Radio România Internațional

Tag: trade deficit

  • March 14, 2025

    March 14, 2025

    PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – Candidates for the presidential election in May have two more days to register with the Central Election Bureau, the deadline being March 15 at midnight. So far, only two candidates are officially enrolled in the race, their candidacies having been validated by the Constitutional Court: Crin Antonescu, supported by the PSD-PNL-UDMR ruling coalition, and the Bucharest Mayor General, Nicuşor Dan, who runs as an independent candidate. Deputy Victor Ponta also registered his candidacy as an independent candidate, for which he was excluded from the Social-Democratic Party. On the other hand, the Constitutional Court’s decision to definitively reject the candidacy of independent candidate Călin Georgescu, a pro-Russian extremist who unexpectedly won the first round of last year’s presidential election, has prompted the parties that supported him, AUR and POT, to prepare a new electoral strategy. Thus, the leaders of the two parties, George Simion and Ana-Maria Gavrilă, announced they would both submit their candidacies for the presidential election, and one of them will withdraw once their candidacies are validated. The leader of USR, Elena Lasconi, who advanced to the second round last year, Diana Şoşoacă (from SOS Romania), who expressed confidence her candidacy would be upheld this time, as well as and MEP Cristian Terheş from the Romanian National Conservative Party, also submitted their candidacies.

     

    AID – The Government on Thursday adopted an additional 160-Euro financial aid for 2.5 million pensioners, more specifically those reporting incomes below 520 Euro. The aid will be disbursed in two installments, the first in April, the second in December, says Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

     

    STATISTICS – Romania’s active population stood at 8.17 million people at the end of 2024, of whom 7.7 million were employed, the National Statistics Institute reports. The employment rate is by 20% higher in the male segment and very low for youth. The unemployment rate at national level was 5.9%, with young people aged 24 and below accounting for 25% of the total number of unemployed.

     

    TRADE DEFICIT – Romania’s trade deficit increased by 38% in January, compared to the same period last year, the National Statistics Institute reports. In 2024, Romania exported goods worth €92.6 billion, while its imports stood at €133.4 billion. Romania’s deficit remains significant, especially in relations with China, Germany and Poland, while recording surpluses with the UK, the Republic of Moldova and the USA, although in smaller volumes. Trade in agricultural products and foostuffs remains vulnerable, as Romania mainly exports raw materials and imports end products. To reduce the €5 billion trade deficit in this area, experts recommend a strategy focused on the export of value-added products and more efficient use of statistical data for better-founded economic decisions.

     

    WEATHER ALERT – Meteorologists have issued a code yellow alert against strong wind, in place today for the west, southwest and center. On Thursday, storms were reported in Bucharest and several counties, with a code red alert against thunderstorms in place for several hours. The storm killed a man, injured another two people and caused significant material damages. Rooftops were torn off, electricity poles snapped and power outages were reported in over 35 settlements. In Bucharest and the neighboring Ilfov County over 60 trees were felled, constructions elements came loose and a pole was knocked down by the wind. Dozens of cars were damaged. Variable skies and temperatures ranging between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius are reported for today, with possible showers and thunderstorms announced in most regions.

     

    FOOTBALL – UEFA has handed FCSB a 30,000-Euro fine for the incidents reported in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16, played in Bucharest. Parts of the stadium will also be closed for the next match in EU competitions. The penalties were awarded due to the racist or discriminatory abuse by fans. The club will have to pay an additional 1,500 Euro for torches lit in the stands. FCSB lost the first leg 3-1 in Bucharest last week as well as the second leg played yesterday away from home to Olympique Lyon of France. (VP)

  • Growing trade deficit

    Growing trade deficit

    Romania’s trade deficit increased by 38.5% in January 2025 compared to the same period of last year and exceeded 40.8 billion euros, the National Institute of Statistics reported. The difference between the value of imports and exports increased as, although exports increased by 2.4%, imports increased by over 10%. Last year, Romania exported goods worth 92.6 billion Euros and imported goods worth 133.4 billion Euros. The Chief of Cabinet to the President of the National Institute of Statistics, Vladimir Alexandrescu, stated that Romania has two main trading partners, Germany and Italy, which together cover almost a third of our country’s total trade exchanges. In terms of imports, China is the country with which Romania has the largest trade deficit of all countries, 5.4% of the total. Alexandrescu stressed that a vulnerable sector remains trade in agricultural and food products, where Romania mainly exports raw materials and imports finished products.

     

    Vladimir Alexandrescu: “In 2024, we had an export of 6.5 billion Euros against an import of 11.4 billion Euros, so a deficit of about 5 billion Euros, in a space where Romania, through what it naturally has, could have a surplus, provided that a mutation occurs in the content of these exchanges. We need to overcome the moment when we export unprocessed agricultural products and import processed agricultural products, because, by tradition, Romania has very, very great such possibilities.”

     

    Alexandrescu added that Romania also registers a trade surplus and that the first place in this ranking is taken, surprisingly, by Great Britain, with 1.6% of the total, followed by the Republic of Moldova and the United States of America. The data presented by the statistics from Bucharest reconfirm the growing dependence of the national economy, especially on complementary imports, such as raw materials, materials or parts, the executive president of the National Association of Exporters and Importers of Romania, Mihai Ionescu also said. He aded that another problem is represented by the insufficient funds allocated by the executive to finance the presence of Romanian companies at international fairs and exhibitions.

     

    Mihai Ionescu: “For this year, we have used up all the money to finance the presence of companies at international fairs and exhibitions. So, after June, we have no money left, and we had almost 100 international participations prepared, including in the Osaka World Expo. No company will leave. If this program is not urgently unblocked, we will have an even more drastic increase in the trade balance deficit.”

