Radio România Internațional

Tag: travel

May 12, 2023 UPDATE

GOVERNMENT The Government of Romania passed an emergency
order on rebalancing the state budget, in a special meeting on Friday, the
finance minister Adrian Câciu announced. He outlined the key measures in the plan, including a 10% reduction on
expenditure with products and services, except for expenses in public
healthcare and education, and a ban on procuring, leasing and rentals of automobiles
and office equipment in public institutions. One exception is the car scrapping
programme for the public authorities purchasing non-polluting vehicles. The
programme is designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport
sector, by encouraging the use of eco-friendly vehicles. The
finance minister also announced that the number of advisers to officials in
central administration structures, currently standing at around 900, will be
reduced by one-half following the implementation of the emergency order aimed
at making public spending more efficient.

INFLATION In Romania,
the year-on-year inflation rate dropped significantly in April, to 11.23% compared
to nearly 15% in March. While this does not mean that products and services are
growing cheaper, the rise in prices has nonetheless slowed down. According to
data released by the National Statistics Institute on Friday, there are
products that were more affordable in April than in March, including sunflower
oil. Also on Friday, the National Bank confirmed that this downward trend in
consumer price increase will continue. But the central bank governor Mugur
Isărescu also warned those who have or are planning to take out loans in
foreign currencies, and said that interest rates for the euro and US dollar
will increase further. The National Bank forecasts a 7.1% inflation rate for
the end of this year, as against 7% announced previously, and a 4.2% rate for
the end of next year. Mugur Isărescu added that prices for fruit and vegetables
will likely continue to go up for another 2 months, as the yield will be
affected by the weather conditions in Europe, the drought in Spain and the
aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey.

ENERGY The Polytechnic University in Bucharest officially launched
the first NuScale Energy Exploration (E2) Centre outside the United States on
Friday. The centre hosts a simulator of the NuScale Power’s VOYGR™ small
modular reactor (SMR) power plant control room, and will educate and train the
next generation of nuclear engineers to operate advanced civil nuclear reactor
technologies while establishing Romania as a regional educational and training
hub for the next stage of civil nuclear deployments across Romania and Europe,
reads a news release issued by the US Embassy in Bucharest.

MUSEUMS
The National Network of Romanian Museums has announced an absolute record
number of cultural events enlisted as part of the Night of Museums – 297 in
Romania and 14 in the Republic of Moldova. Bucharest will host around 60 events
proposed by museums, art galleries, cultural centres, opera houses, choirs,
palaces, institutes, high schools and music festivals. The special guest of the
current edition is the War Childhood Museum, for the first time in Romania. The
exhibition, entitled Listen, is hosted by the Romanian Peasant Museum. Access
is free of charge.

AWARD – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will receive the Franz
Werfel Human Rights Award granted by the German Centre against Expulsions, DPA
reports. Aged 63, Iohannis will become the 11th winner of this award, granted
to him for his tireless and multilateral commitment to defending human rights
and minority rights in Romania and Europe. The award, granted every two years,
comes along with a money prize of 10,000 euros. Among the previous laureates
are former German president Joachim Gauck, the winner of Nobel prize in
Literature, Herta Muller and historian Karl Schlögel. The prize will be awarded
during a ceremony held on June 4 in Frankfurt, Germany, when a congratulatory
speech will delivered by former European Commission President Jean Claude
Juncker.

YOUTH Over 1,400 Romanian 18-year olds are among the 35,000 beneficiaries
of free EU travel passes granted this year under the Discover EU programme. In
order to find out more about the culture and history of the EU and to come in
touch with people across the continent, the beneficiaries will be able to
travel by train, individually or in groups of up to 5 people, between June 2023
and September 2024. The current round of the programme saw more than 145,000 applicants
from EU member states and Erasmus Plus countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey). (AMP)

12 May 2023
On Schengen, once again

Austria is one of the top investors in Romania, with
total investments put at over EUR 12 billion in 2021. But it is also the only
EU member state openly opposing Romania’s Schengen accession, which is puzzling
for both Bucharest, and Brussels. At the latest meeting of the Justice and Home
Affairs Council last December, Vienna vetoed Romania’s accession to the
border-free area, disregarding all the reports dating as far back as 2011 that
said the country met all technical criteria to be a Schengen member.

A regrettable and unjustified attitude, president Klaus
Iohannis said at the time. The EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson,
pointed out that she would make it a priority to secure Romania’s and Bulgaria’s
Schengen accession this year, while the European Commission chief, Ursula von
der Leyen, and the Council president, Charles Michel, said they were expecting
progress to be made.

But while on a visit to Bucharest on Wednesday,
Austria’s minister of the interior Gerhard Karner shattered all hopes in this
respect: Romania made important headway in fighting illegal migration, but
there is still a lot to be done to ensure efficient protection of the Union’s
borders, he said.

Romania’s Schengen accession is not only a goal, but a
right, his counterpart Lucian Bode said in response, and added that it was not
natural for Romania to only have obligations and no rights.

Lucian Bode: We told the Interior Minister that
Romania’s Schengen accession process must be completed in 2023. By virtue of this
European concept of an area without internal border checks, joining Schengen is
not only an aspiration of Romania, but rather a right granted under the
treaties signed by all member states. As regards the decisions made today, we
have agreed on an action plan to prevent illegal migration, and we have signed
three cooperation documents.

The agreements signed in Bucharest concern the fight
against migrant smugglers and asylum abuse, and include a joint action plan to
curb illegal migration on the east-Mediterranean route, which stipulates, among
other things, that Romanian police workers will be sent to the Austrian
interior ministry and Austrian workers will be deployed at the Nădlac
checkpoint on the Romanian-Hungarian border. (AMP)

27 April 2023
Romanian tastes on Canadian vloggs

Pakistan, Jakarta (Indonesia), Brazil, are just
some of the places visited and featured on the vloggs created by two Canadian
youths calling themselves the JetLag Warriors. They visited Romania as well,
and produced a series of 90 videos recommending several unusual traditional
recipes, as well as outstanding areas, including buildings of great historical
value in our country.

