Radio România Internațional

Tag: talks

  • February 26, 2025

    February 26, 2025

     

    TALKS Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan is holding consultations today with each parliamentary party, regarding Romania’s position at the extraordinary European Council due at the beginning of next month. In this complicated and dynamic context with changes at international level, Romania may have to adjust its foreign policy to the new challenges, Ilie Bolojan explained in a video message. “However, there are things that will not change, namely Romania’s national interests, a safe country, a prosperous country, a trustworthy country, at peace with its neighbours,” the interim president explained. “We are a safe country because we benefit from solid defence guarantees. We owe our security and that of Europe to the NATO shield and the guarantees entailed by the Strategic Partnership with the US. The presence of US and Allied troops on Romanian territory has done nothing but strengthen the security of Europe, and we will advocate for them to stay. The EU membership has ensured our progress as a country during these years. European investments and funds, access to markets and opportunities have generated prosperity and better living conditions. It is a path we must continue on”, Ilie Bolojan added. Also today, the interim president takes part in a conference call with the leaders of EU member countries, during which the French president Emmanuel Macron presents updates on his recent meeting with the US president Donald Trump.

     

    PARLIAMENT A no-confidence motion tabled by the self-styled sovereigntist opposition against the Romanian government is to be discussed and voted on this Friday. The signatories say that the current Cabinet is illegitimate, has lost its credibility as some of its members are linked to individuals involved in a high-profile criminal case, and is failing to implement its own governing program, in which it promised, among other things, an increase in pensions and allowances. Also in opposition, the declared pro-European USR announced that it would not back the motion. The ruling coalition comprising the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania say Romania needs serious solutions, not image strategies.

     

    UKRAINE Kyiv announced an agreement was reached with Washington on the joint development of Ukrainian mineral resources and the reconstruction of the country after the invasion launched by Russia 3 years ago. The deal, about which few details are known, could be signed in Washington this Friday. The arrangement was agreed after the US president Donald Trump demanded access to key Ukrainian minerals as compensation for the aid given to Ukraine in the war with Russia. Official sources quoted by Western media say that Washington has given up initial demands of USD 500 billion in revenues from natural resources, but has not provided the firm security guarantees demanded in exchange by Ukraine, which would be negotiated at a later date.

     

    VATICAN Pope Francis, 88, still in critical condition with double pneumonia, “spent a quiet night and is resting,” the Vatican said on Wednesday morning, the 13th day of his hospitalisation. According to the latest updates released on Tuesday evening, his condition is stable. The hospitalisation, the 4th and longest since the beginning of his term in 2013, raises serious concerns as Pope Francis is already weakened after a string of health problems in recent years, from colon and abdominal surgeries to difficulties walking.

     

    INVESTIGATION The former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, a pro-Russian extremist, was taken in for questioning under a warrant by the General Prosecutor’s Office, judicial sources told AGERPRES. On Wednesday morning, prosecutors conducted dozens of searches across five counties, in a case related to the financing of his election campaign, the establishment of a fascist, racist or xenophobic organisation, as well as to promoting a cult of individuals guilty of genocide. Targeted by the investigation is also a close associate of Georgescu, Horaţiu Potra, the leader of a mercenary group that operated in Africa. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, investigations are conducted in this case for offences including actions against the constitutional order, failure to comply with the weapons and ammunition legislation, unlawful operations with pyrotechnic materials, public incitement, initiating or forming an organisation of a fascist, racist or xenophobic nature, as well as joining or otherwise supporting such a group. Investigations are also conducted for the public promotion of the cult of persons guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as the public dissemination of fascist, extreme right, racist or xenophobic ideas, views or doctrines.

     

    CORRUPTION Twenty individuals have been detained over bribery charges in an investigation into illicit activity in the Port of Constanta (south-eastern Romania). Among others, the head of the Constanta branch of the Social Democratic Party, Ion Dumitrache, and several officers for the Maritime Ports Administration were detained. According to Anticorruption prosecutors, in 2024 and 2025 several businessmen allegedly promised and gave public officials bribes ranging from EUR 2,000 to 100,000, as well as other goods, to help them develop their businesses in the Constanta Port area, by speeding up asset transfer procedures, extending a waste collection contract, winning tenders or ensuring exclusive access to certain berths. The businessmen in question have allegedly promised an estimated EUR 6 million in bribes. The Bucharest Court dismissed prosecutor’s request for pre-trial arrest of 7 of the defendants, placing them under court supervision instead. Similar requests for another 13 defendants are yet to be heard.

     

    EDUCATION The Romanian education minister Daniel David has encouraged all stakeholders’ involvement in the development of high school framework plans. In a fresh roundtable on the topic held in Iași (northeast), the minister promised that proposals would be taken into account, and the documents may be amended, as has already happened following discussions and meetings in recent weeks, since the projects were submitted for public review. He warned that high school curricula are of critical importance, given the high level of functional illiteracy in various fields. David explained that, after this construction period, the high school curricula will be tested in various schools. The public review period ends next week, on March 6, and the final documents are to be presented in early May. (AMP)

  • February 20, 2025 UPDATE

    February 20, 2025 UPDATE

    FAIR The 2025 springtime edition of Romania’s Travel Fair got underway on Thursday in Bucharest in the presence of the Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Bogdan Ivan. According to him, authorities are preparing a series of visa facilities for tourists who want to travel to Romania. Currently at its 51st edition, the event is taking place until Sunday on a surface of 12 thousand square meters and brings together 190 exhibitors from Romania and abroad, thus strengthening its status as a reference platform in the tourism industry, the organizers say. This edition brings together a significant number of international participants who account for 52% of the total companies attending. Travel agencies and operators have prepared significant discounts for a wide range of travel packages. Romania’s most beautiful regions are being promoted during the fair offering the visitors the opportunity of discovering these marvelous regions for themselves. The present edition comes with a series of exclusive offers and special discounts for the holidays of 2025 and also includes inter-active presentations and conferences given by experts in the industry as well as virtual tours of the top destinations.

