Radio România Internațional

Tag: travel

July 13, 2020 UPDATE

Coronavirus Romania. Covid-19 infections near 33,000 in Romania since the beginning of the pandemic. Almost 21,700 people
have recovered, some 235 are in intensive care, and the death toll has passed
1,900. More than 5,100 cases have been confirmed among the Romanians living
abroad, as well as 122 fatalities.

Coronavirus
world. The director general
of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that
too many countries are headed in the wrong direction and that the
novel coronavirus remain public enemy number one. He said the situation can
only become worse unless basic measures are taken to control it and that there
will be no return to the old normal for the foreseeable future. Global coronavirus infections near 13 million
confirmed cases, with and almost 600,000 deaths. The situation continues to
deteriorate in the United States, Latin America, India and Russia.

Restrictions.
Lithuania has banned the access of Romanian travellers to due to the rising number of
Covid-19 infections in Romania. The authorities in Vilnius are assessing the
decision on a weekly basis. Lithuania isn’t the only European country imposing
restrictions to Romanian citizens. Greece is also asking tourists to produce a
negative Covid test taken in the past 72 hours when entering the Greek border,
while Austria requires Covid-19 tests not older than 4 days. Other European
countries like Finland, Malta, Slovakia, Estonia, Ireland, the Netherlands,
Slovenia and Hungary ask travellers to isolate or quarantine. 20 European
countries have imposed restrictions for travellers coming from Romania.

Law. The Senate’s legal committee on Monday resumed debates on the law
regulating quarantine and isolation. No new date was set for a final vote in
the Senate, which is the decision-making body in this case. Talks focused on
the specific provisions referring to the restriction of rights and liberties in
case of a high epidemiological risk. The bill was initiated by the government
after the Constitutional Court ruled that isolation at home, quarantine and
hospitalisation cannot be imposed based on ministerial order as was the case so
far, even when the persons in question are infected with the novel coronavirus.
The Constitutional court said the restrictive measures must be based on a law
that clearly regulates them. On Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies passed the
bill in a much amended form. Postponing a debate on the bill in the Senate
means a dramatic increase in the risk of infection, said prime minister Ludovic
Orban, adding that the law is indispensable. On Sunday evening, hundreds of
people protested against the quarantine and isolation law in front of the
government building.

Partnership. Prime minister Ludovic
Orban on Monday stated his government’s openness towards consolidating the
French-Romanian strategic partnership. On the eve of France’s national day on
the 14th of July, he attended a roundtable by video conference held
by the French Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Romania. The
prime minister hailed the active contribution of French companies in various
sectors in Romania. The French ambassador to Bucharest Michele Ramis said
Romania is a dynamic EU market and that the relationship between the two
countries is exceptional, almost fraternal.

Fencing. The International
Fencing Federation has designated Romania’s Ana Maria Popescu winner of the
2020 World Cup in women’s epee as early as this month as many competitions
could not be held because of the Covid pandemic. The Romanian fencer is
followed in the ranking by Brazil’s Nathalie Moellhausen and China’s Sun Yiwen.
Ana Maria Popescu has already won this title three times, in 2008, 2009 and
2013. With this fourth win, she becomes the fencer with most titles in the
history of the World Cup in epee, ahead of France’s Laura Flessel and Hungary’s Emese
Szasz-Kovacs, each with three world titles to their names. (CM)

13 July 2020
July 10, 2020 UPDATE

BILL A bill on quarantine and self-isolation initiated by the government in Bucharest is currently being debated upon in the Senate. The document, which includes a large number of amendments, was endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday. It regulates a number of necessary temporary measures in the field of public safety in situations of high epidemiological and biological hazard with a view to preventing and limiting contagion on the national territory. The government has resorted to the move after the Constitutional Court decided that self-isolation, quarantine and hospitalization cannot be imposed through a ministry order even in the case of infected persons. Judges believe that the aforementioned procedures are infringing upon individual rights and liberties and that restrictive measures must be imposed only under a law clearly regulating these restrictions. On Friday Romania reported 592 new infections, which brings the total number up to 31,400. About 22,800 people have recovered whereas 1,847 died. The number of Romanians infected abroad exceeds 5,100, with a death toll of 122.

RESTRICTIONS With the number of COVID-19 cases in Romania on the rise, some countries, like Malta, Finland and Norway have banned the access of travellers from Romania, while others introduced quarantine or isolation requirements. The Netherlands firmly recommends Romanian nationals should self-isolate for 14 days upon entry. As of Thursday, Austria also requires that Romanians present a certificate in English or German, confirming a negative SARS-COV-2 test no older than 4 days, otherwise travellers must self-isolate for 14 days. The UK has put together a list of safe countries, which does not include Romania, which means that travelers from Romania must self-isolate for 2 weeks. Hungary also announced it would revise the rules of access from neighbouring countries that report growing numbers of infection. In turn, Greece wants Romanian tourists coming into the country through the Kulata-Promachonas check point, the only one opened at present, to have negative COVID-19 tests issued in the last 72 hours. Tourists must also fill in an online form at least 24 hours prior to entering Greece.

JUDICIARY Romania is one of the lowest-ranking countries in an EU list based on the perceived independence of judges and courts, according to a poll made public on Friday, together with the 2020 EU Justice Scoreboard. An even more worrying situation is reported for Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Slovakia and Croatia. As many as 45% of the Romanians have a bad opinion on the independence of judges and courts. For UE-28, which includes the UK, the figure is 33%. At the opposite end, only 37% of Romanians have a good opinion on the independence of judges and courts, which is lower than last year, whereas at EU level the rate is 56%. Denmark ranks first on this list, with 86% of its population sharing a positive view on the topic.

EUROSTAT Nine out of the 27 EU member countries, Romania included, reported population decline last year, while in 18 countries the population increased, according to a report released on Friday by the European Statistics Institute (Eurostat). The highest increase was reported in Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Ireland and Sweden, with the most significat drop rates reported in Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, Croatia and Italy. In Romania, the National Statistics Institute announced on Friday that the negative rate was 1.5 times higher in May 2020 than in May 2019.

INFLATION In Romania, the year-on-year inflation rate reached 2.6% this June, from 2.3% in May, as the prices of foodstuffs, services and non-foods went up, the National Statistics Institute announced on Friday. The National Bank of Romania lowered its inflation forecast for this year from 3% to 2.8%. Early this week, the Finance Minister Florin Cîţu announced that an inflation rate lower than in previous years means smaller interest rates in the economy, and smaller interest costs mean access to cheaper loans to all Romanians. According to the National Statistics Institute, last year the annual inflation rate was 3.8%, and in 2018 it was 4.6%.

