Radio România Internațional

Tag: travel fair

February 22, 2020 UPDATE

EUROPEAN COUNCIL MEETING – President Klaus Iohannis on
Thursday and Friday attended the European Council meeting in Brussels, devoted
to negotiations over the upcoming multiannual financial agreement. Talks failed
amidst growing divergences between member states over the total value of duns
and their distribution to specific areas. Talks will resume at a subsequent
date with the goal of reaching political consensus as soon as possible. Klaus
Iohannis said the upcoming budget should allow for the implementation of
political objectives agreed upon at the Summit in Sibiu, calling for a balanced
approach. The Romanian official underlined the importance of the cohesion and
common agriculture policies, saying they are key to the development and
modernization of Europe. On the sidelines of the summit Klaus Iohannis attended
a series of meetings with member states supporting an ambitious Europe and with
member states that are net contributors to the EU budget.

CORONAVIRUS – The Romanian Foreign Ministry
has expressed its gratitude towards its Italian, German and Japanese for their
support and the good cooperation view a view to repatriating the six Romanian
citizens who were quarantined onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan
arrived. They arrived in Romania on Saturday from Germany by a Ministry of
Defense aircraft. They were previously transported from Tokyo to berlin with an
Italian aircraft under the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. They will be
quarantined in Bucharest for 14 days. Prior to the disembarking they tested negative
for the COVID-19 virus. The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest announced the two
Romanians infected with the coronavirus onboard the cruise ship are receiving
treatment in a hospital in Japan, their overall condition being stable. Another
9 Romanians, members of the crew, decided to stay on board. The Foreign Ministry also reports that,
considering the rise in the number of COVID-19 infections in Italy, a task
force has been created at the Romanian Embassy in Rome that will remain in
permanent contact with the Italian Civil Protection and other authorities
involved. The Foreign Ministry has recommended all Romanian citizens to abide
by all local recommendations. The clinical number of infections is on the wane
in China, with 397 cases announced on Saturday by the National Health Board as
compared to some 900 on Friday. The death toll in China has reached 2345, with
the total number of infections standing at over 76,000 in continental China.

GREEN DEAL – Romania got 750 million Euro
from the Just Transition Fund to deal with the implementation of the European
Green Deal. The information was made public on Friday by the European Green
Deal Rapporteur, the Romanian Siegfried Muresan. He stated that the money will
be used for economic development in the mining regions and not on welfare
measures. He has given assurances that the miners in Jiu Valley and in Oltenia
will not lose their jobs when the deal is implemented, as they will be able to
work in the field of renewable energies and in industry. Romanian ranks third
among the EU countries in terms of green reforms in energy development, after
Poland and Germany. The Green Deal is aimed at turning Europe into the first
carbon-neutral continent by 2050.

TRAVEL FAIR – The spring edition of
Romania’s Travel Fair is underway in Bucharest until Sunday. The event has
brought together over 300 travel agencies offering holiday packages in Romania
and abroad including for the upcoming Easter holidays. Operators are pledging
significant price cuts, even down to 50%. The most sought-after destinations
are Turkey, Greece, Spain, Tunisia and Egypt but there are also exotic
destinations like Bali or Thailand.

BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL – The 70th edition
of the International Film Festival in Berlin is underway until March 1. Some
340 films will be screened, with 18 features competing for the Golden Bear.
Cristi Puiu’s latest feature, Malmkrog, is competing in the newly-created
Encounters section. The film is based on philosopher and writer Vladimir
Solovyov’s poem Three Meetings. Another Romanian director, Radu Jude, is
taking part in the Forum section with two films, Uppercase Print and The
Exit of the Trains. Radu Jude is also taking part with a project in the Sleep
Walkers Film Fair, which he describes as a pop comedy about sex, technology
and society.

RUGBY – Romania’s rugby team on Saturday won 24-7 at home to Spain
in the third round of Rugby Europe Championship. Despite the score, Spain
dominated the game, but Romania defended well and capitalized on its chances.
This is Romania’s first win in Rugby Europe Championship this year, after
losing 41-13 to Georgia and 22-11 to Portugal. Romania will next play Russia in
Krasnodar on March 7.

(translated
by V. Palcu)

22 February 2020
February 20, 2020 UPDATE

COUNCIL
MEETING – Romania wants consistent financing for cohesion and agriculture
policies, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday in Brussels on the
sidelines of a special session of the European Council, which has high on its
agenda the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for the period between 2021 and
2027. Other topics the President mentioned were digitization, artificial
intelligence, research and student mobility. Klaus Iohannis also wants the EU
budget to be bigger than the previous one. Statements by several European
leaders on Wednesday suggest that negotiations over the EU’s multiannual
budget, the first after Brexit, are going to be tough and complicated. The
purpose of the meeting is to reach consensus on the proposals elaborated on
February 14 by European Council president, Charles Michel.

