Radio România Internațional

Tag: war in Gaza

March 2, 2025 UPDATE 3

SUMMIT – 15 European leaders and the Prime Minister of Canada are discussing in London support for Ukraine after the failure of the Trump-Zelenskyy talks in Washington, but also about creating a security identity for Europe, in the context of a possible military withdrawal of the United States. This is a unique moment for European security, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the start of the discussions. Among the leaders attending the summit are the president of France, the Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Ministers of Italy and Poland, as well as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Representing Romania is interim president Ilie Bolojan. The agenda of the London meeting also includes security guarantees that the Europeans want to provide to Ukraine against Russia. The urgent increase in support for Ukraine and European defense are also high on the agenda of the special European summit to be organized on March 6. The EU Commission will table a proposal to deliver swift military aid to Ukraine, worth €20 billion. In addition, the Commission and Member States will consult on new instruments that should enable EU countries to increase defense spending this year, without falling into the infringement procedure for exceeding the budget deficit target. Last but not least, EU leaders will discuss the peace negotiations started by Trump and Putin without consulting or inviting either Ukraine or Europe to the table. The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, said that if Ukraine is not satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations, the EU will continue to provide military aid to Kyiv in order to achieve a just peace.

TRANSPORT – Air passenger transport in Romania went up 6% last year and reached 26 million passengers, the National Statistics Institute reports. The largest traffic flows were recorded at the “Henri Coandă” airport in Bucharest, “Avram Iancu” airport in Cluj Napoca (northwest) and at the International Airport in Iași (northeast). The largest shares in domestic air transport were recorded by the Henri Coandă-Bucharest airport, with 49.8% of the total number of passengers boarded, “Avram Iancu” airport in Cluj-Napoca with 17.6%, and the “Traian Vuia” airport in Timișoara (west) with 14.4%. Most airline passengers arrived from Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and France.

ELECTION – Parties, political and election alliances, organizations representing national minorities and independent candidates have two weeks left to submit their candidacies to the Central Election Bureau for the presidential election slated for May. According to the election calendar set by the government and currently debated by Parliament, the election campaign will start on April 4 and last for a month. At home, the election will be held on May 4, while the vote abroad will start on May 2 and end on May 4. The second round is slated for May 18. This week Parliament dismissed Toni Greblă from the helm of the Permanent Election Authority and appointed an interim replacement. The Audiovisual Council also adopted a set of regulations that will apply to the election campaign.

GAZA – Israel announced that it is suspending the entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip, criticizing the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas for refusing an American proposal to extend the ceasefire agreement. “Israel will not accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas persists in its refusal, more consequences will follow”, a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office reads. Hamas responded, describing Netanyahu’s decision to stop humanitarian aid as “cheap blackmail”, a “war crime” and “a blow” to the ceasefire agreement, Reuters reports. In a statement, Hamas urged the brokers of the ceasefire agreement to force Israel to end punitive measures against the Gaza Strip. The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement ended on Saturday without Hamas and Israel reaching an agreement to implement the second phase, which was supposed to take effect on Sunday and included the release of the remaining hostages in the Strip and a definitive end to the war.

RUGBY – Romania’s rugby team lost 43-5 away from home to Georgia in the semi-finals of Rugby Europe Championship. Georgia thus claimed the Antim Ivireanu Cup, a trophy in play for every match pitting the two sides. In the other semi-final on Saturday, Portugal lost to Spain 42-31 in Lisbon. Georgia and Portugal will compete for the top spot while Romania will take on Spain for the third place final. Both matches are slated for March 14-16. (VP)

2 March 2025
March 2, 2025

SUMMIT – Leaders of Ukraine’s allies, including Romania’s interim president, Ilie Boljan, are meeting in London this afternoon for a crucial summit. They will discuss new security guarantees in the face of a US letdown following Friday’s heated meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. The Ukrainian president was warmly welcomed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday, and dozens of people gathered to cheer for him outside Downing Street. The British Prime Minister assured the Ukrainian president of the UK’s “absolute determination” to support Ukraine in the face of Russian invasion, and the two governments signed a £2.26 billion loan agreement, which the Ukrainian president said would be used for domestic arms production and would be repaid from Russia’s frozen assets in the West. Driven out of the White House after President Donald Trump accused him of not being grateful enough and refusing to make peace with Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy received the support of leaders of European countries, with the exception of Hungary and Slovakia. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said that the free world needs a new leader and that Europeans must accept this challenge. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, however, that the Ukrainian president must find a way to reconcile with Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron said that after their falling out, the two leaders must find common ground through respect and gratitude.

PROTEST – Bucharest on Saturday hosted a large protest against the government and in support of the former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, placed on pre-trial arrest this week on a number of charges. Organized by the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), the protest gathered tens of thousands of participants in Victory Square. Protesters called for the resignation of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the organization of the second round of the presidential election, annulled last year by the Constitutional Court. Attending the protest was Călin Georgescu himself, who is charged of instigation to actions against the constitutional order. Georgescu said only the Romanian people can judge him, and that he will not yet announce his candidacy for May’s presidential election. Attending the rally were also politicians from Bulgaria, Poland, Italy and Spain, who held speeches in support of Georgescu.

ELECTION – Parties, political and election alliances, organizations representing national minorities and independent candidates have two weeks left to submit their candidacies to the Central Election Bureau for the presidential election slated for May. According to the election calendar set by the government and currently debated by Parliament, the election campaign will start on April 4 and last for a month. At home, the election will be held on May 4, while the vote abroad will start on May 2 and end on May 4. The second round is slated for May 18. This week Parliament dismissed Toni Greblă from the helm of the Permanent Election Authority and appointed an interim replacement. The Audiovisual Council also adopted a set of regulations that will apply to the election campaign.

