Radio România Internațional

Tag: visit

March 13, 2023 UPDATE

Education – Almost a quarter of Romanias middle school pupils who should have graduated in 2021 never took the graduation exam. According to a survey published by the National Centre for Policies and Evaluation in Education, the main reasons for this situation are school drop-out, expulsions, migration and an incomplete academic record. In addition, several thousand pupils finished 8th grade but did not register for the national evaluation, while a few thousand registered but did not show up for the test. The authorities are considering measures to address the situation.

Visit — On the occasion of his official visit to Vilnius, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, on Monday had a meeting with the President of the Parliament, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, in which context he conveyed his appreciation for the very good level of the Romanian-Lithuanian relationship and highlighted the positive dynamics of the bilateral dialogue at all levels. He also appreciated the positive evolution of trade between the two countries. Regarding the unprovoked and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the two officials assessed the multiple consequences of the conflict on the security situation in the vicinity of NATOs Eastern Flank. The preparation of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, due in July 2023, was also examined.

Gambling – The Romanian Senate unanimously adopted a law limiting access to gambling. The document, initiated by the save Romania Union – USR (in opposition), provides for banning the operation of game rooms located less than 300 meters from educational institutions, childrens playgrounds, banking or non-banking institutions, art or health facilities. The Senate is the first Chamber referred to in this case.

Moldova – The Moldovan authorities said they disbanded a network coordinated from Moscow that sought to destabilize the situation in the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population. The network was made up of groups of 5-10 persons who were supposed to create chaos at the protests that took place in the capital Chişinău this weekend. The groups were coordinated by someone from the Russian special services and were given instructions to destabilize public order using persons with dual citizenship, Russian and Moldovan, instructions that came from Moscow. The protests were organized by the political party of the controversial businessman Ilan Şor.

Schengen – Romania is neither a source of migration, nor a transit country for migration, president Klaus Iohannis again emphasized. He is travelling this week to Bulgaria to discuss the Schengen accession with his counterpart in Sofia. We know how to protect our borders, but this is a European problem and its clear that we would also like to contribute to finding the best solutions, Iohannis also said. Bulgaria is making efforts to secure its borders with Turkey in collaboration with the European authorities and Turkey.

New Delhi – Romania’s National Robotics Team “AutoVortex” won the first place at the international robotics competition in India and qualified for the World Championship in the USA. At the beginning of the month, the young Romanians also won the First Tech Challenge National Robotics Championship, which took place in Bucharest, and, at the moment, they are the best team in the world. They also broke the world record of points accumulated by a team in such a competition.

Timişoara – As part of the “Timişoara – European Capital of Culture” program, a concert will be held on Tuesday by the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra (Germany), under the baton of its main conductor, the Romanian Cristian Măcelaru. The event will take place at the Capitol Hall of the Banat Philharmonic. The program includes works by Johannes Brahms and Klaus Lang, a contemporary composer present for the first time on a Romanian stage. The channel Radio Romania Music, the specialized channel of the public radio station, will broadcast this concert live, starting at 7 p.m. local time.

Hospital – The future Regional Emergency Hospital in Iași (northeastern Romania) will ensure continuous hospitalization with 750 beds, grouped in six medical centers, the Health Minister Alexandru Rafila announced on Monday. He also said that the design of the medical unit would be completed this month. Next the procurement procedure will be launched for the start of the construction works. Separately, there will be an intensive care unit for surgery, third-degree burns, transplant and neonatology medical services. The hospital will also have a specialized outpatient clinic and an emergency department. The total amount of the investment, excluding the VAT, amounts to 2.4 billion lei (approximately half a billion Euros), the completion date being 2027. Alexandru Rafila also said that the deadline for the completion of the design phase of the Cluj Regional Hospital (north-west) is April-May, and for the hospital in Craiova (south), November or December this year. (CM, LS)

13 March 2023
March 10, 2023 UPDATE

ECONOMY Net
investments in the Romanian economy in 2022 were over EUR 30 bln, up 8.5% since
the previous year, PM Nicolae Ciucă announced. He says this proves the positive
impact of the measures taken by his Cabinet on the economy. Investment in
development, the PM also says in a Facebook post, will preserve jobs and
generate new ones, and in the long term it will contribute to higher revenues. Other
data made public by the National Statistics Institute, which the PM says
confirm the success of the Romanian economy in 2022, are a 4.8% GDP growth, foreign
direct investments of EUR 11.3 bln, a 73% rate of EU fund absorption and
exports amounting to EUR 85 bln. On the other hand, Romania’s public debt
dropped in December 2022 to 47.2% of GDP, from 48.3% in November 2022 and 48.9% in 2021, the finance
ministry announced. In 2023, expenditure for public investments is expected to
account for 7.2% of GDP.

VISIT After his visit to Japan, president Klaus Iohannis travelled
to Singapore, where he had talks with his counterpart, Halimah Yacob. The Romanian
president highlighted Romania’s goal to step up bilateral relations with
Singapore. Additionally, president Iohannis spoke of a set of common goals
pursued by both presidents, such as inclusion policies, economic and social
development and green transition. He voiced Romania’s special interest in fully
tapping the potential of bilateral relations, particularly in the economic and
investment area, and underscored Bucharest’s objective to attract investment
from Singapore, especially since Romania is the third-largest EU provider of IT
services to that country. In turn, the president of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, highlighted
the importance of the bilateral relation considering Romania’s growing profile
at EU and NATO levels, particularly in the geopolitical context generated by
the war in Ukraine. President Yacob also addressed the need to boost investment
and two-way trade, considering the opportunities provided by such sectors as
IT&C, cyber security and tourism. The Romanian head of state also had talks
with Singapore’s PM Lee Hsien Loong, who emphasised the convergence of views and
interests of the two countries in the current geopolitical context, and the
importance of respecting the rule-based international order centred on the UN
Charter.

