Radio România Internațional

Tag: Ukraine

  • March 13, 2025 UPDATE 2

    March 13, 2025 UPDATE 2

    Support – Romania’s Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu reiterated, at a working meeting with EU ambassadors in Bucharest, Romania’s support for the neighboring Ukraine and for the consolidation of the European Union’s security and defense policy. At the same time, Hurezeanu emphasized the importance of a solid transatlantic partnership, vital for European security and prosperity. The meeting in Bucharest was held in the context of Poland holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

     

    Candidacy – The president of the opposition, pro-European party Save Romania Union (USR), Elena Lasconi, has submitted her application to run in the May presidential election. Also on Thursday, the leader of the populist, ultranationalist opposition party S.O.S. Romania, Diana Şoşoacă, registered in the May presidential race. Şoşoacă also ran in last year’s presidential race, but the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) rejected her candidacy. Elena Lasconi qualified for the final round of the presidential race, along with the pro-Russian extremist Calin Georgescu, but the CCR cancelled the vote due to the flaws in the electoral process which favored Georgescu. The Court definitively rejected Georgescu’s candidacy for the upcoming election. Following this decision, the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, and the leader of the populist ultranationalist Party of Young People (POT), Ana Maria Gavrilă, who supported Georgescu, announced that they would submit their candidacies, with one of them withdrawing after their validation. The former Social Democratic (PSD) leader and former Prime Minister Victor Ponta also entered the competition. Following this move, the PSD leadership excluded him from the party. The government coalition (PSD – PNL – UDMR) has a common candidate, the former liberal leader Crin Antonescu. He and the current Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, are the only political competitors accepted, so far, by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) and validated by the CCR. The deadline for registering candidacies at the Central Electoral Bureau is March 15.

     

    ID – The first Romanian electronic identity cards will be issued in a week in Cluj County (northwest), and in the next two months, this type of document will be available throughout the country, the Interior Ministry (MAI) announced. The electronic identity card will have a standard size, similar to bank cards. In printed format, it will contain the name, surname, citizenship, date of birth, gender, a photo and the personal identification number (CNP), as well as the handwritten signature. The electronic format will also include other information, such as the parents’ first names, domicile, the prints of two fingers of the ID holder and digital certificates for authentication or electronic signature. According to the MAI, the electronic identity card will contain advanced security elements which ensure protection against forgery and identity theft. In Romania, the electronic identity card is not mandatory, and those who do not want it, can request simple identity cards, without a microchip.

     

    Deficit – Romania’s trade deficit increased by 38% in January, compared to the same period last year, data from the National Institute of Statistics shows. In 2024, Romania exported goods worth 6.5 billion Euros and imported goods worth 11.4 billion Euros. Romania continues to have a major deficit, especially in relations with China, Germany and Poland, while recording surpluses with the UK, the Republic of Moldova and the US, although at smaller volumes. A vulnerable sector remains trade in agricultural and food products, where Romania mainly exports raw materials and imports finished products. To reduce the trade deficit, of about 5 billion Euros, experts recommend a strategy focused on the export of value-added products and more efficient use of statistical data for better-founded economic decisions.

     

    Pensions – Pensioners in Romania whose pension incomes do not exceed 2,574 lei (517 Euros) will receive financial support of 800 lei (160 Euros). The decision, approved on Thursday by the Romanian Government, stipulates that the amount will be granted in two equal installments of 400 lei (80 Euros) in April and December respectively. In the case of people whose pension rights are established after April 1, the financial aid will be granted in December and will amount to 400 lei (80 Euros). The support targets Romanian pensioners residing in the country or abroad. According to official data, almost 2.7 million pensioners have incomes lower than or equal to 2,574 lei (517 Euros), and of these, over 86,000 are in the Diaspora. Also on Thursday, the executive amended, by emergency ordinance, the Statute of Forestry Personnel. Thus, the bonuses equivalent to at least 5 salaries for the last month of activity were eliminated, which, in the case of the heads of the National Forestry Agency, amounted to 10 salaries. Romsilva employees are contesting the changes adopted by the Government. Trade union representatives criticize a 25% reduction in foresters’ income and announce a protest in Bucharest next week. (LS)

  • March 11, 2025 UPDATE

    March 11, 2025 UPDATE

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    ELECTIONS – The Constitutional Court of Romania rejected, on Tuesday,  the appeal submitted by the pro-Russian extremist Călin Georgescu, upholding the decision of the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) to invalidate his candidacy for the presidential elections in May. Previously, the Bureau invoked the Constitutional Court ruling to cancel the presidential elections last year and said his candidacy does not meet the conditions of legality, as Georgescu, by failing to comply with the electoral procedure, violated the obligation to defend democracy, which is based on fair and impartial elections. Georgescu’s election ban on Sunday was followed by violent protests from his supporters in which 13 gendarmes were wounded and material damages were caused.  The General Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal investigation for public instigation while the REPER party, from outside Parliament, filed a criminal complaint for public instigation and assault in respect of the public statements made by the president of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians, George Simion, the wanted mercenary Horaţiu Potra and Călin Georgescu in response to the decision of the Central Electoral Bureau. If Călin Georgescu and the parties supporting him – AUR and POT (in the opposition) – want to register another candidate for the May elections, they will have to submit the file and the list with the minimum 200,000 signatures by March 15. On the other hand, Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan will be able to run as an independent in the May presidential elections, after the Constitutional Court decided to reject all appeals filed against the BEC’s decision to validate his candidacy. Also on Tuesday, the Central Electoral Bureau accepted the registration of the candidacy of Crin Antonescu, whose presidential election run is supported by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania.