PANDEMIC The total number of coronavirus cases worldwide is over 12.4 million, with the death toll standing at 558,000. In the USA, the worst hit country in the world, the number of cases passes 3.2 million, and 136,000 people died. News agencies say the record-high COVID-19 figures in most American states reduce the hope for economic recovery. The second worst affected country remains Brazil, with over 1.7 million cases and nearly 70,000 deaths. In Europe, Italy has closed its borders to 13 non-EU countries, including the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia. The restrictions include the travellers who only transit those countries. Only Italian nationals are allowed to re-enter the country coming from those regions, subject to compulsory 2-week self-isolation.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu, Daniel Bilt)

10 July 2020
July 3, 2020 UPDATE

COVID-19 Another 420 cases of infection with the new coronavirus have been reported in Romania, taking the total number of contaminations to 28,166, the Strategic Communication Group announced on Friday. Over the past 24 hours 21 people have died, taking the death toll to 1,708. 224 people are still in intensive care, while 20,433 patients have recovered. Another 7 Romanian nationals infected with the coronavirus died in Germany, with the total number of Romanians living abroad who died during the pandemic reaching 122. The Romanian health minister Nelu Tătaru has said that at present there is no risk of reinstating the state of emergency in the context of the coronavirus pandemic but the state of alert might be extended, if necessary. He provided data pointing to a steady increase in the number of contaminations over the past 3 weeks, and pointed out that restrictions may be further lifted only if the evolution of the pandemic allows it. The state of alert introduced in Romania is due to end in mid-July.

PANDEMIC As many as 11 million cases of COVID-19 contamination have been reported around the world since the start of the pandemic with around 6 million people having recovered. More than 520,000 people have died. The US, Brazil and Great Britain are the countries hardest hit by the pandemic. The US has reported more than 2.7 million cases. News agencies write that the number of cases in the US is higher than ever, since the onset of the pandemic and more and more people are being hospitalized in Houston (Texas) and Phoenix (Arizona).

SCHENGEN Joining Europes border-free area remains a priority for Romania, the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated in Bucharest on Friday, at the conference occasioned by the start of Germanys presidency of the Council of the EU. More flexibility is required in this respect, and the current crisis has proved that including Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area would be a gain, Bogdan Aurescu said. In turn, the German Ambassador to Bucharest, Cord Meier-Klodt, sent a message of unity and solidarity, emphasizing that the motto of the German presidency is “Together for Europes recovery. On July 1, Germany took over the 6-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Romanias and Bulgarias Schengen accession has been repeatedly postponed because of the opposition of some member states, primarily over the absence of reforms in the judiciary.

FRANCE The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has appointed Jean Castex as the new PM of France. A conservative politician aged 62, Castex was re-elected on Sunday mayor of a small town in southern France. In April he had been appointed by Macron to prepare a strategy for lifting the COVID-19 lockdown. Radio Romanias correspondent in Paris mentions that the outgoing PM, Edouard Philippe, stepped down on Friday morning.

IMMIGRANTS The Romanian border police have identified 23 citizens from Syria, Palestine and Egypt who were trying to illegally cross the border from Romania into Hungary. During the investigation they stated they were trying to reach Germany, Austria and Sweden. The driver of the van transporting the immigrants is being investigated for immigrant trafficking and is going to be taken into temporary custody for 30 days.

CANNES The Romanian short film ‘Contraindications by Lucia Chicoş has been selected for the Cinefondation section of the Cannes International Film Festival. The director is a student with the I.L. Caragiale National University of Theater and Film in Bucharest and the film is 19 minutes long. The other countries participating in the Cinefondation section this year are Israel, Great Britain, Argentina, Hungary, India, Switzerland, the US, South Korea, France, Poland, Portugal, Germany and Slovenia.

GREECE The Romanian authorities are making diplomatic efforts to deal with the situation of the long queues of Romanian tourists waiting to enter Greece. The Romanian Foreign Ministry officials have called on the Greek authorities to identify solutions to streamline traffic flow through the only opened border-crossing point between Bulgaria and Greece, namely Kulata – Promachonas. The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu talked on the phone with his Greek counterpart and suggested the opening of other checkpoints too, given that the tourist season has begun. The Greek side has announced they are looking into the situation and are trying to work out solutions to solve the problem. As of this month, Greece has introduced random tests for foreign tourists who reach the Greek territory by air, road or sea. After testing, tourists will wait for the result in self-isolation at their tourist destination. (tr. L. Simion, A.M. Popescu)

3 July 2020
13 June 2020, UPDATE

State of alert. The state of alert declared by the Romanian authorities
on 15th May comes to an end on Monday, but the government says it
plans to extend it, with a decision in this respect to be taken at the next
government meeting. Prime minister Ludovic Orban has reiterated that this is
not a political move, but founded on expert opinion, given the high risk of a
second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The extension to the state of alert
must be approved by Parliament, but the opposition say they are no longer going
to vote in favour. According to the interim president of the Social Democratic
Party Marcel Ciolacu, there should be an intermediate stage instead lasting no
more than 15 days. Official figures show that 275 new infections were reported
in Romania over the last 24 hours, with 171 people still in intensive care. 1,394
of the around 21,700 people who contracted the virus have died. Among the
Romanian communities abroad, some 3,400 people had the virus and 114 have died.

Travel. Beginning on Monday, the Romanian railways are
restoring international travel between Craiova in southern Romania and Vidin in
north-western Bulgaria, which was suspended because of the pandemic. The
company says it is having talks with its European partner railways to resume
the travel of Romanian trains on foreign routes. Face masks are obligatory for
the entire duration of a train journey in Romania. Also on Monday, the
transport ministry in Bucharest will publish the list of countries with which
Romania will restore international air travel, with travellers coming from
these states no longer being obliged to self-isolate at home for 14 days on
arrival in Romania.

Economy. The National Bank of Romania has warned that the Romanian
economy may shrink significantly in the second quarter of the year owing to the
shutdown of many economic sectors and lower domestic and external consumption
as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Romanian businesses and even
entire sectors had to interrupt their activity overnight, with transport,
tourism, the hospitality industry, recreational activities, industry and trade
being the hardest hit. Economic demand grew considerably in the first quarter
of the year but the labour market saw a sudden drop in March, its effects being
somewhat alleviated by the government’s furlough scheme, says a National Bank report.
The number of budgeted employment contracts has increased, however, recently,
and the trend may continue as the furlough scheme comes to an end. According to
the National Bank, the annual inflation rate will stay at over 3% this year,
even after a clear drop in the second quarter.