BYSTROYE The biodiversity of the Danube Delta is not affected by
dredging works on the Bystroye Canal, and no significant water flow changes on
the river Danube have been reported compared to statistics published in recent
years, says the Environment Minister Tanczos Barna after the first measurements
conducted by Romanian authorities on the branch of Chilia and Romanian sections
of the Danube. The Romanian official said Ukrainian authorities must provide a
written consent before the three ships of the Transport Ministry can finalize
depth measurements across the entire section of the Chilia branch, run a new
analysis of water flows and provide their final report. Authorities from
Romania and Ukraine have agreed to measure the depth of Danube River canals
after Kyiv started dredging the Bystroye canal. The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry
said that, once dredging works were completed, the depth of Bystroye grew from
3.9 to 6.5 meters. Kyiv has however denied that the works violated any
agreement. Bucharest wants to make sure Ukraine’s operation does not impact
ecosystems in the Danube Delta, a protected UNESCO World Heritage site.

REFUGEES A centre for Ukrainian refugees was opened on Friday within
the Edmond Nicolau Technical College in Bucharest. The centre is
the outcome of a partnership between Bucharest’s District 2 Hall, UNICEF and Habitat
for Humanity. Its 3 floors, totalling 2,000 sq m, can host 100 people. The
district mayor says refugees may live, cook, socialise here, and that special
areas are arranged for children to do their homework.

MOLDOVA The US Administration will provide the Republic of Moldova
with USD 300 mln in assistance for the energy sector and will share information
with this country in a move to fight Russia’s attempts to destabilise it, the
White House announced on Friday. The national security spokesperson John Kirby
told the media that, although there is no imminent military threat against
Moldova, the US believes Russia is seeking to weaken this small country and
bring in a more pro-Russian government. He also said Washington has confidence
in Moldova’s democratic and economic institutions and in their capacity to
withstand these threats. We will continue to provide significant support, said Kirby.
Protests against the government and president Maia Sandu, organised in
particular by the pro-Russian party Sor, have been a regular occurrence in
Chişinǎu for several weeks. (AMP)

10 March 2023
March 9, 2023

BILLS Government in Bucharest will today hold talks on the final draft laws
on education to be submitted for Parliament approval. The government believes
that the laws, which have sparked off heated debates in society, will significantly
curb school dropout, improve the country’s education system and allow the young
people to adjust to the labour market requirements. However, the opposition has
lashed out at the amendments announced by field minister Ligia Deca, describing
the bills as faulty, superficially made and prone to creating imbalances. The
bills have also been criticized by all those involved in the educational
process, students, teachers and parents.

TALKS Defence Ministers from EU member countries on Wednesday convened in
Stockholm for talks over a two-billion euro plan of providing howitzer shells to
Ukraine so that the country will improve its fighting capabilities against Russia.
A final decision on the aforementioned project is expected during a similar
conference due on March 20th. According to press agencies, Ukraine
has cautioned that the quantity is not enough to make the difference in the war
against Russia. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who also attended
the conference in Stockholm, says that his country needs at least one million 155mm
artillery shells, which would cost 4 billion euros, double than the plan
presented in Stockholm. The total EU support for Ukraine presently stands at 12
billion euros.

COVID-19 The number of COVID-19 infections is on the rise in Romania and
according to the latest reports, the figures doubled last week as compared to
February. Physicians believe though that the present situation should not
create concern, whereas experts say that the real number of infections could be
higher than officially announced. At the same time, the number of respiratory
infections is dropping under 100 thousand cases confirmed in late February.

ENERGY Italian electricity and gas provider Enel has today announced the transfer
of its operations in Romania towards Public Power Corp (PPC) of Greece, in
exchange for 1.26 billion euros as part of a plan focusing on green energy
production and cutting debts. Enel has made public its intention to focus on
countries with growth potential like Italy, Spain, the United States, Brazil,
Chile and Columbia. The Enel-PPC deal is expected to complete in the third
quarter of this year. The Italian group has been a major player on Romania’s
energy market since 2005 and currently boasts 3 million customers in three
major regions of this country.

VISIT Presently on a Far East tour, which also took him to Japan, Romanian
president Klaus Iohannis is today paying a two-day visit to the Republic of
Singapore. Boosting cooperation in fields such as education, research, food
safety, fighting climate change and green transition are high on his agenda.
Romania is the third biggest EU provider of IT services to Singapore and
Bucharest is interested in boosting this cooperation through fresh bilateral
projects. Romania’s interest in attracting Singaporean investment will also be
promoted. President Iohannis is expected to underline Romania’s contribution to
global food safety and the potential of the Romanian Black Sea and Danube ports
in connecting to Central Europe.

(bill)

9 March 2023
March 8, 2023 UPDATE

Visit – President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday had meetings with the local authorities of Kyoto. In this context, he said Romania and Japan are closer than ever, and voiced his hope that Kyoto and a city in Romania will soon become twin cities. “It is important that we rely on each other to safeguard the fundamental values that define us-the will for peace and security, freedom, democracy and human rights, and a rule-based international order, the Romanian president said. In turn, the Japanese officials praised Romania as an important partner for Japan, sharing fundamental values like freedom, democracy and the rule of law. The talks were the last stage in the Romanian presidents visit to Japan. The main goal of the Asian tour was to elevate the bilateral relation to a strategic partnership level. A document in this respect, the outcome of 5 years of negotiations and consultations, was signed on Tuesday in Tokyo, during a meeting with the Japanese PM, Fumio Kishida. The Romanian president was also received by Emperor Naruhito. On Thursday and Friday Klaus Iohannis will be on a state visit to Singapore, where he is scheduled to have talks with president Halimah Yacob and the PM Lee Hsien Loong.

Government – The reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan will be completed, the finance minister Adrian Câciu promised the Senate. Speaking at the Government Hour on Wednesday, he also said economic performance is good and the budget deficit will be narrowed. According to minister Câciu, Romania has a structural deficiency and permanent expenses that require higher financing. As for interest rates, they are becoming more stable as the inflation rate is also coming under control. The ministers presence in Parliament was requested by the opposition Save Romania Union, which asked minister Câciu to explain why Romanias budget deficit has reached record-high levels, and financing costs are among the highest in the EU. The USR Senator Anca Dragu warned that Romania has borrowed huge amounts, at very high interest rates, which Romanians will have to repay for the next 30 years. The Alliance for the Union of Romania Senator Claudiu Târziu said in his turn that in his opinion the finance ministrys forecasts are empty words, and citizens are still overburdened with taxes.