     

    TENNIS Romania’s male tennis team will be up against El Salvador in the Davis Cup’s World Group Two in September this year, the Romanian Tennis Federation announced on its Facebook page on Thursday. The matches are to take place over September 12 – 13 or 13 – 14. Romania conceded a 3-1 defeat to Bulgaria in Craiova, southern Romania, in the World Group One’s play-offs held in late January early February. In Group Two, El Salvador outperformed the Republic of Moldova 3-2 on their own turf in Santa Tecla. Romania hasn’t played Salvador yet whose best known player is Marcelo Arevalo, world leader in doubles contests. Worth mentioning is that the singles ranking doesn’t include any Salvadorian player.

     

    UKRAINE Ilie Bolojan, the interim president of Romania, stated after Wednesday’s informal meeting in Paris that Ukraine’s security is directly linked to the security of Europe and of Romania, reaffirming the importance of the collaboration between the European states and the United States to achieve a just and lasting peace. “A fair peace cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations,” Ilie Bolojan also stated. Before the meeting, which was also attended by leaders from Norway, Canada, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Sweden and Belgium, the interim president of Romania had talks with the president of France, Emmanuel Macron. “We have ensured once again that, just as France has been by Romania’s side in the very important moments of our country’s history, it stands by our side today. We have reconfirmed the strategic partnership with France,” said President Bolojan. He also added, “we have reconfirmed the stability of the French military presence in Romania. At the request of our country, this presence will be strengthened in the coming period.” Bucharest and Paris will also continue their economic cooperation, including in the defense industry, with the development of production capacities in Romania being taken into account for the coming years.

     

    TALKS Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has said, regarding the peace negotiations in Ukraine, that the momentary harsh statements made by the world leaders are not important, what is important is a just and lasting peace in that country, which can only be achieved with the help of the US. He stressed that peace will bring lower energy and gas prices and an economic recovery throughout Europe. It is then vital to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine, it is a project of over 500 billion euros, from which Romanian companies must gain as much as possible, Ciolacu added. He announced, on the other hand, that during the working visit he will make to Brussels on Friday, he will meet with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The discussions will focus, among other things, on aspects related to the renegotiation of the NRRP as well as the security situation in the current international context. The Head of the Executive specified that he will be accompanied to Brussels by the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Marcel Boloş, and the Minister of Finance, Tanczos Barna.

    (bill)

     

  • Romania at the Paris consultations

    Romania at the Paris consultations

     

    The security of Europe was the topic of a second meeting organised on Wednesday in Paris by the French president Emmanuel Macron, after the emergency one on Monday. This time around, Romania was also present, represented by the interim president Ilie Bolojan, alongside the leaders of Norway, Canada, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Sweden and Belgium.

     

    The meetings come after the radical change in attitude of the United States of America towards European countries, the Kyiv administration and Moscow.

     

    On the one hand, Donald Trump’s government criticises Europe for not getting more involved in resolving the conflict, calls the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator for not holding elections on time, and partly blames him for starting the war, even though Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, with the annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

     

    On the other hand, Washington seems to have softened its tone towards Kremlin, and fears are it might unilaterally negotiate not only a forced peace in Ukraine, but, according to news agencies, also a redistribution of spheres of influence modelled on the infamous 1945 Yalta conference, as a result of which Eastern Europe was ceded to the Soviet Union.

    In this context, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said that the security of Ukraine is also the security of Europe and Romania.

     

    Meanwhile, France will increase its support for Romania, said Ilie Bolojan, after bilateral talks with the French leader:

     

    Ilie Bolojan: “We are once again reassured that, just as France has been by Romania’s side in the very important moments of our country’s history, it remains by our side today. We have reconfirmed the strategic partnership with France. We have also reconfirmed the stability of the French military presence in Romania. At the request of our country, this presence will be consolidated in the coming period.”

     

    At the end of the meeting, Bolojan said that Eastern European states are the first to feel the consequences of the war in Ukraine, and he emphasised that, now more than ever, European unity and cooperation with the US within NATO are vital to resolving the conflict.

     

    Ilie Bolojan: “We do not stand by Ukraine out of a humanitarian sentiment alone. This, and the injustice of the war, is only the first reason. But we also do it out of a strategic interest for our own country. And the second important conclusion was that further cooperation between European countries and the US can be the best formula to solve this crisis, so that we not only have a ceasefire, but also have a just peace, so that in the coming years a new conflict does not begin again. And this just peace and equitable peace cannot be made without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the closing of these negotiations.”

     

    In turn, the French president said he sees Russia and Vladimir Putin as “an existential threat to Europe.” Both he and the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been invited to Washington next week for consultations on peace in Ukraine, President Donald Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz announced. (AMP)

  • February 18, 2025 UPDATE

    February 18, 2025 UPDATE

    DIPLOMACY Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, said on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Bucharest that Romania is a democratic state, which continues to take action to strengthen its institutions and people’s confidence in them. He promised a free, fair and transparent election process in the upcoming presidential election. “Romania has a ruling coalition, which ensures the country’s stability”, the president said, and added that Romania’s foreign policy will stay on its normal course as an EU and NATO member with a strategic partnership with the USA, while also being open to cooperation with all the partners that share the same values and principles. According to Bolojan, Russia’s aggression in neighbouring Ukraine must stop, and a ceasefire followed by just and sustainable peace is a goal that must be pursued not only by the parties involved, but also by the entire international community.  Bolojan went on to say that support for the ex-soviet, Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova is a duty and this state’s resilience must be strengthened ahead of the parliamentary election due in 2025.