GAZA – Israel announced that it is suspending the entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip, criticizing the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas for refusing an American proposal to extend the ceasefire agreement. “Israel will not accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas persists in its refusal, more consequences will follow”, a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office reads. Hamas responded, describing Netanyahu’s decision to stop humanitarian aid as “cheap blackmail”, a “war crime” and “a blow” to the ceasefire agreement, Reuters reports. In a statement, Hamas urged the brokers of the ceasefire agreement to force Israel to end punitive measures against the Gaza Strip. The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement ended on Saturday without Hamas and Israel reaching an agreement to implement the second phase, which was supposed to take effect on Sunday and included the release of the remaining hostages in the Strip and a definitive end to the war. (VP)

2 March 2025
November 10, 2024 UPDATE

FLOODS – According to the Spanish authorities, another three Romanian citizens are reported dead following last week’s devastating floods in Valencia, after previously been reported missing. So far, seven Romanians died and three are still missing, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reports. The Spanish authorities remain in permanent contact with representatives of Romania’s diplomatic missions. We recall that on Saturday, thousands marched on the streets of Valencia to protest the local authorities’ chaotic and slow response to the floods in southeastern Spain, which have so far killed 220 people.

DRUGS – Tons of drugs have been seized by Romanian law enforcement in the first nine months of 2024 – nearly 170 kilos of high-risk drugs and 800 kilos of drugs, four tons of cannabis, seven tons of illegal substances seized from an illegal factory, and 16 tons of cocaine, concealed in fruit pulp, seized at the Port of Constanța. 33 crime groups comprising 240 people have been dismantled, and a total of 3,000 individuals were prosecuted. Over 21 million tons of cigarettes and 6 tons of contraband tobacco were also seized during the interval. 119 individuals were subject to pre-trial measures, and 29 were arrested. Some 1.4 million EUR was handed out in fines.

VISIT – Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to the United Kingdom starting Tuesday, where he will meet his counterpart, Keir Starmer, and attend the Romania-Great Britain Economic Forum. Ahead of the visit, the Romanian government earlier this week adopted a memorandum, updating the convention signed by the two countries in the field of taxation and tax evasion. “The updated document factors in the legislative modifications operated in Romania over the course of 2023, as well as other measures linked to Romania’s OECD accession”, the government reports.

GAZA – Qatar has suspended all efforts to mediate the conflict between Israel and Hamas until both parties will show willingness to negotiate in good faith, the Qatari Foreign Ministry reports. Along with the USA and Egypt, Qatar has for months been trying to end the war in Gaza and get all Israeli hostages released. Hamas and Israel accuse each other of blocking any peace settlement, refusing terms for a ceasefire. The conflict erupted on a large scale on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack on Israel. On the other hand, in a report published on Saturday, the UN warns that famine threatens to sweep northern Gaza amidst a resurge in Israeli military operations and the near total blocking of humanitarian aid. The IDF responded, saying the report relies on “partial and biased data”.

REPORT – National Bank Governor, Mugur Isărescu, is expected to present a quarterly inflation report on Monday. The inflation rate will go up slightly at the end of 2024, and the National Bank expects price hikes over the coming period. Starting the first half of 2025, the inflation rate will fluctuate and will remain above Central Bank estimates. Bank officials expect the annual inflation rate to stabilize in 2026 and start going down to the 3.5% set target, a National Bank board of directors report reads. The National Bank also decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate to 6.5% per year, as also agreed in October’s meeting.

FOOTBALL – National football squad members have called on fans to display civilized behaviors for the Nations League match against Kosovo in Bucharest, scheduled for November 15. Romania, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Slovakia are yet to recognize the independence of the former Serbian province with a majority Albanian population. At the September 6 match in Pristina, won 3-0 by Romania, Romanian footballers were treated with hostility by fans in the stands. “Leave geopolitics out of it. I am certain nothing can make us happier than winning this match in the field, without incidents and without penalties from UEFA’s disciplinary committees. Victory is the sweetest revenge”, footballers have told fans. Romania tops the C2 group in Nations League with 4 wins in 4 matches and 12 points, followed by Kosovo with 9 points, Cyprus with 3 points and Lithuania with 0 points. The best four winners of Nations League groups will qualify to the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada. (VP)

10 November 2024
November 10, 2024

FLOODS – According to the Spanish authorities, another three Romanian citizens are reported dead following last week’s devastating floods in Valencia, after previously been reported missing. So far, seven Romanians died and three are still missing, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reports. The Spanish authorities remain in permanent contact with representatives of Romania’s diplomatic missions. We recall that on Saturday, thousands marched on the streets of Valencia to protest the local authorities’ chaotic and slow response to the floods in southeastern Spain, which have so far killed 220 people.

WEATHER ALERTS – A code yellow alert for strong wind and heavy rainfall is in place for several counties in the southeast, while heavy snowfall and blizzards are expected in the center and the east. Meteorologists have also warned against heavy rainfall in the south and the southeast, which will persist until Tuesday morning. All ports on the Romanian Black Sea remained closed on Saturday due to strong wind.

VISIT – Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to the United Kingdom starting Tuesday, where he will meet his counterpart, Keir Starmer, and attend the Romania-Great Britain Economic Forum. Ahead of the visit, the Romanian government earlier this week adopted a memorandum, updating the convention signed by the two countries in the field of taxation and tax evasion. “The updated document factors in the legislative modifications operated in Romania over the course of 2023, as well as other measures linked to Romania’s OECD accession”, the government reports.

GAZA – Qatar has suspended all efforts to mediate the conflict between Israel and Hamas until both parties will show willingness to negotiate in good faith, the Qatari Foreign Ministry reports. Along with the USA and Egypt, Qatar has for months been trying to end the war in Gaza and get all Israeli hostages released. Hamas and Israel accuse each other of blocking any peace settlement, refusing terms for a ceasefire. The conflict erupted on a large scale on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack on Israel. On the other hand, in a report published on Saturday, the UN warns that famine threatens to sweep northern Gaza amidst a resurge in Israeli military operations and the near total blocking of humanitarian aid. The IDF responded, saying the report relies on “partial and biased data”.