Women – Women in public life, including journalists, human rights activists and women in politics, are particularly targeted by intimidation, hate speech and sexual harassment, reads a joint statement signed by over 20 embassies in Bucharest and the representative office of the European Commission in Romania. In their message on International Womens Day on March 8, the signatories say these practices require firm and immediate response, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. The text also reiterates commitment to ensuring gender equality and to fully respecting and safeguarding the rights of women as human rights. We call on all states to do the same: gender equality and equity should benefit not only girls and women, but society as a whole, men and boys included, the embassies and the representative office of the European Commission in Romania point out. The signatories include the embassies of Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Republic of Korea and the US.

Danube – Ukraine will cease all types of dredging on the Danubes Chilia arm and Bystroe Canal, the Romanian transport ministry announced after the trilateral meeting in Ismail, Ukraine, attended by representatives of Romania, Ukraine and the European Commission. Also, on March 15, measurements will begin on Chilia and Bystroe. The EU officials agreed with Romanias requests and emphasized that the top priority is to improve the capacity of the other Danube arm, Sulina, given that over half of the cargo transport from Ukraine via so-called “solidarity corridors” takes place on the Danube. Ukraine has recently conducted dredging described as legal, maintenance operations, but Romania argues that dredging went significantly over the allowed depth of 3.5m, which would have a major impact on the Danube Delta ecosystem, currently a UNESCO world heritage site.

Eurostat – Greece (1.4%), Malta (1.2%), Cyprus (1.1%) and Romania (1%) had the most significant economic growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2022, as compared to the previous three months – show data published on Wednesday by Eurostat. The economy of the euro zone stagnated, and the gross domestic product of the European Union contracted in the last three months of last year by 0.1% as compared to the previous quarter. Also on Wednesday, Eurostat announced that the number of employed persons increased by 0.3% both in the euro zone and in the EU during the analyzed period. Romania is among the countries where the number of employed people had an increase similar to the EU average, 0.3%.

Brussels – The European Commission has approved a contribution of over 160 million Euros, from the Cohesion Fund, for better and larger sewerage networks in Iaşi County in eastern Romania. “The project will improve public health and the quality of life of the population, through clean drinking water and the proper collection and treatment of wastewater, leading to fewer pollutants in the soil, groundwater and rivers,” said Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira. The project mentions hundreds of km of main pipes, distribution network for water supply and sewerage. Water treatment plants, storage tanks, pumping stations, and many more will also be built. The investment will contribute to Romanias compliance with the EU directives on drinking water and urban waste water, and all social groups in the region will benefit from it and jobs will be created, shows a press release from Brussels. (AMP, LS)

8 March 2023
March 8, 2023

VISIT President Klaus Iohannis Wednesday had meetings with the local
authorities of Kyoto. In this context, he said Romania and Japan are closer
than ever, and voiced his hope that Kyoto and a city in Romania will soon become
twin towns. It is important that we rely on each other to safeguard the
fundamental values that define us-the will for peace and security, freedom,
democracy and human rights, and a rule-based international order, the Romanian
president said. In turn, the Japanese officials praised Romania as an important
partner for Japan, sharing fundamental values like freedom, democracy and the
rule of law. The talks were the last stage in the Romanian president’s visit to
Japan. The main goal of the Asian tour was to elevate the bilateral relation to
a strategic partnership level. A document in this respect, the outcome of 5
years of negotiations and consultations, was signed on Tuesday in Tokyo, during
a meeting with the Japanese PM, Fumio Kishida. The head of the Romanian state
was also received by Emperor Naruhito. On Thursday and Friday Klaus Iohannis will
be on a state visit to Singapore, where he is scheduled to have talks with
president Halimah Yacob and PM Lee Hsien Loong.

GOVERNMENT The
reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan will be completed, the finance
minister Adrian Câciu promised the Senate. Speaking at the Government Hour today,
he also said economic performance is good and the budget deficit will be narrowed.
According to minister Câciu, Romania has a structural deficiency and permanent
expenses that require higher financing. As for interest rates, they are becoming
more stable as the inflation rate is also coming under control. The minister’s
presence in Parliament was requested by Save Romania Union in opposition, which
asked minister Câciu to explain why Romania’s budget deficit has reached
record-high levels, and financing costs are among the highest in the EU. The
USR Senator Anca Dragu warned that Romania has borrowed huge amounts, at very
high interest rates, which Romanians will have to repay for the next 30 years.
The AUR Senator Claudiu Târziu said in his turn that in his opinion the finance
ministry’s forecasts are empty words, and citizens are still overburdened with
taxes.

WOMEN Women in public life, including journalists,
human rights activists and women in politics, are particularly targeted by
intimidation, hate speech and sexual harassment, reads a joint statement signed
by over 20 embassies in Bucharest and the representative office of the European
Commission in Romania. In their message on International Women’s Day on March
8, the signatories say these practices require firm and immediate response, and
the perpetrators must be held accountable. The text also reiterates commitment
to ensuring gender equality and to fully respecting and safeguarding the rights
of women as human rights. We call on all states to do the same: gender equality
and equity benefit not only girls and women, but society as a whole, men and
boys included, the embassies and the representative office of the European
Commission in Romania point out. The signatories include the embassies of Austria,
Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Republic of Korea and the
US.

FAIR A Spring Fair has been opened in Bucharest today,
as part of a larger campaign to promote Romanian produce and to improve
Romanians’ access to locally-sourced, high-quality foodstuff. Taking part in
the Fair are over 30 local producers from north-western and central Romania,
selling meat and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, preserves and drinks. Traditional
music and dance performances will also be organised during the 5-day long event.

DANUBE Ukraine will cease all dredging on the Danube’s
Chilia branch and Bystroe Canal, the Romanian transport ministry announced
after the trilateral meeting in Ismail, Ukraine, attended by representatives of
Romania, Ukraine and the European Commission. Also, on March 15, measurements
will begin on Chilia and Bystroe. The EU officials agreed with Romania’s
requests and emphasised that the top priority is to improve the capacity of the
other Danube branch, Sulina, given that over half of the cargo transport from
Ukraine via so-called solidarity corridors takes place on the Danube. Ukraine
has recently conducted dredging described as legal, maintenance operations, but
Romania argues that dredging went significantly over the allowed depth of 3.5m,
which would have a major impact on the Danube Delta ecosystem, currently a UNESCO
world heritage site.