JetLagWarriors, the Canadian couple made up of Steve
and Ivana, have travelled for several years, especially during the Canadian
winter, so that got the taste of traveling and decided to spend their life on
the road indefinitely. They post information on low-budget travel, Airbnbs,
street food and many others. In the series devoted to Romania, the tripe sour
soup is not necessarily a surprise, but the clip recommending palinca or plum
brandy with black pepper as a sickness cure is a lot more exciting. It is in
Romania that the Canadians seem to have discovered this universal remedy, which
cures everything from a hangover to a sore throat.

We talked about this tradition of old folk
remedies in Romania and elsewhere with Chef Relu Liciu, and we found out that
hangover remedies are very different:

Relu Liciu: These remedies vary from one
region to another and, around the world, from one country to the other. When I went
to Germany I found out they used bananas, given the lack of potassium in your
body during a hangover. Usually, in 90% of the cases, people get a hangover
because they mix drinks.

And still, can ţuica or palinca be used as sickness
cure?

Relu Liciu: Some use it as an appetiser, to
drink before the meal, while others regard is as a digestive, to be had after a
meal. A lot of nations, including Italy or Austria, use spirits as a digestive.
But go to Transylvania, and you’ll never get ham and palinca at the end of a
meal, this is what you start with. And it does have to do with the stomach. I remember
I went to Serbia many years ago and I saw a bottle in a drugstore, the label
read Stomakia, and it was a local brandy with leaves of wormwood in it.

Our guest also told us why some of the
best-known Romanian sour soups, especially the giblets and the tripe soup, are seen
as hangover cures:

Relu Liciu: Just before a hangover, you get
dehydrated and you desperately need liquids. But after that you get really
hungry, and you can’t have anything solid. A tripe soup serves both purposes,
and it’s a meal in itself, you don’t really need a second course after that.
But if you ask me, the giblets soup is THE hangover cure. I first heard about
it when I was 7, it was served at weddings after the party or the next day, you
couldn’t have a wedding without giblets soup!

As for the tripe soup, Steve and Ivana, who
have learned to cook it as well, not only to eat it, call it life! The vloggers
across the Ocean were so delighted with what they found in Romania, that they
celebrated their return home with a plate of mici. Other culinary
recommendations they make include the pálinka / pălinca, various vegetable
spreads, the Cluj-style cabbage which they compared to sweet lasagna, and
various traditional desserts. But Romanian food, they say, is so good and
filling that you don’t really need a dessert.

Chef Relu Liciu tells us more about what we
should eat or drink after having local drinks:

Relu Liciu: Many people use coffee, many
others use pickles, yet others eat sweets or use carbonated drinks. People
planning to drink usually do a little preparation first, in the sense that they
have a fatty meal or drink some olive oil, to make sure the stomach is lined
and the alcohol doesn’t go straight into the blood stream.

The Romanians who saw the video in which Steve drinks
a shot of ţuică with black pepper seem to have enjoyed it, while some found it
funny and said the brandy should have been hot and the pepper shouldn’t have
been ground. But beyond the jokes and criticism, the fact is that a growing
number of Romanian recipes are getting viewed and appreciated around the world.
(AMP)

25 April 2023
February 23, UPDATE

Moldova — The external threats to the democratic order in the Republic of Moldova are particularly worrying, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday, during a joint press conference in Bucharest with his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu. “We are going through a period of crises of historical proportions”, the Romanian president said, evoking Russias war against Ukraine. Iohannis reiterated that Romania firmly condemns Russias attempts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova (with a majority Romanian speaking population) and assured that the country is not alone in facing these challenges. “Romania will continue to firmly support the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, within its internationally recognized borders”, Klaus Iohnnis also said. For her part, Maia Sandu showed that Moldova is going through unprecedented challenges and thanked Romania for being its friend and advocate. She recalled that, at the beginning of the war, Moldova was Ukraines most vulnerable neighbor. “Now we are more prepared, we are consolidating our defense capacity, we have new sources of energy that we can rely on, we have increased exports to the European Union, we are more resilient and stronger”, said the president of the Republic of Moldova.

Diplomacy – The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu participates on Thursday and Friday in the events organized by the United Nations to mark one year since the start of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine. On Thursday he was scheduled to speak at the 11th special emergency session of the UN General Assembly, convened in order to adopt a resolution aimed at restoring comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Romania is a co-sponsor of the resolution. On Friday, the Romanian foreign minister will speak at a ministerial round-table of the UN Security Council, with Ukraine again in the focus of attention. The Romanian official will present Bucharests efforts to support the over 3.6 million Ukrainian refugees who have crossed into Romania and to facilitate the transit of nearly 13 million tons of grains from Ukraine. He will also reiterate Romanias firm support for the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and his countrys commitment to an active contribution to international peace and security.

Meeting — The Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă reiterated, on Thursday, at a meeting with the EU countries ambassadors accredited to Bucharest, that Romanias accession to the Schengen area remained a priority. The PM emphasized that political and diplomatic action will be continued on all channels in order to identify concrete solutions for the successful completion of this objective. According to a Government release, at the meeting held at the Swedish Embassy in Bucharest, in the context in which Sweden holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, Prime Minister Ciucă presented, among other things, the economic developments in Romania over the last 12 months, highlighting the role played by the high rate of investments and the absorption of European funds in maintaining an economic growth of 4.8%, in the complicated context of the war in neighboring Ukraine, the increase in energy prices and the slow recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Travel – Over 151 companies from several countries are taking part in the spring edition of the Romanian Tourism Fair that began in Bucharest on Thursday, offering up to 50% discounts on holiday packages and special promotions for luxury destinations. The event promotes the most interesting and profitable tourist offers in Romania and abroad. The 10 participating countries include Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Turkey and Hungary.