     

    Ionescu underlined that it is essential that the government understands the need to allocate state aid or European funds to those areas that can support the process of reducing the trade balance deficit. (LS)

     

  • December 14, 2024

    December 14, 2024

     

    NEGOTIATIONS In Bucharest, negotiations on a future coalition of the pro-European parties in Parliament have made progress with respect to the structure of the new government. The Social Democratic Party will control 7 ministries, the National Liberal Party 4, Save Romania Union 3, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania 2, said the Social Democrats’ senior vice-president Sorin Grindeanu. It has not yet been decided which ministries will go to each party and the names of the new ministers. On the other hand, the Social Democrats and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians plead for a single presidential candidate of the coalition. After the Constitutional Court cancelled the election for president, the future executive will have to decide by the end of the year on a new presidential election calendar, the UDMR believes. The pro-European parties elected in Parliament hope to come up with a cabinet by Christmas.

     

    EU FUNDING Romania has collected EUR 1.9 billion in EU structural and cohesion funds in 2021-2027, and the overall absorption rate, 6.11%, is close to the EU average of 6.19%, the minister of investments and European projects, Adrian Câciu announced. The absorption rate for the structural and cohesion funds under centrally managed programmes is higher, namely 7.3%, Caciu said in a Facebook post. He emphasised that Romania is yet to catch up on Regional Programmes, where the absorption rate is 3.2%, but he voiced confidence that the example set by the current coalition comprising the Social Democrats and the Liberals in terms of management and implementation of European funds, including decentralisation, will be followed by the new government, and the pace of EU fund absorption will be sustained, so as to replicate the success of the 2014-2020 period.

     

    ECONOMY Romania’s trade deficit was EUR 5.5 billion higher in the first 10 months of the year than in the same period in 2023, according to data made public by the National Bank. More than half of this deficit is the result of growing imports of goods. The central bank also says that the total foreign debt went up over EUR 18 billion and exceeded EUR 186 billion. According to analysts, along with the very high budget deficit, these are the main problems of the Romanian economy, and they must be solved concurrently, which is very difficult. They believe that through a correct budget adjustment, expenses would be cut, and revenues could be raised by eliminating corruption and through a fair tax system.

     

    ANNIVERSARY Timişoara marks 35 years since the anti-communist Revolution of December 1989, which broke out in this city in western Romania. Under the motto “35 years of freedom”, events dedicated to the 1989 heroes and celebrating the three and a half decades since Timişoara became the first city free from communism in Romania will take place between December 15 and 20. The agenda includes, as every year, religious services, wreath-laying, exhibitions and film screenings. A concert entitled Requiem in Memoriam is scheduled on Sunday at the Banat Philharmonic, Monday will see the inauguration of the Freedom Portal, a light installation that reproduces sounds from the Revolution, followed by the traditional march “Heroes Never Die”. Tuesday will be a day of mourning, and the events on December 20 will end with a concert called “Rock for revolution”.

     

    IMPEACHMENT South Korea’s prime minister Han Duck-soo Saturday vowed to ensure a stable government after the National Assembly voted to impeach president Yoon Suk-yeol over his failed attempt to introduce martial law on December 3, AFP reports. Tens of thousands of protesters cheered outside the National Assembly building as the vote was announced. Citing difficulties in passing his budget, Yoon Suk-yeol stunned the country by imposing martial law overnight, but was forced to lift it 6 hours later under pressure from parliament and the street. Under investigation for mutiny, Yoon, 63, is banned from leaving the country, as are his former defence and interior ministers and the commander of the short-lived martial law. (AMP)

  • 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)

  • July 10, 2024 UPDATE

    July 10, 2024 UPDATE

    NATO – On the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Washington, Allies have reached consensus on the final resolution of the summit. NATO will reassert its commitment to support Ukraine’s irreversible Euro-Atlantic trajectory, once all accession criteria have been met. The war in Ukraine ranked high at the NATO summit, marking 75 years since the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Five Allied presidents and Prime Ministers, including the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, signed a joint statement to donate Patriot missile systems and parts to Ukraine. Italy pledged to deliver an additional system. Denmark and the Netherlands will send F-16 jets to overfly Ukrainian airspace over the summer, Reuters reports. The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, called for increasing assistance for Ukraine, arguing that if Ukraine loses the war, “we all lose”. “Russia remains the biggest threat to European and Euro-Atlantic security. Facing the Kremlin’s hybrid attacks, NATO states need to be ready to defend themselves. Therefore, the decision we will take over the next days will lead to more efficient actions to consolidate our security”, Iohannis pointed out. The summit will spell critical progress for strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture, particularly in the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea region, the Romanian official added.

     

     

    FUNDS – Minister of European Funds, Adrian Câciu, said Romania has managed to absorb an additional 4 bln EUR from corresponding Cohesion Policy mechanisms as part of the 2021-2027 financial framework, taking the total value of contracts signed by Romania to 14 bln EUR. Another 6-bln-EUR worth of projects are still pending approval, the Romanian official wrote on social media. This rhythm of absorption will continue, making it the right approach for ensuring Romania’s sustainable development, Adrian Câciu added.

     

     

    OECD – Romania received the formal approval of the OECD for regional development, said the ministry for development, public works and administration. The statement also says that this confirms both the will and capacity of Romania to implement the legal instruments of the OECD and the alignment of Romania’s policies and practices to those of the OECD in matters of regional development. Romania’s efforts are thus recognized in terms of the consolidation of the regional development policy, especially with respect to the drafting of a solid system of territorial statistics, the adoption of a localized approach in the field of regional development and of strategic documents at regional, county and local levels, by means of consolidating governance at a number of levels and improving institutional and fiscal capacity of subnational governments. The formal approval also contains a series of recommendations for improving the policy, governance and financing framework in the field of regional development.

     

     

    TRADE – Romania’s trade balance deficit between January 1 and May 31 2024 stood at 12.288 bln EUR, 1.230 bln EUR more compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Institute. In the first five months of the year, exports dropped by 2.9%, while imports rose by 0.2%. According to the National Statistics Institute, the areas accounting for the largest shares of exports and imports are represented by cars and transport equipment and other manufacture products.