TALKS The Romanian Foreign
Minister Bogdan Aurescu and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken Monday
discussed over the phone about priority topics for the bilateral Strategic
Partnership, in the context of the war in Ukraine. The 2 officials
appreciated the frequency of Romanian-American meetings over the past year as a
indication of the level and depth of the strategic partnership between the 2
countries. The agenda of the talks also included the strengthening of NATO’s
eastern flank, the new US strategy for the Black Sea and the situation in the Republic
of Moldova. Bogdan Aurescu also reiterated the importance of including Romania
in the Visa Waiver programme. (AMP)

8 March 2023
March 4, 2023

Earthquake — Today it’s 46 years since the devastating earthquake of March 4, 1977, in Romania. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale, was strongly felt throughout the country, especially in the south and east. More than 1,500 people lost their lives then, most of them in Bucharest. Most of the deaths in Bucharest occurred as a result of the total or partial collapse of dozens of buildings. The 1977 earthquake had its epicenter in the Vrancea area (east), the most active in Romania. However, recent earthquakes in the south, where such phenomena are very rare, prompted the authorities to start a national campaign to evaluate the buildings where schools and hospitals are operating, to see if they are vulnerable to earthquakes. If this is the case, they will be refurbished, after previously identifying the funding sources. In Bucharest, the first rapid visual evaluations of buildings ahead of the consolidation process are to begin by September. Among the buildings that will have priority are the blocks of flats with at least three stories built before 1968, as well as the buildings where educational or medical units are operating. The World Bank estimates that there are 20,000 buildings vulnerable to earthquakes in Bucharest.

Greece — A Romanian citizen was identified among the people who died following the serious railway accident that took place in Greece, on the night of February 28 to March 1, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced today. The Consulate General of Romania in Thessaloniki has informed the family of the deceased person, with whom they are in direct contact. The repatriation of the body will be carried out after the completion, by the Greek authorities, of all the specific procedures in such special situations, shows a Foreign Ministry press release. On Friday, more than 5,000 people demonstrated in Athens and Thessaloniki in memory of the 57 people who lost their lives in the railway accident on the railway line connecting the two cities. Violence was reported between the demonstrators and the police, who resorted to tear gas. The “Hellenic Train” company is accused of negligence that led to this catastrophe. The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appointed a commission of experts to investigate the causes of the accident.

Visit – The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, will travel to Japan on Monday, where he will pay a three-day official visit, during which he will have meetings with Emperor Naruhito and the Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The main aim of the visit is to raise the bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership, by signing a joint declaration in this regard. Also next week, after the visit to Japan, president Klaus Iohannis will also pay a state visit to Singapore, the first at this level in the last 20 years. The visit is aimed at initiating bilateral investment projects, given that Romania has become the third largest supplier of IT services to Singapore from the European Union.

Gaudeamus — In Craiova (south), the first stage of the Gaudeamus Book Fair Caravan, organized by Radio Romania, is taking place, which marks both the beginning of the national book fair season and of the spring season. Opened on March 1, the Fair is waiting for literature lovers until Sunday with almost 14,000 books published by over 50 of the most prestigious publishing houses in Romania and abroad, with games, teaching aid equipment and music, with debates, book launches and presentations and prize contests. For the first time in the history of almost three decades and 133 editions of the Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair, the honorary president of the Craiova Fair is a very young writer – Jonathan Agostino Ottobrino, a student who, up to the age of 12, has already had many achievements, having published two volumes and having won numerous literary prizes. After Craiova, Radio Romania will also organize Gaudeamus Book Fairs in Cluj-Napoca (north-west) in April, Oradea (west) in May, Sibiu (center) in August and Iasi (east) in September. (LS)

4 March 2023
March 3, 2023 UPDATE

Visit — Next week the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis will pay an official visit to Japan and a state visit to the Republic of Singapore, the Presidential Administration announced on Friday. The Romanian official will visit Japan between March 6 and 8 and will have meetings with Emperor Naruhito, the Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as well as with other officials. The main target and event of this visit is to raise the bilateral relationship to the level of Strategic Partnership, through the signing of the Joint Declaration by the Romanian President and the Japanese Prime Minister, a declaration establishing the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The Japanese state is the largest Asian investor in Romania. The state visit of the Romanian head of state to Singapore will take place between March 9 and 10, being the first visit to this country in the last 20 years by a president of Romania. Klaus Iohannis will have official talks with his counterpart Halimah Yacob and with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The main aim of this visit is to boost bilateral relations, especially in the economic and investments fields.

Mission — A detachment made up of approximately 100 soldiers and four F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force will participate in the enhanced air policing mission in the Baltic States, between April and July. According to National Defense Ministry, the main objective of the mission carried out in the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is to prevent the violation of allied airspace and to provide assistance to military and civilian aircraft in emergency situations emerged during the flight. The enhanced air policing mission in the Baltic countries under NATO command – Baltic Air Policing is carried out on the basis of a system of tasks rotation carried out by the allied countries since 2004.

Protests — In Iași, in eastern Romania, a series of protests by education trade unions started on Thursday, against the background of salary dissatisfaction of the employees. Similar picketing will take place, in the next period, throughout the country. The trade unionists protest against their low salaries, the lack of salary increments and the problems related to the payment of overtime. The Education Minister, Ligia Deca, says that the complaints concern the current legislation and promises that in the future law, that is being currently drafted, pays will be progressive, based on the average salary.

Canal — On March 15 Romania will start measurements on the Chilia arm and the Bystroe Canal, in order to clarify the contradictory information on the subject of their dredging by the Ukrainians. The working schedule will be established on Monday, and the action will last approximately 10 days. The announcement was made on Friday by the Romanian Transport Ministry, after a meeting between Romanian and Ukrainian experts, at which it was established that experts from Kyiv as well as third-party institutions will assist in the measurements. The Ukrainian side will ensure the security of the Romanian ships and personnel during these actions. The meeting was the first between specialists from the two countries, after Romania accused Ukraine of carrying out dredging works on the canal, a situation that could have an impact on the Danube Delta ecosystem.