13 June 2020
From a state of emergency to a state of alert

In mid-May there will be 2 months since the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis introduced a state of emergency to prevent the spread of the SARS CoV-2 virus. This entailed restrictions on fundamental citizen rights, such as the freedom of movement.

On Monday, the head of state made a new announcement: as of May 15, Romania will switch from a state of emergency to a state of alert. The latter is a prevention plan regarding the immediate implementation of prevention measures and actions, public warning and mitigation of the effects of the state of emergency.

The measures must be proportionate to the situations that have caused them, and will be enforced within the limits of the law.

The president warned that the situation has not yet improved. ‘We cannot say that the disease is over, but at some point we have to move on, and this takes the form of this switch to a state of alert, the president explained. He added that the state of emergency measures will be lifted step by step, at intervals of about 2 weeks.

As of May 15, life will gradually return to normal. In a first stage, hairdressers and barbers shops will be opened, along with dentist practices and museums, and people will be allowed to leave their homes within their home towns or villages without a sworn statement regarding the purposes of traveling. However, restrictions remain in place as regards travelling outside the home locality.

Klaus Iohannis: “As of May 15, beauty salons, dentist practices and museums will be opened, but all of them will apply special distancing and hygiene measures. We will all wear face masks when inside public areas and when using public transportation. Travel outside the home locality will be restricted. There are, however, a number of exceptions. One may leave ones home town or village, for instance, for work, for healthcare purposes, for individual sports activities, for biking.

Klaus Iohannis added that professional athletes will be able to begin training under special conditions, but competitions will only be allowed after a sufficient preparation period. He also emphasised that, under a state of alert, meetings of more than 3 people remain forbidden.

The president has once again called for responsibility. “There is no telling how long this epidemic will last, and it is up to us to keep it under control here in Romania. I would very much like for all of us, together, to manage to control it, and this means compliance with the instructions of the authorities, Iohannis concluded.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

5 May 2020
Christmas in Romania

The diversity of Christmas holiday packages in Romania is no longer a surprise for tourists. You can spend a holiday in a more traditional part of the country, to see ancient customs and rites first-hand, you can choose a spa resort or, why not, a hotel close to a ski run. Romanias big cities also organize charming Christmas fairs. So whatever option you choose, you are certain to have a holiday to remember.

Romania is a unique destination in Europe in terms of traditions, but the local cuisine is also famous, says Marius Zamfir, the head of Transylvania Hotels and Travel. So we open our Christmas travel offer with an invitation to north-western Romania, 9 km from the city of Oradea and very close to the Hungarian border. Baile Felix spa resort here has long been a major holiday destination for both Romanian and foreign tourists. The resort boasts a network of hotels with modern indoor and outdoor pools. We have chosen a 5-star hotel in Baile Felix:

Marius Zamfir: “In this resort, Christmas packages have been designed for 4 and 5-night stays between December 20th and 27th. I would like to mention first the Christmas dinner, with traditional products for both our regular tourists and for those who observe the Orthodox fasting period. Folk ensembles will perform carols and stage shows presenting the local New Years and Christmas customs and traditions. The guests have free access to the Aqua Park, to the adventure park and to saunas, and a spa procedure is included in the price of each package. Tourists are obviously free to choose multiple such procedures from the hotels offer. The tariff for a 4-night package per person in a double room starts from around 750 euros, and the 5-night package costs around 900 euros.

Bukovina, in the north of the country, is another region famous for its well-preserved traditions, for its medieval monasteries with mural paintings and for its outstanding cuisine. But it is also a destination of choice for the more active tourists. The number and diversity of holiday options in rural Bukovina are growing from one year to the next. Essentially, wellness tourism and agritourism both involve a return to nature, to organic food, to a healthier life. And whether you choose to stay in a modern or a rustic guesthouse, you will be charmed by the region and its people.

Marius Zamfir: “There are 4-night packages in 4-star guesthouses, which include breakfast, 2 lunches, a snack and a Christmas dinner. The dinner on Christmas Eve is accompanied by performances of traditional carols, but local customs are also presented on Christmas day. This particular guesthouse also has a spa centre with free entrance to swimming pools, Jacuzzi, saunas, etc. Prices start from 550 euros per person, and vary with the type of room.

Also in the north of Romania we find the other historical region famous around the world: Maramures. Holiday packages here are tailored to the needs of families. Here is Dan Carpov with the Maramures County Councils Tourist Information Centre:

Dan Carpov: “In Maramures, prices are excellent, and packages include not only traditional stays, but also novelties that we have designed for the foreign tourists who reach our part of the country. Prices start from 200-300 euros, and cover accommodation, meals, visits and narrow-gauge train rides. The tariff for the New Years package is a little higher, ranging from 300 to 400 euros. We have this app called Visit Maramures, running on both IoS and Android systems. It is a database with information on accommodation options, meals plans, trekking and biking routes, as well as an offline map. In Maramures there are 8 churches that are included in the UNESCO heritage list, but the number of wood churches here is actually a lot larger. The monasteries here are also widely admired, and examples include the ones in Barsana or the one in Peri, which is the tallest wood building in Europe. And we should not overlook winter sports, because people come here on Christmas not only for a tasty meal. We have at least 3 ski runs that meet international standards.

And since we mentioned skiing, lets stop next in Poiana Brasov, Romanias largest skiing region. The town of Brasov in central Romania is acclaimed for its medieval architecture, but also for the diversity of cultural sites, for the active holiday experiences and for its shopping opportunities. Marius Zamfir invites us to a 5-star hotel downtown Brasov:

Marius Zamfir: “Prices here start from around 700 euros for 4-night stays. The package includes a welcome dinner on December 23rd. The festive Christmas dinner, on December 25th, is accompanied by folk performances by local ensembles. Guests have unrestricted access to the hotels spa services, including pool, saunas, massage etc. The hotel is 12 km away from Poiana Brasov and its ski runs.

This wraps up todays instalment of Travellers Guide, we are looking forward to welcoming you in Romania this Christmas season.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

19 December 2019
Christmas in Romania

The diversity of Christmas holiday packages in Romania is no longer a surprise for tourists. You can spend a holiday in a more traditional part of the country, to see ancient customs and rites first-hand, you can choose a spa resort or, why not, a hotel close to a ski run. Romanias big cities also organize charming Christmas fairs. So whatever option you choose, you are certain to have a holiday to remember.