     

     

    REPAIRS – Starting July 10 the Giurgiu-Ruse bridge over the Danube will undergo repair works on the Bulgarian section. Repairs are expected to complete in two years. According to the motorway company in neighboring Bulgaria, the works are divided into six stages, without closing traffic, with vehicles travelling on one lane only. Romanian citizens are advised to use alternative border crossings during the interval.

     

     

    FOOTBALL – Romania’s football champions FCSB defeated the San Marino champions Virtus AC 7-1 in an away match on Tuesday evening, in the first leg of the Champions League first preliminary round. The second leg is scheduled for July 16 in Bucharest. If they advance to the second preliminary round, FCSB will play Maccabi Tel Aviv. The other Romanian clubs playing in European competitions are Romanian Cup winners Corvinul Hunedoara, CFR Cluj and Universitatea Craiova. (CM & VP)

  • April 9, 2024

    April 9, 2024

    MEETING – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is today meeting, in Bucharest, with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi. The talks that the latter had on Monday with Romanian officials such as Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu and Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja focused on the close collaboration between Romania and the IAEA in the development of the civil nuclear program and on the prospects for deepening cooperation in the energy field. The foreign official highlighted Romania’s international profile and its responsible and internationally recognized nuclear policy.

     

    DEFICIT – Romania’s trade balance deficit in the first two months of this year was 4.142 billion euros, by 228.4 million euros smaller than the one recorded in the same period in 2023, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics, published on Tuesday. In February, a trade deficit of 2.174 billion euros was registered. Statistical data show that between January 1 and February 29, 2024, exports totaled 15.042 billion euros, and imports – 19.184 billion euros. Compared to the same period of last year, exports decreased by 0.1%, and imports by 1.2%. In the first two months of 2024, important shares in the structure of exports and imports are held by the product groups: machinery and transport equipment (47.3% for export and 36.3% for import) and other manufactured products (29.1% for export and 27.9% for import). The value of intra-EU27 exchanges of goods in the mentioned period was 11.045 billion euros for shipments and 14.111 billion euros for introductions, representing 73.4% of total exports and 73.6% of total imports.

     

    FISHING – The general ban on fishing began on Tuesday in all natural waters in Romania, according to an order approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment. Consequently, commercial and recreational activity is to be resumed on June 8, with some exceptions. The ban will last 60 days in the natural fishing habitats, while in the waters that form the state border with Ukraine it will last 45 days, being prohibited from April 16 to May 30. The fishing prohibition period is established depending on the reproduction season of the aquatic fauna, so that it is protected, with a view to sustainable exploitation. During the prohibition period, fishermen can carry out their activity in private lakes.

     

     

    EU – The European Commission has approved an aid scheme for Romanian businesses of approximately 2.5 billion euros. This is intended to protect companies affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The European Commission concluded that the reintroduction of support for Romanian companies remains necessary, adequate and proportionate to remedy the significant disturbances in the economy of a member state. The scheme aims to ensure that the affected companies continue to have enough liquidities.

     

    VISIT – The Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, announced that he will make official visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He hailed what he called Qatar’s direct involvement in rescuing Romanian citizens from the Gaza Strip, the scene of the war between the Israeli army and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, and said he wanted to reiterate his thanks to the Qatari leaders. In the United Arab Emirates, Ciolacu also said, he will hold talks on possible investments in the development of the Constanţa Port (south-east), the TAROM state owned airline and the Bucharest Airport.

     

    CARS – The number of new car registered in Romania went down by 22% in March compared to the same month last year and by more than 17% compared to the previous month, according to the Automobile Manufacturers and Importers Association. The electric car segment experienced a setback of almost 36% compared to the same period in 2023. As regards the market share depending on the engine, gasoline cars occupy the first place, with over 58%, followed by electric ones, with almost 24%, and Diesel, with almost 18%. In March 2024, the best selling 100% electric cars in Romania were Dacia Spring and Tesla

  • Decreasing trade deficit

    Decreasing trade deficit

    Romania’s trade deficit was reduced by 5% in the first two months, according to the National Institute of Statistics, and the trend is likely to be maintained in the next period as well, against the backdrop of increasing exports, and especially of decreasing prices for imported energy, economic analysts estimate. The drop in the trade deficit comes after last year it had increased significantly by 44% as compared to 2021. In the first two months of the year, the value of Romania’s exports exceeded 15 billion Euros, 9% more than in the same period of 2022, and imports totaled over 19.4 billion Euros, increasing by only 5.4%. Hence a trade deficit of almost 4.4 billion Euros, lower by 232 million Euros compared to the January-February period of last year. Financial analyst Adrian Codirlaşu says that the deficit reduction is mainly due to developments in the energy sector.



    Adrian Codirlaşu: Energy prices have fallen, Romania imports energy, therefore I think that the lower prices come from the energy sector. For this year, we will continue to pay less for imported energy than last year, and this will be seen in the value of imports. Exports will probably continue to grow, and we will have a slightly lower trade deficit and implicitly current account deficit than last year. If last year we had a deficit of more than 9%, this year we may reach a deficit of around 8% or even slightly below 8%. The deficit is also helped by the slight increase in the GDP.



    According to specialists, to further reduce the current account deficit, it is necessary to reduce the budget deficit as well as to encourage production in sectors in which Romania has a tradition, but which are now producing a trade deficit, such as the food and chemical industries. On the other hand, the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă has recently said that the Government must start saving due to the large budget deficit. He asked the ministers to find solutions to reduce expenses and reiterated that there was no question of massive layoffs or pay cuts.



    Nicolae Ciucă: We have asked each budget administrator to take measures and make more balanced, more responsible expenses, because, unfortunately, at the end of the first quarter, we have a budget deficit of 1.4% at the level of the Government. I specified very clearly, including in writing, when I asked them to come up with proposals for reducing these expenses, that salaries and investments should not be affected.