Drugs — Drug trafficking will be punished in Romania with bigger penalties, according to a law adopted by Parliament and promulgated on Friday. The law provides for a prison sentence of 3 up to 10 years and the prohibition of certain rights for cultivating, producing, manufacturing, experimenting, transporting, buying or selling dangerous drugs. Until now, these acts were punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years. Also, the new regulations establish that, for the import or export of dangerous drugs, the punishment can reach 15 years in prison, and in the case of high-risk substances trafficking, such as cocaine, the punishment can reach up to 20 years. If the death of the victim occurs, the penalties applied can reach 25 years in prison. Over 10% of Romanians between the ages of 15 and 64 have consumed at least one type of illicit drug, and, according to the National Anti-Drug Agency, cannabis continues to be one of the most used prohibited substances, especially among students.

Working visit — The director of the Romanian Intelligence Service – SRI, Eduard Hellvig, was on a working visit to the USA, where he had meetings with Avril Haines, the director of the US National Intelligence Community and with William J. Burns, the CIA director. According to a SRI press release issued on Friday, the discussions focused on the regional and global security situation in the current context and the dynamics of the operational situation. They highlighted the importance of cooperation and the exchange of information between the SRI and the US intelligence, the results obtained and the ways to continue the strategic partnership in the analyzed fields. The SRI leadership and the heads of the US intelligence structures reconfirmed their firm commitments to continuing working together to prevent and to counter aggressions that threaten national and regional security, including aggressions with a global impact. (LS)

3 March 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova visits Bucharest

The Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, promised, on Wednesday, in Bucharest, to his counterpart from the neighboring Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state , with a majority Romanian-speaking population), the pro-Western Dorin Recean, Bucharests support for the implementation of reforms, the consolidation of the economy, of the resilience and security of the state, as well as support for the continuation of the European path. PM Ciucă welcomed what he called the excellent level of bilateral relations and the remarkable dynamics of the dialogue between Bucharest and Chișinău.

According to the prime minister, Romania has consolidated its status as the first commercial partner of the Republic of Moldova. Bilateral trade, he recalled, increased by 1.2 billion dollars in 2022, which means that it reached about 3.6 billion. Against the background of Russias brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, the Romanian Prime Minister went on to say, we are witnessing more and more attempts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova, artificially creating tensions, hostile narratives built around the propagation of false information.

“I assured my counterpart of Romanias unwavering support for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders” — the Prime Minister Ciucă added. The Romanian authorities will unreservedly support the leadership in Chișinău to achieve the goal of integrating the Republic of Moldova into the European Union, President Klaus Iohannis in his turn told the Moldovan Prime Minister Recean.

The Moldovan official also had a meeting with the Speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, who assured him of Romanias support for part of the gas consumption of the Moldovan citizens, through the import contract agreed with Azerbaijan. And the Custodian of the Crown of Romania, Princess Margareta, received the Moldovan Prime Minister and reiterated the support given by the Royal Family of Romania to the Republic of Moldova.

Dorin Recean made his first visit abroad to Romania after being sworn in as prime minister in mid-February. “I will go to Bucharest on my first visit. We have to start the working mechanisms here, in the Republic of Moldova, and immediately after that I will go to Bucharest. (…) We are privileged to have this good relationship with Romania, which helped us enormously in overcoming the energy crisis, in our European aspirations. Romania advocated for us in the European institutions, in such a way that we can now advance on the European path” – said Prime Minister Recean.

The government program presented before the vote of investiture in Parliament, actually mentions that special attention is paid to the relations with Romania, which will be “strategic” and “privileged” relations. (LS)

2 March 2023
President Maia Sandu visits Bucharest

A poet once launched a metaphor reading as follows: ‘a citizen of the Republic of Moldova who comes to Bucharest makes a trip from home to home. Created on part of the eastern Romanian territories annexed in 1940, following an ultimatum by Stalins Soviet Union, the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence from Moscow on August 27, 1991, after the failure of the neo-Bolshevik coup against the last Soviet leader, the reformer Mikhail Gorbachev. On the same day, Romania became the first country in the world to recognize the statehood of its new neighbor. On Thursday, the president of the Republic of Moldova, the pro-Western Maia Sandu, herself holder of Romanian citizenship, came to Bucharest as if she were coming at home.

The security situation was the main point on the agenda of the talks with her counterpart, Klaus Iohannis. According to the Moldovan officials, the republic is facing all the elements of a hybrid war, such as false bomb alerts, cyber-attacks, illegally financed protests, energy blackmail from Russia. The pro-war propaganda, incitement to hatred, misinformation, which are parts of the same hybrid war, are meant to weaken the resilience of citizens, the Moldovan officials add, and President Sandu herself announced, this month, the foiling of a coup planned in Moscow, in which mercenaries from Russia, Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro were supposed to destabilize the republic.

The information regarding a Russian plot to overthrow the government of the Republic of Moldova is deeply worrying – the spokesperson for the US National Security Council, John Kirby, immediately reacted. He admitted that the alleged plot was not confirmed by independent sources but added that it was certainly not outside the limits of Russian behavior. The Romanian president also emphasized that the external threats to the democratic order in the Republic of Moldova were particularly worrying. President Iohannis pointed out that Romania would continue to support the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, within its internationally recognized borders. I assure you that the Republic of Moldova is not alone in the face of these challenges, he told Maia Sandu.