Romania is a unique destination in Europe in terms of traditions, but the local cuisine is also famous, says Marius Zamfir, the head of Transylvania Hotels and Travel. So we open our Christmas travel offer with an invitation to north-western Romania, 9 km from the city of Oradea and very close to the Hungarian border. Baile Felix spa resort here has long been a major holiday destination for both Romanian and foreign tourists. The resort boasts a network of hotels with modern indoor and outdoor pools. We have chosen a 5-star hotel in Baile Felix:

Marius Zamfir: “In this resort, Christmas packages have been designed for 4 and 5-night stays between December 20th and 27th. I would like to mention first the Christmas dinner, with traditional products for both our regular tourists and for those who observe the Orthodox fasting period. Folk ensembles will perform carols and stage shows presenting the local New Years and Christmas customs and traditions. The guests have free access to the Aqua Park, to the adventure park and to saunas, and a spa procedure is included in the price of each package. Tourists are obviously free to choose multiple such procedures from the hotels offer. The tariff for a 4-night package per person in a double room starts from around 750 euros, and the 5-night package costs around 900 euros.

Bukovina, in the north of the country, is another region famous for its well-preserved traditions, for its medieval monasteries with mural paintings and for its outstanding cuisine. But it is also a destination of choice for the more active tourists. The number and diversity of holiday options in rural Bukovina are growing from one year to the next. Essentially, wellness tourism and agritourism both involve a return to nature, to organic food, to a healthier life. And whether you choose to stay in a modern or a rustic guesthouse, you will be charmed by the region and its people.

Marius Zamfir: “There are 4-night packages in 4-star guesthouses, which include breakfast, 2 lunches, a snack and a Christmas dinner. The dinner on Christmas Eve is accompanied by performances of traditional carols, but local customs are also presented on Christmas day. This particular guesthouse also has a spa centre with free entrance to swimming pools, Jacuzzi, saunas, etc. Prices start from 550 euros per person, and vary with the type of room.

Also in the north of Romania we find the other historical region famous around the world: Maramures. Holiday packages here are tailored to the needs of families. Here is Dan Carpov with the Maramures County Councils Tourist Information Centre:

Dan Carpov: “In Maramures, prices are excellent, and packages include not only traditional stays, but also novelties that we have designed for the foreign tourists who reach our part of the country. Prices start from 200-300 euros, and cover accommodation, meals, visits and narrow-gauge train rides. The tariff for the New Years package is a little higher, ranging from 300 to 400 euros. We have this app called Visit Maramures, running on both IoS and Android systems. It is a database with information on accommodation options, meals plans, trekking and biking routes, as well as an offline map. In Maramures there are 8 churches that are included in the UNESCO heritage list, but the number of wood churches here is actually a lot larger. The monasteries here are also widely admired, and examples include the ones in Barsana or the one in Peri, which is the tallest wood building in Europe. And we should not overlook winter sports, because people come here on Christmas not only for a tasty meal. We have at least 3 ski runs that meet international standards.

And since we mentioned skiing, lets stop next in Poiana Brasov, Romanias largest skiing region. The town of Brasov in central Romania is acclaimed for its medieval architecture, but also for the diversity of cultural sites, for the active holiday experiences and for its shopping opportunities. Marius Zamfir invites us to a 5-star hotel downtown Brasov:

Marius Zamfir: “Prices here start from around 700 euros for 4-night stays. The package includes a welcome dinner on December 23rd. The festive Christmas dinner, on December 25th, is accompanied by folk performances by local ensembles. Guests have unrestricted access to the hotels spa services, including pool, saunas, massage etc. The hotel is 12 km away from Poiana Brasov and its ski runs.

This wraps up todays instalment of Travellers Guide, we are looking forward to welcoming you in Romania this Christmas season.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

18 December 2019
November 23, 2019

ELECTIONS In Romania, the campaign for the second round of the presidential election, due on November 24, has come to a close this morning at 7 am. Competing are the incumbent president Klaus Iohannis, endorsed by the National Liberal Party now in power, and the former Social Democrat PM Viorica Dancilă. The Permanent Election Authority has announced that the Electoral Register has been updated and the total number of voters in the roll is 18,217,411. In the first round, in which 14 candidates took part, Klaus Iohannis got nearly 38% of the votes, and Viorica Dăncilă a little over 22%. The voter turnout was 51.19%. In the Romanian communities abroad, where the vote took place over 3 days, record-high turnout was reported, with over 675,000 people showing up in polling stations. For Sundays runoff as well, the 835 polling stations abroad are open for 3 days, Friday through Sunday, with the possibility for the vote to be extended until midnight on Sunday. The number of Romanians
having voted abroad in the runoff suggests a higher turnout than in the first round. The vote rate increased in the
past few hours, after polling stations reopened in all the countries in Europe,
which host the largest Romanian communities in the world. First ranking are the
Romanians in Italy, the UK, Germany, Spain and the Republic of Moldova.

GAUDEAMUS 8,000 book stands have been put up as part of the Gaudeamus Book Fair organised in Bucharest by Radio Romania, in an edition devoted to the 30 years since the anti-communist revolution of 1989. During the 5 days of the Fair, 900 different events are scheduled, including book launches, debates and book signing sessions. Today, on the 4th day of the Fair, Prof. Thierry Wolton takes part in the launch of the second volume of his trilogy “A World History of Communism. In this volume, entitled ‘The Victims’, Thierry Wolton speaks about the tens of millions that suffered imprisonment, deportation, torture and even extermination for their anti-communist beliefs.

COLECTIV After the Bucharest Court completed its investigations, on Monday the prosecution and the defence will present their closing statements in the case concerning the fire in Colectiv night club in Bucharest 4 years ago, in which 64 people died, one committed suicide further to the trauma and 200 others were injured. The Colectiv trial started in April 2016. After 2 years of deferrals over procedural matters, the judge assigned to the case retired, and during another year the new judge has heard the statements of scores of witnesses and victims.

DiscoverEU Youth of over 18 years of age may enrol by November 28 in a programme called DiscoverEU, which enables them to travel free of charge in the European Union. Eligible applicants must be citizens of one of the member states and fill in an online form. This is an initiative of the European Parliament, designed to provide young people with new mobility opportunities. The selected candidates will be able to travel, especially by train, for max. 30 days between April 1 and October 31, 2020. Since the programme was launched in 2018, Romania offered nearly 2,000 such permits, out of a total of 50,000 issued in the EU.