REPORT – National Bank Governor, Mugur Isărescu, is expected to present a quarterly inflation report on Monday. The inflation rate will go up slightly at the end of 2024, and the National Bank expects price hikes over the coming period. Starting the first half of 2025, the inflation rate will fluctuate and will remain above Central Bank estimates. Bank officials expect the annual inflation rate to stabilize in 2026 and start going down to the 3.5% set target, a National Bank board of directors report reads. The National Bank also decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate to 6.5% per year, as also agreed in October’s meeting.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (102 WTA) has won the WTA125 tournament in Cali, Columbia, offering 115,000 USD in total prizes, after defeating Veronika Erjavec of Slovenia in the final on Saturday, score 6-3, 6-3. Seeded second, Begu ousted Tina Smith (322 WTA) in the semi-finals, 6-1, 6-3, Anca Todoni of Romania in the quarterfinals, Emiliana Arango of Clumbia in the round of 16 and Luciana Perez Alarcon of Peru in the opening round. This is the second WTA125 title for Begu after the one won in Montreux, Switzerland. (VP)

10 November 2024
June 24, 2024

VISIT – Chief of Defense Staff, General Gheorghiţă Vlad, on Sunday met the Defense Minister of Luxembourg, Yuriko Backes, and Luxembourg’s Chief of Defense Staff, Steve Thull on the sidelines of his visit to Luxembourg. According to a Defense Ministry release, the agenda of talks focused on security developments in the extended Black Sea region, defense architecture in Euro-Atlantic space, as well as intensifying cooperation by means of multinational exercises on Romania’s territory. General Vlad highlighted the contribution of Luxembourg’s troops to the Forward Presence Battle Group deployed to Romania with a view to consolidating NATO’s deterrence and defense posture.

FAC – Also in Luxembourg, Romania’s Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu on Monday is taking part in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. Participants will address Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, developments in the Middle East and Georgia. According to the Romanian MFA, talks on Russia’s war in Ukraine will focus on recent developments on the ground and EU military assistance to Kyiv. New sanctions against Russia and Belarus will also be discussed, in addition to EU-Ukraine security commitments and the conclusions of the Ukraine Peace Summit, hosted by Switzerland over June 15-16. As regards the Middle East, EU Foreign Ministers will consider the possibility of re-launching political talks for ensuring sustainable peace in the region. As part of an informal breakfast meeting with partners in the Western Balkans, participants will exchange views regarding the impact of geopolitical and security developments on this region.

EU ACCESSION – The European Union on Tuesday is expected to launch EU accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the Belgian presidency has announced. The two countries’ negotiation chapters will be assessed separately. We recall the EU officially launched negotiation talks with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in mid-December 2023. Earlier this month, the European Commission announced Kyiv and Chișinău have officially met all requirements to open negotiation talks.

INCIDENT – The body of the third young Romanian who drowned on May 31 in Italy was found on Sunday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, the Italian authorities are investigating the intervention of response teams in the wake of this tragedy, more specifically how rescue teams were deployed and how emergency call operators responded. We recall that 3 Romanians died in May after the waters of Natisone River rose to dangerous levels in the wake of flash floods.

WAR IN GAZA – Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, is paying an official visit to Washington to hold talks with US officials about developments in Gaza. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said heavy fighting in Rafah against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas are about to end. According to Benjamin Netanyahu, the war won’t end until all Hamas control over Gaza is eliminated. We recall hostilities broke out in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

BLOUSE – June 24 marks the International Day of the Romanian Blouse, a specific item of traditional clothing. Last weekend, Romanian and Moldovan communities in Belgium celebrated this special day. A symposium was held at Château de la Solitude, a heritage building in Auderghem, Brussels. Two debates were also held on this occasion, attended by a large audience, interested to learn more about ethnography and folklore, the process behind the manufacturing of the Romanian blouse and the transition from tradition to modernity. The connection between the Romanian blouse and the celebration of the Sânziene, gentle fairies in Romanian mythology, as well as literature on related folk stories were also topics of debate.

RECORD – The Romanian-Moldovan-German Cultural Center in Nuremberg, Germany, entered the Guinness Book of Records twice for the longest belt manufactured within the space of three months, measuring over 1,600 meters and the heaviest belt, weighing 70 kg. The initiative was launched at the end of February, and since then over a thousand Romanians from all over the world have joined the project and helped manufacture the longest chain belt. Each segment displays the motif of a specific area of Romania, Ionela van Rees-Zota, coordinator of the Cultural Center, told Radio Romania. “We have a representative or an association from almost every county in Romania. We have people from all over the world, from New Zealand to the Republic of Moldova and from Norway to Asia”, Ionela van Rees-Zota said. (VP)

24 June 2024
May 17, 2024 UPDATE

ECONOMY – Confidex, the index that measures Romanian managers’ confidence in the local economy, has reached its highest level in 4 years – 52.5, according to the latest relevant poll. Companies in the services sector are the most optimistic, followed by IT, constructions and retail firms. At the opposite pole are businesses in agriculture, energy and industry.

DISINFORMATION – The Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization in Romania has launched the #nofake platform, where people can submit reports for social media content they deem inappropriate, such as digital fakes, offensive content, online disinformation and manipulation. The line minister, Bogdan Ivan, said the platform will ensure a swift analysis of digital fake reports. This new reporting system will supplement the authorities’ efforts in this field, in addition to security and reporting mechanisms provided by each social media platform, Minister Ivan pointed out.