In turn, Maia Sandu said that the joint projects with Romania help the Republic of Moldova to resist and move forward on the European path. In this complicated period, Romania stands by us, sincerely and disinterestedly. While some are blackmailing us, others are embracing us – she concluded. Maia Sandu also announced that the new government in Chisinau, installed less than two weeks ago, would continue the dialogue with Romania, and that the PM Dorin Recean would next week come to Bucharest, on his first visit abroad after taking office. (LS)

24 February 2023
February 23, UPDATE

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

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

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

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

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

23 February 2023
December 19, 2022

SCHENGEN The president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola is
on a 2-day working visit to Bucharest as of today, with a support message for Romania’s
Schengen accession efforts. Today, Roberta Metsola is scheduled to have
meetings with president Klaus Iohannis, PM Nicolae Ciucă and the speakers of
the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, Marcel Ciolacu and Alina Gorghiu, and will
address a joint Parliament meeting. On Tuesday, Roberta Metsola will have talks
with young Romanians as part of an event called ‘Together we are Europe,’
organised by the European Parliament Office in Romania in a partnership with
the Law School of the University of Bucharest. According to the institution, during
their dialogue with Metsola the young participants will be able to find out
about the benefits of the European parliamentary democracy, ways to influence
European policies, why it is important for them to get involved in protecting
European democracy and how the decisions and policies of the European
Parliament impact Europeans’ day-to-day lives.

VISIT The Romanian foreign minister, Bogdan Aurescu, is on a 2-day
official visit to Chişinău, at the invitation of Moldova’s deputy PM and
minister for foreign affairs and European integration, Nicu Popescu. For 2 days,
Bogdan Aurescu will have consultations with his counterpart, will be received
by the president of the R. of Moldova Maia Sandu, and will have talks with PM Natalia
Gavriliţa and with the parliament speaker Igor Grosu. They will discuss aspects
related to countering the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation
against Ukraine, as well as topics related to cooperation in the field of
energy security, stepping up sectoral cooperation, economic cooperation and the
assistance measures taken by Romania to the benefit of the R. of Moldova. A
major topic for discussion will be Moldova’s progress in its EU accession
efforts, after the country was granted the accession candidate status in June
2022, and Romania’s concrete support in this respect.

ENERGY EU energy ministers convene today in Brussels in an attempt
to reach an agreement on a natural gas price cap, in the context of the rise in
energy prices triggered by the war in Ukraine. Last week, they failed to reach
consensus on this topic. The participants will also try to come up with a
general approach on a proposed reduction of methane emissions in the energy
sector. The draft regulation requires oil, natural gas and coal operators to
measure, report and check methane emissions. Moreover, the EU energy ministers
will try to reach an agreement with respect to the proposed REPowerEU directive,
which modifies the EU legislation on renewable energy, energy efficiency and
the energy performance of buildings. The proposal aims to step up the use of
renewable energy. On the other hand, the Czech presidency of the EU Council
will present a report on the progress made with respect to the natural gas
package, which includes a proposed directive and a proposed regulation on
single market norms for gas from renewable sources, natural gas and hydrogen.

COMMEMORATION In Timişoara, western
Romania, events carry on marking 33 years since the anti-communist revolution
of December 1989. The events highlight the courage and sacrifice of the
Revolution heroes, and the need for the younger generations to carry on the
spirit of freedom. After the marches, religious services, exhibitions, film
screenings and roundtables organised in the previous days, today a pilgrimage
will be held at the monuments making up the Revolution Memorial. Short reels made
by young artists will also be screened in schools, and the traditional Rockford
revolution festival is also scheduled for today. Also today, the members of
the bereaved families are leaving for Bucharest to retrace the route on which
the bodies of 43 revolution participants from Timisoara were sent for
incineration. The events devoted to the 33 years since the Revolution will
culminate on Tuesday, December 20, Victory Day, when Timişoara was declared the
first city free of communism in Romania. The uprising against the communist
regime in Romania began in Timişoara on December 16, 1989 and spread to
Bucharest and other cities in the country. Over 1,000 people died and some
3,000 were wounded in the clashes that took place on that occasion.

FOOTBALL Argentina is the world’s new football champion. In the
final of the Qatar tournament on Sunday, Argentina defeated the previous
champions, France, after penalty shootouts. This is the 3rd world
championship won by the South Americans, after the title in 1978 and the one in
1986. The next world championship, held in 2026, will be hosted jointly by the
US, Canada and Mexico. (AMP)

19 December 2022
December 11, 2022 UPDATE

Budget — The state budget and social insurance draft laws will be debated in Romania’s Parliament on Monday. The final vote is to be given in the plenary sessions of the two chambers on Thursday. The state budget for next year is based on an economic growth of 2.8% and a revenue increase of 14%. The budget deficit is forecast to increase by almost 4.4% of the GDP, and the main novelty is the increase to 2.5% of the Defense budget. The state budget for next year will allow, according to the authorities, an increase in pensions by 12.5% and a minimum wage of 3,000 lei (about 600 Euros). According to the document, the Ministries of Defense, Development, Agriculture, Transport and Education will receive more funds. The fields of Energy, Justice and Health will receive less money. The opposition criticizes the Governments budget bill and announces that it will submit amendments in Parliament.

Visit — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will receive, on Monday, in Bucharest, the president of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis. The two will discuss the bilateral relationship and economic cooperation, with an emphasis on stimulating investments and identifying new areas of collaboration. At the same time, they will also exchange views on current topics on the international agenda, including the developments in Ukraine, humanitarian aid measures for the Ukrainian population and refugees, the consequences of the conflict in terms of energy, as well as in terms of global food security. Romanian-Swiss multilateral cooperation is also on the agenda of the discussions, including from the perspective of Switzerlands future mandate as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, which it will exercise in the period 2023-2024. On the other hand, the signing ceremony of the Romanian-Swiss Framework Agreement will take place, through which the second Swiss financial contribution to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU will be operationalized. President Ignazio Cassis also has a scheduled meeting with the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and will also be received by Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown.

Meeting — The Romanian Agriculture Minister, Petre Daea, is participating, on Sunday and Monday, in the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) in Brussels. According to an agriculture ministry communiqué, the meetings agenda includes important aspects for the Romanian agricultural sector, such as the market situation, the strategic plans of the CAP, animal welfare and fishing opportunities for next year. The ministers are discussing the progress of the new EU forest strategy for 2030 and the actions taken at EU and national level. At the same time, the ministers will debate the current situation of the market in the member states, the main issues related to the energy and fertilizer crisis, the high prices of production factors, as well as the pressure that the crisis exerts on both farmers and consumers. Also, the European officials will tackle the strategic plans included in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the context of the current situation in Ukraine and the new challenges facing both the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Agreement — The EU member states reached an agreement, on Saturday, regarding the unlocking of a financial assistance package worth 18 billion Euros, which will be granted to Ukraine in 2023. ‘Ukraine can count on the EU. We will continue to support Ukraine also from a financial point of view, as long as it is necessary’ shows a press release from the European Council. The proposal was adopted by the Council and will be presented to the European Parliament to be adopted next week. On Tuesday, Hungary vetoed the package proposed by the European Commission.