     

    RIYADH The first high-level US-Russia meeting in recent years took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Moscow’s officials said the talks were “serious” and “positive,” while the American side announced that two teams would be set up to initiate negotiations to stop the war in Ukraine, Reuters and AFP report. While the delegations led by Marco Rubio and Sergei Lavrov were discussing in Riyadh, the Russian foreign ministry announced that it wanted NATO to revoke the decision taken at the 2008 summit in Bucharest regarding Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would not recognise the outcome of Russian-American negotiations held in the absence of Kyiv, and European leaders convening in an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday promised to carry on their military support for Ukraine, while stepping up the strengthening of their own defence. Only a few European leaders were invited to the informal EU summit organised by president Emmanuel Macron, namely the German Chancellor, the Polish, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish and British prime ministers, as well as the president of the European Council, the head of the European Commission and the NATO Secretary General. France plans to host a second meeting on Ukraine and European security on Wednesday, Reuters reports. According to diplomatic sources, Norway, Canada, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Romania, Sweden and Belgium are invited to take part.

     

    JUDICIARY The Romanian justice minister Radu Marinescu Tuesday had a meeting with the Japanese ambassador to Bucharest, Takashi Katae. The two officials discussed, among other things, ways to find better solutions for judicial cooperation regarding Romanian nationals imprisoned in Japan. According to a news release issued by the justice ministry, Radu Marinescu appreciates the excellent judicial cooperation between the two states, while at the same time reaffirming Romania’s strong commitment to develop close institutional collaboration in the future. Bilateral relations between Romania and Japan were elevated to a strategic partnership on March 7, 2023. Last year, a Declaration of Cooperation between the justice ministries of the two countries was also signed, making Romania the first European Union member state to sign such a declaration with Japan, the news release also states.

     

    FOOTBALL The former Romanian international player Cristian Chivu was appointed coach of the Italian football team Parma on Tuesday, the club announced on its home page. For Chivu, this will be the first coaching experience at a senior level, after having trained several junior teams at Internazionale Milano, where he played between 2007 and 2014 and where he concluded his career as a footballer at the age of 34 due to recurring injuries. In the 2009-2010 season, under the Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, he won the Italian championship and Cup with Inter, as well as the Champions League. At Parma, Chivu will coach the Romanian international players Dennis Man and Valentin Mihăilă. The team is in 18th place out of 20 (relegation-threatened) and Chivu’s debut as a coach in Serie A will take place on February 22, on home turf, against Bologna. Another Italian team in Serie A, Genoa, is owned by the Romanian businessman Dan Şucu, who is also the major shareholder in Rapid Bucharest. (AMP)

  • US, Russia hold talks in Riyadh

    US, Russia hold talks in Riyadh

    RIYADH The first high-level US-Russia meeting in recent years took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Moscow’s officials said the talks were “serious” and “positive,” while the American side announced that two teams would be set up to initiate negotiations to stop the war in Ukraine, Reuters and AFP report.

     

    While the delegations led by Marco Rubio and Sergei Lavrov were discussing in Riyadh, the Russian foreign ministry announced it wanted NATO to revoke the decision taken at the 2008 summit in Bucharest regarding Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance.

     

    The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would not recognise the outcome of Russian-American negotiations held in the absence of Kyiv, and European leaders convening in an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday promised to carry on their military support for Ukraine, while stepping up the strengthening of their own defence.

     

    Only a few European leaders were invited to the informal EU summit organised by president Emmanuel Macron, namely the German Chancellor, the Polish, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish and British prime ministers, as well as the president of the European Council, the head of the European Commission and the NATO Secretary General. (AMP)

  • February 18, 2025

    February 18, 2025

    VOTE Over 4 thousand applications have been registered on the webpage of the Permanent Election Authority for postal voting in the presidential election in Romania in May. The registration deadline for postal voting is March 20 and to cast a ballot in a certain polling station, March 4. The election period for the presidential voting kicks off this week on February 20 when the Central Election Bureau is set up. Candidacies can be submitted until March 15 and the election campaign kicks off on April 4.

    MEETING The Russian and American Foreign Ministers are today meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to prepare a high-level summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in an attempt to re-launch the relationship after three years of Russia’s isolation due to its invasion of Ukraine. According to the international press the talks are causing unrest among Washington’s European allies, concerned about the fact that the rapprochement between the two super-powers is taking place without their involvement and will have as a result a peace treaty imposed on Ukraine. President Zelenskyy says he is not going to accept any outcome of the Russian-American talks held in the absence of Kyiv, and the European leaders who convened in an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday said they maintain their support for Ukraine concurrently speeding up their defence. Only some European leaders were invited to the informal meeting hosted by president Macron, such as the German chancellor, the Polish, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and British premiers, as well as the president of the European Council, the head of the European Commission and the NATO Secretary General.

    DIPLOMACY Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, on Tuesday said at the annual meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Bucharest that Romania is a democratic state, which continues to take actions to strengthen its institutions and the people’s trust in them. For the upcoming presidential election he pledged a free, fair and transparent election process. “Romania has a ruling coalition, which ensures the country’s stability”, the president says adding that Romania’s foreign policy will maintain its normal course as an EU and NATO member with a strategic partnership with the USA being also open to cooperation with all the partners sharing the same values and principles. According to Bolojan, Russia’s aggression in the neighboring country must stop and a ceasefire followed by just and sustainable peace is an objective, which must be observed not only by the parties involved, but also by the entire international community.  Bolojan also went on to say that the support for the ex-soviet, Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova is a duty and this state’s resilience must be strengthened in the context of the parliamentary election in 2025.