     

    MOLDOVA – The European Parliament voted on Tuesday, by a wide majority, in favor of a growth plan for the Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova, worth 1.9 billion euros. There were 499 MEPs who voted in favor, 117 against, and 44 abstained. In the debates that took place on Monday, MEPs emphasized that, through this mechanism, the Republic of Moldova is supported in becoming energy independent from Russia, Radio Chisinau reports. According to the cited source, the European plan for the Republic of Moldova provides for the granting of 520 million euros in the form of grants, while another 1.5 billion will be low-interest loans. The funds will be granted twice a year, following requests from the Government in Chisinau, and the European Commission will verify whether or not the conditions of the reform plan have been met. This plan provides for the development of infrastructure and increased financial assistance, the progressive integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU single market, as well as the implementation of fundamental socio-economic reforms.

     

    NATO –  “NATO has military scenarios for any security situation that may affect member states, including those on the Eastern Flank”, says Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan. His statement comes after the White House gave signals that it might reduce its presence in Europe and that some US troops may be relocated. In another move, the Romania median note, the expansion of the NATO military base in Mihail Kogălniceanu, in the south-east, is going ahead in keeping with the initial plan and there is no indication it may be halted. The base already employs 200 local workers, whose number may grow, given that the over 2.5 billion euro project provides for the transformation of the area into a genuine city able to house 10,000 military and civilians.

     

    ECONOMY –  Romanian finance minister Tanczos Barna on Tuesday attended the meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee in Brussels. Talks focused on competitiveness and ways to improve the business environment, cooperation in the fiscal area, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the recovery and resilience mechanism. The Committee presented the ministers with the Omnibus package, whose aim is to reduce the administrative burden by at least 25%, and even at least 35% for small and medium sized enterprises. With regard to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the ministers exchanged views on the current situation and the economic and financial impact of the conflict, including as a result of the application of sanctions, with an emphasis on their practical application in the customs area. The ministers also looked at the implementation of the recovery and resilience mechanism.

     

    EU –  The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the European Council Antonio Costa have called in the European Parliament for a rapid boost in European defense capacity that would go hand in hand with support for Ukraine, given that the Kremlin is spending more on defence than the entire Europe. According to the Romanian news agency Agerpres, von der Leyen said there is urgent need to provide Ukraine with the military resources it needs and with solid security guarantees. Antonio Costa said Europe is living “a defining moment” and a clear “sense of urgency”. “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine entered its third year and the threat it represents has wider implications for Europe and international security”, he added.

     

    TENNIS –  Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian on Tuesday lost her third—round match against 6th seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy at the WTA 1000 tennis tournament in Indian Wells, worth some 9 billion dollars. She was defeated in three sets. Earlier, Cristian beat the former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez of Canada. (EE)

     

  • March 6, 2025

    March 6, 2025

    EU The interim President of Romania Ilie Bolojan had a meeting in Brussels on Thursday with the PM of Poland, Donald Tusk, the topics approached by the 2 officials including the strengthening of NATO’s Eastern Flank. Mr Bolojan takes part in an extraordinary European Council meeting, where EU heads of state and government are discussing support for Ukraine and European defence. The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zeleskyy and the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte were also invited to attend. The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has already sent European leaders a plan to re-arm Europe, with 5 financing instruments: increasing national defence budgets, a EUR 150 bln loan for common defence projects, possible financing from the bloc’s cohesion funds, from the European Investment Bank and private funds. The plan also increases military aid to Ukraine. Last week, Mr. Ilie Bolojan invited the political parties in the Romanian Parliament to consultations, to discuss Romania’s response to the current security challenges. Most parties opposed Romania sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, in the event of an end to the conflict with Russia, but voiced willingness, in principle, for Romania to continue supporting the neighbouring country.

     

     

    TREASON Prosecutors with the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism Offences (DIICOT) have detained six individuals over charges of forming an organised crime group and treason. According to DIICOT, the defendants apparently set up a paramilitary organisation and negotiated Romania’s exit from NATO with Russian agents. Prosecutors say that the organised crime group was structured like a military-type organisation, with management ranks and operative personnel. Radu Theodoru, a retired general and 101-year-old war veteran, was also among the organisation’s leaders. The group used online platforms to release video materials and recruit members. At the same time, it took steps to hold negotiations with foreign political and military actors regarding the replacing of the current constitutional order. In January, DIICOT also says, 2 of the defendants travelled to Moscow, where they came into contact with people willing to support the organisation’s efforts to take over power in Romania.