ELECTIONS – Romania’s Foreign Ministry and the Permanent Electoral Authority have put together the Guidelines for Romanian voters in polling stations abroad for the European Parliament elections scheduled for June 9, 2024. The document answers the most frequent questions concerning the organization of the ballot: voter eligibility, identity documents required for voting, the opening hours of polling stations, the voting procedure and the operation of the IT system monitoring voter turnout and preventing illegal voting. Citizens can find the guidelines on the ministry’s website. The Foreign Ministry, via Romania’s diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad, organizes 915 polling stations for Romania’s members in the European Parliament, over double the number of stations opened for the European elections in 2019. Romanian nationals who live or travel abroad temporarily will be able to cast their ballots in any polling station abroad, using Romanian IDs valid on the day of the vote.

WAR IN GAZA – Health Minister Alexandru Rafila on Friday announced Romanian hospitals are preparing to treat a number of Palestinian children wounded in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. The patients will be transported to Romania under the European Protection Mechanism. The Romanian official did not specify exactly when the children are expected to arrive, mentioning this would happen “in the near future”. Romanian authorities will ship 90,000 units of canned food to Gaza to support the Palestinian people. The European Commission is expected to cover transport costs.

STUDENTS – A government resolution sets out the overall enrolment figures for public undergraduate and higher education units in Romania in the 2024 – 2025 academic year. The document sets the number of students to be enrolled in preschools, primary, secondary and high schools in the country, including for Romanian nationals living abroad, and for foreign citizens under bilateral agreements and unilateral commitments. Romanians living abroad will benefit from 1,900 places in undergraduate education units and 7,065 places in public universities, with a total of 800 monthly grants. For foreign citizens, 1,800 places have been earmarked in undergraduate education units and 4,430 in higher education institutions, with a total 1,710 monthly grants. Enrolment plans also include special places for minors who have applied for or received protection in Romania, and for stateless minors officially recognized as residing in Romania, the government explained. (AMP & VP)

17 May 2024
May 2, 2024

HOLY THURSDAY – Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania today celebrate Holy (or Maundy) Thursday that commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. A mass devoted to the 12 Gospels will be held this evening, while the Lamentation at the Tomb, a unique religious service, will be held tomorrow night. On Wednesday, Romanian Orthodox Church Patriarch Daniel conveyed a special Easter message, saying that the Resurrection of Christ is a celebration of the pious and merciful love of Christ, who overcame hatred, violence and death and gave people eternal life. This makes Easter a celebration of forgiveness, peace and joy, the Patriarch said, urging people to share the news of the Lord’s Resurrection with everyone around through good deeds, love and peace.

PUBLIC ORDER – In the last 24 hours, security forces and emergency services were dispatched to over 4,000 incidents. According to the Interior Ministry, 12 people were saved, 700 drivers’ licenses were suspended, in the many of these cases the drivers having been found driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, and 141 people were arrested for various crimes. The Interior Ministry will intensify its actions designed to ensure public order for the Labor Day and Easter mini-holiday, considering that hundreds of events will be held across the country, with over 150,000 people expected to attend.

AWARD – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has been designated as one of the recipients of the 2024 Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards, which will be bestowed in a special gala held on May 8 in Washington. The Romanian president will be honored for his remarkable career, exemplary leadership of Romania, and his transatlantic and European leadership role. The other recipients of the award are U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli, and Academy Award-winning actress and producer Michelle Yeoh. Each year, the Distinguished Leadership Awards convenes a high-level international audience of more than six hundred policy, business, military, artistic, and civil-society leaders to celebrate individuals, including policy leaders, business executives, military brass and artistic and humanitarian champions, who best represent the pillars of the global relationship. Past recipients include US presidents George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and then-Vice President Joe Biden, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, current and former International Monetary Fund managing directors Kristalina Georgieva and Christine Lagarde. Set up in 1961, the Atlantic Council is a non-profit organization whose staff must observe high standards of personal and professional integrity, candor and honesty in communications and interactions with one another as well as with other organizations, government officials, the media and the public.

YOUTH DAY – Lawmakers will know their actions were well-inspired if young Romanians at home and abroad will choose Romania in the future, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said to mark Youth Day. We must provide everyone with equal chances and development prospects, including at institutional level, the Prime Minister said. Marcel Ciolacu says he believes in young people, with whom he has preserved constant dialogue since taking office, via representative associations or through government internship programs, aimed at familiarizing young people with decision-making processes at the level of the Romanian government and institutions in its subordination.

WAR IN GAZA – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the Hamas Palestinian organization to accept a truce in Gaza, reiterating the United States’ opposition towards an Israeli offensive on Rafah (south). During his 7^th mission to the Middle East since the conflict broke out, Antony Blinken visited Israel, expressing determination to reach a consensus “right now” to allow for the liberation of hostages held by Hamas in the last seven months. The US official met with a number of Israeli officials, including the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Israel, Antony Blinken argued that, while Washington firmly supporters Israel’s right to self-defense, it opposes the idea of an all-out attack on Rafah, insisting on continuing to expand humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian population in Gaza.

EVACUATIONS – Nine Romanian citizens and their families have been evacuated from Gaza and have reached Egypt, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. From there they were picked up by a mobile consular team of the Romanian Embassy in Egypt, which accompanied them to Cairo and helped board them on the flight to Bucharest. Another Romanian citizen on Tuesday was assisted in leaving Gaza. So far, 323 Romanian citizens and their families have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip since the Israel-Hamas conflict started. The Romanian Foreign Ministry remains in permanent contact with Israeli and Egyptian authorities to assist in the evacuation process, depending on requests and developments on the ground.

GYMNASTICS – The Romanian women’s gymnastics team will today compete in the qualifiers of the European Gymnastics Championships in Rimini, Italy. The team comprises Sabrina Voinea, Lilia Cosman, Amalia Ghigoarţă, Maria Ceplinschi and Ana-Maria Bărbosu. (VP)

2 May 2024
February 12, 2024

DEFENSE – The president of
Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has called a meeting of the Supreme Defense Council on
February 21, the Presidency reports. The agenda includes security developments
in the Black Sea region in the context of Russia’s war of aggression, progress
in defense planning, army modernization programs and efforts to mobilize more
military staff. The agenda of the meeting also includes a report on the
activity of the Cyber-Security Operative Council in 2023, and the 2023 activity
report of the Supreme Defense Council. The meeting will also address other hot
topics on the national security agenda.