MEETING
– Foreign Minister designate Bogdan Aurescu on Thursday met in Berlin with his
German counterpart, Heiko Mass, in the context of celebrating 140 years of
bilateral diplomatic relations. Aurescu recalled Romania’s legitimate goal of
joining the Schengen Area, highlighting our country’s fulfillment of all
technical criteria and the important contribution to EU security. The Romanian
official said the functioning of the Schengen Area will not be complete without
Romania’s accession. The two officials expressed convergent views regarding the
strategic importance of the EU’s enlargement policy, the Romanian Minister
reiterating Romania’s support for opening EU accession negotiations with
Albania and North Macedonia. The two also discussed the Three Seas Initiative,
with the Romanian official expressing Romania’s support for Germany becoming a
full member. Heiko Mass expressed his gratitude for Romania’s full observance
of the rights of ethnic Germans living in Romania. Bogdan Aurescu also met with
the head of the Presidential Administration in Berlin, Stephan Steinlein.

ATTACKS
– Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has firmly condemned the violent attacks
against innocent people in the German city of Hanau. Iohannis has expressed
condolences to those who lost relatives and friends adding that Romania stands
in solidarity with Germany, Iohannis wrote on Twitter on Thursday. Nine people
were killed in a shooting in Hanau, close to Frankfurt, on Wednesday. The
culprit who was found dead in his house, allegedly expressed far-right views in
a letter of confession.

FLU VIRUS
– The number of people who’ve died to the flu virus this flu season in Romania
has reached 44. The last 4 victims are women aged 41-79, none of whom had taken
the anti-flu shot. Some 7,600 new cases have been reported in Romania, a number
above experts’ estimates. Medical professionals say the number of acute
respiratory disease and flu virus infections will continue to rise over the
coming period. Dozens of schools and kindergartens are partially or fully
closed down due to the flu.

CORONAVIRUS
– China on Thursday reported the most significant drop in the number of
infections with the new coronavirus in the Hubei province, the centre of the
epidemic. This is the lowest rate in the past month although at national level,
China has reported 114 new deaths, which bring the death toll up to 2,118 and
the total number of infections to 74,500. In another development, two elderly
people from the cruise liner Diamond Princess, where 600 people have been
infected with the new virus, have also died, authorities in Japan have
announced. The ship was quarantined in the port of Yokohama in early February.
Those infected, including two Romanian nationals, are being treated in
hospitals in Japan. The other 15 Romanians on board, who are healthy, will be
repatriated under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. So far 6 of them, two
passengers and 4 crew members, have expressed their willingness to return to
Romania, the Foreign Ministry reports. The ship was quarantined until
Wednesday, when disembarking procedures commenced.

TRAVEL FAIR
– The spring edition of Romania’s Travel Fair is underway in Bucharest from Thursday
until Sunday. The event has brought together over 300 travel agencies offering
holiday packages in Romania and abroad including for the upcoming Easter
holidays. Operators are pledging significant price cuts, even down to 50%. The
most sought-after destinations are Turkey, Greece, Spain, Tunisia and Egypt but
there are also exotic destinations like Bali or Thailand.

WEIGHTLIFTING
– Romania will host the Under-20 World Weightlifting Championships in Bucharest
over March 14-21. The competition is rated Gold in the run-up to the Olympic
Games in Tokyo. Some 350 athletes from up to 70 countries have enrolled, the
president of the Romanian Weightlifting Federation, Nicu Vlad, has said. Representing
Romania will be 15 athletes.

(translated by V. Palcu)

20 February 2020
March 11, 2018

POLITICAL SCENE – Bucharest is today the venue for the National Council of the National Liberal Party and of the National Political Bureau of the party, which have convened for the activity report meeting of the main opposition party in Romania. The Liberals intend to simplify the party joining procedure, by a resolution meant to show more openness to society and which is expected to be issued later today. Talks will also cover the measures taken by the National Liberal Party to disapprove of the actions taken by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party-the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, PSD-ALDE. A report on the parliamentary activity of the National Liberal Party will be made public, laying emphasis on the notifications filed by the Liberals regarding the justice laws and the actions they have been started against the economic measures adopted by the ruling coalition. The Liberals consider that the transfer of social security contributions from the employer to employee has created fiscal chaos and that the law on the unified payment scheme has led to significant salary cuts. In another move, on Saturday, the main party in the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party, organised elections for the positions of executive president, secretary general and vice-presidents of the party. Following the elections, PM Viorica Dancila has become no.2 in the party led by Liviu Dragnea. Also on Saturday, the Political Committee of the Save Romania Union, USR, in opposition, decided to render more flexible the party joining procedure, with the declared aim that by 2020, USR should have branches in at least 80% of the countrys towns and villages.

