Radio România Internațional

Tag: war in Ukraine

  • NATO prepares for different scenarios

    NATO prepares for different scenarios

    According to a famous joke, NATO was created, a few years after the crushing of Nazism, to keep the Germans on their toes, the Soviets out of Europe and the Americans in. Three quarters of a century later, the joke has outlived its original context. Post-Soviet Russia has turned up the aggression again after regaining its murderous frenzy and appetite for new territories. Under the new Republican administration led by President Donald Trump, the United States seem less and less interested in guaranteeing the security of Europe, criticizing it for not investing enough in its own defense. These developments are creating anxiety especially on NATO’s Eastern Flank, in countries bordering either Russia or Ukraine invaded by Russian troops. This is also the case of Romania, which shares almost 650 kilometers of border with Ukraine.

     

    In a message meant to reassure his fellow countrymen, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said that NATO has prepared military scenarios for any security outcome that would affect member states, including those on the Eastern Flank. “There are, let’s say, strategic plans designed by NATO, including by the Romanian Army”, Ilie Bolojan said. The president recalled that France is designated as the framework nation for the defense of Romania and has troops on the ground. “The problem that arises is either an increase in the contribution of European countries in the current security context, which means that very little will change, or, in the second scenario, more responsibility from European countries, not just European Union members”, the interim president further noted. “In order to ensure its defense, Europe needs the United States of America”, Ilie Bolojan argued.

     

    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, citing NATO sources, the United States might withdraw part of its military deployed in Europe as early as this year. The move, the same sources add, would not aim to question the Alliance itself, but would be an incentive for Europeans to get involved more in deterrence and defense efforts. Washington currently has about 160,000 troops deployed outside the United States, and most of them, about 35,000, are stationed in Germany. According to local media, due to uncertainty generated by the Trump administration, the major groups in the European Parliament are preparing a document that will call on the EU to promote the creation of a so-called European pillar within NATO, which would act autonomously, whenever necessary. This group might also include Great Britain, Turkey, Norway and Iceland, states that are not currently in the European Union, but are otherwise members of NATO. (VP)

  • European support for Ukraine

    European support for Ukraine

    The brutal failure of American-Ukrainian talks on Friday in Washington leaves little room for illusions about the United States assuming a major role in the Ukrainian peace process. Those who must now assume such a role are Europeans themselves. Europe is going through a unique moment for its security, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday in London, hosting an informal summit attended by about fifteen allies of Ukraine, in the presence of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. EU leaders pledged to do more for Europe’s security and arm themselves, but they also insisted on the need to maintain strong support from the United States. The meeting highlighted the difference in approach between US president Donald Trump, who wants a quick peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, and European leaders, who seem willing to continue military support for Kyiv until it achieves a peace it deems convenient, AFP notes.

     

    Europe, Starmer argues, must do the heavy lifting, but to defend peace on our continent and to succeed, this effort must be strongly supported by the United States. Several European countries will increase their defense spending, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in turn argued that the EU must urgently rearm and prepare for the worst. The Commission president announced that she would present a comprehensive plan for EU rearmament at the extraordinary European summit on March 6, a plan that will also address the need for EU countries to obtain fiscal leeway to increase military spending. Summit participants discussed the need for comprehensive security guarantees for Ukraine in the future. Such guarantees, von der Leyen argues, must range from economic survival to military resilience.

     

    Shortly before the London summit, the British Prime Minister announced that he was working with French President Emmanuel Macron on a plan to end the fighting in Ukraine, a plan that would then be presented to the United States. The plan also involves a coalition of volunteers from European countries to provide Ukraine with security guarantees in the event of a peace agreement with Russia, but also benefit from US support. The interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, also attended the London summit. The Romanian official confirmed that participants decided to maintain financial and military support for Kyiv until a ceasefire is agreed. European states must take on a greater burden for peace in Europe, and this implies increasing defense budgets. EU leaders agreed that security guarantees to Ukraine cannot be ensured without support from the US, president Bolojan further said. These security guarantees are not only for Ukraine, but are practically for the entire eastern flank, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, the Romanian official pointed out. (VP)

  • March 2, 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)

  • Talks on Ukraine

    Talks on Ukraine

    From the perspective of the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, the security of neighboring Ukraine, invaded by Russian troops, is essential both for Romania and for the entire European continent. In a video-link intervention at the summit hosted by Kyiv, Bolojan said that support for Ukraine must continue in the following stages, in the peace process and in the reconstruction process. Romania is ready to coordinate with all European, American and allied partners to contribute to finding the path to a fair and lasting peace as quickly as possible, interim president Bolojan further noted. Any discussion about ending the war in Ukraine cannot take place without Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest also reported on Monday, marking three years since the invasion began. Moreover, the MFA adds, there can be no just and lasting peace without holding accountable all those guilty of the crimes committed against Ukraine. The Ministry emphasizes that, for Romania, a secure, resilient, stable, democratic and prosperous Ukrainian state remains a fundamental foreign policy objective. Furthermore, no discussion about security in Europe can take place without the direct involvement of European states, the Ministry also notes.