     

     

    GOVERNMENT The Romanian government is set to pass several emergency orders today, concerning, among other things, the heathcare reform and the spending of EU funds. In the field of healthcare, the government wants to improve regulations on public medical care for freelancers, on the taxation of medicines, on the organisation and operation of medical offices and the granting of sick leaves. In a separate emergency order, the Romanian government earmarks the financing for certain local authorities to complete works to extend and upgrade natural gas infrastructure. Finally, the cabinet is also to approve the amount of this year’s state aid for the livestock sector.

     

     

    EU FUNDING Romania has received over EUR 100 billion in European funds since its accession on January 1, 2007, the minister of investments and European projects, Marcel Boloş, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. According to him, Romania is no longer an economic periphery, but a country that is rapidly catching up and has surpassed Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Greece in terms of GDP per capita, an essential indicator of the standard of living. If we are reckless, we blame the European bloc, but the fact that we are at the best moment of our country’s development is due to our EU and NATO membership, Mr. Boloş emphasised.

     

     

    TRAVEL Romanian tourism increased slightly in the first month of this year, compared to January 2024, with 12% more nights spent in tourist accommodation units, says the National Tourism Agency. Over 84% of visitors were Romanians, with an average length of stay of almost two days, while foreigners stayed in accommodation facilities for slightly more than two days. According to experts, the upward trend will continue this year, when it could exceed the level reported in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

     

    FOOTBALL The Romanian football champions FCSB take on the French team Olympique Lyon in Bucharest tonight, in the Europa League round of 16. The return leg will take place in France on March 13. The Romanian team qualified for the round of 16 of the Europa League, after outplaying the Greek team PAOK Thessaloniki, coached by the Romanian Răzvan Lucescu. (AMP)

  • February 4, 2025

    February 4, 2025

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    PLAN – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a new fund on Tuesday that could mobilize almost 800 billion euros for defense investment in the European Union. The money would be spent on supporting Ukraine and “taking more responsibility for our own European security”, the EC leader said. “We are in an era of re-armament, and Europe is ready to massively boost its defence spending,” the EC chief said. According to her, the Commission is to provide loans worth 150 billion euros to be used for air and missile defense, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, as well as to meet other needs, from cybersecurity to military mobility. “With this equipment, member states can massively increase their support for Ukraine,” Ursula von der Leyen said.

     

    WEAPONS – Washington has decided to suspend military aid to Ukraine following a dispute between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, White House officials confirmed to Bloomberg, Fox News and CNN. The pause will last until Donald Trump determines that Ukrainian leaders demonstrate a good faith commitment to peace, according to Bloomberg and Fox News reports. All deliveries of US military equipment that are not currently on Ukrainian territory will be suspended, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships or waiting in transit zones in Poland. The US president has taken on the views of Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, falsely claiming that Ukraine started the war and accusing Volodymyr Zelensky of being a dictator, but his decision to stop providing military aid is a step that could have real consequences for the balance of power in the conflict and strengthen Putin’s position, CNN notes.

     

    DEFENSE – Romania’s acting President, Ilie Bolojan, had a telephone conversation on Monday with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte, on which occasion he thanked Romania for its contribution to the alliance, welcomed the increase in Bucharest’s defense budget and reaffirmed the commitment of NATO and the United States to collective defense and Article 5, the Presidential Administration reports. President Bolojan said that NATO remains the main guarantor of Romania’s security, and Article 5 is the one that most effectively deters threats and attacks against allies. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, he highlighted the need for a just and lasting peace, as well as the importance of maintaining support for this country.

     

    MOLDOVA – The European Union will allocate this year to the Republic of Moldova an additional aid of 60 million euros to strengthen its defense capabilities, the European Council President Antonio Costa said in ChisinauThe European official specified that, under the European Peace Facility, created to support the defense capabilities of various countries, the Republic of Moldova is the second beneficiary, with about 37 million euros allocated so far. Costa visited Chisinau on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Republic of Moldova’s application for EU membership.

     

    INVESTORS – Representatives of foreign investors in Romania, who had talks with interim President Ilie Bolojan, highlighted the need for reforms aimed at cutting red tape, improving administrative efficiency and creating a sustainable fiscal framework, the Presidential Administration reports. The need for strategic investments in infrastructure, education, health and in value-added sectors, such as technology hubs, biomethane production and data centers, was discussed. Talks focused on attracting and continuously developing investments in the national economy, given the importance of political stability, fiscal predictability and maintaining a favorable climate for investors. President Ilie Bolojan reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to a firm Euro-Atlantic path, emphasizing that this framework provides security to investors and contributes to the long-term development of the economy. Bolojan emphasized that Romania’s economic development depends on attracting investment, access to modern technology and openess towards international markets.

     

    PONTIFF – Pope Francis, who suffered two episodes of acute respiratory failure on Monday afternoon, remained conscious and cooperative, the Vatican announced. The pontiff had difficulty breathing  and returned to non-invasive mechanical ventilation. It has been 19 days since Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, following a diagnosis of double pneumonia. Doctors maintain a reserved prognosis, given the complexity of his condition, and hundreds of Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the eighth consecutive evening to pray for the Pontiff’s health. (EE)

  • Romania – Moldova summit meeting

    Romania – Moldova summit meeting

     

    Romania and the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet republic, mostly Romanian-speaking) insist that no decision regarding peace in Ukraine and the future of the Ukrainian people can be made without Ukraine and without adequate security guarantees, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said on Saturday, in a joint conference with his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu.