STEEL AND ALUMINIUM TARIFFS – The US President Donald Trump says the EU might be exempted from paying the new US tariffs on steel and aluminium, if it removes commercial barriers imposed on American products. The announcement has been made by representatives of the Commission in Brussels who have also announced they have had an inconclusive meeting with Washingtons special enjoy. Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malstrom has said the US did not provide guarantees that the EU will be spared from paying the new customs duties. The introduction of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports announced by President Trump has generated strong international reactions. China has described the measure as a severe attack on the global trade system. Chinese associations have launched an appeal to the US, to give up on the idea. This has been a major promise made during Trumps election campaign, and it is now a reality: in two weeks time, new tariffs will be imposed on all countries, except for Canada, the largest steel exporter to the US, Mexico and Australia. China and the EU have warned they will take measures in response to the move and numerous people voiced concern that this step taken by the US might actually be the start of a new protectionist era. According to Donald Trump, the measure allegedly protects the US national defence and security industry.

PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA – The National Peoples Congress, NPC, the Chinese legislative body, has adopted a constitutional amendment which abolishes the limitation of the number of presidential mandates, which gives the opportunity to the incumbent Chinese head of state, Xi Jinping, to lead the country post 2023, international news agencies report. So far, the Chinese Constitution has provided for a maximum of two 5-year presidential mandates. This is the first constitutional amendment adopted by China in the past 14 years. Since he came at the helm of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, and he became the head of state in early 2013, Xi Jinping , 64, has gradually increased his authority, laying special emphasis on propaganda and the state medias coverage of his actions, FP reports.

FLU SEASON – In Romania, the number of flu-related deaths has reached 93, after three new deaths have recently been reported, the National Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control has announced. The latest flu victims are two women, aged 72 and 52, respectively, and a man aged 56, who had not been immunized. The total number of acute respiratory infections registered over the past week exceeded 140,000, that is 67% more than in the same week of 2017, and 4.5% more than in the previous week. 1,170 flu-cases were reported since the start of the flu season until last weekend.

TRAVEL FAIR – Hundreds of visitors came to see Romanias stand at the Berlin Travel fair and tried to find information on the available tourist offers. They have been attracted at the stand by numerous singers attending the event, among which the “Romanasul folk ensemble and “The Humans band, which will represent Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest this year. Today, on the last day of the fair, visitors will have the opportunity to see the “Junii Sibiului group, which will perform folk dances and will present traditions from all of Romanias historical regions, and they will equally have the opportunity to meet Sebastian Paic, a talented craftsman, who organises egg painting workshops.(Translated by D. Vijeu)

11 March 2018
The Romanian Travel Fair

A variety of offers were available, both for the coming period and for summer, for all tourist regions of Romania, with considerable discounts for early bookings. First, lets see what the offers are for the Black Sea coast.

Dorina Tanase, the representative of a 4-star spa facility in the Neptun-Olimp resort, tells us more:“We have packages for the 1st of May, Pentecost and 1st of June bank holidays. Apart from half-board, these packages also provide guests with free access to the spas indoor swimming pool and with diverse programmes for children. We have a pool on the third floor with a view of the sea, as well as three types of sauna, an ice bath and emotional showers. The first floor is for the spa and the second floor is for wellness therapies, including relaxation for couples.

A 5-day stay in a double room at this spa centre for the 1st of May holiday costs about 430 euros, while a 2-day stay for the 1st of June holiday is 180 euros.

Corina Martin, the president of the Federation of Tourist Promotion Associations in Romania, recommends the Black Sea as a tourist destination: “Our beaches have the finest sand in Europe and there are resorts for all tastes and all budgets. Mamaia is the number one resort if youre looking for nightlife entertainment, including many international music festivals whose reputation has travelled beyond Romanias borders. Many sports and fashion events are also held here in summer. People looking for spa and wellness holidays should go to Eforie Nord and Eforie Sud, while those who seek a quiet holiday should go to the resorts south of the coast, where there are many all-inclusive facilities for families with children.

Tourist consultant Ciprian Enea recommends the Danube Delta: “Its the most beautiful destination of its kind in Europe. We have deals for all types of tourists, from bird watchers to families with children and seniors wishing to enjoy the specific atmosphere of the Delta. A 4-day stay in a 3 and 4-star hotel, the trip by bus from Bucharest to Murighiol, boat trip from Murighiol to Uzlina and half or full-board ranges from 85 euros per person out of season to 150 euros in July and August. The package also includes bonfire parties, story telling events, swimming pool and optional boat trips.

Kacso Marta, the representative of a hotel compound in Sovata, has more: “We have come up with holiday and spa treatment offers. For instance, a wellness and prophylactic treatment package for five nights, HB, in a four star hotel, free access to the SPA centre, including five treatment procedures prescribed by our medical doctor costs around 310 Euro per person, in a double. I can also recommend to you our Easter offer in a four star hotel. It includes accommodation for three nights in a double room, breakfast and Swedish buffet-style dinner included. We also have a festive Easter lunch on April 8, free access to the SPA centre and various entertainment programs for children. The package costs some 205 Euros per person in a double room.