    GAZA Israel is getting ready to receive the last six alive Israeli hostages, as envisaged by the first stage of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. We recall that Hamas caved in to pressure from the brokering Arab countries and is going to transfer the bodies of some Israeli hostages who died in captivity, on Thursday. The last four bodies are to be transferred next Thursday. The next stages, providing for the permanent end of the war and the reconstruction of the enclave destroyed by bombardments are still under a question mark after Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday voiced readiness to endorse the US president Donald Trump’s plan, which rules out the Hamas movement and the Palestinian Authority from the future of the Gaza Strip. According to Radio Romania correspondent in Israel, many Arab countries started coming up with their proposals, aimed at avoiding the relocation of the Palestinian population from the enclave, as envisaged by the US plan.

    (bill)

     

  • January 14, 2025 UPDATE

    January 14, 2025 UPDATE

    Meeting – The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Tuesday had talks in Bucharest with the US Deputy Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O’Brien, about the progress made in deepening the bilateral strategic partnership in the fields of security, economy and the Visa Waiver. During the meeting with the Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu, the American official showed confidence in the solidity of the Romania – US Strategic Partnership and in its capacity for further development based on ongoing bilateral projects. In turn, the Romanian minister appreciated the US contribution to the security and defense of NATO’s Eastern Flank, as well as to the development of the strategic approach regarding the Black Sea region. The Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, also highlighted, during the meeting with the US official, the crucial role of the Black Sea region in ensuring European and transatlantic security, in the context of the continuation of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Angel Tîlvăr emphasized Romania’s firm commitment to NATO’s collective security and appreciated the substantial contribution of the US in ensuring the security of the Alliance’s Eastern Flank. On Monday, James O’Brien was in Chisinau, where he declared that the development of the transport infrastructure in Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine will create a new opportunity for the economic development of the three states.

     

    Energy – Romania has no problems in terms of energy supply for the entire cold season, the energy minister Sebastian Burduja gave assurances again, on Tuesday, after the Winter Energy Command meeting. He specified that the measures established to increase domestic production, including coal-based production, were applied. According to him, energy production from gas is still the main source of electricity production during the cold season, except for days when the wind blows and wind power plants are the first source of production in Romania.  The Energy Minister also emphasized that the domestic demand for natural gas is not affected by daily exports to the Republic of Moldova.

     

    Gas – Half of the electricity consumed in the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), on the right bank of the Dniester River, comes from internal sources, including renewable energy, and the other half comes from imports from Romania, the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu said on Tuesday, in a press conference. She convened a meeting of the Supreme Security Council which tackled the situation in the energy sector and assistance measures for the population. On the other hand, Maia Sandu says, the energy and humanitarian crisis in the separatist region of Transdniester is caused by the Russian Federation with the aim of destabilizing the political situation in the Republic of Moldova. We remind you that since January 1, the Transdniester region has no longer received natural gas from Russia.

     

    Inflation – The annual inflation rate went up to 5.14% in December 2024 from 5.11% the previous month, amidst a 5.09% increase in the price of foodstuffs, 4.38% in the price for non-foods and 7.10% in the cost of services, according to National Statistics Institute data made public on Tuesday. Compared to 2023, the annual inflation rate in December last year stood at 5.5%. The National Bank of Romania upgraded its inflation forecast for the end of 2024, from 4% previously to 4.9%, and estimates the inflation rate will go down to 3.5% at the end of 2025.

     

    Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse, coming from the qualifications, defeated another Romanian player, Irina Begu, 6-4, 6-0 in the opening round at the Australian Open tennis tournament on Tuesday. In the next round, Ruse will take on Madison Keys of the United States, who knocked out Ann Li of the USA in the first round. This is the second time Gabriela Ruse reaches the main draw in Melbourne after in 2022 she reached the second round. Another Romanian player, Jaqueline Cristian, is playing Lucia Bronzetti of Italy in the second round. (LS)

     

  • November 5, 2024 UPDATE

    November 5, 2024 UPDATE

    Visit – The European commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, is paying an official visit to Romania on Wednesday, the EC announced in a statement. The commissioner will participate in the conference themed “Multi-sectoral Pact for an Integrated Agricultural Policy of Romania – objective 2035”. At the same time, the official is a special guest in the EU-Romania Interactive Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture. According to the press release, the commissioner will talk about the perspectives of European farmers in the context of environmental and geo-political challenges and of the EU enlargement. At the same time, he will have an intervention in the plenary session, with the theme “Vision and action for the sustainable transformation of agriculture”. Janusz Wojciechowski was quoted as saying that ‘First of all, it will be an opportunity to thank Romanian farmers for their vital contribution to food security, both in Europe and outside it. In recent years, farmers in Romania have shown remarkable resilience, passing well through a pandemic, through economic recessions and through the energy crisis, besides climate-related challenges,” said commissioner Wojciechowski.

     

    Commissioner – Roxana Mînzatu, proposed for the position of European Commissioner from Romania, received a favorable opinion, on Tuesday, in the specialized commissions of the Romanian Parliament. At the hearings, she stated that the “People, Competences and Training” portfolio, which she will handle, accounts for almost 20% of the EU’s multiannual budget. She mentioned that, as executive vice-president of the European Commission, she will also coordinate the area of ​​preparation for emergency situations. Roxana Mînzatu will be one of the six vice-presidents of the future European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen.  Mînzatu aims to make the teaching career more attractive, in a Europe where at least 24 states are facing a crisis of teachers and, at the same time, she wants to improve the Erasmus+ program, considered far too expensive by many Romanian students. On November 12, Roxana Mînzatu will be heard in the specialized commissions of the European Parliament.