     

    At the end of a meeting in Chișinău, he pointed out that ‘the way to achieving peace for Ukraine will decisively influence’ the common security of Romania and the neighbouring Republic of Moldova.

     

    Ilie Bolojan believes that extensive dialogue between Europe and the United States of America is ‘a very good condition’ for reaching a consensus on the war in Ukraine.

     

    As regards the talks between the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US president Donald Trump, Ilie Bolojan voiced moderate optimism with respect to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but said he hoped that ‘wisdom will prevail’. He explained that neighbouring Ukraine needs a lasting peace and warned about the danger posed by Russia’s aggression:

     

    Ilie Bolojan: “If Russia’s expansionist views remain a constant in the years to come, it means that we can imagine a new conflict starting over, and Ukraine may be only the first victim”.

     

    On the other hand, Ilie Bolojan promised that Romania will ask for more financial support, know-how and projects for Moldova at European level. Also, Bucharest will continue to cap prices for a large part of the electricity the neighbouring country buys from Romanian producers. According to him, the Romanian authorities ‘continue to work on strengthening the interconnection with the Republic of Moldova in the electricity sector’.

     

    In turn, president Maia Sandu said Romania is the “best friend” and “most important partner” of the Republic of Moldova, on which Chişinău has relied in all circumstances. Over the years, Bucharest has stood by Chişinău, “with concrete support, with projects that improve people’s lives, with a clear and firm voice in supporting our European path,” Maia Sandu added.

     

    “Romania is a reliable partner in our efforts to become a modern, European state. Beyond common projects, we are linked by a vision for the future, we are linked by the desire to live in peace, freedom, and democracy,” Maia Sandu also said. She also explained that the people of the Republic of Moldova will not forget the times when Moscow tried to erase their identity and kill their language and culture.

     

    Maia Sandu: “We will continue to protect free elections, fight electoral corruption in any form it may take, and defend the right of our citizens; people, the nation should decide what kind of life they want, not Moscow.”

     

    As for the war on the border, Chișinău supports Kyiv in its efforts to achieve a lasting and just peace. (AMP)

  • February 26, 2025

    February 26, 2025

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

  • February 25, 2025

    February 25, 2025

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    RESOLUTION – The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The document, which does not include any criticism of Moscow’s aggression, was also voted by the United States, after a significant softening of its tone. Europeans have said that there can be no peace that rewards aggression. From Europe’s point of view, this only highlights major rifts in the transatlantic alliance, the international media say.

     

    DACIA – Sales of the Romanian-brand Dacia cars in Europe registered an annual decline of 5.2% in January, and the car manufacturer’s market share fell to 4.9% from 5.1%,  according to data published today by the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers. The statistical data is valid for the European Union, the United Kingdom and the countries of the European Free Trade Association, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Large car manufacturers reported mixed sale developments in January: increases of 5.4% at Renault and 16.6% at Volkswagen, but a decrease of 12.2% at Ford. The European Commission is hosting talks between car manufacturers, suppliers and unions in the field, with a view to implementing plans at EU level to protect the automotive sector, vital for the prosperity of the community bloc. In recent weeks, European carmakers have announced plant closures and layoffs, amid competition from rivals in China and the prospect of additional tariffs from the US. The European car sector employs 13.2 million people and accounts for 10.3% of all jobs in the EU industry.

     

    INFLATION – After ten months in which Romania  had the highest average annual inflation in the EU, in January 2025 Hungary climbed to first position, with 5.7%, followed by Romania, with 5.3%, and Croatia, with 5 percent, according to data published by the European Statistical Office. At the opposite end, last month, the lowest average annual inflation rates in the EU were recorded in Denmark (1.4%), Ireland, Italy and Finland (1.7%). Compared to December 2024, Eurostat shows that the average annual inflation rate decreased in eight EU member states, including Romania, from 5.5% to 5.3%, remained stable in four and increased in 15 countries. The National Bank has revised upwards the inflation forecast in Romania for the end of 2025, from 3.5% to 3.8%. The Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu, anticipates that this indicator will reach 3.1% at the end of 2026.

     

    CONSULTATIONS – Romania’s acting President, Ilie Bolojan, will hold consultations with all parliamentary parties on Wednesday to prepare Romania’s position at the extraordinary European Council meeting on March 6. The main topics of discussion are related to support for Ukraine and the preparation of the European Union’s common defense strategy, after the American administration announced that it wants to reduce its military presence in Europe. Each of the seven parties represented in Parliament and the parliamentary group of national minorities has been allocated an hour for discussions.

     

    MOTION – A censure motion against the PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition government in Bucharest has been submitted to Parliament today. The standing bureaus will set the calendar for the debate and the vote. The document is signed by 154 parliamentarians from the opposition parties SOS Romania, AUR and POT. However USR, also in opposition, has announced that it does not support the motion, as there are not enough votes to adopt it and that the process should have been initiated after the presidential elections in May.