Handball — Romania’s handball champions Rapid Bucharest scored a prestigious victory in the Champions League in womens handball, 30-27 against the multiple champion Gyori Audi ETO KC (Hungary), on Sunday, at home, in a Group B match. After this victory, the Romanian handballers have reached 12 points in the group, as many as Gyori and Esbjerg (Denmark) and one below Metz (France). In the last match of this year, Rapid will meet, away from home, Storhamar (Norway), on December 17. The first two teams in the group go directly to the quarter finals, and the next 4 to the play-offs.

Corruption – The Greek vice-president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, and three other people were indicted and imprisoned, on Sunday, in Belgium, in an investigation regarding suspicions of corruption in connection with Qatar. The four were accused of belonging to a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. Eva Kaili could not benefit from her parliamentary immunity because she was caught in the act of committing the offence she is accused of was on Friday. According to the Federal Prosecutors Office, they suspect the payment of significant sums of money or the offering of significant gifts to third parties in a political and/or strategic position that allows them, within the European Parliament, to influence the decisions of this institution. On Saturday, the president of the European Parliament, the Maltese Roberta Metsola, decided on a first sanction against Eva Kaila. The Greek vice-president was left without all delegated responsibilities, including that of representative for the Middle East region. Left-wing MEPs and environmentalists demanded the resignation of Eva Kaili, who was also excluded from the Greek Socialist Party.

11 December 2022
December 2, 2022 UPDATE

VISIT The president of Romania Klaus
Iohannis had a meeting in Athens on Friday with his Greek counterpart, Katerina
Sakellaropoulou, who reiterated Greece’s full support for Romania’s Schengen
accession. The two officials praised the very good relations between the two
countries, strengthened by cultural affinities and by a long common history,
and emphasized the close cooperation at EU, regional and international level. Given
the current security situation generated by Russia’s illegal military
aggression against Ukraine, they emphasized the importance of maintaining
trans-Atlantic unity and solidarity and reiterated the support that their
respective countries will continue to give to Ukraine and to Ukrainian refugees,
as well as to the R. of Moldova. The Romanian president is in Greece for a
2-day official visit.

COMPANIES The number of new
companies running on foreign capital set up in Romania in the first 10 months
of the year is 30.7% higher than in the corresponding period of 2021, according
to the National Trade Registry Office. The 6,175 new companies have a combined
share capital of over USD 35 million. At the end of October 2022, 243,022
companies in Romania had foreign share capital. The largest number of companies
had Italian investors, but the highest capital value was reported for Dutch
companies. In related news, Romania’s software industry is growing steadily,
with the combined turnover in the sector expected to reach a record-high EUR 11
billion this year. According to a survey, the upward trend has been steady for
the past 10 years, and the growth rate almost tripled during this period. In
2021 there were over 30,000 software firms in Romania.

GAUDEAMUS The 29th edition of the
Gaudeamus Book Fair hosted by Radio Romania kicks off next week.
200 publishers will be exhibiting their latest and current releases in various
formats, addressing all age brackets and fields of interests, music as well as
educational games. 600 events have been announced in addition to various
related projects. Pavilions are also available online on gaudeamus.ro. The
Gaudeamus Book Fair is financed by the Ministry of Culture.

POLITICS The National Congress of the Alliance for the Unity of
Romanians (AUR), a nationalist party in opposition in Romania, Friday endorsed
its political promotion strategy for 2023. It includes building a mobile
hospital and organising medical caravans which would also present the party’s
views on the main areas of interest. The party president, George Simion, added
that some of the subsidies received by the party will be used for purchasing
school buses. The head of the party’s National Council, Claudiu Târziu, said
national reunification is AUR’s country project and requested the governments
of Romania and of the R. of Moldova to initiate immediate consultations in this
respect.

SCHENGEN The Dutch government Friday decided to agree with Romania’s
and Croatia’s Schengen accession, but will oppose the accession of Bulgaria, on
grounds that the country does not meet the required conditions. The Swedish
parliament’s committee for European affairs also voted in favour of Romania’s
accession. The Romanian PM Nicolae Ciucă and the foreign minister Bogdan
Aurescu hailed the decisions concerning Romania. A possible enlargement of the Schengen
area is one of the topics on the agenda of the Justice and Home Affairs Council
meeting due on December 8. (AMP)

2 December 2022
November 24, 2022 UPDATE

Visit — Hi tech and financial technologies, as well as cyber security, are the main areas of cooperation that Romania and Lithuania are considering. Economic exchanges between the two countries are growing significantly. Last year exchanges grew by 50% as compared to the previous year, and the first signals indicate that this trend will be maintained in 2022. The bilateral relationship was one of the central topics in the discussions that President Klaus Iohannis had on Thursday with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda, during his visit to Vilnius. Another important topic on the agenda was the situation in Ukraine and the effects on the entire region. The two heads of state also discussed the new package of EU sanctions against Russia and came to the conclusion that firmer measures are needed. Klaus Iohannis was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. The Lithuanian president was awarded the Star of Romania National Order in the rank of Collar. On Friday, Iohannis will participate in “The Idea of Europe” symposium, organized in Kaunas by the Vytautas Magnus University, where he will give a speech. He will also take part, together with his counterparts from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, in a summit dedicated to strengthening NATOs Eastern Flank, supporting Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and promoting European memory, with an emphasis on combating disinformation and attempts to rewrite history. On Wednesday, Klaus Iohannis made an official visit to Lithuanias neighbor Latvia, where he had talks with the president Egils Levits.