Earthquake – A new earthquake measuring 3.9 in magnitude was reported in Gorj County, south-western Romania on Wednesday night, according to the National Institute for Earth Physics. On February 13, a 5.2 magnitude tremor was reported in the same area, followed the next day by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake. Seismologists announced that over 800 aftershocks followed the quake on February 13, but their number and magnitude declined in the following period. The region of Oltenia is known for a weak to moderate seismic activity, with very rare events over 5 on the magnitude scale. (LS, AMP)

23 February 2023
February 23, 2023

MOLDOVA The president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia
Sandu, is in Bucharest today for a working visit. According
to the Presidency, political talks between
presidents Klaus Iohannis and Maia Sandu are part of the comprehensive and
close cooperation at bilateral and European level, and confirm Romania’s clear
and firm support for Moldova and its resilience. Projects of shared strategic
interest will be discussed, concerning fields like energy, transportation, healthcare,
education and IT&C, with a focus on initiatives designed to connect Moldova
with the EU, to the benefit of its citizens. The 2 officials will also discuss
the progress of Moldova’s EU accession efforts and Bucharest’s support in this
respect, and will exchange opinions on security challenges and ways to mitigate
the economic, social and humanitarian effects of Russia’s aggression in
Ukraine. In Bucharest, Maia Sandu will also have meetings with PM Nicolae Ciucă
and the Chamber of Deputies speaker, Marcel Ciolacu.

DIPLOMACY The Romanian
foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu is taking part today and on Friday in the
events organized by the United Nations to mark 1 year since the start of Russia’s
war of aggression against Ukraine. Today he is scheduled to speak at the 11th
special emergency session of the UN General Assembly, convened in order to
adopt a resolution aimed at restoring comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
Ukraine. Romania is a co-sponsor of the resolution. On Friday, the
Romanian foreign minister will speak at a minister round-table of the UN
Security Council, with Ukraine again in the focus of attention. The
Romanian official will present Bucharest’s efforts to support the over 3.6 million
Ukrainian refugees who have crossed into Romania and to facilitate the transit
of nearly 13 million tonnes of grains from Ukraine. He will also reiterate
Romania’s firm support for the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and his
country’s commitment to an active contribution to international peace and
security.

TRAVEL Over 151 companies from several countries are
taking part in the spring edition of the Romanian Tourism Fair that begins in
Bucharest today, offering up to 50% discounts on holiday packages and special
promotions for luxury destinations. The event promotes the most interesting and
profitable tourist offers in Romania and abroad. The 10 participating countries
include Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Turkey
and Hungary.

EARTHQUAKE A new earthquake measuring 3.9 in magnitude was reported in
Gorj County, south-western Romania on Wednesday night, according to the National
Physics of the Earth Research and Development Institute. On February 13, a 5.2
tremor was reported in the same area, followed the next day by a 5.7 earthquake.
Seismologists announced that over 800 aftershocks followed the quake on
February 13, but their number and magnitude declined in the following period. The
region of Oltenia is known for a weak to moderate seismic activity, with very
rare events over 5 on the magnitude scale.

FOOTBALL CFR Cluj, the only Romanian team still playing
in the European competitions, takes on Lazio Rome today on home turf in the play-offs
for the Conference League eighth-finals. A week ago, in the first leg, the Romanian side lost 0-1, after
a modest match in spite of their opponents being one player down for 75 minutes.
Last season the Romanian champions left Conference
League in the group stage, whereas Lazio reached the eighth-finals of Europa
League. (AMP)

23 February 2023
Visit by the European Parliament president to Bucharest

The president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola has once again stated that Romania is prepared to join the Schengen passport-free area, and it will do it soon. In an address to the joint chambers of the Romanian Parliament, she emphasised that accession to this area is not a gift, but a right earned by Romania, and reminded of the support provided to the Ukrainian refugees. “Romania will join Schengen soon,” she added. “Dont give up on Europe”, Roberta Metsola said, and explained that she thought the postponement decision was the most disappointing course of action the EU countries could have taken.

The Schengen accession remains a national strategic objective for Romania, and its rejection is ungrounded, the interim Senate Speaker Alina Gorghiu said in her turn:

Alina Gorghiu: “Romania is a trustworthy partner, and all EU member countries can rely on us. This is why, dear Romanians, the outcome of the December 8th vote is completely unjust. Austrias position was totally unacceptable.”

In turn, the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and leader of the Social Democratic Party Marcel Ciolacu said Romania must remain confident. We have already won the respect of our European partners by accomplishing our mission in the first line of defence of European security and unity, he said:

Marcel Ciolacu: “This temporary setback cannot define us. Romania will remain a part of the European solution, but at the same time, together with our partners, we will be even more determined to revert the outcome of this unfair vote.”

The Schengen area will become stronger, safer and more prosperous with Romanias accession, the PM Nicolae Ciucă said in his turn. He mentioned that Romania will stay engaged and with a constructive attitude in order for this national goal to be attained.

In Bucharest, Roberta Metsola also had a meeting with president Klaus Iohannis. The head of state voiced his hope that Romania will join Schengen next year:

Klaus Iohannis: “In my opinion, it is too soon anyway. It is hard to believe that something will be discussed before January 15, and I dont expect the issue of the Austrian approach and of the Dutch position on Bulgaria to change in 2 weeks time. We must understand, all of us, together, that these issues must be solved before a new vote in the JHA Council.”

The talks at Cotroceni Palace also covered the EU unity in the context of the war in Ukraine, the sanctions against Russia and the recent corruption scandal within the European Parliament, regarding the alleged bribes paid by Qatar and Morocco to some European officials in exchange for influencing decisions of the EU institutions. In this context, Roberta Metsola emphasised that she would work to address the mistakes and restore lost confidence. (AMP)

20 December 2022
Harghita County, a family destination

Hello, dear friends and
welcome to another travel feature on Radio Romania International. This is DB at
the microphone and today we invite you to the county of Harghita, located in Romania’s
central region. Here one can find the only volcanic lake in eastern Europe, the
St. Anne Lake as well as the Praid salt mine, a genuine salt town at a depth of
120 meters from the surface. The region offers excellent conditions for mountain
hiking and is famous for its ski slopes very appreciated by winter sports
lovers.