     

    POPE – The health of Pope Francis, 88, hospitalized with double pneumonia, is showing a slight improvement, but remains critical, the Vatican said in a statement. Given the complexity of his condition, doctors are cautiously avoiding commenting on it, the same source said, adding that the Pontiff thanked all the people who prayed for him in recent days. Hospitalized since February 14, the Pope’s condition suddenly deteriorated on Saturday. In a message on Sunday, Patriarch Daniel of the  Romanian Orthodox Church wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery.

  • February 24, 2025 UPDATE

    February 24, 2025 UPDATE

    UKRAINE – Monday marked three years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and leaders from the Baltic and Nordic countries travelled to Kyiv to reaffirm their support for Ukraine, at a time when the new stand of the United States changes the data of the conflict. In a video message to the participants, the acting President of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said that Ukraine’s security is vital both for Romania and for the entire European continent, and that support for Kyiv must continue. He pointed out that it is necessary for Ukraine and the European Union to be involved in the peace negotiations and that Romania is ready to coordinate with all European, American and allied partners to contribute to finding the fastest path to a just and lasting peace. A similar message was conveyed by the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, according to whom Romania must support both the American resolution on the cessation of the war in Ukraine and the European one at the UN. Also on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron was in Washington for talks with Donald Trump, to convince him to also take into account the security of the Europeans in his talks with Moscow representatives.

     

    MOTION – The censure motion against the Romanian coalition government, led by the social democrat Marcel Ciolacu, will be submitted to Parliament on Tuesday, according to MPs representing the party SOS Romania, in the opposition. They specified that the document is signed by 154 MPs from SOS Romania, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians and the Young People’s Party. A week ago, the motion’s signatories announced that they would postponed tabling the motion until the document was also signed by the Save Romania Union. However, the USR representatives announced that they would not sign the motion, since the opposition does not have the necessary votes for it to pass, and this process should have been initiated after the presidential elections in May. In turn, the parties that form the governing coalition in Bucharest, PSD, PNL and UDMR, announced that they would reject any such move against the executive. They argue that there are no solid reasons to remove the government in the current context of instability, especially since the executive has begun to implement its governing program approved in parliament at the end of last year.

     

    CONSULTATIONS – The Romanian parliamentary parties are called to consultations with the interim president, Ilie Bolojan, on Wednesday, to prepare Bucharest’s position at the extraordinary meeting of the European Council on March 6. The main topics of discussion will be related to the support for Ukraine and the preparation of the European Union’s common defense strategy, after the American administration led by Donald Trump announced that it wants to reduce its military presence in Europe. The consultations will be attended, in keeping with the percentages obtained in last year’s legislative elections, by the Social Democratic Party, followed by the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union, SOS Romania, the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania, the Young People’s Party and the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities. Each party will have one hour allocated to discussions.

     

    CORRUPTION – Anti-corruption prosecutors on Monday raided over 40 locations in the port of Constanța (southeast), targeting possible cases of corruption. The investigation might involve port managers and officials who took or gave bribes of some 6 million euros.

     

    WASTE– The city of Ploiești (south) is on the verge of a health crisis after no waste has been collected for nearly a week. Mayor Mihai Poliţeanu has called on central authorities to declare a state of emergency. The mayor calls on the Interior and Environment ministries to urgently unlock procedures to award environment permits and take legal action against the management of the local waste collection company, whose contract expired on January 15 and license at the end of 2024. Mayor Poliţeanu says the municipality was unhappy with the quality of waste collection services, and that the newly contracted operator was unable to start its activity due to an illegal deed extending the contract of the old operator. Under these circumstances, the Prahova County Environment Protection Agency did not issue an environment permit for the new operator. The Ploiești municipality has filed a notification in this regard.

     

    GERMANY – The Conservatives have won Sunday’s parliamentary election in Germany, although the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the far-right party, grabbed its best score yet. The CDU/CSU coalition of center-right parties grabbed some 29% of the vote, while AfD came in second with 20%, an unprecedented result for a far-right party in post-Nazi federal Germany.  “We have never been stronger at national level”, AfD leader Alice Weidel said after the election. Set up in 2013, the anti-migration party doubled its score compared to the 2021 election. The acting chancellor Olaf Scholz is the big loser of the current ballot, after the Social-Democrats grabbed only 16% of the vote, compared to 25% in 2021. The Greens won some 13%, the radical left 9%, while the Liberals apparently won’t reach the 5% threshold that allows them representation in the Bundestag.

     

    AWARD – Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude has scooped the Silver Bear for best script at the Berlin International Film Festival, for his feature film “Kontinental 25”, which tells the story of a bailiff facing a moral crisis.

     

  • Three years of war in Ukraine

    Three years of war in Ukraine

     

    Three years after Russia’s invasion, EU leaders went to Kyiv to express their support for Ukraine, in a summit dedicated to a common defence and security strategy. “We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. She was accompanied in Kyiv by the College of Commissioners, and emphasised the need to strengthen military aid.

     

    According to European Commission data, the EU and its 27 member states have provided almost EUR 134 billion to Ukraine in the past 3 years, of which EUR 48 billion in military assistance. Kyiv has also received substantial support from Washington.