     

    This view seems to be widely shared right now. The participation of Europeans in peace talks with Ukraine will be necessary in the end, Russian president Vladimir Putin said himself, suggesting however, that the war will last. The new White House leader, Donald Trump, in turn agreed that Europeans should play a role in the Ukraine peace process, by guaranteeing its security. Trump also stated that Putin would agree to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, a solution that Moscow had previously rejected. In Washington, the American president met his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, who said that a ceasefire might be reached in a few weeks.

     

    In the meantime, the European Council President, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, traveled to Kyiv to reiterate their support for Ukraine. The EU will continue its support, also by stepping up pressure with new sanctions against the Russian aggressor, EU officials said. Although not agreed by all EU member states, a new €20-billion military aid package is also on Brussels’ agenda, which the EU claims will strengthen Kyiv’s position in negotiations, rather than contribute to achieving peace. (VP)

  • February 24, 2025

    February 24, 2025

    WAR IN UKRAINE – The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, hailed Ukrainian “resistance” on marking three years since the start of the Russian invasion, when several European leaders came to Kyiv to reassert their support for Ukraine amidst a shift of US policy on the war. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council president Antonio Costa, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Spanish Prime Minister Petro Sanchez, as well as presidents and prime ministers from Baltic and Nordic states arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning for a summit devoted to collective defense and security strategy. Another 24 European leaders, including Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, will take part via video link. Also today, French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting Donald Trump at the White House, hoping to convince the US president to take into account the security of Europeans. Demonstrations in support of Ukraine took place over the weekend in Paris, Prague and Vilnius, in front of the Russian Embassy in Washington and in several American cities. Several hundred people, mostly refugees from Ukraine, participated in demonstrations yesterday in Bucharest and Constanța (southeast) to mark 11 years of Russian aggression and three years since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In Bucharest, the Parliament Palace will be lit up in yellow and blue to express solidarity with Ukraine. The Chamber of Deputies today will observe a moment of silence to pay homage to the victims of the war.

     

    FAC – Romania’s Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu, is attending Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the agenda of the Council meeting includes Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, Congo and Georgia. Talks on the war in Ukraine will also mark three years since the start of the conflict and will focus on the latest developments and on continuing EU multidimensional support for Ukraine, especially amidst the latest geopolitical dynamics concerning Ukraine peace talks. Talks on the Middle East will refer to the recent developments in Israel and Gaza, the importance of upholding the ceasefire agreement and the humanitarian situation in the region.

     

    DEFENSE – The Senate is today debating a bill allowing the army to shoot down foreign drones that illegally enter Romanian airspace. The Senate is the decision-making body in this matter, so if approved, the draft law will be submitted to interim president Ilie Bolojan for approval. The initiative is designed to correct a legal loophole amidst heated debates on social media. The bill allows the Romanian army and the units of allied and partner states to use aerial and land systems to shoot down illegal drones. The bill also creates the legal framework for conducting military operations without declaring a state of emergency. NATO will also be able to assume command of structures of the Romanian Army over a limited period of time.

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

    TENNIS – Two tennis players represent Romania in the WTA singles top 100, according to this Monday’s updated standings – Irina Begu (75) and Jaqueline Cristian (85). Gabriela Ruse (101), Anca Todoni (102) and Sorana Cîrstea (120) are not far off. In the doubles standings, Monica Niculescu ranked 35th, while Gabriela Ruse 51st.  (VP)

  • December 16, 2024 UPDATE

    December 16, 2024 UPDATE

    SANCTIONS – EU Foreign Affairs Ministers on Monday greenlit the 15th package of sanctions against Russia since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The new economic measures are designed to combat Russia’s efforts to bypass existing sanctions and to weaken its army and defense sector. Another 52 ships believed to be part of Putin’s so-called “shadow tanker fleet” were blacklisted. 32 companies were added to the list of export restrictions for contributing “to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defense and security sector”, the EU Council announced. Some of these entities are located in China, India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates. 84 individuals and entities will be subject to fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make economic resources available) “for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”. At the same time, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has denied information according to which the EU was planning to deploy a peace-keeping corps to Ukraine. Representing Romania at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting was Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu.