Radu Barb, the director of the Economic-Social Development Agency of Hunedoara County believes that 2018 will be the best year for the tourism industry: “Entrepreneurs together with the County Council and the town halls of Hunedoara County understood that tourism is the countys main engine of growth and development. Our tourist landmarks can be visited by many tourists. 2017 confirmed this. We say the offer is a generous one, including two Dacian capitals, the Hunyadi Castle, the Deva Fortress, the mountain resorts of Straja, Parâng, Râuşor and Geoagiu. I think that visitors to Romania, who would like to get to know the country, should also visit Hunedoara. There is also a rich event schedule. It is available on our website, hunedoaraturism.ro and hunedoaraturism.com. Both versions are functional. Youll also find detailed information on Dac Fest, the national holiday in Ţebea, on the Hunedoara Lirică festival, and on all most appreciated events. You will also find information on local events.

Gabriel Enache, the guide of the Cluj County Councils National Tourist Information and Promotion Centre takes us to the heart of Romania, in Transylvania: “In 2018, Cluj provides many opportunities for tourists to discover traditions and landscapes, to attend modern, traditional and classical music festivals, depending on what everyone wants to see or hear. The Apuseni Mountains lie in the western part of the county, where tourists can visit important monuments of the Romanian and Hungarian communities. South of the county, one can go to Cheile Turzii (Turda Gorges), Feleacu, the Turda salt mine and the town of the same name. Turda is more than the well known salt mine, as it boasts a 2,000 year long history, which can be discovered in the towns History Museum. Following the north-east route, one can reach Nicula, the most important Orthodox monastery in Transylvania, where the tradition of icons painted on glass is still preserved. The city hall of Cluj Napoca is the centre of this universe. It is here that Romanians, Jews, Germans and, more recently, other ethnic groups are coexisting peacefully. The town has also become a pole of the IT industry.

1 March 2018
November 19, 2017 UPDATE

GERMANY — Negotiations continued on Sunday in Berlin on forging a governing coalition between Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU), its Bavarian allies the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Greens and the business-minded Free Democrats. Merkel is trying to iron out disagreements with their would-be coalition partners over climate and migration policy, taxation and national security. France Presse reports that the Christian Democrats, the Bavarian conservatives and the Free Democrats want to set a cap of 200,000 per year on the number of refugees Germany will take. The Greens, however, plead for the resuming, as of next year, of the process of family reintegration for all refugees, a move that the Bavarian conservatives firmly reject. Unless an agreement is reached, Germany could be heading for a snap election.

EMPLOYERS – The CONCORDIA Employers Confederation, one of the largest in Romania, has called on the Government to urgently withdraw the law forcing companies to start collective negotiations with the employees within 30 days. The Confederation has voiced in a release their outrage at the complete lack of transparency in passing a law with a major impact on labour relations, whose constitutionality is still uncertain. The measure forces all employers in Romania to initiate collective negotiations within 30 days, in spite of the fact that the effects of the emergency decree transferring social security contributions from employers to employees have not been clarified. The Employers Confederation argues that the Government has operated this change without consulting with its social partners and with the purpose of making employers and trade unions assume responsibility for decisions unilaterally taken by the executive.

TRAVEL FAIR – The 38th edition of Romania’s Travel Fair ended on Sunday in Bucharest. The fair brought together over 200 tour operators and travel agencies. As many as 12 foreign countries from around the globe had their own stands at the fair, just like the Romanian county councils, which tried to promote travel destinations in their country.

GAUDEAMUS BOOK FAIR — The 24th edition of the Gaudeamus-Book of Learning International Fair, organised by Radio Romania, opens its doors on Wednesday. No less than 800 editorial and professional events will be organised during the fair, which will be attended by 300 exhibitors: Romanian publishing houses boasting a long tradition in the field, education institutions, book sellers and publications, professional associations and other organisations active in the field of culture and education. The honorary president of the fair will be the well-known playwright and journalist Matei Vişniec and the honorary guest of this year’s edition of the fair will be the European Commission. Thus, the event will mark 60 years since the Treaties of Rome were signed, 30 years since the launch of the Erasmus program and 10 years since Romania joined the EU, says Angela Cristea, head of the EC Representation in Romania.

HANDBALL — The Romanian women’s handball team, CSM Bucharest defeated on Sunday on home turf the Polish team Vistal Gdynia, 43-22, in the last match of the Champions’ League Group A. With five wins and a defeat, CSM ranks first in the group, which is also made up of Nykobing Falster Handboldklub of Denmark and RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana of Slovenia. CSM Bucharest won the Champions’ League in 2016 and is one of the favourites of the current edition of the most important European inter-club competition.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

19 November 2017
November 17, 2017

CENSURE MOTION – The National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union, in opposition, on Friday filed a censure motion in Parliament, against the government made up of the Social Democratic Party-the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. The motion has been signed by 148 MPs. The motion, initiated after the government amended the Fiscal Code, is also backed by the Peoples Movement Party and by the independent MPs. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania will not sign the motion and the Pro Romania party, led 8by the former PM Victor Ponta will not back the motion, either, saying a replacement of the PSD government with a PNL cabinet would not be a good solution for Romania. Amendments to the Fiscal Code provides for the transfer of social contributions from employer to employee and a cut in income tax from 16 to 10% as of January 1, 2018. Those contesting the measure say their incomes will actually decrease, and many others will run the risk of loosing their jobs. In exchange, Social-Democrat PM Mihai Tudose claims that, by the fresh fiscal reform, much more money will go to the budget and the pension fund, and companies will benefit from simplified procedures. Over the past few weeks, against the backdrop of the ruling coalitions plans to amend the Fiscal Code and the Justice Laws, people took to the streets in the big cities across the country, particularly in Bucharest.