ELECTIONS – The ruling
coalition is today expected to resume talks on the organization of local
elections concurrently with the European Parliament election, one June 9. Last
week’s talks failed to produce any clear results. The coalition is also
considering the possibility of organizing the parliamentary election
concurrently with the presidential election. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu
wants a clear timetable for the elections scheduled to take place in 2024. The
opposition has argued against any overlapping elections, a move they say would favor
ruling coalition parties. AUR, the Right Force, PMP and AUR said the
organization of two concurrent elections is undemocratic and unconstitutional.

DEEPFAKE – The Chamber of
Deputies is expected to vote on deepfake, a phenomenon that gained increased
traction with the increasing use of AI to promote information and fake audio
and video content online. The bill stipulates fines up to 40 thousand EUR and
even prison sentences of up to two years for people producing and distributing
deepfakes online, without labeling the content as such. Minister for Research
and Digitization, Bogdan Ivan, says the bill will be implemented before April.

SALARIES – The average net
salary in December 2023 stood at some 1,000 EUR, up by 6.6% compared to
November 2023, the National Statistics Institute reports. The highest salary
increases were reported in the sectors manufacturing coke and oil-derived
products (over 2,500 EUR), while the lowest increases were reported in the
hospitality sector (over 560 EUR). Fluctuations in annual revenues are mainly
related to the distribution of annual and holiday bonuses, particularly in
those months used as reference (December, March or April).

WAR IN GAZA – A series of
Israeli air strikes reported in Rafah killed over 50 people, the Hamas Health
Ministry reports. In turn, the IDF confirmed a number of raids targeting
terrorist objectives in the south of the Gaza Strip. The international
community has expressed concern after last week the Israeli PM Benjamin
Netanyahu ordered the army to carry out an offensive in Rafah, currently
hosting a large number of people displaced due to the war in Gaza. The United
States want Israel to come up with a reliable and viable plan to protect the
civilian population prior to the military intervention, also pressing for
continuing negotiations for obtaining a ceasefire.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea (26 WTA) defeated
Sloane Stephens of the USA (39 WTA), 6-3, 6-2 in Sunday’s opening round of the
WTA 1000 tournament in Doha, offering over 3.2 mln USD in total prizes. In the
second round Cîrstea will play the top seed and world no. 1 Iga Świątek of
Poland. Also in Doha, Monica Niculescu and Cristina Bucșa have qualified to the
women’s doubles round of 16, where they will play Miyu Kato of Japan and Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia. In other
news, Karolina Pliskova of Czechia has won the Transylvania Open, the only WTA
250 tournament in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, after defeating Ana Bogdan on Sunday,
6-4, 6-3. In the women’s doubles, Caty McNally and Asia Muhammad of the USA won
the final against Harriet Dart of Great Britain and Tereza Mihalíková of Slovakia.
(VP)

12 February 2024
January 14, 2024 UPDATE

WAR IN GAZA – Israel is determined to continue its military
campaign in Gaza until victory against Hamas is achieved and all hostages are
brought home, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the 100th day since the
start of the war in Gaza. The Israeli official also referred to the legal
action taken by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of
Justice in the Hague, the former accusing Israel of genocide. According to our
correspondent in Israel, PM Netanyahu said supporters of neo-Nazis from all
over the world dare accuse Israel of genocide, thus favoring terrorists who did
not refrain from burning children alive, killing, raping and abducting women,
men, elderly and sick people. In Tel Aviv, a 24-hour rally was organized by
representatives of families of people still kept captive, attended by hundreds
of thousands of people and marking 100 days since their abduction in Gaza. The
war started after the brutal October 7 Hamas attack, when 1,200 people were
killed and 240 were abducted by terrorists. Over 100 hostages have in the
meantime been released and several have died, mostly in bombings or
accidentally killed by Israeli security forces. Over 23,000 Palestinians have
been killed in Gaza, and the majority population has been displaced. Military
operations, massive destruction and the blockade on Gaza have triggered a
severe humanitarian crisis, repeatedly criticized by UN representatives,
international organizations and numerous countries.

SUCCESSION – A new chapter in the history of Denmark
started on Sunday with the abdication of Queen Margrethe II and the ascension
to the throne of her heir, Frederik (55). Aged 83, Margrethe ruled for 52
years, hers being the first abdication in the 900-year history of the Danish
monarchy. The queen had previously stated she would remain in office for life,
but surprised everyone with a New Year’s message expressing her intention to
step down. She explained a back surgery she underwent last year made her
rethink her future. The Danish monarchy enjoys tremendous popular support,
Reuters writes. The latest surveys show 86% of Danes are happy with Margrethe’s
reign, and 82% of them expect Frederik to be an even better king.