UN The 15 members of the UN Security Council endorsed a declaration reaffirming the ban on chemical weapons. The Council has reached a consensus long undermined by the war in Syria, and the Skripal affair in the UK or Kim Jong-nam case in Malaysia, AFP reports. The Council reaffirms that the use of chemical weapons is a violation of international law, and declares its firm opposition to it. The declaration, proposed by Great Britain, was passed unanimously. The UN Security Council urges all states that have not yet done so to sign the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, which was signed in 1993 and came into force in 1997. Syria joined the Convention in 2013, Israel has signed it, but is yet to ratify it, whereas North Korea, Egypt and South Sudan are not yet parties to this Convention.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

23 November 2019
November 18, 2019

ELECTION Romania sees the last week of the campaign for the presidential runoff. Competing are the incumbent president Klaus Iohannis, backed by the National Liberal Party in power, and Viorica Dăncilă, the leader of the Social Democratic Party. In the first round, Iohannis got nearly 38% of the votes, and his challenger little over 22%. In the country, the vote will be held on Sunday, November 24, whereas the Romanians living abroad have 3 days to vote, namely Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

AGRICULTURE The Romanian agriculture minister, Adrian Oros, is taking part on Monday in Brussels in the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The main topic on the agenda is the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy as of 2020. According to the line minister, the participants will discuss the Regulation on the funding, management and monitoring of the CAP, as well as a Regulation on the common organisation of agricultural markets. Last month, the agriculture minister told the Romanian Parliament that his top priority was to prepare the national strategic programme, because in the coming 7 years the main financing source for the Romanian agriculture is the annual 20 billion euros granted under the CAP.

COMMISSIONERS The European Parliament is to make a decision by Thursday regarding the latest commissioner nominations made by Romania, France and Hungary. The UK, which declined appointing a commissioner, will have to provide an official answer by Friday, Radio Romanias correspondent in Brussels reports. The president of the European Parliament and the floor group leaders will make a final assessment of the 3 candidates and will decide the closure of the hearings on November 21. The commissioners nominated by Romania and France, Adina Vălean for transport commissioner and Thierry Breton for the internal market commissioner, respectively, have already been given the green light by the specialist committees. Hungarys nominee for enlargement and neighbourhood policy commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, had to answer additional questions from MEPs. A second rejection of Hungarys candidate will force a new postponement of the validation of the Commission as a whole. Further questions have to do with the UK, whose unwillingness to nominate a candidate is against the EU Treaty. However, the president elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, may go forth with an executive team of 27 members, as long as the legal affairs experts decide that the absence of a British commissioner does not prevent the activity of the new Commission.

POLITICS The members of Save Romania Union, the third-largest party in Parliament, are voting online until Wednesday on Dan Barnas prospective resignation as party president. Barna said he was ready to step down, following the discontent triggered by his performance in the presidential election, in which he failed to qualify into the runoff. He got 15% of the votes, although half a year ago in the elections for the European Parliament the USR-PLUS alliance had carried 22% of the votes.

NAVY The King Ferdinand frigate is taking part in an international anti-submarine warfare exercise organised by the Turkish Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and which is under way until November 20, the Navy Chief of Staff has announced. The Romanian crew will be carrying out specific training activities in Turkey’s territorial waters and neighbouring international waters alongside colleagues from Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Jordan, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, the United States and Turkey. According to the Romanian Navy Forces, the participation of King Ferdinand frigate in this exercise contributes to enhancing the interoperability of the Romanian and partner forces, and to promoting the professionalism of the Romanian Army.

TOURISM Romanias largest travel fair came to a close on Sunday in Bucharest. The event brought together travel agencies, tour operators and tourist regions represented by trade associations or by county councils. 230 companies from 16 countries came up with offers for all seasons and all tastes, with discounts going up to and even over 50%. The offers include Christmas and New Years holidays in the country and abroad, summer packages in Romanian and Bulgarian Black Sea resorts, in the Danube Delta, in spa resorts, or in traditional regions.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

18 November 2019
November 14, 2019

FINANCE For the past 3 years, Romanias economy has been managed according to 2 budgets, one presented in Parliament and for which no PM or finance minister in the former Social Democratic governments has taken responsibility, and another one containing accurate data and used for financing party barons, the new Finance Minister Florin Cîţu told a press conference on Thursday. The added he would notify the competent authorities. According to the minister, the budget deficit for the first 10 months of the year is 2.84% of the GDP, above the estimate for the entire year, and unless measures are taken in the next one and a half months the figure will exceed 4%. Some 500 million euros in the public pension budget is unaccounted for, Cîţu added, and explained that this years budget should be adjusted downwards.

ORDER The Government of Romania passed an emergency order on the status of the British citizens living in Romania in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Romania was the only EU member state still to regulate the matter. The Prime Ministers chief of staff, Ionel Dancă, explained that the order was necessary and had been requested by the British side.

COMMISSIONER The Romanian MEP Adina Vălean, nominated for the transport commissioner post, is heard today in the European Parliaments specialist committees, along with the commissioners nominated by France and Hungary. On Tuesday she was given the green light by the Committee on Legal Affairs, which looked at possible conflicts of interest. Also on Tuesday, Vălean was heard by the joint European affairs committees of the Romanian Parliament, whose opinion is advisory. When the formal hearings are over, the president elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will present the full commission and its programme to the European Parliament on the 27th of November.

GROWTH Romanias GDP is up 4% in the first 9 months of this year, compared to the corresponding period of 2018, the National Statistics Institute announced. However, the economic growth rate slowed down in the 3rd quarter, to 3% as against 4.4% reported for the 2nd quarter. In its autumn economic forecast made public recently, the European Commission estimates a 4.1% economic growth rate for Romania in 2019, and expects the rate to drop to 3.6% in 2020 and 3.3% the following year.

TRAVEL 230 operators from 16 countries are attending until Sunday the largest Tourism Fair in Romania, organised in Bucharest. Taking part are representatives of travel agencies, tour operators, and associations and local authorities promoting their regions. Visitors can purchase holiday packages for this winter and for 2020, with discounts of up to 45%.

FOOTBALL Romanias Under 19 football team is playing today at home against Finland, in Group 8 of the 2021 UEFA European Under 19 Championship qualifiers. Denmark tops the group with 9 points, followed by Finland with 7 and Romania with 6 points. In the Euro 2020 qualifiers, Romanias senior team are facing Sweden at home on Friday. Group F is dominated by Spain with 20 points, who have already secured their qualification, followed by Sweden with 15 points and Romania with 14. To qualify, Romania need to defeat Sweden and draw against Spain away. The two best-placed sides in each group will qualify. The drawing of lots for Euro 2020 will take place in Bucharest on the 30th of November. The Romanian capital will also host four European Championship matches, three group matches and a quarterfinal.