Mezey Zsolt, project manager
with the Intercommunity Development Association has told us that all the travel programmes
here are very safe and family-friendly.

Mezey Zsolt: My
first suggestion is the Salt Land because here we are running a series of activities
aimed at introducing several trades and involving visitors in them, based on
the old principle, which says that ‘learning is doing’. This is an
unforgettable experience because tourists are being assisted by professionals
while getting involved in several activities related to one trade or another. Visitors
can participate in pottery for instance, so they can take home the object they have
created with their own hands. Then we invite visitors to bake the famous kürtőskalacs
or polish aragonite jewels. You can find more details on our webpage at visitharghita.com.

Harghita has lots to offer
in terms of adventure tourism as well. Here is again at the microphone Mezey Zsolt,
project manager with the Intercommunity Development Association.

Mezey Zsolt: An experience
which is becoming increasingly popular is via ferrata. The name originates in the
Italian Dolomites and initially was a military infrastructure. It is actually a
climbing route that employs steel cables, rungs or ladders fixed to rocks. The
Gheorgheni-Red Lake route includes our via ferrata infrastructure dubbed ‘Wild
Ferenc’ on the south-western side of Suhardul Mic Mountain. This route is 200
meter long and 170 meters above the ground. Another suchlike infrastructure can
be found on the Sugau Gorges nature reserve and is known as Astragalus. With a total
length of 700 meters, it has five routes 285 meters from the ground. But I
believe the most beautiful of them all is in the Corbu village and it is known
as ‘The Hawks’ Stone’. This route, which covers 150 meters, includes a
suspended 15-meters long bridge and a vertical section with stairs. This
programme is available between April and November but it very much depends on
the weather. For more information, videos and photos of the aforementioned
routes visit our webpage at visitharghita.com.

Another novel experience
would be a trip to a genuine sheepfold, where one can learn first hand about
this ancient trade and traditions related. Here visitors can enjoy a rich traditional
meal consisting of several courses of delicious bio food. Specialised guides
will be accompanying you on your trip and if you feel like getting a bit of an
adrenaline rush, the region offers proper conditions for trips in 4×4 vehicles.
Here is again at the microphone Mezey Zsolt.

Mezey
Zsolt: In a well-equipped terrain vehicle, you can explore
the Hasmas Mountains and the Bicazului Gorges. Upon request, the experience can
be completed by a via-ferrata route in the region but there are also other
routes available in various transport vehicles, such as the Unimog. A historical
route can be covered in this vehicle or in a ZIL 157, an army truck built in
the former USSR, which we have dubbed ‘the crocodile’. A 6×6 terrain vehicle
offers safety and comfort, and the routes have been chosen in such a way to
offer access to breath-taking views and other interesting spots along the way. We
also have a one-hour guided tour of the botanical reserve at Tinov Mohos, which
is very interesting especially for kids as it takes them through an area, which
is a remnant of the Ice Age, where they can see carnivorous plants and other
rare species. Like I said, many of these plant species are dating back to the Ice
Age and I would invite visitors in the area to also take a boat trip on the St.
Anne Lake, as this experience has lately become very popular with families in
general. The boats are big enough to take 3-4 people who are required to wear
life vests, which come in all sizes.

Such a family-friendly
programme is the animal park of Babusgató, where children can interact with
animals and spend a great time. As we all know, animal therapy has been largely
used around the world with great effects on patients. Here is again at the
microphone Mezey Zsolt

Mezey Zsolt: Here children can see and
even touch deer, Icelandic horses, rabbits and other cute animals. Another
family-friendly experience is the bob-sleigh race, which is actually crossing areas
of breath-taking beauty. There are three bob-sleigh tracks here, including a
summer one, 15 hundred meter long, which can be accessed by means of the ski
lifts and I would like to inform you that the track in Toplita is the longest
in Romania stretching over almost 18 hundred meters. Most of it crosses a
forest and the bob-sleigh gains a speed of 40 kilometers an hour. Children with
ages between three and eight can enjoy this experience only if accompanied by adults.
The oldest track, located in the commune of Ghimes has recently become an
attraction for thrill-seeking tourists, who have described the landscapes here
as similar to those they have seen in Austria or Switzerland.

Tourists
visiting the area are also offered another option; that of taking a one-day
tour of Transylvania, by visiting a multi-cultural theme park entitled
Mini-Transylvania, showcasing replicas of the main historical buildings in this
part of Romania. The park is located close to Odorheiu Secuiesc and covers a
surface of eight thousand square meters. (bill)

10 November 2022
Romania takes a step closer to Schengen

During a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, MEPs discussed Romanias and Bulgarias accession to theSchengen passport-free travel area.

The Romanian MEPs pleaded for the 2 countries inclusion as soon as possible, given that they have met all technical requirements since as far back as 2011.

“This year, since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Romania has hosted over 1 million Ukrainian refugees. Romania is able to secure the Schengen border under any circumstances. The inclusion of the 2 countries will make the entire European Union safer,” the MEP Siegfried Mureşan argued.

In turn, MEP Dan Nica described the current situation as “humiliating and intolerable” for Bucharest, and called for European solidarity. And his colleague Eugen Tomac wondered “who benefits from keeping Romania and Bulgaria outside the borderless area?”

“Eleven years ago, the conclusion was reached that Romania and Bulgaria were ready for Schengen, yet in 2022 we are still talking about it,” MEP Cristian Terheş added, in response to the German MEP Guido Reils statement that Romania and Bulgaria must not be accepted into Schengen and that their EU accession itself was a mistake.

Dacian Cioloş also replied to the German MEP, and said that, unless Romania had flawlessly managed the Ukrainian refugee situation, Europe would have seen what the “Wild West” with which the German official likened Romania truly means.