    The prime minister also added that in 2022 the economy and the state budget registered a positive evolution, based on substantial nominal increases, with foreign investments and a record European funds absorption rate, but, this year, both Romania and the other European countries, feel the dire consequences of the war in Ukraine, of inflation and the logistical problems created on the supply chains. (LS)

  • March 14, 2022

    March 14, 2022

    WAR IN
    UKRAINE – Russia has expanded its attacks westwards, to the Polish
    border, as well as to the south of Urkaine. According to British intelligence,
    Russia has now imposed a blockade of the entire Ukrainian Black Seacoast, with
    a view to mounting an attack on Odessa. Russian forces destroyed a military
    base a few kilometers from the Polish border, killing 35 people and wounding
    another 130, local authorities say. The base was used prior to the war by NATO
    staff to train Ukrainian security forces, although the Alliance claims no staff
    was on the ground at the time of the attack. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr
    Zelensky, has condemned Russia’s unjustified attack, again calling on Western
    countries to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. NATO and the United States have
    so far ruled out this possibility, US president Joe Biden arguing this might
    lead to the outbreak of WWIII. According to American officials, Russia has
    called on China to deliver military equipment and support for the war in
    Ukraine, as well as additional financial support to counter the negative
    effects of international sanctions. US officials have so far refused to discuss
    Moscow’s specific requests or China’s response. On the other hand,
    Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will resume today in videoconference format.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, Moscow sources say a number of
    documents could be signed over the coming days. On Sunday, the first foreign
    journalist was killed north of Kyiv.




    REFUGEES – Romanian authorities have
    launched an interactive map for refugees, mapping out transit corridors to
    border checkpoints. The application can be accessed on the website of the
    Ministry of Transport, and is available in Romanian, English and Ukrainian.
    Refugees who need to reach other countries can find information about road and
    rail connections. The application also provides information about border
    checkpoints, international airports and connections to the nearby airports and
    border crossing points. Since the start of the Russian invasion in neighboring
    Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of people have crossed into Romania, most of
    them in route to other countries. Yesterday, president Klaus Iohannis assured
    his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, that Romania will take great
    care of all Ukrainian citizens crossing into Romania.




    TALKS – Romania’s Foreign Minister,
    Bogdan Aurescu, is today having a new round of talks with his Italian
    counterpart, Luigi Di Maio. Talks will focus on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
    and on Italy’s interest to support the refugee relief effort. High on the
    agenda will also be efforts to put an end to the conflict, sanctions against
    the Russian Federation and measures to consolidate NATO’s eastern flank. The
    two officials will also discuss ways to boost the Consolidated Strategic
    Partnership between the two countries. The Italian official will also meet with
    president Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae
    Ciucă.




    DEFICIT – Romania’s
    trade deficit was by 945 million Euro higher in January compared to the same
    period last year, and now stands at 2.126 billion Euro, the National Statistics
    Institute reports. In January, exports stood at 6.76 billion Euro, while the
    total value of imports was 8.88 billion Euro. Vehicles, transport equipment and
    other manufactured goods account for the largest share of trade.




    CENSUS – Delayed by a year due to the
    COVID-19 pandemic, the census of population and households has started in
    Romania. For the first time, citizens will be able to use an online application
    for self-enumeration. People with limited digital skills can get guidance in
    special centers, where trained staff will guide them every step of the way. The
    form stipulates four categories of information: data about the household and
    home ownership, the official place of residence, members of the household and
    secondary place of residence. Citizens who complete the self-enumeration form
    online will be awarded a day off, whether they work in the public or private
    system. An enumerator will be visiting homes that were not enumerated online.
    The whole process is digitized. The previous census dates back to 2011, when Romania
    had a population of over 20 million.




    TOURISM -
    Tourism was one of the sectors that started to recover after the Covid pandemic
    last year, the latest Eurostat reports reads. In 2021, accommodations in
    tourist units totaled 1.8 billion, up by 27% compared to 2020. The biggest
    increase was reported in Greece, Spain and Croatia (70%), compared to Romania
    (43%).




    TENNIS -
    The best-ranked Romanian tennis players, Simona Halep (WTA 26) and Sorana Cîrstea (WTA 27) will play each other in the Indian Wells
    round of 16. The WTA 1000 tournament in the United States this year totals some
    8.6 million USD in prizes. Halep, who won the trophy in 2015, yesterday
    defeated Cori Gauff of the United States in straight sets, whereas Cîrstea ousted Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in three sets.
    Simona Halep and Sorana Cîrstea last played each other 12 years ago, in the
    Cincinnati preliminaries. Cîrstea leads
    2-1 head to head. (VP)



  • January 9, 2019

    January 9, 2019

    DNA — Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday sent a letter to the Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, saying the grounds on the basis of which he first rejected the proposal to appoint Adina Florea (prosecutor at the Prosecutor’s Office with the Court of Appeal in Constanta, in the south-east), Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate, DNA, still stand. Toader requested, at the end of 2018, that his proposal be re-examined by the president. The position of DNA Chief Prosecutor became vacant after Laura Codruta Kovesi was removed from office under a decree issued in July 2018 by President Klaus Iohannis, who enforced a ruling issued by the Constitutional Court. Earlier, the Constitutional Court took note of a legal conflict of a constitutional nature between the Justice Minister and the President of Romania, caused by the president’s refusal to endorse the proposal to remove Kovesi from office. Kovesi has announced that she challenged the decision at the European Court of Human Rights, citing human rights violations. She said she didn’t have the possibility to defend herself before the Constitutional Court and it was impossible for her to challenge the ruling issued by the Constitutional Court judges. The former DNA Chief Prosecutor says she does not want damages or to be re-appointed Chief Prosecutor but she wants to put an end to what she called the submission of prosecutors.




    EU –The President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker and the College of Commissioners will arrive in Bucharest on Thursday for the official launch of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Attending the official ceremony will also be the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. The moment will be marked by a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum given by the EU Orchestra, which will be performing Romanian Rhapsody no.1 by George Enescu and an excerpt of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Ode to Joy, which became the Anthem of the European Union in 1985. On Friday, Jean-Claude Juncker, will have talks with President Klaus Iohannis and PM Viorica Dăncilă, as well as with the Speakers of the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament. The European officials are due to hold talks at the Government with the Romanian ministers who will chair for six months, in Bucharest and Brussels, working meetings with their EU counterparts.