SUMMIT – Romanias President Klaus Iohannis is today attending the Social Summit on promoting equitable jobs and economic growth in the EU, venued by Gothenburg, in Sweden. The summit brings together EU heads of state and government, social partners as well as other key players. The summit includes an introductory plenary session and three thematic sessions on access to the labour market, the current situation on the labour market and the transition between jobs on the labour market. The Romanian President said Romania will stand for a new education system adapted to the needs of the economy, so that the best solutions be found to create jobs for young people, on the one hand, and to properly train youngsters to successfully enter the labour market, on the other. According to FP, the summit is part of the offensive launched by Brussels and Sweden to regain the citizens confidence in face of rising populism which renders Europe fragile. After the Brexit shock and against the backdrop of growing Euro-scepticism in the EU member states, including in Germany and Austria as of late, the European Commission is determined to show that the EU is not a mere big market, but it wants to reduce inequalities.

TRANSCARPATHIA – Students and teachers in the schools with teaching in the Romanian language, in the Transcarpathia region in south-western Ukraine, which is home to over 40,000 ethnic Romanians, are currently being assessed by a commission of the Education Ministry in Kiev. The teachers are outraged, saying the evaluation, which hasnt been made for years, would be aimed at proving that the schools of the national ethnic minorities would not be proficient enough, teachers would not be able to teach at a high quality standard and pupils would not be properly educated and ready to take national evaluation tests. Teachers say the evaluation will actually be a disguised form of exerting pressure and of intimidation, following the contested education law in Ukraine, which infringes upon the constitutional rights of the ethnic minorities to study in their languages. In late October, experts of the Venice Commission paid a visit to Kiev to assess the newly created situation following the adoption of the education law, which has been criticised also from Bucharest.

NICOSIA – The state secretary for bilateral and strategic affairs in the Euro-Atlantic area, George Ciamba, has held consultations in Nicosia, with several Cypriot officials together with whom he approached the migration issue as well as the priorities of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2019. During the meeting with the Cypriot foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides, George Ciamba has underlined the interest taken by Romania in rendering the dialogue more dynamic, given the traditional cooperation between the two states, and has also referred to the presence of a large Romanian community in Cyprus and of a Cypriot business community in Romania. In the field of migration, the officials reiterated their support for the EUs actions to strengthen cooperation with foreign partners, origin and transit countries, and for further implementing the EU-Turkey Declaration. Relative to the Eastern Neighbourhood, the officials underlined the need to further support the Republic of Moldova on its European path. The Cypriot officials reiterated their support for Bucharests candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020 – 2021 period and for Romanias Schengen accession.

TRAVEL FAIR– The 38th edition of Romanias Travel Fair bring together until Sunday over 200 tour operators and travel agencies. 12 foreign countries from around the globe chose to have their own stands at the fair, just like Romanian county councils which try to promote Romanias travel destinations.

17 November 2017
February 16, 2017 UPDATE

VISIT — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday met with the European Commission chief-negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, who is on a visit to Bucharest. The meeting was scheduled ahead of Romania’s taking over the EU presidency in 2019, a year when Brexit negotiations are due to enter their final phase. President Iohannis said that Brexit negotiations should observe the rights of Romanians living in the UK. Iohannis also said that Romanians in the UK should enjoy the rights that had been granted to them even after the country’s leaving the EU. In his turn, Michel Barnier talked about the stage of the Brexit preparations and underlined the important role that Romania will play in this respect as country that will take over the EU presidency in 2019.

BRUSSELS — The European Commission is expecting that Romania’s progress in the fight against corruption should be irreversible, the first vice-president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, said in a press conference held jointly with Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu on Thursday in Brussels. Timmermans also said that Romania would be getting support from the Commission to solve the issue of prison overcrowding. In his turn, PM Grindeanu said he considered nominating a person without political affiliation at the helm of the Justice Ministry.

BUDGET BILL – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday promulgated the budget bill and the social security bill for 2017. However, the President pointed out that the state budget was problematic because it included overestimated revenues and very high level of expenditure. On Tuesday, after a meeting with PM Sorin Grindeanu and Finance Minister Viorel Stefan, President Iohannis said that there was the risk of the budget deficit to exceed 3%, which would trigger the excessive deficit procedure by the European Commission. The state budget, proposed by Romania’s leftist government, is based, among other things, on a 5.2% economic growth rate, an inflation rate below 1.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.