Only a few other MEPs, from Italian far-right parties, opposed the Schengen area enlargement, for fear of massive migration. Most of the speakers in the European Parliament agreed however that Romania and Bulgaria must joint Schengen.

It is not the first time when MEPs say the 2 countries are ready for this. And the view is shared by the European Commission. But the decision rests with the Council. During the talks, the Czech presidency of the Council promised that efforts were being made for a decision regarding the issue to be adopted in the Councils December sitting. According to the Czech minister for European affairs Mikuláą Bek, completing the Schengen enlargement would be a major stage in the operation of the unrestricted travel area.

In this context, the Czech presidency announced that next week a mission would be organised, with experts from the 2 countries and EC members, to assess the implementation of the main provisions in the Schengen legislation. The EC vice-president and Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, mentioned that Romania and Bulgaria met the technical accession criteria a long time ago. (AMP)

6 October 2022
Easter in Maramureș

One of the traditional Easter destinations in Romania is the region of Maramureș, in the north, where customs and traditions are well preserved. The tourist offer of Maramureș is comprehensive and addresses both those who want an active holiday and those interested just in relaxation. In addition, the local craftspeople organize shows in which they display their talent.

Our guide today is Dan Carpov, a promoter of Maramureș region: “In Maramureș, Easter is a time of joy, when people are happy to observe the region’s ancient traditions and customs. They wear traditional costumes, dance and prepare delicious dishes. The Easter traditions of the region are famous even abroad. The people of Maramureș value humaneness, family, and respect for the others. Easter is a good period for tourism, and those who want to visit Maramureș will find many locations worth a visit as well as many attractive programs. One such program is called ‘Easter in Maramureș’ which is also a unique event. It is organized in Sighetu Marmației on the occasion of the Easter holiday, Easter being the biggest Christian holiday, and also an opportunity for the people of Maramureș to live moments of holy joy within their community and together with tourists. ‘Easter in Maramureș’ wants to promote the traditional village of Maramureș, with all its charm: music, traditional dress, crafts and food. And everything takes place in an authentic location: the Maramureș Village Museum in Sighetu Marmației.”

You may wonder what a trip to Maramureș during the Easter holiday would look like. Here is Dan Carpov, a promoter of Maramureș with details: “I would start the trip in the city of Baia Mare, a gateway to Maramureș. Another gate to the region is Sighetu Marmației, the other important city of Maramureș county. I would make a daily schedule and start with Maundy Thursday, when tourists are supposed to attend the religious service in church, where the people of Maramureș usually give food and clothes to those in need, in memory of the souls of their dear ones that have passed away. Friday is a sad day in the Orthodox calendar, and Christians fast and pray, and go to church to attend a special service, dressed in their traditional attire, which is an occasion for tourists to admire the beauty of the Maramureș folk costumes. On Saturday the general atmosphere is getting more optimistic. People make the last preparations for the Easter celebrations and the housewives are giving the final touch to the special Easter dishes and prepare for the Easter Day. On Sunday, families meet for the Easter festive meal, and a special tradition on this day is the painted-egg knocking. All guesthouses in the region offer Easter packages, in which tradition comes first.”

For the more active tourists, Maramureș offers lots of possibilities from the picturesque hiking trails to the region’s lakes and rivers, just good for a bath in summer. Dan Carpov, is back with details: “The warm weather is just setting in, and we are already nostalgic about the ski slopes with a lot of snow, which were the delight of tourists in winter: the new Olympic slope from Borșa, the Șuior, Cavnic, and Izvoare resorts. All these slopes live up to European standards. Cyclists can enjoy wonderful routes, away from the traffic. The bicycle routes were recently refurbished and marked in cooperation with the Maramureș County Mountain Rescue Service. Preparations are being made for the mountain running, bike triathlon, and swimming competitions for the coming season, and in some areas of Maramureș people can also practice paragliding, another fashionable sport at present.”

Maramureș is famous for its centuries-old wooden churches which visitors should not miss, although it’s hard to see them all in one single visit. Dan Carpov has more: “I would recommend the ‘Circuit of the wooden churches in Maramureș’. It is a very dear project that has been recently included in a European circuit which comprises all these impressive places of worship. The circuit presents 16 wooden churches that spread on an area of about 300 km. Obviously, we do not recommend a quick visit, but it is important to know that, of all these churches, eight are included on the UNESCO heritage list. Every wooden church is waiting for tourists to discover its secrets.”

The region of Maramureș also boasts an authentic tradition of woodcarving, and those who visit the area will have the chance to admire the famous wooden gates, houses, and churches as well as other wooden objects, used for decoration or in the households. Dan Carpov is back at the microphone with more: “Pottery is another traditional craft in the region of Maramureș, just like traditional dress making. Many hardworking women process materials in spectacular ways, and they make traditional costumes from scratch. We are not talking only about traditional shirts and dresses made with ancient techniques, we refer to the whole folk costume. These costumes are always in high demand, because they are worn both by the artists of the region and by ordinary people when they participate in various events such as weddings and baptisms.”

That is why Maramureș is such a popular destination during the Easter holiday. So, don’t waste any more time, contact your tour operator in advance and book a trip for next year’s Easter celebrations in Maramureș county, Romania. (LS)

21 April 2022
January 15, 2022 UPDATE

Covid-19 update. Romania on Saturday
reported over 10,000 new Covid cases and 32 related fatalities, including three
recorded earlier. The incidence rate is on the rise around the country,
including the capital Bucharest, which passed 3 cases per 1,000 inhabitants,
entering the red tier. Restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other venues can now only
open at 30% capacity. Schools will stay open until 75% of hospital beds for
Covid patients are occupied in the respective counties. Romania has recorded
1.8 million infections and some 60,000 deaths since the outbreak of the virus two
years ago. Amid a sustained anti-vaccination campaign waged by part of the
media and some politicians and public figures, Romania has the second lowest
vaccination rate in the 27 EU member states, after Bulgaria.