     

    However, Donald Trump’s new administration is approaching the situation differently. The White House said on Saturday that the US is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing the profits from Ukrainian minerals as part of efforts to end the war. Washington wants to recover the billions of US dollars given to Ukraine in military aid, which is why it is demanding rare minerals, oil or “anything we can get,” says Donald Trump.

     

    Thrown off balance by the unexpected US-Russian dialogue on Ukraine, as Washington started talks with Moscow to end the war without having the EU or Kyiv involved, Europeans fear that Donald Trump could end the war on terms favourable to Russia, without offering security guarantees to Ukraine.

     

    The successive meetings of European leaders in Paris organised last week by Emmanuel Macron have shown, on the other hand, that they are rather divided and have failed to come up with a joint response to the start of US-Russian negotiations on peace in Ukraine.

     

    As such, news agencies say, “the French president is going to Washington on Monday on behalf of his country alone, without having an EU mandate for Europe to be able to speak with one voice.” He will be followed on Thursday by British PM Keir Starmer, who travels to the White House for similar talks with the US president, the same president who recently accused the two European leaders of having done nothing to end the war in Ukraine.

     

    Attending one of the meetings in Paris last week, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, pleaded for cooperation between EU countries and the United States in resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

     

    “A just and lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved with the help of the United States, Romania’s strategic partner,” PM Marcel Ciolacu said in turn in Bucharest, in a first official reaction to the most important topic on the agenda of world leaders. The Romanian official voiced confidence that, despite the harsh political rhetoric of recent days, the steps to end the war will be successful. At the same time, Marcel Ciolacu emphasised that “Romanians have paid dearly, in economic terms, for the effects of this conflict,” and that Romanian companies should play an important role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. (AMP)

  • February 23, 2025 UPDATE

    February 23, 2025 UPDATE

    UKRAINE The interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan takes part on Monday in an online summit on ‘Defence and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan’, organised in the neighbouring Russia-invaded Ukraine, the Romanian presidency announced. On Wednesday, Bolojan took part in a meeting on Ukraine and the security challenges in Europe in Paris. The interim president stated that participants in the meeting in Paris concluded that the best way to solve the crisis is collaboration between European countries and the United States of America, so that there is a ceasefire and a just peace, which cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations.

     

    COMMEMORATION Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that any responsible person wants a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and expressed hope that, despite the harsh political rhetoric of recent days, the efforts to end the war in Romania’s neighbouring country will be successful. The Romanian PM said in a Facebook post that Romanian companies should play an important role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. It is a project worth over EUR 500 billion, from which Romanian companies should gain as much as possible, Mr. Ciolacu added. On Sunday, around 150 people, mostly Ukrainian refugees, gathered in front of the Ukrainian embassy in Bucharest to mark 11 years of Russian aggression and 3 years since the start of the full-scale invasion. The participants carried Ukrainian and Romanian flags, as well as banners with messages against the war started by Russia and against the Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian ambassador to Bucharest also attended the protest.

     

    POPE FRANCIS Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery, in a message sent on Sunday on behalf of himself, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the clergy and all Romanian Orthodox believers. The Patriarch says he prays for Pope Francis to recover and resume his pastoral and missionary work as soon as possible. Aged 88, Pope Francis has been hospitalised in Rome for almost 10 days with bilateral pneumonia, and his health has worsened. Pope Francis was elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013.

     

    FILM The Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude was awarded the Silver Bear for best screenplay at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The distinction was awarded for his latest film, “Kontinental ’25”, the story of a female bailiff in the grips of a moral crisis, filmed with a phone in just 10 days. In his acceptance speech, Radu Jude thanked his team and said that the award proves that there is a lot of talent in Romania. The Golden Bear for best film went to ‘Dreams (Sex Love)’/'(Drommer’), directed by the Norwegian Dag Johan Haugerud. The second most important trophy of the Berlinale, the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, was awarded to the Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro for the production ‘The Blue Trail’ (‘O último azul’), and the Silver Bear for best director went to the Chinese filmmaker Huo Meng for ‘Living The Land’ (‘Sheng xi zhi di’).

     

    ARREST Ten individuals close to a French drug trafficker arrested on Saturday in Romania, have been detained over suspicions of having participated in the escape and flight of the repeat offender, the Paris prosecutor announced on Sunday. The known leader of a drug trafficking group, the man had been wanted since his escape in France in May 2024, during which two police officers were killed. On Saturday, Romanian police identified and detained him near a shopping center in Bucharest, and handed him over to the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime.

     

    TENNIS The Romanian player Elizabeta Samara won the silver at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup, which brought together Europe’s best table tennis players in Montreux (Switzerland). On Sunday, the Romanian lost the final to Ying Han (Germany), 2-3. Another Romanian, Bernadette Szocs, lost the quarter-finals on Saturday. Szocs won the competition in 2018, in 2019 she lost the final, and in 2021, 2022 and 2024 she came out third. Elizabeta Samara also won a third place in 2018.