HANDBALL Romanias mens handball champions, Dinamo Bucharest, are undefeated in the Champions League, after a draw against the Swedish side IFK Kristianstad, 29-29, in Group D. Dinamo, already qualified into the play-offs, ranks first in the group with 13 points, followed by GOG Gudme (Denmark), with 9 points, Orlen Wisla Plock (Poland) with 7, Kadetten Schaffhausen (Switzerland), with 6, IFK Kristianstad (Sweden) with 5 and Cehovskie Medvedi (Russia) with 4 points. Dinamo is next to take on Cehovskie Medvedi at home on November 20.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

14 November 2019
Buzau County

Today we invite you to join us on a trip to the region of Buzau, in eastern Romania, famous, among other things, for the diversity of its relief. The region is home to large forests, the muddy volcanoes, old monasteries, caves, but also interesting museums. Buzau County is also a favorite destination for adventure tourists, as they can do mountain climbing, off-road trips, rafting, hang-gliding and canyoning.

Usually, when we say Buzau we think of traditional produce too: bagels, the famous Plescoi sausages, babic, plum brandy and the Pietroasele wine. However, Buzau is more than that. Florina Florea, the coordinator of the Nehoiu Tourist Information and Promotion Center told us some of the stories that add to the attractiveness of the area:

Florina Florea: “I would like to start with the Buzau rail station. Right at its entrance there stands a unique sculpture of ‘Ilie the eagle. The story goes that, between 1924-1942, an inn keeper named Adam had an eagle who liked to sit around the station area. In 1942 a German soldier shot him dead, and the local poet Bucur Chiriac wrote a poetry book in honour of the eagle. From the station, reaching the center is quite easy. The Communal Palace is, in the words of the famous historian Nicolae Iorga, one of the most beautiful town-hall buildings in the country and one of Buzaus gems. It is indeed a symbol of the town of Buzau. There are also several other things worth visiting in the center, such as the Dacia Plateau and a small but extremely beautiful church, which has been declared a historical monument.

There are many events organized every year across Buzau County. The calendar of events can be downloaded from the website cniptnehoiu.ro. The most important such events are Dragaica, organized in late June, and Buzau Fest, which is held in early June, in the resort of Sarata Monteoru. Florina Florea told us more about this resort and other attractions in the area:

Florina Florea: “The resort is famous for its salty water pools. Also, an adventure park was built in 2016, right in the middle of the forest. Also in 2016 the resort got the status of spa. But this is not the only place worth visiting. I would also recommend the ‘muddy volcanoes, 35 km off Buzau. These apparently boiling pools of mud have been included in the list of monuments of nature, ever since 1924. Then, from the muddy volcanoes, we can easily get to Ulmet and see the trovants, also known as ‘the living stones. These are geological formations of unusual and strange shapes.

From here we move on to the Nucu – Buzioru area, home to a large number of rock-carved dwellings, used as religious sites. Florina Florea, coordinator of the Nehoiu Tourist Information and Promotion Centre, tells us more:

Florina Florea: “We are working with a geography professor from the University of Bucharest, Cezar Buterez, who has been conducting extensive research in the area for over 10 years, and who is soon to publish a map of these dwellings. The area is lesser known to the public, and tourists will need a guide to accompany them. The best known of these sites is the Rock Church of Alunis. It was carved in rock by 2 shepherds around 1274. But apart from this one, there are many other such dwellings whose names indicate their religious usage.

Tourist guide Florin Burgui presented us a less usual mountain route, one which covers some of these rock carved dwellings, with Poiana Cozanei as its starting point:

Florin Burgui: “A first stop is at the Cell of Dionisie Torcatorul. They say that this monk, Dionysus, lived in this cell carved in stone for 30 years, only coming out once a week to go to church for confession. The rest of the time he would spin wool, which was brought to his cell. Just a few minutes walk from this there is a skete called Fundul Pesterii (roughly “The end of the cave). In my opinion this is the most important site of this type in the area, because in this cave, which is currently closed in order for the parietal drawings to be preserved, there are 137 carvings representing various weapons and dating back to around 4,000 BC. Then we reach Josephs Church. The route takes 8-10 hours to complete, going up and down through the woods. The route markings are not very clear, but with a little training it is no problem.

Florina Florea, the coordinator of the Nehoiu Tourist Information and Promotion Centre, also invited us to an adrenaline-packed adventure in the region:

Florina Florea: “I would end the tour of the region in Nehoiu, the mountainous part of the region, where rafting is practiced in Buzau River. From March until October or November, you can bring your friends to try whitewater rafting every day. This March we even hosted a rafting championship, with teams from Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Britain taking part. Last year, on December 1, we released, together with Prof. Cezar Buterez, a Visitors Map. So now you can easily find the most interesting and unusual sites in the region, and you are all invited to discover them.

In short, Buzau County, an ideal destination for all ages, which is worth exploring in any season, is waiting for you.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

7 November 2019
Buzau County

Today we invite you to join us on a trip to the region of Buzau, in eastern Romania, famous, among other things, for the diversity of its relief. The region is home to large forests, the muddy volcanoes, old monasteries, caves, but also interesting museums. Buzau County is also a favorite destination for adventure tourists, as they can do mountain climbing, off-road trips, rafting, hang-gliding and canyoning.

Usually, when we say Buzau we think of traditional produce too: bagels, the famous Plescoi sausages, babic, plum brandy and the Pietroasele wine. However, Buzau is more than that. Florina Florea, the coordinator of the Nehoiu Tourist Information and Promotion Center told us some of the stories that add to the attractiveness of the area:

Florina Florea: “I would like to start with the Buzau rail station. Right at its entrance there stands a unique sculpture of ‘Ilie the eagle. The story goes that, between 1924-1942, an inn keeper named Adam had an eagle who liked to sit around the station area. In 1942 a German soldier shot him dead, and the local poet Bucur Chiriac wrote a poetry book in honour of the eagle. From the station, reaching the center is quite easy. The Communal Palace is, in the words of the famous historian Nicolae Iorga, one of the most beautiful town-hall buildings in the country and one of Buzaus gems. It is indeed a symbol of the town of Buzau. There are also several other things worth visiting in the center, such as the Dacia Plateau and a small but extremely beautiful church, which has been declared a historical monument.

There are many events organized every year across Buzau County. The calendar of events can be downloaded from the website cniptnehoiu.ro. The most important such events are Dragaica, organized in late June, and Buzau Fest, which is held in early June, in the resort of Sarata Monteoru. Florina Florea told us more about this resort and other attractions in the area:

Florina Florea: “The resort is famous for its salty water pools. Also, an adventure park was built in 2016, right in the middle of the forest. Also in 2016 the resort got the status of spa. But this is not the only place worth visiting. I would also recommend the ‘muddy volcanoes, 35 km off Buzau. These apparently boiling pools of mud have been included in the list of monuments of nature, ever since 1924. Then, from the muddy volcanoes, we can easily get to Ulmet and see the trovants, also known as ‘the living stones. These are geological formations of unusual and strange shapes.