     

    CANDIDACY – Bucharest Mayor General, Nicușor Dan, has announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2025 presidential election. At present, Romania is facing the most difficult period in its history after the 1989 anti-communist revolution, Nicușor Dan said, arguing in favor of a fundamental change in the way the authorities meet citizens’ expectations. The candidacy was not negotiated with pro-European parties in the new Parliament, the Bucharest official told journalists. Nicușor Dan needs to gather 200 thousand signatures to be able to run for the presidential office. We recall that last week the Constitutional Court of Romania annuled the second round of the presidential election slated for December 8 after allegations of Russian interference with the election process.

     

    NEGOTIATIONS – Leaders of pro-European parties (PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR) met on Monday for a new round of talks regarding the structure of the new government. The governing program and budget estimates have generated tensions. Finance Minister Marcel Boloș told leaders that the budget deficit will exceed 8% this year, and that the only way to boost budget revenues is to increase taxes and cut public spending. USR representatives criticized the Minister and argued against any tax increases, calling instead for slashing public spending and the disclosure of public data linked to the budget execution for November before deciding on the 2025 budget. A new meeting is expected to take place to decide on the final list of ministries that each party will control.

     

    TIMIȘOARA – The city of Timișoara (west) on Monday marks 35 years since the start of the anti-communist revolution of 1989. 35 years ago on December 16, parishioners of the local reformed church gather to voice support of Pastor László Tőkés, who was to be evicted by the former political police, the Securitate. Their protest quickly escalated into a genuine uprising, which triggered reprisals from the authorities. 100 people were killed and several hundreds were wounded. On December 20, Timișoara became the first city free of communism in Romania and the flame of revolution engulfed the entire country. Under the motto, “35 years of freedom”, the city this week is hosting a series of commemorative events devoted to the martyrs of the 1989 events, such as conferences, exhibitions, shows, concerts and film screenings. The ‘Freedom Portal’, an audio-visual installation, which reproduces the sounds recorded during the revolution, was inaugurated on Monday. Later in the evening the traditional march, “Heroes Never Die” took place. The city will observe a day of mourning on Tuesday, while the series of events will end on December 20 with a concert entitled ‘Rock for Revolution’. (VP)

  • December 15, 2024

    December 15, 2024

    INCIDENT – The Romanian Foreign Ministry conducted its own inquiry after a Romanian citizen was detained on the territory of the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, a Georgian territory current under Russian occupation, whose independence is not currently recognized by the international community. The Romanian national was arrested by security services in the pro-Russian separatist region, and was accused of having tried to film military objectives on this territory. Local authorities claim the Romanian citizen had been forced to make the recordings by Ukrainian military spies, who told him this was the only way he could leave Abkhazia. Romanian authorities are in permanent contact with the citizen’s family and are making efforts to provide consular assistance.

     

    GOVERNMENT – President Klaus Iohannis is expected to convene the new Parliament on December 20. The New Parliament will comprise 7 political parties. The Social-Democratic Party (PSD) will have 122 seats, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) 91, the National Liberal Party (PNL) 71, the Save Romania Union (USR) 59, the SOS Romania Party 40, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR) 32 and the Young People’s Party (POT) 31. The group of national minorities will be represented by 19 MPs. The youngest members of Parliament are aged 34 and are members of USR and AUR, while PSD is at the opposite pole, with the largest number of MPs aged 65 and over. The Social-Democrats and the Liberals have the largest number of women MPs. On Friday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will each set up special committees to validate the new mandates.

     

    LEGISLATION – Current deputies and senators are expected to end their mandate by the end of next week. The Chamber of Deputies is set to adopt a new Forestry Code, a milestone in the Recovery and Resilience plan and a government priority that needs to be adopted by the end of 2024. Among other things, the law stipulates seizing all vehicles involved in illegal logging, the construction of green belts around large cities, the right to pre-emption and quality raw materials at affordable prices for furniture manufacturers, introducing video surveillance on forestry roads and a ban on root cutting in protected areas. On the other hand, the Senate is expected to vote on projects that introduce penalties for public office aggregation or a reduction in the number of maximum terms held by heads of secrete services. The current legislature ends its mandate on December 20, when the new Parliament is set to convene in its first sitting.