    ECONOMY – Romania’s economy will register a growth rate of 3.5% in 2019 and of 3.1% in 2020, that is one percentage point less than it was estimated in June 2018, a report issued today by the World Bank shows. It is also estimated that Romania will report a 4.1% increase in the GDP, that is one percentage point less than in the June forecast. The growth will slow down in 2021, when the Romanian economy is expected to register a 2.8% growth rate, the report also shows. In another move, reducing the income taxation level and increasing salaries in the state sector have compensated an increase in social securities. The aforementioned financial institution estimates that in Europe and Central Asia, the economy slowed down to 3.1%, from 4% in 2017, thus reflecting the contraction of economic activities in Turkey in the second half of 2018. Except for Turkey, the regional growth rate is still unchanged, standing at 2.9% in 2018, because the slower pace of economic activities in such countries as Bulgaria and Romania has been compensated by the stepping up similar activities in the east of the region, which benefitted from higher crude oil prices, the World Bank reports.



    DEFICIT — Romania’s trade deficit has increased by over 18%, according to data collected in the first 11 months of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. Figures released earlier today by the National Institute of Statistics show the difference between imports and exports has reached 13.4 billion Euros. In the first 11 months of 2017, Romania’s trade deficit stood at 11.3 billion Euros.



    TENNIS — Romanian woman tennis player Irina Begu has qualified to the quarter finals of the WTA tennis tournament in Hobart (Australia), with some 250,000 USD in prize money up for grabs. Begu defeated Russian Ana Blinkova on Wednesday in three sets. She will next face Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia. In another move, Simona Halep, no.1 WTA, has been defeated by Australian Ashleigh Barty, in two sets, in her first match played in 2019, in the 8th finals of the Sydney tennis tournament with 823,000 USD in prize money up for grabs. Simona Halep will next play at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, in Melbourne, where she played the final last year. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • November 9, 2018 UPDATE

    November 9, 2018 UPDATE

    PARIS – On Saturday and Sunday, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis will attend ceremonies commemorating the centennial of WWIs armistice. The Romanian head of state, invited by the French President Emmanuel Macron, will attend the centennial ceremony at the Triumphal Arch alongside leaders of the belligerent countries in WWI and also leaders of the states that supported the war efforts. Also, Klaus Iohannis will attend the inaugural edition of the Paris Peace Forum, president Macrons initiative, focused on supporting and striving to improve global governance in the fields of peace and security, environment, development, technological advancement and economy. In Paris, president Iohannis will also meet with Romanian research students. According to the Romanian Presidential Administration, the meeting organised at the Romanian Embassy in Paris is devoted to Romanian contributions to the development of science and technology, in the Centenary Year of the Great Union.



    FOREIGN AFFAIRS – The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu met in Bucharest on Friday with his counterpart from neighbouring Hungary, Peter Szijjarto. On that occasion, the two officials talked about the stage of bilateral relations, laying emphasis on the importance to increase two way trade exchanges and boost cooperation in such domains as energy and infrastructure. Other points on the agenda of talks included the EU enlargement in the West Balkans, security in the Black Sea region and the Eastern Neighbourhood, which are foreign policy issues of utmost importance for the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019. In another move, Melescanu told his counterpart that he pays special heed to the way in which the Hungarian authorities are managing domestic and foreign policy issues with a direct impact on bilateral relations, particularly this year when Romania celebrates the Great Union Centennial anniversary. In turn, the Hungarian official said the two countries have the capacity to solve their sensitive files.



    DEFENSE – The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihai Fifor, said on Friday there is a complex security situation in the region, against the backdrop of the Russian Federations aggressive attitude, which manifests itself by increasing the number of troops and dispatching new capabilities in the Black Sea area. The declaration was made during the visit paid by Mihai Fifor alongside his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan to the Mihail Kogalniceanu air-base in south-eastern Romania. The two officials will meet with soldiers from the Canadian detachment deployed in Romania for enhanced air-policing missions, as well as with Romanian Air Force staff. On this occasion, minister Fifor also referred to the importance granted by Romania to the Trans-Atlantic dialogue during the Romanain presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2019.



    FAC (TRADE) – Romania supports the European Commission in the process of negotiation to reform the World Trade Organisation, the Romanian minister for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Ştefan-Radu Oprea said in Brussels on Friday. The statement was made at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), where EU-US trade relations were also on the agenda of talks. On the sidelines of the meeting, minister Oprea held talks with several counterparts from the EU member states, in the run up to Romanias holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019.



    TRADE DEFICIT – According to the National Institute of Statistics, Romanias trade deficit grew by more than one billion Euros in the first nine months of the year. Thus, the deficit of the trade balance, which is the difference between the value of imports and that of exports, has reached 10 billion Euros. This year, a big share of both imports and exports has been held by transport machinery and equipment.



    HANDBALL – Romanias womens handball champions CSM Bucharest on Sunday plays away from home against FTC-Rail Cargo Hungary, in Champions Leagues Group D. The Hungarian team ranks first, with 6 points, followed by CSM Bucharest with 4, and Kristiansand of Norway and Bietigheim of Germany with 3 points each. The first three highest ranking teams will qualify for the main groups. On Thursday, in the mens competition, the current holder of the national title, Dinamo Bucharest, defeated Ademar Leon of Spain on home turf. Dinamo gained 10 points and now tops the group rankings. The main counter-candidates for play-offs qualification are Ademar Leon, which currently has 9 points, Wisla Plock of Poland and Elverum of Norway, with 8 points each. (Translated by M. Ignatescu and D. Vijeu)

  • November 9, 2018

    November 9, 2018

    PARIS – On Saturday and Sunday, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis will participate in events commemorating the centennial of WWIs armistice. The Romanian head of state, invited by the French President Emmanuel Macron, will attend the centennial ceremony at the Triumphal Arch alongside leaders of the belligerent countries in WWI and also leaders of the states that supported the war efforts. Also, Klaus Iohannis will attend the inaugural edition of the Paris Peace Forum, president Macrons initiative, focused on supporting and striving to improve global governance in the fields of peace and security, environment, development, technological advancement and economy. In Paris, president Iohannis will also meet with Romanian research students. According to the Romanian Presidential Administration, the meeting organized at the Romanian Embassy in Paris is devoted to Romanian contributions to the development of science and technology, in the Centenary Year of the Great Union.