     

    IMF – The International Monetary Fund representatives started, on Tuesday, technical talks with the Romanian authorities to analyze the economic and financial developments of Romania in the last period. The delegation will have meetings in particular at the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry. The officials will discuss the evolution of inflation and the economy, the balance of payments, public debt and budget deficit, monetary and fiscal policy. Although Romania currently does not have an agreement with the Fund, the financial institution annually evaluates the country’s economy and makes recommendations. The IMF mission in Romania will end on Friday.

     

    Spain – The Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) announced on Tuesday that, according to the information sent by the Spanish authorities, so far, two Romanian citizens have died and seven are reported missing, following the meteorological phenomena that affected Spain. The MAE also informs that the representatives of the Romanian Embassy in Madrid and the Romanian Consulate in Castellon de la Plana remain in permanent contact with the competent Spanish authorities regarding the Romanians affected by the recent meteorological phenomena. At the same time, Romanian citizens can request assistance from the Romanian consulates in the main Spanish cities – the MAE also announced. In Spain, the Madrid government has declared a state of natural disaster in the affected areas and has pledged to cover all the urgent expenses of the affected municipalities. A first emergency plan worth 10.6 billion Euros was adopted, with direct aid and fiscal facilities for citizens and 30,000 companies.

     

    Meeting – The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu had a meeting in Bucharest on Tuesday with a delegation of Japanese investors from the fields of energy, research and technology, industry, infrastructure and banking. The head of the executive appreciated the level of bilateral relations, developed on the basis of the Strategic Partnership. He emphasized Romania’s role as a factor of stability in Europe and in the region, as well as the geostrategic, economic and political advantages that qualify it as a destination for investors. The Japanese delegation expressed its interest in strengthening financial support for Romania in projects in the fields of transport infrastructure, energy, digitization and high technology. Previously, during a bilateral Energy Forum that took place in Bucharest, the Romanian Energy Ministry and the Japanese company Itochu Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Tarnița-Lăpuștești investment (in central Romania). It is a project of strategic importance for balancing the energy system in Romania, necessary in the context of increasing the share of energy from renewable sources. (LS)

  • September 12, 2024

    September 12, 2024

    RCA Romania has the most expensive civil liability insurance for car owners, RCA, in the region, roughly 220 Euros, although compensations have dropped by 9% – representatives of the Confederation of Authorized Operators and Transporters, COTAR, say. According to them the average RCA prices in Bulgaria is around 100 Euros, in Hungary 98 Euros and in Poland 120. COTAR representatives are blaming the situation on the Financial Supervisory Authority, whose representatives say the institution cannot intervene on the RCA price, which is based upon statistical data regarding compensations and damages paid in road accidents in the past years and other risk criteria.

     

    STRIKE The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has issued heads-up for the Romanians traveling to Belgium that a 24-hour strike has been announced on the Charleroi Airport, which is expected to cripple the airport’s operational capabilities. A series of flights are being cancelled and passengers are advised to check online the lists posted by various airlines. According to a communiqué issued by the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest, Romania’s embassy in Brussels has made available a hot line for the Romanian citizens in difficult, special and emergency situations.

     

    HANDBALL The Romanian handball champions, Dinamo Bucharest, are making their debut tonight in the EHF Champions League in a match against the Danish vice-champions Fredericia HK. Dinamo was included in the Champions League’s Group A and it avoided the finalists of the recently ended season, the champion side Barcelona and the team which lost the finals Aalborg Handbold. The Romanian side will be up against Fuchse Berlin, Sporting Lisbon, Paris Saint-Germain Handball as well as Veszprem HC, presently coached by its former headcoach Xavi Pascual. In the women’s contests, Romania is being represented by three sides, which already played their first matches last weekend. The Romanian derby Gloria Bistrita versus CSM Bucharest ended 30-26 to Bistrita, while Rapid Bucharst secured a 32-27 home win against the double European champions Buducnost Podgorica.

     

    LAW Parliament in Bucharest on Wednesday tackled some law amendments aimed at enabling the army to annihilate the suspect drones entering Romania’s territory. The talks involved the participation of MPs and representatives of the Ministry of Defence. Romanian MPs believe that some legislative amendments are needed in order to improve the response capabilities when unauthorized or suspect drones are entering the Romanian airspace. The talks were held after several Russian drones had entered the Romanian airspace in the past year on their way to targets in the neighboring Ukraine.

     

    WEATHER In Romania’s northeastern and eastern regions temperatures are normal for this time of the year, whereas in the rest of the territory the weather is warm. Showers and thunderstorms are expected in most regions in the country’s east and north-east and on isolated areas in the north and center. The highs of the day are expected between 20 and 31 degrees Celsius with a noon reading in Bucharest of 21 degrees and a high of 29 degrees Celsius.

    (bill)

     

  • April 24, 2024 UPDATE

    April 24, 2024 UPDATE

    VISIT On Wednesday and Thursday, the European Commissioner for international partnership, Jutta Urpilainen is paying a visit to Bucharest for talks over Romania’s participation in the investment strategy known as Global Gateway. Jutta Urpilainen will be meeting Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the two are expected to tackle the role Romania can play in deepening the EU international partnerships and the promotion of sustainable development at world level in the present difficult geopolitical context. The EU official will be meeting representatives of the private sector in order to learn the way in which Global Gateway can give an impetus to Romanian enterprises to invest in the developing markets.

     

    TALKS Romania’s Defence Minister, Angel Tîlvăr on Wednesday held talks with the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III. The talks between the two officials mainly focused on the security situation generated by the war of aggression and the unconditional support to Ukraine. The importance of maintaining Trans-Atlantic unity in the present security complex was reiterated. The talks also offered the opportunity of debating elements of interest ahead of the meeting of the Contact group for Ukraine, due on Friday as well as the setting of joint objectives ahead of the Washington Summit this summer.

