants with a tragic chapter in world history. Romania’s delegation is made up of students and teachers from the Lauder-Reut school in Bucharest, but also from the Republic of Moldova. The project is part of the IEH-led program “Caravan of Romanian Identity”, which involves a series of cultural actions, aimed at promoting Romanian culture and consolidating Romania national identity. The project is also part of the Romanian Cultural Space strategic programme devoted to the celebration of one hundred years since the Great Union of 1918.



    AIRPORT — A few dozen Romanians were left stranded on Sunday on Ciampino Airport in Rome, after Ryanair canceled its flight to Bucharest. Some of the passengers were rescheduled for flights on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Those who accepted to change their flight schedule will receive accommodation for just one night. Others bought tickets with other flight operators at double or triple the price. Ryanair has cancelled flights in the past without providing too many explanations.



    SYRIA — The UN Security Council is today convening at the request of Russia and the United States after Syria was the target of a chemical attack. 70 people were killed on Sunday in the Syrian city of Douma, Reuters reports. The Security Council must immediately demand access to the site of the attack in order to carry out an independent investigation to ascertain what happened and to hold accountable the people who perpetrated this terrible attack, the US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said. The US official last month warned that unless the Security Council took concrete action against Syria, Washington is prepared to act and might launch a new attack on the region.



    BOOK FAIR — The 47th edition of the International Book Fair in London will take place over April 10-12. Romania’s participation in the fair is under the aegis of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Under the heading “Writing and Making History: Remembering the Great War Generation”, events organized at Romania’s pavilion are first of all evoking Romania’s participation in the first world war and the Great Union by means of literary and artistic echoes of these two crucial moments in history.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • April 8, 2018 UPDATE

    April 8, 2018 UPDATE

    EASTER — The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most important day in the Christian Calendar, was celebrated on Sunday by Orthodox and Greek Catholic Christians all over the world, including Romania. At midnight Christians gathered in Churches and monasteries to receive the holy fire and sing Christ is risen! The Holy Light was distributed to Christians by Patriarch Daniel at the Orthodox Cathedral in Bucharest. The Holy Fire was brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. In his public Easter message, Patriarch Daniel said Christ’s Resurrection gives meaning to our lives and urged people to share the joy of this celebration with their family and friends.



    MESSAGES — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis wished Romanians Happy Easter alongside their families and friends. In turn, Romania’s Defense Minister, Mihai Fifor, conveyed an Easter greeting to all Romanian military, wherever they may be, at home or in various corners of the world, as well as to the veterans and the families of the victims who were killed in the line of duty. “In moments like these, more than ever, we should not forget the sacrifice our military make every day for each and every one of us, to defend the security and stability of Romania and the Alliance we are part of”, Minister Fifor said in his message.



    SECURITY MEASURES – Over 50,000 employees of the Romanian Interior Ministry were mobilized to maintain public order, safety and security across the country during Easter. Gendarme and police troops were chiefly deployed around churches and other religious institutions. 250 thousand people are expected to attend more than 700 public events that will take place in Romania in the next four days. Traffic police, equipped with more than 300 traffic radars and backed by helicopters, will be monitoring traffic on Romania’s motorways during the Easter days. The Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said over 1,000 emergency calls were received on Resurrection Night, mostly for first aid. No church reported any fire problems. Over 4,600 officers of the fire brigade and over 800 fire trucks, as well as 320 first aid units were standing by on Saturday night.



    EURO — The National Commission for the switch to the euro will convene on Thursday in its first session. Talks will focus on convergence criteria for adopting the European single currency. Two weeks ago Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced the setup of the commission, whose role is to prepare the roadmap for Romania joining the Eurozone, as well as the necessary actions to prepare the Romanian economy and society for this move.



    ROMA DAY — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis conveyed a message to mark the International Roma Day, celebrated on April 8 worldwide. The head of the state said the traditions, values, aspirations and needs of the Roma community must be understood in order to come up with solutions for the social inclusion of this minority, while at the same time preserving their cultural identity. President Ioahnnis also believes that Roma citizens’ contribution to the history and diversity of Romanian society should also be underscored. According to the official website of the European Parliament, the Roma account for the largest ethnic minority in Europe, tantamount to some 10 million people, who are often subject to various forms of discrimination and social exclusion.



    ATTACK — German officials say there is no clue to confirm that the man who drove a truck into a crowd of people in the Western city of Muenster on Saturday is in any way linked to an Islamic terrorist cell. Two people were killed in the attack. The driver, a German national, shot himself after the attack. According to some sources, the man had a history of mental health issues.



    TENNIS — Romania’s Davis Cup team on Sunday defeated Morocco 5-nil in the second round of Europe/Africa Zone Group II. On Sunday in the men’s doubles Marius Copil and Florin Mergea defeated Amine Ahouda/ Lamine Ouahab, 6-2, 6-1. In the singles Edris Fetisleam defeated 6-2, 6-nil Yassir Kilani, while Dragos Dima outplayed 6-nil, 6-4 Soufian El Meshabi. Romania will play either Poland or Zimbabwe in the third round. In other news from tennis, Romanian Ana Bogdan, 90 WTA, lost the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, totaling over 225 thousand dollars in prize money. Bogdan was ousted by the WTA third-ranked Garbine Muguruza of Spain, 6-nil, 7-5.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • Romania’s prospects to adopt the single European currency

    Romania’s prospects to adopt the single European currency

    Romanian authorities should give a serious thought to whether they maintain or not January 1st 2019 as the deadline for switching to the Euro, as this is a very ambitious goal which requires the commitment of the entire Romanian society, Central Bank governor Mugur Isareascu warned on Monday. Attending the conference “Romania’s Way Towards the Eurozone”, held by the European Commission in Bucharest, Isarescu said the deadline was not unrealistic but it required a coherent plan of action.



    Our pledge to adopt the Euro in 2019 is more of a verbal agreement, Isarescu said, adding that Romania’s problem was its lack of structural reforms, although it has two such programs under way, with the IMF and the European Commission respectively, both of them seriously delayed. Isarescu pointed out that Romania currently met all nominal criteria of Eurozone accession, which is still not enough, as genuine convergence, involving among others, adjusting Romanians’ living standard to that in the developed EU countries, was still needed. According to the Central Bank Governor, another aspect to be considered is that Romania, of all EU countries, has the biggest development gap among its regions. Mugur Isarescu:



    “The lack of quality infrastructure that should interconnect the country’s historical provinces deepens this gap in the development of its various regions, by concentrating investment on Romania’s western border and making those differences permanent. So we have an Achilles’ heel, but we do not have a functional framework for the development, prioritization and execution of public investment prices, beyond any election cycle or thinking manner.”



    Moreover, according to Isarescu, joining the Euro club in 2019 involves adopting the exchange rate mechanism as of January 1st, 2016, which is something the country is unprepared for. Giving up the monetary policy is also part of the process, with the tax system and enterprises having to take over that burden, which means they must be very well prepared in terms of effectiveness and competitiveness at the moment of accession, Isarescu has explained. In his opinion, the most important challenges in the upcoming period are maintaining financial stability and spending wisely the public money, prioritizing investment and stimulating competitiveness.



    The participants in the Bucharest conference, both Romanian and foreign officials, agreed that Romania had the best macroeconomic balance in the past 25 years, and that it should take advantage of that situation in order to speed up its structural reforms which are needed in order to switch to the single currency. The head of the European Commission Office in Bucharest, Angela Filote, said, in turn, that adopting the Euro might be Romania’s next major country project. Brussels hopes that after the accession, Romanians will live equally well as the citizens of the other EU countries.