    COLECTIV – The first 25 witnesses have been subpoenaed to testify today, at the Bucharest Tribunal, in relation to the fire that broke out three years ago at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest. We recall that on October 30th, 2015, during a rock concert, a fireworks show started a fire, which killed 64 people and wounded another 200. The owners of the club and the former district mayor Cristian Popescu-Piedone are being tried in relation to this case. The owners are accused of encouraging and allowing the access of people beyond the clubs admitted limit, especially given that the facility did not have enough emergency exits. Also, they allowed the fireworks show, although the clubs interior arrangements were unfit for such activity. On Thursday, survivors of the fire talked with the health minister Sorina Pintea about implementing in Romania a rapid intervention mechanism in case of accidents that cause third-degree burns.



    TRADE DEFICIT – According to the National Institute of Statistics, Romanias trade deficit grew by more than one billion Euros in the first nine months of the year. Thus, the deficit of the trade balance, which is the difference between the value of imports and that of exports, has reached 10 billion Euros. This year, a big share of both imports and exports has been held by transport machinery and equipment.



    VISIT – The Romanian and Canadian Defense Ministers, Mihai Fifor and Harjit Singh Sajjan respectively, are paying a visit to the Mihail Kogalniceanu air-base in south-eastern Romania. The two officials will meet with soldiers from the Canadian detachment deployed in Romania for enhanced air-policing missions, as well as with Romanian Air Force staff. A communiqué issued by the Romanian Defense Ministry reads that the Canadian detachment, made up of 135 soldiers and CF-188 Hornet fighters, are carrying out, alongside MiG-21 LanceR aircraft and Romanian Air Force soldiers, enhanced air policing missions under NATO command. According to the same communiqué, jointly deployed Air Policing missions contribute to the development of reaction and deterrence capacity, as well as to the enhancement of interoperability between the Romanian Air Force and the Canadian Royal Air Force.



    SANCTIONS – The US has announced new sanctions against individuals and entities in relation to the annexation of Crimea and the violation of human rights in the Ukrainian regions controlled by Russia, France Presse reports. Financial sanctions are aimed at preventing such individuals and entities from doing business with Americans and banning them access to the US market. The Washington Administration stated in July it did not recognize the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.



    HANDBALL – Romanias womens handball champions CSM Bucharest on Sunday plays away from home against FTC-Rail Cargo Hungary, in Champions Leagues Group D. The Hungarian team ranks first, with 6 points, followed by CSM Bucharest with 4, and Kristiansand of Norway and Bietigheim of Germany with 3 points each. The first three highest ranking teams will qualify for the main groups. On Thursday, in the mens competition, the current holder of the national title, Dinamo Bucharest, defeated Ademar Leon of Spain on home turf. Dinamo gained 10 points and now tops the group rankings. The main counter-candidates for play-offs qualification are Ademar Leon, which currently has 9 points, Wisla Plock of Poland and Elverum of Norway, with 8 points each.


    (translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)


  • September 10, 2018 UPDATE

    September 10, 2018 UPDATE

    VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will meet on Tuesday in Bucharest with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, on the occasion of an official visit he pays to Romania. The two officials will discuss topical European issues, the future of the EU, the Union’s budget, Brexit and migration. Also approached will be bilateral ties and regional cooperation.




    2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR — Some 3 million school and pre-school children started on Monday a new school year. State Secretary with the Education Ministry Florian Lixandru told Radio Romania that 80% of pre-university schooling units have public health permits, while the remaining 20% are in the process of obtaining one or don’t have one. In another development, the Chamber of Deputies’ Education Committee next week will hear the head of the Pedagogical Publishing House after serious errors were identified in several textbooks.




    SWINE FEVER VIRUS — The African swine fever virus has spread to Giurgiu County as well, the 12th county were fever hotbeds have been identified. So far 160,000 pigs have been culled. Last week the Prosecutor General’s Office launched an investigation into the epidemic, with actionable negligence and reckless misconduct being considered as possible offences. Under harsh criticism from pig farmers, the opposition and President Iohannis for the way it handled the crisis, the Government has promised compensations. In order to prevent the disease from spreading the authorities have decided to hunt until December 1st, over 80 thousand wild boars. Hunters, however, say the measure cannot be applied in such a short time and that the hunting fund for the next few years will be seriously affected.




    CAR CRASH — Moldovan Police has opened a criminal case following Sunday’s car accident in which Moldovan President Igor Dodon sustained minor injuries. Presidential adviser Maxim Lebedinschi said Dodon didnt require medical treatment after the crash, which occurred near the town of Straseni, north of the capital, Chisinau. The collision occurred as cars in the presidential motorcade collided with an oncoming vehicle.




    TRADE DEFICIT — Romania’s trade deficit in the first seven months of the year stood at 7.6 billion euros, up by 10% as compared to the similar period in 2017, the National Statistics Institute reports. Exports to EU member states exceeded 30.5 billion euros while imports stood at 35.5 billion. Trade with EU states accounted for 75% of total trade.