     

    FAIR The largest book fair in Transylvania – Gaudeamus, organized by Radio Romania, kicked off in Cluj-Napoca, north-western Romania, on Wednesday. The event reached its 23rd edition. 16 pavilions host 60 stands of 85 publishing houses. The fair offers books, music and educational games. There are several thousand books in Romanian, in international languages and in the languages of the national minorities living in Romania. All in all, more than 40 launches and book presentations are scheduled, as well as meetings between writers and readers. The first launch is that of the volume “Naraton” by the late writer Cornel Udrea, one of the voices of the Cluj public radio, who passed away a few days ago.

     

    FILMS Two Romanian films are in the official selection of the famous Cannes Film Festival in France: the feature film “Three kilometers to the end of the world”, the story of the complicated relationships between a teenager and his parents, directed by Emanuel Pârvu, and the documentary “Nasty”, about the life and career of the first world number one in men’s tennis, the Romanian Ilie Năstase, made by Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu and Tudor D. Popescu. “Nasty” will be presented in the Special Screenings section. The Cannes festival also invited in the competition an Iranian filmmaker who criticizes the fundamentalist regime in Tehran, Mohammad Rasoulof. A total of 22 films will compete in 2024 to win the Palme d’Or trophy. The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place between May 14-25.

     

    SEOUL On the last day of the visit of Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, to South Korea, the official delegation visited, on Wednesday, the Doosan Enerbility complex in Busan, a world leader in energy production. On this occasion Klaus Iohannis said that Bucharest is very interested in working with international partners on the development and implementation of the small modular reactors technology in Romania. On Tuesday evening, the Romanian president participated in an exhibition of traditional Romanian art. During his visit to Seoul, Romania and South Korea decided to expand their bilateral cooperation, by signing a joint declaration on strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership and several cooperation agreements in the fields of defense, energy or emergency situations management.

     

    (bill)

     

  • February 3, 2024 UPDATE

    February 3, 2024 UPDATE

    AGREEMENT The PM
    of Romania Marcel Ciolacu and the representatives of farmers and carriers
    Friday reached an agreement ending the recent protests. On Monday, the PM’s
    office will set up an inter-ministry committee tasked with identifying the best
    solutions for the protesters’ demands. Farmers and carriers in Romania
    protested for 3 weeks against high business costs, low prices for produce, the
    import of cheap foodstuffs from Ukraine and the constraints introduced by the
    EU as part of its climate change action.


    COMMEMORATION A
    ceremony commemorating the prominent politician Iuliu Maniu, a former prime
    minister of Romania and leader of the National Christian-Democratic Party, was
    held on Saturday at the Memorial for the victims of communism in Sighetu
    Marmaţiei (north-west). Maniu died on the night of February 4 1953, in the political
    prison in Sighet, where he was serving a life sentence for high treason
    pronounced by the communist regime. His name was cleared under a Supreme Court
    ruling in 1998, and a monument was erected in his honour in the Revolution
    Square in Bucharest.


    MOLDOVA Chişinău
    extended an entry ban against the leader of the Romanian nationalist party AUR,
    George Simion, by another 5 years. Under Moldova’s legislation, foreigners may
    be declared undesirables if they have or if there are strong reasons to believe
    they intend to conduct activities likely to endanger the country’s national
    security or public order. According to the R. of Moldova, the Romanian
    authorities have been notified in this respect, and George Simion challenged
    the decision in court. The AUR leader was expelled from Moldova in 2018, with
    an entry ban in place for a period of 5 years.


    HEALTHCARE Trade
    unions in the healthcare sector have new talks scheduled next week with the
    Romanian authorities in the context of the recent protests. The vice-president
    of the Ambulanţa Trade Union Federation, Magyary Arpad, had a meeting on
    Friday with the healthcare minister, Alexandru Rafila, but failed to reach an
    agreement on salaries, equipment and the personnel shortage in the system.
    Arpad voiced optimism with respect to a 20% pay raise deal, but said he was not
    sure the measure would cover all healthcare personnel and whether it would be
    implemented in full or in several instalments. He said the talks also concerned
    the procurement of ambulance vehicles, office revamping and changes in the
    legislation. Trade unions in healthcare initiated nation-wide protests in
    November 2022, but suspended them until after next week’s meeting with PM
    Marcel Ciolacu. Talks will also be held in the coming days with the Sanitas trade
    union federation, which has its own salary demands for several categories of
    healthcare personnel.


    ALERT
    Healthcare units in Romania are implementing additional measures after a state
    of epidemiological alert was declared due to the growing number of respiratory
    infections and flu cases. Special attention is given to the health of hospital
    personnel and to the protection equipment, and visiting hours have been reduced.
    Visitor access is denied in ICUs, neonatology and pediatrics departments,
    coronary care units, oncology and hematology units, and in infectious disease
    units. In other hospital departments, no more than 2 visitors will be allowed
    at the same time in a room, and individual protection equipment will be
    compulsory.


    MIDDLE EAST The
    US conducted scores of air raids against targets operated by Iran-controlled
    groups in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon said the raids were a response to the
    recent drone attack by Iran-supported fighters, which killed 3 US troops at a
    military base in Jordan, the BBC reports. Taking part in Friday’s raids were B1
    long-range bombers, flying out of the US. Iran condemned the strikes, claiming
    they violated the sovereignty of Syria and Iraq, AFP reports. In Bagdad, a
    government spokesman announced the US strikes in western Iraq killed at least
    16 people, including civilians. Meanwhile, the US state secretary Antony
    Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank
    between February 4 and 8, primarily to reach a deal securing the freeing of all
    the Israeli hostages kept in Gaza following the Hamas terror attack of October
    7. (AMP)

  • The Romanian Prime Minister’s meeting with the Romanians in the USA

    The Romanian Prime Minister’s meeting with the Romanians in the USA

    The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu started his official visit to the USA at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, where he commemorated the victims of the genocide of the Second World War. Later, he met with representatives of the Romanian community from the Washington – Virginia – Maryland area. Romania needs to develop partnerships with companies from developed democratic countries, the prime minister told the Romanians in the area, especially in an exceptional security context, stating that Romania has the longest border with Ukraine.