     

    HANDBALL  The Romanian women’s handball team HC Dunărea Brăila have qualified for the quarter-finals of the EHF European League, after a 33-33 draw against the Norwegian side Larvik on Sunday in their last match in Group A. The result won Dunărea Brăila the group stage. In the quarter-finals, they will face the second-placed team in Group B, Ikast Handbold (Denmark). In turn, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea, the winners of Group B, will face Thueringer HC (Germany). The first leg games take place on March 22-23, and the return matches on March 29-30. Meanwhile on Sunday, CS Rapid Bucharest managed to qualify for the play-offs of the Women’s Handball Champions League, after drawing away from home against the Montenegrin team Buducnost Podgorica, 21-21, in the last round of Group B. (AMP)

  • February 23, 2025 UPDATE

    February 23, 2025 UPDATE

    UKRAINE Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that any responsible person wants a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and expressed hope that, despite the harsh political rhetoric of recent days, the efforts to end the war in Romania’s neighbouring country will be successful.

     

    The Romanian PM said in a Facebook post that Romanian companies should play an important role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. It is a project worth over EUR 500 billion, from which Romanian companies should gain as much as possible, Mr. Ciolacu added.

     

    On Sunday, around 150 people, mostly Ukrainian refugees, gathered in front of the Ukrainian embassy in Bucharest to mark 11 years of Russian aggression and 3 years since the start of the full-scale invasion. The participants carried Ukrainian and Romanian flags, as well as banners with messages against the war started by Russia and against the Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian ambassador to Bucharest also attended the protest. (AMP)

  • February 23, 2025

    February 23, 2025

    UKRAINE The interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan takes part on Monday in an online summit on ‘Defence and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan’, organised in the neighbouring Russia-invaded Ukraine, the Romanian presidency announced. On Wednesday, Bolojan took part in a meeting on Ukraine and the security challenges in Europe in Paris. The interim president stated that participants in the meeting in Paris concluded that the best way to solve the crisis is collaboration between European countries and the United States of America, so that there is a ceasefire and a just peace, which cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations.

     

    ELECTIONS In Romania, the electoral alliance supporting Crin Antonescu as a presidential candidate in May has been officially registered with the Central Electoral Bureau. The alliance, called  “Romania Forward”, comprises the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), in the ruling coalition, and is also backed by the group of ethnic minorities in the Romanian Parliament. A former education minister, Daniel Funeriu, and the incumbent mayor general of Bucharest, Nicuşor Dan, have also announced plans to run for president. The election campaign begins on April 4 and ends on May 3, with the vote scheduled on May 4 and the second round on May 18. In December the Constitutional Court cancelled the presidential election over foreign interference in the electoral process.

     

    AIRCRAFT US aircraft deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base (southeastern Romania) are performing low-altitude training flights in and around Constanţa County these days, the Romanian Air Forces announced. They say the exercises will continue until February 28 and promised that all safety measures have been taken to reduce the noise impact on civilians. Officials say that these trainings aim to increase the response capacity of aeronautical personnel.

     

    FILM The Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude was awarded the Silver Bear for best screenplay at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The distinction was awarded for his latest film, “Kontinental ’25”, the story of a female bailiff in the grips of a moral crisis, filmed with a phone in just 10 days. In his acceptance speech, Radu Jude thanked his team and said that the award proves that there is a lot of talent in Romania. The Golden Bear for best film went to ‘Dreams (Sex Love)’/'(Drommer’), directed by the Norwegian Dag Johan Haugerud. The second most important trophy of the Berlinale, the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, was awarded to the Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro for the production ‘The Blue Trail’ (‘O último azul’), and the Silver Bear for best director went to the Chinese filmmaker Huo Meng for ‘Living The Land’ (‘Sheng xi zhi di’).

     

    GERMANY Germany is holding elections for the next Bundestag. The Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz, the most likely to become the country’s next chancellor, said at a rally in Munich that he would be a strong voice in Europe in these “troubled times.” The campaign was overshadowed by the rise of the far-right party Alternative for Germany, which is expected to come in second place, ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, however, the fragmented political landscape requires complicated negotiations at a crucial moment for the strongest EU member state. Following a reform of the electoral law, the 21st Bundestag will have 630 MPs, 103 fewer than at present. The campaign was generally focused on hot topics such as illegal migration and, more recently, the challenges to NATO posed by the US President Donald Trump.

     

    HANDBALL  The Romanian women’s handball team Rapid Bucharest play away from home today against Buducnost, in a decisive match for the round of 16 of the Champions League. Whoever wins will play against the Romanian champions CSM Bucharest. Also today, Dunarea Braila play at home against Larvik for qualification in the quarterfinals of the women’s handball competition EHF European League. On Saturday evening, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea were defeated by the Danish team Ikast Handbold 36-34, in their last match in the competition’s Group B. On Saturday evening, CS Minaur Baia Mare qualified for the quarterfinals of the EHF European Cup men’s handball competition, although they were defeated by the Finnish team BK-46, 32-31 in Karis, in the second leg of the round of 16. (AMP)

  • February 21, 2025 UPDATE

    February 21, 2025 UPDATE

    UKRAINE The interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan takes part on Monday in an online summit on ‘Defence and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan’, organised in the neighbouring Russia-invaded Ukraine, the Romanian presidency announced. On Wednesday, Bolojan took part in a meeting on Ukraine and the security challenges in Europe in Paris. The interim president stated that participants in the meeting in Paris concluded that the best way to solve the crisis is collaboration between European countries and the United States of America, so that there is a ceasefire and a just peace, which cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations.