Travel. The National Committee for
Emergency Situations has updated the list of countries and territories with
high epidemiological risk. Cyprus, Ireland, Iceland, France, Greece, Denmark,
Portugal, Spain and the UK are now on the red list, with South Africa, Brazil
and India no longer red list countries. The yellow list includes Serbia, the
United Arab Emirates and Russia, while Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are
on the green list. The updated list comes into effect on Sunday, 16th
January.

Culture Day. Romanians celebrated on Saturday
National Culture Day and 172 years since the birth of their national poet Mihai
Eminescu, who is considered the last great representative of European
Romanticism. The holiday was established by Parliament in 2010 at the proposal
of the Romanian Academy. Romania’s diplomatic and consular missions and
cultural institutes abroad hosted special events. The president and prime
minister published special messages, recognising the difficulties faced by
artists because of the pandemic and the need to support them. The pandemic has
greatly affected the relationship between arts and culture creators and the
public, and if difficulties persist, a more complex approach is needed from the
state to support the cultural sector so as to make it more resilient, said president
Klaus Iohannis, while prime minister Nicolae Ciucă
said mobilisation is needed to help the cultural sector return to something
resembling normality. Eminescu’s anniversary and National Culture Day were also
officially celebrated in the Republic of Moldova, the ex-Soviet neighbouring
state with a majority Romanian-speaking population, as well as in the Romanian
ethnic communities in other neighbouring countries and the diaspora.

Justice. The justice ministry in
Bucharest has finalised a bill on the dismantling of a special department
investigating crimes in the judiciary and said it will move to submit it for government
approval next week so as to reach Parliament in the first part of February. The
activity of this department was criticised by the European Commission, with
suspicions that it was set up to take over sensitive cases from the National Anticorruption
Directorate, which is less susceptible to external influence. The justice
ministry also said it will resume work on the justice laws and the amendment of
the criminal codes so that they may be passed by Parliament by the end of
March.

Tennis. Romania has five players in
the singles main draw at the Australian Open. In the opening round, former
world no. 1 Simona Halep will be playing Poland’s Magdalena Frech; Sorana
Cîrstea will face Petra Kvitova, a difficult match for Cîrstea as Kvitova is
leaving 5-3 in their head-to-head; Irina Begu will play France’s Oceane Dodin; Jaqueline
Cristian, the 23-year-old Romanian who is for the first time in Melbourne, will play
Belgian’s Greet Minnen, while 24-year-old Gabriela Ruse, also for the first
time in this competition, will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. (CM)

15 January 2022
December 14, 2021 UPDATE

COVID-19.
Authorities in Bucharest on Tuesday announced 946 new Covid infections, a
number significantly higher than in the previous day, as well as 106 new related
fatalities. The 14-day infection rate in Bucharest stood at 0.85 cases per one thousand
inhabitants, having peaked on October 22nd, with 16.54 cases per one thousand
inhabitants. According to Romania’s national committee coordinating the vaccine
rollout, the vaccination level is 25% among the country’s rural population and
40% among its urban population, with 42% in bigger cities.

Life expectancy. Life
expectancy has dropped significantly in Romania amid the COVID-19 pandemic, being
significantly below the EU average. According to a report published by the
European Commission, life expectancy in Romania is almost 6 years lower than in
the EU and women live on average 8 years longer than men, the biggest
difference in the bloc. The report also notes that almost half of the deaths
registered in Romania are related to some risk factors, with Romania recording higher
alcohol and unhealthy food consumption than other EU states. Also, its
teenagers are overweight, even obese, and smoke more than other European youths,
while the number of adult smokers is slightly lower than the European
average.

Travel. Bucharest’s Henri Coanda airport has
doubled the number of customs officers for arrivals to Romania, to reduce
waiting time as the number of passengers is growing. Road customs checkpoints
are also busy on entering the country. Many of the arrivals are unvaccinated Romanian
nationals unaware of the new restrictions in place. From 10th
December, non-EU travellers who wish to enter Romania must present a negative
Covid test taken in the previous 48 hours, but if they are not fully vaccinated
or have not had the virus they will be asked to isolate for ten days. If they
are unvaccinated and also fail to produce a negative Covid test result, they
will be ordered to isolate for 14 days. Rules haven’t changed for EU
passengers, who can enter the country based on the green certificate attesting
vaccination, recovery from the infection or a negative PCR test result from the
previous 72 hours.

Summit. President Klaus Iohannis is attending the Eastern Partnership
Summit and a meeting of the European Council hosted by Brussels on Wednesday
and Thursday. On Monday, he attended a videoconference with the head of the European
Council Charles Michel and the prime ministers of Slovenia, Estonia and Latvia in
preparation for the two events. High on the agenda were European coordination
in the context of the Covid pandemic, crisis management and resilience, the energy
prices, the EU security and defence, the external aspects of migration and
foreign relations, with emphasis on the situation on the borders with Ukraine
and Belarus.

Expo Dubai. A delegation of the Romanian government’s
Department for Sustainable Development on Tuesday symbolically opened the gates
of Expo Dubai 2020. The Romanian pavilion presents the contributions of Grigora
Antipa, Constantin Brâncuşi and Nicolae
Georgescu-Roegen to what we call today sustainable development. A century ago, the
three visionary Romanians, inspired by Romanian traditional culture, proposed
concepts that can help build a sustainable world. A conference entitled Sustainable Romania. Local Knowledge from the Past for a
Global Lasting Future was also held on Tuesday. (CM)

14 December 2021
By ship from Vienna to Constantinople

Under Ottoman influence for several centuries, the Romanian Principalities had been looking for and eventually found a new path in the first half of the 19th century. It was the path to modernization and Europeanization. Europe’s geopolitical history of the first half of the 19th century created the context for the Western ideas and the determination of elites to lead to the emergence of the Romanian state. Two of the powerful ideas of the time were: to put the Danube River at the center of the European community and to expand the West towards the East. People travelled by ship on the Danube between Vienna and Constantinople and that widened their horizon, realizing that commercial transport on the big river was profitable.