STRASBOURG – All EU citizens and third country nationals entering or leaving the EU will be systematically checked against databases, under a regulation voted by the European Parliament on Thursday in Strasbourg. The new regulation, which amends the Schengen Borders Code was presented by the European Commission in December 2015. It obliges member states to carry out systematic checks on all persons crossing EU external borders against databases of stolen and lost documents, the Schengen Information System (SIS) and other relevant EU databases. The rule change is a response to terrorist threats in Europe and the phenomenon of “foreign fighters”, i.e. EU citizens joining terrorist groups in conflict zones, such as Daesh in Syria and Iraq. The checks will be mandatory at all air, sea and land borders, on both entry and exit. Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland have all opted out of its scope.

ACTIVITY REPORT — The total value of assets seized or frozen last year by the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism stood at 930 million euros. According to the institution’s activity report for 2016, total crime-related damages, as shown by cases solved last year, stood at 135 million euros, as compared to 173 million euros in 2015. Anti-mafia prosecutors solved over 13,000 cases last year, up by 12.5% as against 2015, with almost 4,000 people being prosecuted. Another 13,000 cases are still pending.

INFRINGEMENT — The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Romania on retail trade of agricultural and food products. Large retailers from Romania are required to purchase at least 51% of food and agricultural products from local producers. The Commission raised concerns on the basis of the principle of free movement of goods. The joint Senate committees on European affairs and agriculture decided to set up a task force to harmonize Romanian legislation with EU regulations.

TRAVEL FAIR — Over 250 travel agents from 14 countries on Thursday and Friday are taking part in Romania’s Travel Fair. Agencies from Romania and Austria, Bulgaria, Egypt, Croatia, the Russian Federation, Greece, Israel, Moldova, Palestine, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Turkey and Hungary will be presenting visitors with customised offers, based on individual budgets and preferences, travel packages for Easter, the summer holidays as well as circuits. Travel agents have offers at 40-50% discounts, available only during the fair, transport offers for one euro only, air travel costs included and other benefits.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands on Thursday qualified to the semifinals of the men’s doubles of the Rotterdam Tournament with 1.7 million euros in prize money. They defeated Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez of Spain, the competition’s second seed, in two sets, 6-4, 6-4. The Romanian-Dutch team won this tournament in 2015.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

16 February 2017
February 16, 2017

VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is today meeting European Commission chief-negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, who is on a visit to Bucharest. The meeting is scheduled ahead of Romanias taking over the EU presidency in 2019, a year when Brexit negotiations are due to enter their final phase. President Iohannis has repeatedly said that Brexit negotiations should observe the rights of Romanians living in the UK. Michel Barnier visited Romania on October 5, 2016, when he met with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.

EMERGENCY DECREE – The Chamber of Deputies is today debating the emergency decree rescinding the controversial decree by means of which the Government tried to amend criminal legislation. According to the chairman of the Chambers judicial committee, which is the decision-making body is this matter, approving the former would make null the latter. The decree, which among other things partially decriminalized abuse of office, was at the centre of mass street protests in Bucharest and other large cities, started on January 31. Protesters called for the withdrawal of the decree and called for the resignation of the Government. Anti-presidential protests were also staged against Klaus Iohannis. Protesters accuse the president for failing to act as a mediator in the current crisis.

ACTIVITY REPORT – The total value of assets seized or frozen last year by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism stood at 930 million euros. According to the institutions activity report for 2016, total crime-related damages, as shown by cases solved last year, stood at 135 million euros, as compared to 173 million euros in 2015. Anti-mafia prosecutors solved over 13,000 cases last year, up by 12.5% as against 2015, with almost 4,000 people being prosecuted. Another 13,000 cases are still pending.

INFRINGEMENT – The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Romania on retail trade of agricultural and food products. Large retailers from Romania are required to purchase at least 51% of food and agricultural products from local producers. The Commission raised concerns on the basis of the principle of free movement of goods. The joint Senate committees on European affairs and agriculture decided to set up a task force to harmonize Romanian legislation with EU regulations.

NATO – NATO Defence Ministers are today discussing cyber security at the end of their two-day formal meeting in Brussels. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said cyber-attacks on NATO networks went up by 60% over 2015-2016 and there are reports from some Member States indicating that Russia might be behind some of these attacks. On Monday NATO Defence Ministers agreed to set up a new regional centre to respond to threats from the south. The centre will be integrated into the NATO Command Centre in Napoli, Italy, and will function as a response force to threats from the Middle East and Northern Africa. Attending the meeting, Romanian Defence Minister Gabriel Les said that Romania has observed its commitment to allotting 2% of its GDP to defence this year. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Defence Ministers of Romania, the Czech Republic and Germany signed agreements to consolidate cooperation.