PROTEST – Finance Minister
Marcel Boloș on Sunday discussed with representatives of farmers and transporters,
who continued their protest on Sunday. Among other things, protesters want to
cap civil liability insurances for vehicles at 1,000 EUR, a 1% tax on
turnovers, cutting waiting times at the border or receiving meal allowances. This
is the second round of talks after Saturday’s negotiations did not produce the
desired results. A set of measures will be taken over the course of the next 30
days, including the creation of special transit lanes at the border and in the
port of Constanța reserved for EU hauliers only, or exempting hauliers
waiting at the border from paying road vignettes expiring during this period.
The authorities also agreed to sanction the supplier and receiver of loads
exceeding the maximum weight. Sunday was the fifth consecutive day when hauliers
and farmers blocked national roads, particularly belt roads around large
cities.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis
player Ana Bogdan (66 WTA) lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Brenda Fruhvirtova on Sunday
in the opening round at Australian Open. Bogdan will also play in the women’s
doubles alongside Rebeka Masarova of Spain against the pair made up of
Catherine Harrison (USA) / Ukrikke Eikeri (Norway). On Monday, Jaqueline
Cristian is playing Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the women’s
singles. (VP)

14 January 2024
January 14, 2024

WAR IN GAZA – Israel is determined to continue its military
campaign in Gaza until victory against Hamas is achieved and all hostages are
brought home, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the 100th day since the
start of the war in Gaza. The Israeli official also referred to the legal
action taken by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of
Justice in the Hague, the former accusing Israel of genocide. According to our
correspondent in Israel, PM Netanyahu said supporters of neo-Nazis from all
over the world dare accuse Israel of genocide, thus favoring terrorists who did
not refrain from burning children alive, killing, raping and abducting women,
men, elderly and sick people. In Tel Aviv, a 24-hour rally was organized by
representatives of families of people still kept captive, attended by hundreds
of thousands of people and marking 100 days since their abduction in Gaza. The
war started after the brutal October 7 Hamas attack, when 1,200 people were
killed and 240 were abducted by terrorists. Over 100 hostages have in the
meantime been released and several have died, mostly in bombings or
accidentally killed by Israeli security forces. Over 23,000 Palestinians have
been killed in Gaza, and the majority population has been displaced. Military
operations, massive destruction and the blockade on Gaza have triggered a
severe humanitarian crisis, repeatedly criticized by UN representatives,
international organizations and numerous countries.

SUCCESSION – A new chapter in the history of Denmark
started on Sunday with the abdication of Queen Margrethe II and the ascension
to the throne of her heir, Frederik (55). Aged 83, Margrethe ruled for 52
years, hers being the first abdication in the 900-year history of the Danish
monarchy. The queen had previously stated she would remain in office for life,
but surprised everyone with a New Year’s message expressing her intention to
step down. She explained a back surgery she underwent last year made her
rethink her future. The Danish monarchy enjoys tremendous popular support,
Reuters writes. The latest surveys show 86% of Danes are happy with Margrethe’s
reign, and 82% of them expect Frederik to be an even better king.

ELECTION
IN TAIWAN
– The candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Lai Ching-te,
was elected president as early as Saturday’s first round of the presidential
election, grabbing 40.1% of the vote. The president elect promised to protect
Taiwan from China’s threats, hailing the resilience of his people in the face
of external influence in the election. The candidate of the pro-China
opposition party conceded defeat. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
of the People’s Republic of China said Taiwan is a part of China, and the
election cannot stop the drive for reunification. In Washington, president Joe
Biden said the US does not support Taiwan’s independence, saying China is the
legitimate power in the island, although they will continue to deliver military
assistance to Taipei. The European Union hailed the result of the election in
Taiwan, expressing concern about growing tension in the Taiwan strait and opposing
any unilateral attempt to change the status quo. In turn, Moscow preserved its
view that Taiwan is a part of China.

PROTEST – Representatives of
transporters and farmers continued their protest on Sunday. They are expected
to meet with Finance Ministry officials to discuss their demands, according to
the government’s timetable. Following Saturday’s talks with Transport Ministry
officials, a set of measures will be taken over the course of the next 30 days,
including the creation of special transit lanes at the border and in the port
of Constanța reserved for EU hauliers only, or exempting hauliers
waiting at the border from paying road vignettes expiring during this period.
The authorities also agreed to sanction the supplier and receiver of loads
exceeding the maximum weight.

HANDBALL – The Romanian men’s
handball team is today playing Spain in its second Group B fixture at the
European Handball Championship in Germany. On Friday, Romania lost to Austria
31-24. Romania’s final match will be on January 16 against Croatia. Spain has
won two European titles in 2018 and 2020 and played the finals in 2022, whereas
Croatia played the final in 2020. The top two teams in each group will advance
to the main group phase. (VP)

14 January 2024
January 6, 2024

MEDICAL SYSTEM – The College of
Physicians in Bucharest warns against the critical shortage of medical
personnel and calls on the authorities to lift the freeze on vacancies in the
medical system. At present, the system faces a severe shortage of healthcare
professionals, particularly in Bucharest, where some 900 vacancies are
unfilled. In a press release, the Administration of Hospitals and Medical
Services also warned that neglecting the crisis and the draconic cuts to
hospital budgets endanger patients’ lives.

WAR IN GAZA – Hezbollah has
launched dozens of missiles against a military base in northern Israel,
describing the attack as retaliation to the killing of the 2nd-highest
ranking leader of Hamas in a surgical strike on the southern outskirts of
Beirut. Israel however did not claim responsibility for the attack. On the
other hand, the UN coordinator for Gaza warned the territory has become uninhabitable.
Three months since the horrific 7 October attacks, Gaza has become a place of
death and despair. […]Its people are witnessing daily threats to their very
existence – while the world watches on, the UN Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths has said. In turn, UNICEF said that
after three months of war, malnutrition and disease in the Gaza Strip creates
a deadly cycle that threatens over 1.1 million children.

CELEBRATION – On January 6,
Orthodox Christians celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, seen as his manifestation
to the world as the Son of God. In the Roman-Catholic Church this day is known
as the Epiphany, which also commemorates the visit of the Magi, and the wedding
at Cana. Christians attending mass on this day receive holy water, a symbol of
the baptism of Jesus in the waters of Jordan.

STATISTICS – Romanians have
become the most numerous national minority in Germany, according to official
statistics published by local authorities. Over 2015-2022, the number of
Romanians now living in this country doubled, to reach nearly 900,000.
Romanians thus outrank Poles, who are almost quite as numerous, and the Italian
national minority, totaling some 650,000 people. The latest official data
published last year by the Romanian Foreign Ministry indicates that some 5,7
million Romanians are currently living abroad.