    Marcel Ciolacu: Without our great achievements after the Revolution, namely membership to the EU, NATO and the strategic partnership with the US, today we would not have been talking about a consolidated democracy in Romania, about stability and we would not have slept peacefully in Romania if this partnership had not existed.



    Romanians can only be kept in the country by developing public services and infrastructure, he added, and Romania is on the right track. There are major investments in infrastructure, and next year, although it is an electoral year, reforms will be made in the budget system.



    Marcel Ciolacu: If we don’t do this, starting next year Romania risks losing important sums from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR as well as European funds. From my point of view, it is Romania’s last train to catch. If we lose the projects and reforms from the PNRR and the accession to the OECD in the next period, Romania will no longer catch such a favorable train.



    Marcel Ciolacu stated that he hoped that the USA would become the most important direct investor in Romania in all fields and the most important non-EU commercial partner of Romania. In this way, he said, the diaspora will find the way to communicate better with the home country. During the discussions with the representatives of the Romanian community, Marcel Ciolacu also referred to the efforts to include Romania in the Visa Waiver program. He said that the visa waiver will become a reality as of 2025. The US Ambassador to Romania, Kathleen Kavalec, attending the reception in Washington D.C., confirmed that there is progress regarding the inclusion of Romania in the program, which would allow Romanians to enter the US without a visa for up to 90 days.



    According to US laws, the citizens of a country can benefit from Visa Waiver if the visa rejection rate is below 3%. This rate for Romania in 2020-2021 was 17%. The visa waiver would mean that thousands of Romanians will no longer wait weeks or even months for visa processing, will no longer risk having it rejected and will no longer pay the 185-dollar- fee. Currently, the only EU countries that are not part of the Visa Waiver program are Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus. (LS)

  • October 4, 2023

    October 4, 2023

    COURT — Romania’s Constitutional Court postponed again, for Thursday, a decision regarding the law that allows people to cash in both a pension and a salary at the same time. This is the third postponement of the Court in connection with the notification made by the High Court of Cassation and Justice on this topic. The law refers to measures that allow people entitled to retirement to continue working. The High Court says that the document is unconstitutional in its entirety. In keeping with the law, state employees will not be allowed to cash in both a salary and a pension. People found in this situation will have 30 days to opt for one of the two rights. The law passed by Parliament on June 28 also provides for some exemptions. Thus, people elected in positions of authority or public dignity will be allowed to receive both the pension and the salary from the state. Of the nine judges of the Constitutional Court, six receive both the pension and the salary.




    IMF — Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is holding talks today with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, who have travelled to Bucharest for the annual assessment of the Romanian economy. The IMF team met Tuesday with the MPs from the budget-finance committees and highlighted two big problems: the increase in expenses and the low rate of labor force among the population. According to the commission members, the package of fiscal measures assumed by the Government seems to have the approval of the IMF experts.




    TROOPS — Romania will deploy additional troops to Kosovo, after the North Atlantic Council green lighted the presence of more forces to manage the situation in the West Balkans. Romania already has around 250 soldiers in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 80 in Kosovo. On Tuesday, on the occasion of the Security Forum in Warsaw, the Romanian Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, said his country remains firmly committed to ensuring stability and security in the region.




    TALKS – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, participated, via conference call, at the invitation of the United States President, Joe Biden, in a new round of political consultations with the allied global leaders, in the context of the recent developments in Ukraine, including of attacks on civil infrastructure near Romania. Iohannis said that Russia must stop the attacks on the Ukrainian ports on the Danube and asked for the consolidation of NATO’s deterrence and defense posture on the eastern flank and the Black Sea. Iohannis also said that, at present, increased capabilities are needed for the detection and interception of drones, as well as for a stronger air defense. In his turn, President Biden reiterated his country’s commitment to the security of Romania and the other allies on the eastern flank, including the recent deployment of additional American F-16 fighter jets in Romania.




    PRICES – House prices dropped by 1.1% in the European Union in the second quarter of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, according to data made public by Eurostat. This is the first year-on-year decrease since the first quarter of 2014. Nine EU countries recorded lower prices in the second quarter of 2023 than in the previous year, but in the other 17 member states, house prices keep going up. The sharpest decrease was recorded in Germany – almost 10% – and the most significant increase was recorded in Croatia – 13.7%. Romania reported an advance of just 0.1% in the second quarter of 2023, after a 4.6% increase in the first three months of this year. (EE)


  • August 23, 2023 UPDATE

    August 23, 2023 UPDATE

    MAE Romania’s
    Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu has accused Russia of intentionally harming
    the Ukrainian civilians and of damaging the infrastructure needed in the
    country’s grain exports. The Romanian official has reacted to the latest
    Russian attack against the Ukrainian port on the Danube, Ismail, and has
    described these actions as war crimes. In a post on the X network, formerly
    known as Twitter, Odobescu says she is terrified by the Russian continuous
    attacks against the aforementioned port close to Romania. Russia’s repeated strikes
    on Ukraine’s maritime and river ports have destroyed 270 thousand tons of grain
    in a month, the Ukrainian Minister of the Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov
    has said.