TRAVEL FAIR – Over 250 travel agents from 14 countries on Thursday and Friday are taking part in Romanias Travel Fair. Agencies from Romania and Austria, Bulgaria, Egypt, Croatia, the Russian Federation, Greece, Israel, Moldova, Palestine, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Turkey and Hungary will be presenting visitors with customised offers, based on individual budgets and preferences, travel packages for Easter, the summer holidays as well as circuits. Travel agents have offers at 40-50% discounts, available only during the fair, transport offers for one euro only, air travel costs included and other benefits.

FOOTBALL – Romanias football champions Astra Giurgiu is today playing KRC Genk of Belgium in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16. Qualified to this phase for the first time, Astra previously played in a group with AS Rome of Italy, Viktoria Plezen of the Czech Republic and Austria Vienna. Astra is the only Romanian team left in the competition. The return leg will be played away from home next Thursday. (Tranlsated by V. Palcu)

16 February 2017
Romania’s Tourism Fair

As expected, travel agencies offered early booking and last minute offers for all tourist areas in Romania. Spa tourism was a widely available option.Molnar Akos is manager of a hotel complex in Baile Tusnad. The resort is famous for its natural waters, ideal for treating heart conditions:

Molnar Akos:“We have a great spa, very comfortable, with wellness services. We have a four-star hotel offering a package for Orthodox Easter, with three night stays, Friday to Monday. Next to the hotel there is a small Orthodox church, and we adapted the scheduling of the dinner to its schedule of masses. The price per person is 740 lei, about 165 Euro, which includes traditional Romanian festive meals, which are Swedish buffet. For the summer we include spa, massage, and treatment. The package includes medical tests, and covers five days, but our recommendation for best results is 10 to 12 days. We have customers from Israel who stay for as much as a month each year, because they love the water and its curative effects.”

Rodica Penea, Secretary General of the Romanian Spa Tourism Employers Association in Romania, recalls that Romania has a third of Europe’s curative waters. Their miraculous effects have been known since antiquity, and to this day they are the ideal solution for treatment.

Rodica Penea: “I would like to recommend at least two of the programs we offer: ‘One Week Spa Recovery’, which includes accommodation, breakfast and two daily procedures, for a price of 330 lei, the equivalent of 75 Euro, and a so-called Spa Decade, 10 days full accommodation with two daily procedures, for a price of 650 LEI, about 145 Euro. This is the fee for two stars. For three stars, the price goes up by about 30 lei. We also have the ‘Let’s Go to the Spa’ package, for a price of 545 lei, about 120 Euro, or the Spa Wellness package, also for 545 lei”.

Calin Doba, marketing manager of a hotel in Baile Felix has on offer medicinal herbs and mud baths, and various treatment programs in February-March and September-October: “We have recently opened an Aqua Park, and we have redone the promenade alleys. We have 7 night packages for two people, which cost about 500 Euro, whereas a full service package for two, treatment included, sells for 600 Euro. We have tourists from Austria, Germany, Israel, and recently we work with Finland as well.”

Irina Sandu, with the Tourist Info Center in Iasi, told us that a lot of cultural events are scheduled for 2016, but that should not keep you from visiting the tourist sites: “This year we offer lots of tourism promotion materials: a bilingual guidebook, a magazine on local traditions in Iasi, Botosani, Galati and the Republic of Moldova, as well as a map with the main sites in Iasi. We worked with travel agencies to promote educational tourism and a few city-break offers. Iasi has a lot to offer. The Palace of Culture opens in April, and there are also some ‘must see’ museums, such as the Cuza University Museum, the small house of the prominent Romanian writer, Ion Creanga, as well as the Sadoveanu and Eminescu memorial houses.”

Nicolae Tescula, director of the Sighisoara History Museum, invited us to Transylvania, in western Romania: “Sighisoara is the only town in Romania which is a UNESCO heritage site. It is also one of the few towns in Europe where medieval fortifications have been preserved almost unaltered, as much as 90%. It has been continuously inhabited for 800 years, and you can get there quickly. It is a city that reflects very well the history of the Transylvanian, Romanian Middle Ages, and the way people lived hundreds of years ago. We have a history museum laid out in the clock tower. It is Romania’s only vertical museum, documenting the 14th century.”

Gabriel Ditu, manager of a tourist complex in the Danube Delta, at Gura Portitei, invited us to take a trip to the seaside: “Tourists have the opportunity to discover an area unique in Europe, a 150 meter wide sand strip between the Black Sea and the Reazim Sinoe laguna. They will also have an opportunity to relax in Gura Portitei holiday village. The waves of the sea can be heard from your room. A five-night stay off-season for two is about 100 Euro. If you opt for full accommodation off-season, you should pay an extra charge of 90 Euros per person. If you want to spend a vacation in full season, in August, instead of 280 Euro you will pay almost 400 Euro for five nights.”

“Easter in Bukovina” and “Easter in Maramures” are two other programs promoted at the Tourism Fair. They run between 65 and 300 Euro, depending on the options you pick.