     

    VISIT The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that the talks held on Friday in Brussels with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, focused on Romania’s key priorities. Marcel Ciolacu mentioned stepping up the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, cutting down the budget deficit without increasing the VAT, and electoral security. “We also discussed a tax reform. The VAT is not being increased, nor will the flat tax rate be touched,” Mr. Ciolacu added. He mentioned that the talks also covered Europe’s role in the peace negotiations, emphasising that “Romania must be at the table. A strong European Union means a stronger Romania! Stronger together, the EU and Romania,” Marcel Ciolacu concluded.

     

    ELECTIONS The Romanian government has approved a budget of roughly EUR 240 million for the organisation of the presidential elections on May 4 and 18. The money comes from the budget reserve funds made available to the government and included in the 2025 state budget, reads a news release issued by the government. The presidential election will take place in May after a first round held in December was cancelled under a Constitutional Court ruling which mentioned interference in the election process.

     

    TALKS The president of France Emmanuel Macron will be in Washington on Monday to discuss with his US counterpart Donald Trump the Ukraine peace negotiations that the Americans have begun with the Russians in the absence of the Europeans and Ukrainians. Since the beginning of the week, the French president has been holding a marathon of consultations with leaders of European Union and NATO member countries. He launched these consultations in an attempt to make Europe’s voice heard, as Europe cannot be left aside after all its political and material involvement in supporting Ukraine over the past three years, since Russia launched a war of aggression against its neighbour.

     

    THEFT The Dutch police have announced they apprehended a 26 year-old man, who has become the fourth suspect in the theft of the Romanian ancient artefacts from the Drents Museum in Assen. According to police sources, the artefacts have not been recovered yet. On January 25, 4 extremely valuable golden items, part of Romania’s treasure on display at the Drents Museum, were stolen. The museum was hosting an exhibition entitled “Dacia, the Kingdom of gold and silver”, which was supposed to close a day before the robbery. (AMP)

  • Romania at the Paris consultations

    Romania at the Paris consultations

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

  • February 19, 2025

    February 19, 2025

    MEETING Romania will be represented by the interim president Ilie Bolojan today, in the second meeting on Ukraine hosted by France, political sources told AGERPRES. The countries invited to take part are Norway, Canada, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Romania, Sweden and Belgium. On Monday, leaders from Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark met in Paris, at the invitation of president Emmanuel Macron, alongside the leaders of the European Union and the NATO Secretary General, to discuss the latest developments related to Ukraine, in the context of the peace initiatives launched by the new American administration. ‘Romania, in its dual capacity as the EU member country with the longest border with Ukraine and the country that has consistently and from the very beginning provided multidimensional, humanitarian, economic and military support to its neighbour, has a direct interest in carrying on the collective European and Euro-Atlantic support for Ukraine, in response to the brutal and illegal war of aggression by the Russian Federation,’ stated the Romanian foreign ministry. On the other hand, president Bolojan Tuesday told the ambassadors accredited to Bucharest that Romania believes in the future of the EU and remains a pro-Atlantic state and a responsible ally.

     

    ELECTIONS The ruling coalition in Bucharest convenes today to complete the steps to set up an electoral alliance comprising the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, which will back the former Liberal leader Crin Antonescu in the presidential elections due in May. Asked whether he would withdraw from the presidential race in favor of the interim president Ilie Bolojan, Crin Antonescu ruled out this possibility. The new alliance is to be registered with the Central Electoral Bureau on Thursday. The 5 supreme court judges who will be part of the Bureau will also be designated by a drawing of lots at that time.

     

    BRANCUSI Every year on February 19 the National Day of Constantin Brâncuși is celebrated in Romania. The Romanian Cultural Institute organises in the coming period, both in the country and abroad, events marking the 149th birthday anniversary of the great Romanian sculptor. In 2024, the monumental ensemble “The Path of Heroes”, created by Constantin Brâncuși in Târgu Jiu, was included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. That same year, an important exhibition devoted to the Romanian artist was organised at the Pompidou Center in Paris. Most of his works belong to the Pompidou Center, as a legacy left to the French state, but many other famous works by Brancuși are hosted by major museums in the world.

     

    FOOTBALL Romanian football champions FCSB will play on Thursday evening at home against the Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki in the decisive leg of the play-offs for the round of 16 of the Europa League. In the first leg against the Greek team coached by the Romanian Răzvan Lucescu, FCSB won 2-1 away from home last week.

     

    WEATHER At the 2 Bucharest airports, “Henri Coandă” and Băneasa, flights may experience delays due to the need to de-ice aircraft. According to the Bucharest Airports National Company, no flights have been canceled because of the weather conditions, the runways and taxiways are operational, and planes are landing and taking off safely. The roads in 12 counties, especially in southern and central Romania, as well as in the capital city Bucharest, have been affected by heavy snowfalls in recent days, and dozens of collisions and skids have occurred, as some roads are partly covered with snow. According to meteorologists, as the sky clears, temperatures will drop more and more by the end of this week and at the beginning of next week, possibly reaching minus 15 degrees Celsius, including in Bucharest.  (AMP)