VISIT – Spain’s Prime
Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit Romania for talks on the double
citizenship. Sources within the Spanish Government says a new agreement will
set the terms for obtaining the Romanian-Spanish citizenship, while the Spanish
official is expected to visit Romania to sign the document. An invitation was
allegedly extended by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on the sidelines of last
year’s visit to Malaga. Some 629,000 Romanians are currently living in Spain,
and will be targeted by this measure. The initiative was discussed on the joint
government session hosted by Castellón
de la Plana in November 2023, which also laid out a timetable and set up
bilateral committees working on this project. Spain currently provides double
citizenship only to citizens of France and Portugal.

HANDBALL
– The Romanian men’s handball team defeated Argentina 30-23 in its second match
in the Yellow Cup, hosted by Winterthur. In the other match played that day, Switzerland
trounced Bosnia Herzegovina 39-21. On Thursday, Romania lost to Switzerland
37-31. Yellow Cup is the final test before the European Championship hosted by
Germany over January 10-28. The first two teams in each group advance to the
main group phase. Romania had last played in the European Championship in 1996.
(VP)

6 January 2024
December 28, 2023

SCHENGEN – The Interior
Ministry has reached a political consensus with its counterparts in Vienna and
Sofia for the partial extension of the Schengen Area to include air and
maritime borders with Romania and Bulgaria starting March 2024. Negotiations
are expected to continue in 2024 for the two countries’ full Schengen
accession. On Tuesday and Wednesday, diplomatic talks were held at the level of
the Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries, with the participation of
diplomatic missions to the EU, regarding a Justice and Home Affairs Council
resolution that would make this political agreement legally binding. Talks will
continue today. A positive decision on the two countries’ Schengen accession
requires a unanimous vote in the Justice and Home Affairs Council. We recall
that last year the decision was postponed due to lack of unanimity in the
Justice and Home Affairs Council regarding the Schengen accession of Romania
and Bulgaria, due to opposition voiced by Austria and the Netherlands.

GOVERNMENT – On its last
session of 2023, the government is examining a draft decree on cutting public
spending starting January 1, 2024. The number one measure is excluding all
public sector employees who this year benefited from salary increases from the
5% increase in salaries to be operated next year. The targeted institutions are
the Finance Ministry, the national health insurance agencies, but also Education
Ministry employees, whose salaries will go up 20% next year. The government
wants to use the savings to increase low salaries in the public sector. Imports
of sugar and flour from Ukraine are also on today’s agenda. The government this
year passed an emergency decree setting clear terms under which Romanian
companies can buy grain from Ukraine. The government wants to pass a new decree
setting similar terms for the purchase of flour and sugar from neighboring
Ukraine. Also today the government wants to adopt an emergency decree for the
gradual introduction of new electronic ID cards, which will replace older ones
that don’t comply with EU security standards.

WAR IN GAZA – Israel is
expanding its ground offensive to include Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza,
warning the war against Hamas will last for months. Powerful bombings were
reported in the camps of Bureij, Maghazi and Nuseirat, where dozens of people
were killed in strikes in recent days. Heavy fighting is also continuing to the
south, in the city of Khan Younis, whereas in the north, the IDF continues to
uncover tunnel shafts used by Hamas. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent
in Israel, the tunnels discovered yesterday were blown up by Israeli military
engineers. Meanwhile, 22 of the 129 people still held hostage by Hamaz in Gaza
have been executed, a spokesman of the Israeli government has announced. Hamas
captured approximately 240 people in the October 7 surprise attack, which
killed 1,200 people. Following a ceasefire mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the
United States, Hamas released 110 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinians
held in Israeli prisons.

WAR IN UKRAINE – The United States
has announced the disbursement of an additional 250 mln USD in military aid for
Ukraine. International media writes this will be the last military aid package
for Ukraine before a new vote in Congress, where the Republican majority has
shown reluctance towards the initiatives of the Biden administration, which has
promised Ukraine over 61 bln USD. It is imperative that Congress act swiftly,
as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping
Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Said. This aid package includes
air defense munitions, other components for air defense systems, additional
ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm
artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions, and over 15 million rounds of
ammunition, according to a US Department of State release. Thank you for your
help. We will win, the former head of the Ukrainian presidential administration,
Andrii Yermak wrote on X. (VP)

28 December 2023
December 18, 2023

BUDGETS – The government has submitted the recently adopted state
and social security budgets for 2024 to Parliament for debate. A tight deadline
has been set for discussions in committee and plenary meetings, with a final
vote scheduled for Wednesday. The government expects an economic growth of
3.4%, with the goal of increasing tax collection and reducing tax evasion.
Investments and transports will receive additional funds. Investments will also
increase to nearly 7% of the GDP next year, while education will have the
largest budget in history. Pensions are also expected to increase by 13.8%
starting January 1, with a recalculation slated for September. The draft budget
also allots funds to increase allowances and social benefits and teachers’
salaries. The government also wants to raise public sector salaries by 5%. The
opposition has filed hundreds of amendments, claiming the budget’s plans are
unrealistic, quoting data compiled by economists, according to which tens of
billions were left out of the estimated budget, which could thus deepen the
budget deficit.

WAR IN GAZA – The Israeli army has published new details confirming
that the accidental killing of three hostages from Gaza by Israeli armed forces
is a breach of rules of engagement. The Israeli troops opened fire on three
people that walked out of the building without their shirts on, to prove they
had no bombs strapped and carrying a white flag bearing the message SOS and
Help 3 hostages. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent on the ground,
the incident has further inflamed tensions, putting additional pressure on the
Israeli government to reach an agreement with Hamas for the liberation of the
approximately 120 hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, the IDF
announced the discovery of the biggest tunnel used by Hamas Islamists in Gaza.