    FIRE The Romanian
    firefighters deployed to Greece on Wednesday were requested to participate in a
    mission of putting out wild fires close to the highway to Alexandroupolis. 50
    firefighters and 10 fire engines have participated in the mission, says a communique
    issued by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in Bucharest. The
    situation of wildfires in Greece has been monitored from space by means of the
    European Satellite Programme Copernicus.






    CRASH Four high police officials in
    the county of Constanta, south-eastern Romania, have been dismissed after a
    19-year-old driver under the influence of several types of drugs killed two people
    and wounded three others. The young man was stopped by the road police three
    hours before the accident but they let him alone without having conducted a
    test for banned substances. The policemen have reportedly found drugs in the young
    man’s car whose strange behavior was also reported by a citizen on the Romanian
    emergency number 112. After the accident, the police units are conducting
    searches on several Romanian roads in an attempt to discover all those driving
    under the influence.




    TALKS Romanian Interior Minister, Catalin Predoiu said on
    Wednesday in Vienna at the end of his meeting with his Austrian counterpart,
    Gerhard Karner, the ambition of the Ministry he is heading is to make Romania a
    ‘standard of border protection’. The Romanian official has announced the
    signing of an administrative Dublin agreement simplifying the asylum
    procedures. He underlined that the talks he had are a good beginning for a
    ‘construction road’ on all interest areas. Predoiu said that the migration is a
    serious issue, which is seriously dealt with in Romania. The Austrian Interior
    Minister said the cooperation model agreed upon with Romania in the field of
    fighting the crossborder crime related to migrant smuggling is wanted to be
    promoted at European level as well. According to him, crossborder cooperation
    shows ‘special results’ in a joint operation conducted by the authorities in
    Romania, Hungary and Austria. We recall that Austria is the only EU country
    opposing Romania’s accession to Europe’s border-free area, Schengen, although
    the country has fulfilled all the necessary conditions, a fact also admitted by
    the other EU member countries and institutions. The Schengen system as a whole
    does not function, Gerhard Karner said on Wednesday, adding that an expansion
    isn’t proper at the moment.


    (bill)

  • July 31, 2023

    July 31, 2023

    TAXES Fresh talks are scheduled today in
    the Cabinet on tax-related measures designed to rebalance the state budget.
    The Social Democratic PM Marcel Ciolacu is to have meetings with the finance
    minister Marcel Boloș, and a report is expected from the national tax agency
    with respect to revenue collection. The ruling coalition is considering tax
    increases and the elimination of certain tax facilities, as well as the
    cancelling of 200,000 public sector positions that are currently vacant and a
    reduction of expenditure in ministries. According to the PM, the proposed
    measures will be implemented in 3 stages, beginning on September 1, October 1 and
    January 1, 2024.


    VEHICLES The local segment of the car
    scrapping programme Rablaˮ started today, in an effort by the Romanian
    authorities to get heavily polluting vehicles out of circulation. Apart from
    the funds provided by the Environment Ministry, local authorities contribute
    20% of the vouchers granted to citizens who de-register cars older than 15
    years. In a first stage in April, town halls enrolled in this programme, and as
    of today citizens may apply for the funds available in the programme, no later
    than the end of August. The Environment Ministry earmarked some EUR 50 mln for
    this programme, and estimates around 100,000 polluting cars will be scrapped.


    CONCERT The Bucharest National Opera
    orchestra Sunday night performed for the first time at the Musikverein hall in
    Vienna, which hosts the traditional New Year’s concert in the Austrian capital
    city. The concert was a tribute to the Romanian composer Ciprian
    Porumbescu, as the year 2023 was declared the year of Ciprian Porumbescu, to
    mark 170 years since the birth and 140 years since the death of the famous
    composer. The programme consisted exclusively of works by Ciprian Porumbescu:
    New Moon, the first Romanian operetta, the Ballad, the
    Romanian Rhapsody. The soloists, choir and orchestra of the
    National Opera House in Bucharest were conducted by Daniel Jinga, with special
    guests including maestro Gheorghe Zamfir and the soloist Maria Coman.


    TRAINING The training ship Mircea has today
    returned to the military port of Constanţa, after a 28-day training session in
    the Mediterranean. On board were 64 sophomore students with the Mircea cel
    Bătrân Naval Academy, as well as 10 exchange students from partner
    academies in Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, Latvia, Italy and Spain. The training
    ship had stopovers in the ports of Piraeus in Greece, Taranto in Italy and Izmir
    in Turkey, and completed an over 2,200 mile journey.


    UKRAINE Ukraine has today confirmed that
    Saudi Arabia will host a peace summit aimed, according to Kyiv, at restoring
    peace in line with the Ukrainian formula, EFE reports. According to the head
    of Ukraine’s presidential office Andriy Yermak, apart from guaranteeing peace
    for Ukraine, the 10-point formula will create mechanisms to counter future conflicts. For
    Kyiv, the formula includes the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.
    According to Western diplomats, the choice of Saudi Arabia to host the talks is
    designed to facilitate the participation of China, which has good relations
    with Moscow and with Riyadh.


    SPORTS PM Marcel Ciolacu congratulated the
    Romanian athletes and coaches who took part in the European Youth Olympic
    Festival hosted this year by Maribor (Slovenia). He said Romania once again
    confirmed its rebirth as a sports powerhouse after it finished the competition
    with 20 medals, shoulder to shoulder with France, which came 3rd in
    the final ranking. Their result reconfirms their hard work, talent and the
    pride of proving to the world that we are a country which, in spite of
    difficulties, remains able to cultivate the spirit required of great champions,ˮ
    Ciolacu said. Romania’s performance at this year’s European Youth Olympic
    Festival was the best after the ones in a Bath (1995) and Paris (2003). (AMP)