The historian Constantin Ardeleanu is the author of the book “A cruise from Vienna to Constantinople. Travelers, spaces, images, 1830-1860”. It is a book of history viewed through the eyes of those who traveled on the route between the two great empires, the Habsburg and the Ottoman empires.

How did the Romanian society receive the changes from the West, the technological innovations, is the first question to which historian Constantin Ardeleanu answered: “I would say that the Romanian society received those changes with openness. And with fear, initially, but also with a good understanding of the usefulness of those modern technologies. The Romanian space got connected to travel routes in Europe after the introduction of steam navigation on the river. This happened as of the 1830s and the symbolic moment was April 1834, when the first steamer, belonging to the first Austrian steam navigation company, arrived in a Romanian port. A reception ceremony was held, the Romanian elites quickly embraced the innovation, which they knew of from their travels abroad, and made full use of it equally to the West, to Vienna, and from there to the rest of Western Europe, through Constantinople, to the east and to the Holy Land, to Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean. However, for the ordinary people, that terrible invention was hard to understand, but they were aware of it. And this was because the ship and its modern technology had a specific form of territoriality.”

The Danube was, undoubtedly, the axis of modernization for Romanians. This is how it was seen at the time, and although almost two centuries have passed since then, its current importance has remained intact. Here is historian Constantin Ardeleanu with more details: “This relationship with the Danube is very important, it was the first natural highway that connected us to the world. Undoubtedly, it needed some changes that were made both in the Iron Gates area and the Danube Delta area, in order to ensure the function of pan-European waterway. It was the Austrian company DDSG (Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft) that came to introduce these lines between Vienna and Constantinople as part of an investment meant to connect the south-east of Europe. I was saying that the Danube was the main waterway that connected the Romanians to the world, hence the name ‘the Danube Principalities’ given to the Romanian Principalities. When this term was concocted, Serbia was also included in the Danube Principalities, but later, during the Crimean War of 1853-1856, the name ‘the Danube Principalities’ was used almost exclusively for Muntenia — Wallachia and Moldavia.”

1830-1860 is the period chosen by Constantin Ardeleanu to imagine a journey on the Danube from Vienna to Constantinople. We asked him why he chose this period: “This period represents the start and the apogee of this Danube route between Vienna and Constantinople. 1830 is the year when the Austrian company, in British partnership, introduced a line on the Danube between Vienna and Budapest. This is how the connection of the Habsburg space through the Danube waterway started. Then steam navigation on the Danube was introduced, which reached the Romanian space in 1834, as I already said. 1860 was a year in which railway competition became increasingly important. The waterway went into decline with the introduction of the railways into the Habsburg space first. Starting with this decade of the 1860s, the same happened in the Romanian space. In 1860, the first railway in the Romanian space was built in the Danube Delta area, namely the railway from Cernavoda to Constanța, which in a way short-circuited the Danube route. Travelers no longer needed to make a detour through Brăila and Galați, thus saving a few days. A new rush to speed up the process began, after reducing the travel time between Vienna and Constantinople and other destinations.”

You may wonder who was traveling on the Danube? There were several types of travelers. First, there were the merchants and the military, the oldest travelers, the most adventurous spirits ever. Then there were the spiritual pilgrims to Mount Athos and to the holy lands of Jerusalem and Palestine. But there also emerged a new category, the tourists. The rich people wanted to discover the world and thus boarded on ships that took them across the Danube to the wide world. A cruise on the Danube from Vienna to Constantinople in the 19th century also brought them to Romania, which immediately adopted the models of the time. (LS)

22 November 2021
November 19, 2021

GOVERNMENT The Social
Democrats and the Liberals are resuming negotiations today on the structure and
governing programme of the cabinet they intend to form jointly with the
Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians.Yesterday the 2 parties agreed to have a cabinet in
place by next Thursday. The National Liberal Party once again nominated the
interim defence minister Nicolae Ciucă for the PM post. In turn, the Social
Democrats nominated their president Marcel Ciolacu. He said the order in the
prime-minister rotation is yet to be decided, but the party that will have the
first PM designate will allow the other party to appoint the finance minister.

COVID-19 In the past 24 hours Romania saw 2,889 new COVID-19
cases and 281 related fatalities, 27 of
them from an earlier date. Intensive care units across the country
remain overcrowded, in spite of the drop in infection rates. In the capital city Bucharest the rate reached 4.34 per
thousand, as against the 16.54 per thousand peak reported on October 22. According
to official data nearly 89,000 people received COVID vaccines on Thursday, of
whom around 24,000 got the first dose. As of recently Romania has more than 7
million fully vaccinated citizens.

TRAVEL The National
Committee on Emergency Situations updated the list of countries and territories
by COVID-19 incidence rates. Germany, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria and the UK are now red-list countries,
while France, Portugal, Monaco, Chile, Lebanon and Guyana were included in the
medium-risk category. The updated list comes into force on November 21, at
midnight.

TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Horia Tecău announced on
Thursday the end of his professional career at the age of 36. He has won 38
doubles tournaments, including the Wimbledon and the US Open, together with
Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands), and played another 24 finals. He also won the
silver in the Rio Olympics in 2016, teaming up with Florin Mergea (Romania), and
a mixed doubles final at the Australian Open, with Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US).
Horia Tecău’s last match will be for the Romanian team in the Davis Cup match
against Peru, at the end of November. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

19 November 2021
An invitation to Gorj County

Gorj County welcomes its visitors around the year, with adventure tourism, rural tourism, mountaineering, religious and cultural sites, and, during the winter, ski tracks. As the spokesperson for the Gorj County Council Oana Paloș told us, the first thing to know about Gorj County is that, while the county is rather small in terms of surface area, the tourist offer is as rich as it is diverse.