EVACUATIONS – A group of 14 people consisting of Romanian citizens
and their families were safely evacuated from Gaza and arrived in Romania, the
Foreign Ministry reports. The people were evacuated to Egypt on Saturday,
crossing the Rafah checkpoint, where representatives of the Romanian Embassy in
Egypt accompanied them to Cairo. Here they boarded a flight to Romania. So far,
302 people, Romanian citizens and family members, have been evacuated from the
Gaza Strip. The Romanian MFA says it remains in permanent contact with the
Israeli and Egyptian authorities to help evacuate the remaining citizens,
depending on the developments on the ground.

REVOLUTION – The city of Timișoara (west) commemorates the people
who lost their lives in the anti-communist revolution of 1989 in Romania. A
religious service will be held at the Heroes’ Chapel in the Revolution Memorial
Museum, followed by a procession to the monuments devoted to the Revolution. 34
years ago, under orders from the communist regime, security forces opened fire
on the crowd of protestors, killing nearly 100 people and wounding a few
hundreds. On December 18, martial law was declared in Timișoara after the
massacre of the previous day, when dozens of people were killed. Hospitals were
overrun, the streets were blocked by tanks and tactical vehicles and a general
curfew was in place. This was the day when several young people were gunned
down on the steps of the Orthodox Cathedral.

18 December 2023
Romania and the EU

Seven in ten Romanians believe EU membership has a positive effect, while six in ten Romanians say community institutions directly impact their lives. This is one of the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey conducted by the European Parliament. New job opportunities, higher living standards and EU efforts to keep the peace are some of the benefits participants outlined. According to the survey, 75% of interviewees would vote if European Parliament elections were held next week, one of the highest percentages at EU level. European citizens interest in this election has gone up lately, and could be a sign the European Parliament enjoys citizens trust, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola has argued. “Throughout these past five years, we have listened. And the European Parliament has delivered. We are fighting against poverty, social exclusion and climate change, to create jobs and to defend EU values, such as democracy, human rights and the freedom of speech”, the European official said.

According to the Eurobarometer, over half of Romanians see EU membership as a positive element. Despite a slightly lower confidence rate compared to the EU average, Romanians know when the upcoming European Parliament election will take place, which is over June 6-9, 2024. In Romania, voter turnout for the European Parliament election of 2019 was a little over half of eligible voters. An INSCOP survey also shows that most Romanians support Romanias EU and NATO membership. A quarter, however, believe Romania should leave the EU, and a fifth say it should leave NATO. As regards the two ongoing wars, over 35% of Romanians claim Hamas is responsible for the conflict in Gaza, while nearly half believe Russia is the main culprit in the war in Ukraine. Analysts say this speaks to a decreasing number of people who blame Russia for the war in Ukraine, also showing a balance in terms of people who believe either Ukraine or Russia will emerge as victor. It should also be said that nearly a third of participants believe deploying more NATO and US troops to Romania would anger Russia, while 57% of Romanians say this is a good thing. An equal percentage of Romanian citizens regard Russia as a threat to Bucharest. According to the INSCOP survey, only 1 in 2 Romanians would defend their country in case war broke out, a clear divide at society level. (VP)

7 December 2023
December 2, 2023 UPDATE

COP28 – Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Saturday said on the
sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai that Romania has one of
the lowest carbon gas emissions per capita at EU level, and is firmly committed
to accelerating measures to curb the effects of climate change through a mix of
renewable and nuclear energy. Romania seeks to reduce its carbon footprint by
80% by 2030 and then move swiftly to become climate neutral, the president
added. 118 states signed a resolution expressing their commitment to triple
their renewable energy capacity by 2030. Over 20 states, including Romania,
also called for the tripling of nuclear energy capabilities, also as a
countermeasure to global warming. 50 corporations accounting for 40% of total
global production of oil and gas pledged to decarbonize their extractive
operations and reduce their methane emissions to zero by 2050.

VISIT – Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is paying an official visit
to the United States over December 3-6. He will be accompanied by a delegation
comprising the ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and the Economy. The visit
is designed to advance joint economic projects, boost American investment in
Romania and consolidate political and security cooperation with the USA. On
Sunday, Marcel Ciolacu is expected to meet representatives of Romanian
communities in Washington, Virginia and Maryland. On Monday, the Romanian Prime
Minister will meet Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and State Secretary Antony
Blinken. Marcel Ciolacu will also discuss with Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary
of Energy. The Prime Minister’s agenda also includes meetings with
representatives of Lockheed Martin and Google, Roland S. Lauder, the chairman
of the World Jewish Congress and Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General.

WAR IN GAZA – Israeli
authorities have notified the Romanian Foreign Ministry about the death of a
person of Romanian and Israeli citizenship, held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. The
Foreign Ministry has conveyed its condolences to the family, announcing that
another 3 people with double citizenship are being held hostage in the Strip.
The Ministry has called for the release of all hostages. Israel has resumed its
bombing of positions held by Hamas in Gaza, after a 7-day ceasefire that
allowed the release of 100 people held hostage by Hamas in exchange for 180
Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli army announced it has bombed over 200
terrorist targets. In turn, Gaza authorities say 200 people were killed and 600
were wounded in air raids. Humanitarian aid was again blocked on the border,
and shootings with Hezbollah were reported on Israel’s northern border. Israel
and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, but according to
Radio Romania’s correspondent in the region, both sides continue to negotiate a
new humanitarian ceasefire.

HANDBALL – Romania won its
first match at the World Handball Championships, beating Chile 44-19 in
Herning, Denmark. In the same group, Denmark defeated Serbia 25-21. Romania
will next play Serbia on December 3 and Denmark on December 5. The top three teams in each group will advance to the
so-called main group stage. Romania is the only team that has taken part in all
26 editions of the World Handball Championship, a competition it won once in
1962. Romania played another two finals in 1973 and 2005, and came in third in
2015. Romania was ranked 13th at the previous edition. (VP)

2 December 2023