     

    UKRAINE – Romania is a valuable partner of Ukraine, both in terms of the prospective reconstruction of the country, as well as the war effort, Kyiv informs. The opening of new border crossing points is a point in case, the head of the Ukrainian State Agency for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Development, Serhii Sukhomlyn has said. Five new border checkpoints have been opened, while another six are currently being discussed. The Ukrainian official said the new border crossings are of great help to Ukrainian exporters, and that Romania is a valuable partner not just for its assistance in rebuilding infrastructure, but also owing to the military assistance it provides to Ukraine in the conflict against the invading Russian forces.

     

    TIMIȘOARA – The city of Timișoara (west) on Sunday celebrates 35 years since the anti-communist revolution of 1989. Under the motto “35 years of freedom”, the municipality is organizing a large number of commemorative events celebrating the martyrs of the revolution, as well as the moment when Timișoara became the first city in Romania to be declared free of communism. Religious services, wreath-laying ceremonies, exhibitions, film screenings and concerts are all on the agenda. On Monday, the authorities will officially inaugurate the Freedom Portal, a light installation reproducing sounds from the revolution, followed by the traditional march titled “Heroes never die”. Tuesday is an official mourning day, while festivities are expected to end on December 20 with the concert “Rock for revolution”. (VP)

  • October 19, 2024 UPDATE

    October 19, 2024 UPDATE

    DRONES – Romania’s radar surveillance system on Friday night picked up a small-sized aircraft overflying the Black Sea some 45 km east of Sfântu Gheorghe in the Danube Delta. As the target was headed for the Romanian border, authorities activated structures with the extended air policing service under NATO command as well as local response units. According to the Defense Ministry, it appears no area on Romania’s territory has been hit, although searches continue in a wider perimeter. A member of the EU and NATO, Romania shares a 650-km long border with Ukraine. In the last year, drone debris has crashed on its territory, amidst increasing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s port infrastructure. While most drone fragments landed in Romania after being destroyed by Ukraine’s air defense systems, the situation might swiftly deteriorate as a number of drones were detected as they entered the national airspace of Romania as well as Latvia.

     

    UKRAINE – Romania’s Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, attended the two-day NATO Defense Ministers meeting hosted by Brussels this week. According to a press release, the Romanian official highlighted Romania’s commitment to support Ukraine, both by bilateral initiatives, as well as through an effective NATO-EU coordination. In other news, Romania’s Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu, met his Ukrainian counterpart Ihor Klymenko in Bucharest. On this occasion, Minister Predoiu said Romania must play a key role in the process of reconstruction of Ukraine when the war is over. In turn, Minister Klymenko thanked Romania for the substantial support it has provided ever since the start of the conflict. Some 10 million Ukrainian citizens safely transited Romania during this period, of whom over 82 thousand have chosen to stay. 146 filed for asylum and 100 thousand applied for various forms of international protection.

     

    ELECTION – Moldovans on Sunday are electing their future president and deciding on their country’s EU accession. The incumbent president, Maia Sandu, is favorite to win, while over half of Moldovans seem to favor EU integration, polls say. To prevent Moscow from interfering with the election process, Chișinău has taken a number of measures to prevent internal and external disruptions and possible hostile actions, including in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Some 2,200 stations have been set up at home, while Moldovans can also vote in one of the over 230 stations open in 37 countries, of which 16 in Romania.

     

    FESTIVAL – The 34th edition of the National Theatre Festival is devoted to dialogue between generations, the Romanian Theatre Union president, Dragoș Buhagiar, said in Friday’s opening event. 31 performances from across the country will be staged in the capital-city, in addition to related events, such as visual installations, contemporary and independent theatre shows, educational performances, conferences and debates, workshops, sessions devoted to well-established artists, book launches, radio drama performances as well as the Stage Directing Biennial. Guests will also be able to see 5 productions of major theatre companies in Europe.

     

    QUAKE – A 3.3 Richter-scale earthquake occurred on Saturday in Vrancea seismic zone in the southeast, the National Earth Physics Institute (INCDFP) reports, bringing the total number of quakes to 18 this month. The most significant of them occurred on October 4, with a magnitude of 4.2, while the largest quake this year had a magnitude of 5.7 degrees. We recall the biggest quake ever to hit Romania was in 1977, when 1,57- people were killed, mostly in Bucharest. Some 230,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. The earthquake was followed by a severe economic and social crisis which many experts say contributed to the collapse of the communist regime. (VP)

     

  • How has NATO’s strategy for Europe evolved over 2022-2024?