Oana Paloş: “Tourists need not waste a lot of time moving from one point of interest to another. Apart from the already famous sites, which include the works of sculptor Constantin Brâncuși in Târgu Jiu, Tismana Monastery and the mountain resort of Rânca, on the Transalpina, the lower Jiu area at the feet of Parâng and Vulcan mountains offer tourists countless new things to discover, from tourist sites to outdoor activities. All you have to do as a tourist when you reach Gorj County is relax and go with the flow of the locals life, and take in the energy of this place. This will give you the holiday of your dreams.

Gorj County has something for everybody, and it can cater to any tastes, says Oana Paloș, from the Gorj County Council.

Oana Paloş: “If what you are looking for is a holiday in the countryside, to relax and taste traditional, home-made food, you can choose one of the many boarding houses at the feet of the mountains, coming from Vâlcea and Bucharest, in Polovragi, Baia de Fier, Mușetești. From here, you can go down towards the heart of the county, also in the mountains, in Runcu, on the Sohodol Gorges, in Peștișani, all the way up to the other side of the county, towards Mehedinți and Herculane, in Tismana and Padeș. First of all, these are places to relax in, to breathe in fresh air, to eat healthy food and to go trekking on blazed trails, be it winter or summer. Safety is always important, and the Gorj mountain rescue service and Gorj County Council are very active and easy to contact.

If what you seek is an adrenaline-filled holiday, but one which does not require physical and technical training and is suitable for all ages, Gorj Countys qualified guides are waiting to offer you an unforgettable experience. The mounts of Vâlcan, Mehedinți and Godeanu, with heights up to 2,500 metres, are home to mountain climbing programmes, off-trail skiing and snow racket hiking. During the winter, the frozen waterfalls in Gorj County are an additional attraction to climbers.

Oana Paloș: “I would also like to tell adrenaline seekers that adventure tourism is at home in Gorj County. We have a hillclimbing championship in Rânca, an off-road championship in Runcu, bike routes on the highest-altitude highway in Romania, the Transalpina, and huge, deep caves to explore.

While in Gorj, you can also visit several Orthodox monasteries, some of them built hundreds of years ago. Polovragi Monastery is located in the east of the county, and its building started in 1505 and ended in 1700, under the rule of Constantin Brâncoveanu. Also worth mentioning is Tismana Monastery, whose construction works started in the 14th Century. The building stands out thanks to the colour of its walls, made using a recipe that has been lost over the years, but which is still known as “Tismana red. Oana Paloș, spokesperson with the Gorj County Council, tells us more:

Oana Paloș:“Tourists would be well advised to carry their cameras with them, because the landscape and the views are truly fabulous. Especially now, in autumn, forests put up a breath-taking show. And they also enrich the experience provided by the adventure parks in Rânca, Mușetești, Drăguțești, designed for adults and children alike.

If tourists are interested in staying in a hotel, the 3 and 4-star hotels in the region provide high-quality services, says Oana Paloș.

Oana Paloș:“They can also get familiar with the urban vibe in Târgu Jiu, which hosts national music, theatre and literature festivals. For instance, the countrys biggest folk music festival takes place every year in Târgu Jiu, and we continued to organise it even during the pandemic. For those who want something different, we have the option of glamping, which is high-end, luxury camping amid wonderful landscapes. There are also holiday villages, in scenic locations, with 100% rustic-style wooden houses. Tourists may observe the local traditions and culinary customs passed down from one generation to the next. These are actually family businesses that help tourists spend their winter holidays in a genuinely Romanian way, with people going carolling and nobody staying alone. Very old holiday traditions can be seen here, which are preserved in few other places in the country. As for the tourism infrastructure, we are improving it by the year, and new offers appear every day, especially in the entrepreneurial field. I should say the hospitality industry fits the Gorj locals like a glove.

Gorj County is also the birthplace of the celebrated sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, whose works had a major impact on modern art. The town of Târgu Jiu is home to some of his monumental pieces, such as the Endless Column, the Gate of the Kiss, and the Table of Silence. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

9 September 2021
Anti-COVID measures

The most contagious strain of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus detected so far, the Delta variant, which is at the origin of the devastating wave of COVID-19 cases in India, is spreading, which has prompted world authorities to take action to counter a 4th wave of the pandemic. In Israel, for instance, vaccination with the 3rd dose has been launched for people with immunity problems, and, in France, the most important measure to fight the Delta variant, announced by President Emmanuel Macron, refers to compulsory vaccination for healthcare and non-healthcare workers in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, as well as for professional and voluntary staff involved in the care of the elderly, including at home.

After France, Greece has announced the same measure for the medical staff, starting on September 1. In Romania, the Delta variant appeared a few weeks ago, and the first death associated with it was registered in the second half of June. Meanwhile, the number of such cases and associated deaths has slightly increased, and the authorities continue to call for the peoples vaccination. The medical staff that refuses to be vaccinated against COVID could pay for the tests from their own pockets, Prime Minister Florin Cîțu said on Tuesday, when answering the question whether the executive is considering the measure of compulsory immunization of the medical staff or of the employees involved in the care of the elderly.

Florin Cîțu: “Romania has the lowest infection rate in Europe. Regarding vaccination of the medical staff, we propose to test those who do not want to be vaccinated and have them pay for the test. This is the proposal I made to the Health Ministry officials.”

The move is caused by fears regarding the possibility of a 4th wave emerging in Romania, even if, at present, the positive test rate stands somewhere around 0.3% and the medical system no longer has to work under the pressure of a very large number of infected people.

In another move, as of Tuesday, passengers arriving at the Henri Coandă Airport from countries on the yellow list and holding a EU digital COVID certificate or a PCR test can use the green flow corridor, without being checked by the Public Health Directorate employees. The same corridor can be used by those who come from the red-list countries but hold a certificate. The Bucharest Airports National Company specified that the digital certificates issued by Great Britain or by non-EU countries are not valid and recommends passengers arriving from countries on the red or yellow lists to fill in, in due time, the form requested by the Romanian health authorities. The form can be downloaded from the airlines websites or from the website of the Romanian Foreign Ministry. (LS)

14 July 2021