From here we move on to the Nucu – Buzioru area, home to a large number of rock-carved dwellings, used as religious sites. Florina Florea, coordinator of the Nehoiu Tourist Information and Promotion Centre, tells us more:

Florina Florea: “We are working with a geography professor from the University of Bucharest, Cezar Buterez, who has been conducting extensive research in the area for over 10 years, and who is soon to publish a map of these dwellings. The area is lesser known to the public, and tourists will need a guide to accompany them. The best known of these sites is the Rock Church of Alunis. It was carved in rock by 2 shepherds around 1274. But apart from this one, there are many other such dwellings whose names indicate their religious usage.

Tourist guide Florin Burgui presented us a less usual mountain route, one which covers some of these rock carved dwellings, with Poiana Cozanei as its starting point:

Florin Burgui: “A first stop is at the Cell of Dionisie Torcatorul. They say that this monk, Dionysus, lived in this cell carved in stone for 30 years, only coming out once a week to go to church for confession. The rest of the time he would spin wool, which was brought to his cell. Just a few minutes walk from this there is a skete called Fundul Pesterii (roughly “The end of the cave). In my opinion this is the most important site of this type in the area, because in this cave, which is currently closed in order for the parietal drawings to be preserved, there are 137 carvings representing various weapons and dating back to around 4,000 BC. Then we reach Josephs Church. The route takes 8-10 hours to complete, going up and down through the woods. The route markings are not very clear, but with a little training it is no problem.

Florina Florea, the coordinator of the Nehoiu Tourist Information and Promotion Centre, also invited us to an adrenaline-packed adventure in the region:

Florina Florea: “I would end the tour of the region in Nehoiu, the mountainous part of the region, where rafting is practiced in Buzau River. From March until October or November, you can bring your friends to try whitewater rafting every day. This March we even hosted a rafting championship, with teams from Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Britain taking part. Last year, on December 1, we released, together with Prof. Cezar Buterez, a Visitors Map. So now you can easily find the most interesting and unusual sites in the region, and you are all invited to discover them.

In short, Buzau County, an ideal destination for all ages, which is worth exploring in any season, is waiting for you.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

5 November 2019
Iasi

Today we are going to the northeast of the country, in a city filled with history, with an intense cultural life, Iasi. The first time visitor will find out that they are surrounded by history with every step, related to many eras, be it the history of the prehistoric culture of Cucuteni, the era of the great medieval noble families, the historic election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as ruler of the united Romanian Principalities, or many manifestations of the arts and sciences.

Today’s trip to Iasi is occasioned by an important celebration. 160 years ago, on January 5, the Elective Assembly in Iasi voted into office as ruler of Moldavia Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The corresponding assembly in Bucharest elected him ruler of Wallachia on January 24, 1859, effectively uniting the two entities into a single state, called the Romanian Principalities, a first important step in the creation of the modern Romanian state. We spoke to Anca Zota, coordinator of the Iasi Tourism Information Center.

“On January 24, we always have activities dedicated to this event, which is the most important of the year for us here in Iasi. We have lots of festivities that end with the Round Dance of the Union. We also have traditional music concerts, and every museum and tourist site that has the slightest connection with this celebration organizes some event to observe the day.

Anca Zota recommends Iasi for its pleasant atmosphere and the welcoming air: “There are plenty of opportunities for cultural tourism, we have great offers for active tourism, too. There is the famous pilgrimage on St. Paraskeva day, along with a rich offer in terms of religious tourism. Lately, another type of tourism that emerged is business tourism, as well as medical tourism. However, in order to truly grasp the essence of the city of Iasi, I would recommend starting your visits with the Palace of Culture, which includes four very interesting museums. The History Museum will provide you with an idea of how the city developed. The Ethnography Museum shows us the way in which our ancestors made their daily living. The Art Museum has a great Romanian painting collection. One other great collection is that of the Museum of Mechanical Music. The curators of this museum organize a festival every two years. Another interesting collection is that of the Metropolitan Museum, in the basement of the Metropolitan Bishopric of Iasi. Visitors can see the old foundations of the building, in addition to the exhibits. One other emblematic museum for the city is the University Museum, showcasing the Cucuteni stone age civilization, and about the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, the oldest one in the country. I want to make a point of telling tourists that they should not miss the opportunity to visit famous writer Ion Creanga’s memorial house. All Romanians know all about this writer, but foreign visitors may enjoy it too, because it is a very well preserved traditional Romanian home, in a beautiful neighborhood. One other beautiful objective is the Botanical Garden, especially for tourists who enjoy the outdoors.

It is a great idea to visit Iasi during your summer vacation. You will find there a relaxing atmosphere, great Romanian cuisine restaurants, and restaurants catering for international tastes as well. There are plenty of clubs and cafes with live music. Local bands and bands traveling from all over the country and abroad play jazz, rock and blues late into the night. You can also plan a vacation depending on the schedule of events. You will definitely find something to enjoy here.

Here is Anca Zota once again: “We have some events that have gained tradition, and are scheduled at specific times. In late February we have the Azalea and Camellia Exhibition at the Botanical Garden. In the first week of March we have the March Fair. One week before Easter we have a fair dedicated to the event, and in May we have a month dedicated to music. On May 11 and 12 we have the Folk Festival of Iasi, between May 16 and 19 we have a rock music festival, and between May 24 and 26 we have the Hangariada Festival at the Air Club in Iasi, which is a festival including art, music, and flying airplanes. The music shows are accompanied by air shows and parachute jumps. In the last weekend of June we have a traditional festival dedicated to the Cucuteni stone age culture, featuring the famous Cucuteni ceramics. In October we have two interesting festivals: the International Literature and Translation Festival, and the International Youth Theater Festival. If you want to attend you should buy your tickets a few months in advance, because these festivals sell out very quickly. The people who come to Iasi may want to book their trip for the month of October, where we have the city celebration on the 14th.

Anca Zota told us that tourist traffic has been on the rise in the last few years: “So far, since our grand opening in 2006, the greatest numbers of tourists have come from France, Italy, Spain and Germany. Lately we have had greater and greater numbers of tourists from Israel. They are delighted with the fact that this is a special city, full of welcoming and smiling people, with plenty of things to see and do. We have a map of the city in English, and lots of promotional materials in English, French and German, which we provide to tourists.

Iasi is a great venue for outdoor activities: “The city is surrounded by forests, where you can take long walks. The forests are very safe. We have marked trails for walking, as well as for cycling. You can pick among trails for experienced trekkers, and less experienced ones. You can take walks as long as 20 km in the forests. There are bicycle rental centers, and our office keeps in touch with them, and we highly recommend them.