Vaccines – The Romanian Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, on Thursday announced that the first batches of vaccine with the new formula against SARS-CoV-2 infection have arrived in Romania. He pointed out that the vaccine will be available in the family doctors offices and in vaccination centers in the main hospitals in Romania. All those who have already had two doses of the old formula vaccine can be vaccinated with the third dose or, as the case may be, with the fourth dose, of this vaccine that protects against the newest variant BA4, BA5 Omicron – the health minister also said. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, three years ago, more than 67 thousand people infected with SARS-CoV-2 have died in Romania.

Criticism — The opposition USR (in the Romanian Parliament) launched on Thursday the “Black Book of PSD, PNL, UDMR governance”, one year after the installation of the current Executive, led by the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă. The president of USR, Cătălin Drulă, said that the document is a critical report of the activity of each individual ministry. One year in the government meant record price hikes, plagiarism and failed projects – claims Drulă. AUR — the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (the nationalist opposition) launched its own document critical of the current governing coalition and drew attention to the fact that this year was marked by the bills crisis, the price hikes, the severe drought and the unfulfilled promises regarding Romanias accession to the Schengen area.

Handball – The Romanian mens handball team will play, along with Spain, Argentina and Bahrain, at the Domingo Barcenas international tournament (January 5-7) in the Spanish resort of Benidorm, organized in preparation for the 2023 World Championship. The Romanians coached by the Spanish Xavier Pascal will face three teams qualified to the 2023 World Cup, scheduled in Poland and Sweden, between January 11-29. Romania failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, which brings together 32 teams. Currently, the Romanian handball players are engaged in the preliminaries of the EHF EURO 2024 European Championship.

NATO – Next week, from Monday to Wednesday, Bucharest will host the meeting of foreign ministers from NATO member countries, thus becoming the European and Euro-Atlantic diplomatic capital, says the Romanian foreign minister, Bogdan Aurescu. In a video message, published before the event, he said that the NATO countries’ foreign ministers meeting will once again demonstrate allied unity and solidarity and seek solutions to counter the effects of Russias brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. The conference will be hosted by Bogdan Aurescu together with the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. Also in Bucharest, next week, the foreign ministers of the G7 – the group of the worlds richest states – will discuss how they can help Ukraine secure its energy resources for the winter, the German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock announced.

Football – The Swiss national team defeated Cameroon 1-0 on Thursday in a Group G match of the World Cup in Qatar. The goal was scored by Breel Embolo, a Swiss striker born in Cameroon. Romania, which did not qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, will be in the same group, I, with Switzerland in the preliminaries for Euro 2024. The group also includes Israel, Kosovo, Belarus and Andorra. The teams ranked on the first two positions qualify for the final continental tournament. (LS)

24 November 2022
November 23, 2022 – UPDATE

JUDICIARY The Romanian
President Klaus Iohannis has hailed the conclusions of a European Commission report saying that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in Romania’s judicial
sector would be lifted. A stage has
ended, but further efforts must be made as reforms are vital, Iohannis said. In
turn, PM Nicolae Ciuca said the European Commission’s report encourages the government
to stay on the path of supporting the independence of the judiciary and the
fight against corruption to the benefit of the Romanian society.

VISIT The joint
effort to support Ukraine and the strength of the Romanian-Latvian cooperation
were highlighted in Riga by the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, in a joint
press conference with his Latvian counterpart, Egils Levits. The Romanian
official’s visit to Riga takes place in the context of the celebration of 100
years of diplomatic relations between the 2 countries. The two presidents also
discussed Romania’s Schengen accession. Klaus Iohannis emphasised that Romania
has never been and will never be a country that allows uncontrolled migration
through illegal border crossing. The president of Latvia highlighted the common
approach of the two countries with respect to the future of the EU and welcomed
Romania’s participation in the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic states
in 2023. On Thursday, Klaus Iohannis will be on an official visit to Lithuania,
in Vilnius, while on Friday he will take part, jointly with his counterparts
from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, in a summit devoted to strengthening NATO’s
eastern flank and to supporting Ukraine and the R. of Moldova.

COOPERATION Romania and Spain are pleading for a more capable and
responsible European Union, one which is able to provide support and play a
relevant role in implementing the Strategic Compass, fully complementary to
NATO and avoiding redundancies, including in the current security context,
marked by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, reads a joint statement
signed on Wednesday in Castellón de
la Plana, Spain, by the heads of the Romanian and Spanish governments. Bucharest and
Madrid have also reiterated their commitment to a strong NATO, focusing on the
full implementation of the Strategic Concept adopted in Madrid, with special
emphasis on consolidating defence and deterrence on the eastern flank. The PM
of Romania, Nicolae Ciucă, was received with military honours in Castellon de
la Plana by the head of Spain’s government, Pedro Sanchez. According to Ciucă, bilateral relations are even stronger
thanks to the nearly one-million strong, highly integrated and active Romanian
community contributing to the development of Spain’s economy and society.

NATO – A meeting of NATO
foreign ministers will be held in Bucharest on November 29-30, 2022. The
meeting will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.
Attending will also be the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the foreign ministers of Finland and Sweden.

DRILL NATO troops
Wednesday conducted a military exercise to test the air and missile defence in
Romania, one week after a stray missile crashed in Poland and revealed
weaknesses in the Alliance’s air shield, Reuters reports. The French air defence
system deployed to Romania repelled a simulated attack by Allied fighter jets,
NATO’s Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany said. Taking part in the
exercise were Turkish F-16 fighter jets, Spanish Eurofighters, US growler
aircraft designed for electronic warfare and French Rafale jets.

FOOTBALL Japan produced the second big surprise of the Qatar football World
Cup, after defeating 4-times Cup winners Germany 2-1, on Wednesday in Group
E. Also on Wednesday, world vice-champions Croatia drew against Morocco,
0-0, in Group F. Another former world champion, Spain, takes on Costa Rica, and
Belgium plays against Canada. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia stunned football fans
with one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Cup, defeating
2-times champions Argentina 2-1. Also on Tuesday, the defending champions, France,
defeated Australia 4-1, while Denmark and Poland drew against Tunisia and
Mexico, respectively, 0 – 0. (AMP)

23 November 2022