3 March 2016
Traveler’s Guide

In addition to the presentation of travel offers and attractions in Romania, the Travel Fair also hosted folk shows, demonstrations at craft workshops and virtual visit tours. Holiday offers with a 30% discount were in greatest demand. Loredana Nistor is the manager of a tourist complex including nine three star villas in the Gradistea Gorges, only 7 km far from Bran Castle and 30 km from the city of Brasov.

“Prices start from 28 euro for a double room per night, breakfast included. We have dry and wet saunas, a jacuzzi, a spa facility, tennis, volleyball and handball grounds. Tourists can ride horses and bikes. There are various tourist routes in the area. The complex stands on a plateau between the Bucegi Mountains and the Piatra Craiului Mountains, in a very nice area. We have foreign tourists coming from all over the world. This very weekend we’ll receive a group from China.”

Offers for families were among the most appealing offers for the Romanian Black Sea coast.

Marius Usturoiu is the general manager of a travel agency established in 1998, actually one of the main travel agencies in Romania. He gave us more details.

“The prices of a seven-day, all inclusive stay in a three star hotel with four star services at the beginning and the end of the season start from 299 Euros per person. In full summer season, the prices range from 350 to 400 Euros per person. The price includes theatre performances, films, beach games and contests, sports competitions, swimming courses.”

Florina Stefan is a PR expert at the History Museum in Sighisoara, central Romania, a public institution subordinated to the local city hall. The Sighisoara citadel has been promoted at the travel fair for at least 15 years now. As every year, the travel operators present the town, its monuments and other cultural and tourist attractions.

Any Romanian or foreign tourist visiting Transylvania must see Sighisoara because it is a gem, Florina Stefan says.

“The best known monument in Sighisoara is the Clock Tower, a 64 m tall monument, which has been housing the History Museum of the town since 1899. We have a rich agenda of cultural events. The Blues Festival is kicking off on March 28th, an event rallying artists from all over the world. Earth Day is also marked on March 28th. On the morning of March 28th, hundreds of volunteers will call for environmental protection and in the evening, shows will take place on the fortress premises. For one hour, lights will be put out and we’ll march through the town carrying lit candles. Museums’ Night has been organized on May 14th for 8 years now. The Craft Fair is held in June and July. The famous Medieval Art Festival, now at its 23rd edition, will be held in the last weekend of July. Then we have the Academic Music festival with musicians from all over the world taking part in it. In late August the Proetnica festival kicks off. All ethnic groups from Romania exhibit their cultural customs, dances, traditional apparel and cuisine. The Halloween is not a traditional festivity, but with so many foreign tourists traveling to Sighisoara, on that day the whole city celebrates. And wrapping up the year is the Customs and Traditions Festival.”

Geanina Fedeles, advisor to the mayor of Targu Neamt, has extended an invitation for us to travel to north-eastern Romania.

”The area boasts a great variety of tourist assets. I should like to begin with the Neamt Fortress and I will continue with the monasteries, of which the best known are the Neamt Monastery, the Agapia Monastery, which was painted by Nicolae Grigorescu himself, then there are also the Secu, Sihla and Sihastria monasteries. The beauty of these sites is literally breathtaking. I saw that foreign tourists take a great interest in nature and in the area’s eco-tourist side. Reason enough for us to join the Vanatori Natural Park in a competition of Romania’s eco-tourist destinations. The park administration has structured its activity in three: the captive aurochs in the Dragos Voda Zoo, the semi-captive aurochs which tourists can admire from a wooden bridge, built at an appreciable height. And, last but not least, I believe it is the only natural park with the aurochs completely at large, though monitored. A great many foreign tourists visit our stand and we are honored by their kind words.”

Gabriel Bucsa is the representative of Rasnov’s Dino Park, to be opened this summer. It is also Romania’s first such park tailored for those who love adventure and who are also interested in learning about prehistoric life. The dinosaurs that will be on display in Rasnov were manufactured by a firm from Germany, are real-size replicas, strictly observing paleontologists’ advice. With details on that, here is Gabriel Bucsa himself.

”Lots of activities for children are being staged within the park, and not only for them. We have built tree-houses, playgrounds, a route including the dinosaurs’ history — 45 all told. The park lies right at the entrance to the Rasnov Fortress. All dinosaurs are placed in the forest. It has a surface area of 1.4 hectares. Guided tours will be organized, with specialized personnel explaining the history of dinosaurs. Guided tours in foreign languages are also on offer. The park will be open from morning until the evening, and the admission ticket includes everything, except for laser shooting. It is an activity tailored for children. They will enter a room where various nature sounds are simulated, and will hunt dinosaurs.”

Easter holiday packages in Maramures or Bukovina were also included in the offer. For instance, the fee for a four-night and three-day package in both areas starts from 290 Euro per person, for double rooms. The fee includes traditional food, drinks and kids’ access to the playground.

19 March 2015