Iasi, therefore, is a highly recommended tourist destination for any time of the year.

18 July 2019
Timisoara

Today we’re heading west to visit Romania’s third largest city, Timisoara. It is a miniature Europe, if you will, where Romanians, Germans, Serbs, Hungarians, Croats, Slovaks and Bulgarians are living together. Diversity, culture and history are the traits that have turned Timisoara into an ideal destination for those who are into cultural tourism. History is impressive and every step of the way. As you’re strolling through the city, you’re sure to run into traces of past times. Or at least that’s what the coordinator of Timisoara City Hall’s Tourism Information and Promotion Center, Lucia Solomon, told us.

Lucia Solomon: “Timisoara’s ancient archeological evidence is more than 7,000 years old, but what a tourist can see today dates from the 16th and 17th centuries, when Timisoara was under Ottoman occupation. You can also find in Timisoara the foundation of a mosque and the trestle of a minaret, which is evidence of those times. However, Timisoara’s transformation into a modern city occurred in the 18th century. It was then that modern Timisoara took shape. The time when it was conquered by the Habsburgs, after 1716, meant the advent of a new stage in its development. The old fortress dating from the Ottoman times was brought down and a new fortress emerged, known as the largest bastion-type fortification to have been preserved on Romania’s present-day territory. It is a Vauban-type fortress, quite similar to the one in Alba-Iulia, which sheltered the city’s administration between its walls. Of that time, only the Teresia bastion has been preserved, along with the city’s old city center, which is impressive. During the Baroque period many Baroque edifices were built, culminating with the Catholic Dome, the Serbian Church and the Baroque Palace. How many of the cities of today boast a baroque palace at the heart of the city? The palace can be visited by any tourist. The Art Museum is also located on the premises.”

After the Baroque age, Timisoara was incorporated into the Hungarian Kingdom, as part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Lucia Solomon told us: “The city’s main functions were predominantly economic. Timisoara’s progress back then was significant. From that time date a great many of the city’s premieres. The first horse-drawn streetcar was operational in Timisoara in 1869 and it was Europe’s first city with electric lighting, in 1884. At that time, many of the city’s parks were built, which have remained iconic for the city to this day, Timisoara also being known as the City of Flowers. Today we boast the Park of the Roses, the Park of Justice, which is full of tulips these days. We are also proud of the city center, which always has a green carpet in Victory Square, with beautiful flower arrangements, to be found there in any season.”

Timisoara boasts Romania’s largest number of historical buildings. Of the total number of the buildings across the city, over 14,000 have been listed as historical monuments.

With details on that, here is the coordinator of the Timisoara City Hall’s Tourism Information and Promotion Center, Lucia Solomon: ”Timisoara’s most relevant trait is the wide range of Art Nouveau buildings, erected in the late 19th and early into the 20th century. These are beautiful palaces, lining the Victory Square. Any tourist is impressed by the city’s architecture. The palaces can be found also in the historical neighborhoods. Timisoara has many common points with Budapest and Vienna. Albeit on a smaller scale, this architectural style can be detected there, which can be found all around Europe. And that’s what tourists find most impressive.”

Timisoara is the only place in Romania where the habit of giving concerts in caves has by now become a tradition, which is free of charge for the public. Every year, shuttle coaches arrive, packed with tourists from Israel, the USA, Canada, Hungary and Austria. And the fact that the concert venue is not necessarily the concert hall proper is something very familiar to anyone who paid a visit to Timisoara. However, there are multiple possibilities.

Lucia Solomon is back at the microphone: “Tourists can have lots of moments to remember on the streets of the city center, where lots of beer gardens have been placed. In the cellars of the old buildings, bars, restaurants and clubs have been set up. Visitors can spend fine moments in parks or on the alleys along the Bega river banks, arranged for walks but also for cycling. You can have a boat ride on the Bega river, with a boat crossing the entire city as a means of public transport. It’s quite a pleasure to be able to cross all the districts in one of those boats. You can also have a trip with the tourist streetcar on Sundays, visit many museums and go to stage performances and festivals.”

For those who can spend a little more time in the area, the Timisoara City Hall’s Tourism Information and Promotion Center can recommend trips in the nearby areas. Here is Lucia Solomon again: ”From Timisoara, tourists can travel to other destinations around the city, such as Recaș or Buziaș, where they can taste Banat wine sorts. Herneacova is also a place worth travelling to, it is a leisure area nearby Timisoara, close to Recaș, or can go to Surduc Lake, where they can spend some leisure moments. Of course, tourists can also travel to Arad or even farther, to Oradea, Baile Herculane or Banat Mountains. Many tourists also opt for visiting the Corvins’ Castle in Hunedoara. They heard about the castle and have been asking us how they can get there. We’re expecting tourists to visit Timisoara and see its best, thanks to the city’s culture, its parks, thanks to Bega river or the numerous architectural styles which give character and charm to the city. We’re waiting for them wholeheartedly and hope they will have a great time here.”

In less than two years, in 2021, Timisoara will take center stage in Europe as the continent’s new Capital of Culture, under the slogan “Shine your lightlight up your city!”

4 July 2019
Romanians and the freedom of movement

Romania is not far from joining the Schengen visa-free area and from inclusion in the Visa Waiver programme, the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said. He took part in Bucharest in a EU-USA ministerial meeting on justice and home affairs. The event was organized under the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Dimitris Avramopoulos said Romania will be very soon a member of the Schengen area, given that it has met most of its relevant commitments. He also added that the day is not far when Romanians will be able to travel without a visa to the USA. Romania and 4 other EU member states, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia and Poland, are waiting to be included in the Visa Waiver programme. Dimitris Avramopoulos talked about the importance of the cooperation between the US and the EU in terms of border management, security and migration.

In March, the EU announced that as of 2021 US citizens will need visas in order to travel into Schengen countries. The European Commission had repeatedly requested Washington to waive visa requirements for the citizens of the 5 EU member states, because under the EU rules, all European citizens must have equal rights.

Attending the meeting in Bucharest was also the US Attorney General William Barr, who on the sidelines of the ministerial event also had talks with Romanian officials, including President Klaus Iohannis and PM Viorica Dancila. The latter requested the support of the US Attorney General for Romania to be accepted in the Visa Waiver programme.

The Prime Minister also said the Government of Romania is determined to find the best solutions to carry on the reform of the judiciary and criminal legislation, in line with Romanias international commitments, as well as with the recommendations of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, the Venice Commission, GRECO and the USA. The American official expressed his appreciation for the solid Strategic Partnership with Romania, which, he said, is the United States most reliable ally in the region.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

20 June 2019