    FOREIGN AFFAIRS — Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu will attend on Tuesday a new round of talks with his Polish and Turkish counterparts. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the three officials will tackle the NATO actions in the region and the international security context. This is the fifth such meeting of the Romanian, Polish and Turkish foreign ministers. On Monday Melescanu met in Bucharest with his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis. The agenda for talks focused on bilateral relations and EU topics. Finalizing negotiations over a framework agreement between the EU and Switzerland is one of the priorities of Romania’s term at the helm of the EU Council, Minister Melescanu said at the meeting. In turn, Minister Cassis argued in favor of improving two-way trade, considering Switzerland is Romania’s 8th investor. Ignazio Cassis also met with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila who highlighted the good cooperation between the two countries within the Romanian-Swiss Cooperation programme on bridging economic and social gaps within the EU.




    MANEUVERS — Russia on Tuesday will commence its largest series of military maneuvers, criticized by NATO as a rehearsal for a large-scale conflict. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, some 300,000 military will take part, including Chinese and Mongolian soldiers, 36,000 vehicles, a thousand aircraft and 80 navy vessels. Titled EST-2018, the military exercise will end on September 17. Maneuvers are underway against the backdrop of tense relations with the Western powers, marked by the Ukrainian crisis, the Syrian conflict and the numerous allegations of involvement in the internal politics of numerous states, including the USA.


  • December 11, 2017 UPDATE

    December 11, 2017 UPDATE

    KING MICHAEL I — The Parliament of Romania convened in a solemn session on Monday, in the presence of President Klaus Iohannis, to pay tribute to King Michael I. The head of state said in his address that King Michael I symbolised the hope of a reborn and free country, and that His Majesty would forever be remembered as a great leader. The Royal House will continue to deploy all efforts, alongside the state institutions, for the country to advance within the EU and NATO, Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, also said. Attending the Parliament’s solemn session were former presidents Emil Constantinescu and Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose, the speakers of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and Liviu Dragnea and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church. King Michael I died on December 5, at 96 years of age, in Switzerland. Ever since, Romanians have been bringing flowers and candles at the Romanian and Swiss residences of the Royal House. The King’s body will be brought to the country on December 13. The authorities have declared a national mourning on December 14, 15 and 16. King Michael I, the last of Romania’s 4 sovereigns, will be buried on Saturday, December 16, in Curtea de Arges, in the south of the country, where all Romanian royalty are interred. Many Romanian and foreign personalities are expected to attend the funerals. Historians agree that by having the pro-German Marshall Ion Antonescu arrested and having the country join the Allies, Michael I helped shorten WW2 by six months. Forced by the Communists to abdicate in 1947, the ex-King was only allowed to return to Romania after the fall of communism. He was one of the strongest supporters on Romania’s joining NATO and the EU.




    CORRUPTION – The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, convened in plenary sitting, has decided to make an urgent assessment of the draft laws in the Romanian justice system. According to the Council of Europe’s communiqué on Monday, various institutions and public persons from Romania and from abroad have voiced serious concerns at the fact that these projects might endanger the effectiveness of the battle against corruption and might undermine the independence of the judiciary. This is the first time when GRECO uses this newly introduced regulation. It can be applied when an institutional reform, a legal initiative or a procedural revision can lead to a serious violation, by a member state, of the Council’s anti-corruption standards. Thousands of people took to the streets once again on Sunday night in Bucharest and other major cities, to protest the changes to the justice laws promoted by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. The protesters say the Power is attempting to have the judiciary subordinated to political circles and to stop the fight against corruption.




    LAWS — The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest endorsed on Monday the changes to the status of magistrates proposed by the special parliamentary committee for the justice laws. In keeping with the new provisions, prosecutors become part of a hierarchy topped by the justice minister. Also, the head of state may no longer challenge judge and prosecutor appointments but can still hold his current responsibilities with regard to appointing the prosecutor general and the heads of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and of the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism. The bill will be submitted to the Senate, the decision making body in this case.




    BUDGET — The Parliament of Romania begins the debates on the 2018 state budget bill this week. The public budget is based on a 5.5% economic growth rate and earmarks higher funds for healthcare, education, agriculture and investments. The state budget and social security budget bills were distributed on Thursday to the MPs, who had until this morning to submit amendments. The proposals will be discussed by Parliament’s specialised committees starting on Tuesday and will be finalised on Saturday. Debates on the amended texts will begin next Monday in Parliament, with the final vote scheduled on December 21.




    STATISTICS — Romania’s trade deficit in the first 10 months of the year was 10.2 billion euros, nearly 2.3 billion euros more than in the corresponding period of 2016, the National Statistics Institute announced. According to the institution, in October, Romania’s exports exceeded 5.7 billion euro, while imports reached 7 billion euros. As compared to October 2016, exports were 13.3% higher, and imports rose by 16.7%. The intra-EU trade accounted for 75.9% of Romania’s total imports and exports in the first 10 months of the year.




    ISRAEL — While on a visit to Brussels on Monday, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and said he expected European countries to follow suit. Ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers, Netanyahu pointed out that Trump’s decision, condemned by Palestinians and by the European governments, would make Middle East peace possible. He called on Palestinians to recognise Israel as a Jewish state and Jerusalem as its capital. Netanyahu had a meeting on Monday with the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who welcomed the first visit by an Isaraeli PM to the EU in 22 years. She emphasised that the bloc would respect the “international consensus” on the status of Jerusalem and reiterated the Union’s commitment to a two-state solution. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, says Trump’s recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel threatens to compromise the Israel-Palestinian peace efforts. Street protests against the decision continued in Muslim countries, while the Arab League has called on the US Administration to reverse it, on grounds that it will escalate tensions in the region.




    HANDBALL — Romania’s women’s handball team was defeated by the Czech Republic on Monday, 27-28 in the round of 16 of the World Championships in Germany. Romania had won four matches in group A against Paraguay, Slovenia, Spain and Angola and had lost the match against France. Romania won the bronze medal in the previous championship, held in 2015, and is the only team to have taken part in all the 22 world final tournaments in the history of the competition.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)


  • December 11, 2017

    December 11, 2017

    KING MICHAEL I – The Parliament of Romania convenes in a solemn session today, in the presence of President Klaus Iohannis, to pay tribute to King Michael I. Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, will also give an address. The former sovereign died on December 5, at 96 years of age, in Switzerland. Ever since, Romanians have been bringing flowers and candles at the Romanian and Swiss residences of the Royal House. The Kings body will be brought to the country on December 13. The authorities have declared a national mourning on December 14, 15 and 16. King Michael I, the last of Romanias 4 sovereigns, will be buried on Saturday, December 16, in Curtea de Arges, in the south of the country, where all Romanian royalty are interred. Many Romanian and foreign personalities are expected to attend the funerals. Historians agree that by having the pro-German Marshall Ion Antonescu arrested and having the country join the Allies, Michael I helped shorten WW2 by six months. Forced by the Communists to abdicate in 1947, the ex-King was only allowed to return to Romania after the fall of communism. He was one of the strongest supporters on Romanias joining NATO and the EU.




    BUDGET – The Parliament of Romania begins the debates on the 2018 state budget bill this week. The public budget is based on a 5.5% economic growth rate and earmarks higher funds for healthcare, education, agriculture and investments. The state budget and social security budget bills were distributed on Thursday to the MPs, who had until this morning to submit amendments. The proposals will be discussed by Parliaments specialised committees starting on Tuesday and will be finalised on Saturday. Debates on the amended texts will begin next Monday in Parliament, with the final vote scheduled on December 21.




    PROTESTS – Thousands of people took to the streets once again on Sunday night in Bucharest and other major cities, to protest the changes to the justice laws promoted by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. The protesters say the Power is attempting to have the judiciary subordinated to political circles and to stop the fight against corruption. They were joined by the leaders of the right-wing opposition, the president of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban, and the president of Save Romania Union Dan Barna, and by the former PM Dacian Ciolos, who accused the ruling coalition of attacking the very foundation of the rule of law. In response, the head of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania and Senate Speaker Calin Popescu-Tariceanu says the revision of the laws regulating the judicial system is designed to strengthen the rule of law and the independence of magistrates.




    STATISTICS – Romanias trade deficit in the first 10 months of the year was 10.2 billion euros, nearly 2.3 billion euros more than in the corresponding period of 2016, the National Statistics Institute announced. According to the institution, in October, Romanias exports exceeded 5.7 billion euro, while imports reached 7 billion euros. As compared to October 2016, exports were 13.3% higher, and imports rose by 16.7%. The intra-EU trade accounted for 75.9% of Romanias total imports and exports in the first 10 months of the year.




    ISRAEL – While on a visit to Brussels today, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US President Donald Trumps decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and said he expected European countries to follow suit. Ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers, Netanyahu pointed out that Trumps decision, condemned by Palestinians and by the European governments, would make Middle East peace possible. He called on Palestinians to recognise Israel as a Jewish state and Jerusalem as its capital. Netanyahu had a meeting today with the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who welcomed the first visit by an Isaraeli PM to the EU in 22 years. She emphasised that the bloc would respect the “international consensus on the status of Jerusalem and reiterated the Unions commitment to a two-state solution. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, says Trumps recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel threatens to compromise the Israel-Palestinian peace efforts. Street protests against the decision continued in Muslim countries, while the Arab League has called on the US Administration to reverse it, on grounds that it will escalate tensions in the region.




    HANDBALL – Romanias womens handball team is playing against the Czech Republic today, in the round of 16 of the World Championships in Germany. If they win, the Romanians will be facing next the winner of the match between the Netherlands and Japan. So far, France, Montenegro, Denmark and Sweden have qualified into the quarter-finals. Romania won the bronze medal in the previous championship, held in 2015, and is the only team to have taken part in all the 22 world final tournaments in the history of the competition.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • 10 December 2015

    10 December 2015


    The joint permanent bureaus of the Romanian Parliament today submit their amendments to the state budget and social security budget bills, which will be debated on Friday by the joint budget and finance committees. A final vote is expected after the bills are debated by the specialist committees and in a joint meeting of the two Parliament houses. The bills on the 2016 state and social security budget approved by government were submitted on Wednesday to Parliament with the request to be debated and adopted as part of an emergency procedure.



    President Klaus Iohannis is chairing a meeting of the Romanian Supreme Defence Council, the first to be attended by members of the Ciolos cabinet. Talks focus, among others, on the deployment plan for the Romanian troops sent to missions and operations abroad next year and the 2016 budgets of the bodies with national security responsibilities. The Supreme Defence Council will also analyse the measures taken by Romania to implement the regime of international sanctions, as well as the report on the national system for the prevention and combating of terrorism.



    Romanias trade deficit deepened in the first ten months of the year by 1.5 billion euros compared with the same period last year, to reach 6.4 billion euros. According to the National Institute for Statistics, exports accounted for almost 46 billion euros, while imports stood at a little over 52 billion. Cars and transport equipment, as well as other types of manufactured goods held the biggest shares in Romanias exports and imports in the first ten months of the year.



    The director of the Evenimentul Zilei daily Dan Andronic has been detained by prosecutors as part of investigations into the illegal return of property confiscated by the communist regime to the rightful owners. A business man, an advisor to the former Liberal prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and the director of a well-known real estate developer have also been detained as part of the same inquiry. The damage is estimated in this case at 136 million euros. A number of politicians, including the Liberal Ioan Oltean, have been investigated recently for involvement in cases of illegal return of property or illegal compensation granted by the National Authority for Property Restitution.



    Romania face defending Olympic and European champions Norway in a Group D match at the World Womens Handball Championship underway in Denmark. Despite losing to Spain in their latest match, Romania have secured their qualification for the round of 16, having won against Puerto Rico and Kazakhstan. If Romania lose against Spain, their final group game with Russia on Friday will no longer decide their final place in the group. Romania are the only team to have taken part in every edition of the World Championship since 1957, winning three medals in the process: gold in 1962 and silver in 1973 and again in 2005.



    (Translated by: C. Mateescu)