    How has NATO’s strategy for Europe evolved over 2022-2024?

    On the sidelines of the 75th anniversary summit in Washington, NATO leaders pledged to strengthen collective defense, highlighting the substantial progress reported on defense spending, forward defense, high-readiness forces, command and control, collective defense exercises.

     

    The ongoing conclift in Ukraine, with its specific challenges for the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea region, has determined NATO allies and partners to continuously adapt the Alliance’s strategy for Europe. Today’s edition offers some precious insight shared by General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and commander of US Forces Afghanistan.

     

  • July 15, 2024 UPDATE

    July 15, 2024 UPDATE

    HEAT WAVE – A code red alert remains in place for the next 24 hours in Romania, with severe thermal discomfort reported during the interval and the THI expected to exceed 80 units. Thunderstorms are expected to hit mountainous areas, accompanied by strong wind and hail. Authorities are taking measures to protect the population from the effects of the heat wave. Road traffic restrictions have been set in place on certain road segments, particularly for heavy traffic, while trains will run at lower speeds.

     

     

    ENERGY – Romania increased its electricity output by 400 MW amidst growing energy demand, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said at the end of the Energy Ministry Committee meeting. Despite high temperatures and the high demand for electricity at present, there is no risk of blackouts, the Romanian official pointed out, adding that certain works on the electrical grid have been postponed to prevent power cuts. As regards energy prices, Burduja said Romania’s access to energy imports offsets price hikes, although it is normal for prices to go up when demand is high. Right now, Romania’s energy input is by 1,000 MW higher than domestic production, mostly due to the near-continuous functioning of air-conditioning appliances, the Association of Energy Prosumers and Communities says. On the other hand, Romania’s primary energy resources dropped by 5%, while its electricity resources also went down 2.4% in the first five months of the year compared to the similar period of 2023, the National Statistics Institute reports.

     

     

    FDI – Foreign direct investments from non-Romanian residents went up by over 35% in the first five months of the year compared to the similar period of 2023, exceeding 3.3 bln EUR, the National Bank of Romania reports. Some 2,900 entities with foreign capital were set up in Romania during the interval, down by 1.2% compared to the first five months of 2023, according to Trade Registry data. 26% of enterprises with foreign capital were registered in the fields of wholesale and retail, car and motto repairs, followed by professional, administrative, scientific and technical activities with 21.5%, transport, storage and communication with 17.8%. At the end of May 2024, over 254 thousand companies with foreign capital operated in Romania, with the total value of subscribed capital standing at over 70.6 bln USD.

     

     

    BEAR HUNTING – The Chamber of Deputies on Monday approved a draft law tabled by UDMR amending legislation on bear hunting, a document voted last year by the Senate. Under the new law, some 400 brown bears can be shot over 2024-2025, mostly in Covasna, Brașov, Harghita and Mureș counties. The initiative follows last week’s tragedy, when a 19-year-old girl was mauled down by a bear on a popular hiking trail. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu gave assurances the amendment will not greenlight bear hunting, as some NGOs fear, as the legislative initiative was designed to prevent bear attacks and damages in human settlements.

     

     

    WAR IN UKRAINE – Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has for the first time agreed to Moscow participating in a new international peace summit, which he wants to host. According to international media, the second summit is expected to pick up talks held last month in Switzerland, when Moscow was not invited to attend. Zelenskyy is expected to propose a new peace plan, which Kyiv will finalize by November. We recall Moscow rejected the peace plan announced by president Zelenskyy in Switzerland, calling on Kyiv to renounce the four territories annexed by Russia in addition to Crimea and demanding guarantees Ukraine would not join NATO.

     

     

    TRUMP – Former US president Donald Trump on Monday scored another legal victory after a Florida judge dismissed the criminal case accusing Trump of keeping classified documents after leaving the White House. Prosecutors are likely to appeal the ruling. Trump was brought to court along with two of his personal assistants for manipulating       sensitive national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Donald Trump hailed the court ruling on his social network, Truth Social, describing it as “just the first step”, calling for the dismissal of all four criminal cases against him. The former White House leader was accused of having compromised national security by keeping the documents, which included military plans and information on nuclear weapons, instead of handing them over to the National Archives, as stipulated by the law. Another law on espionage prevents officials from keeping confidential documents in unauthorized and insecure places. Donald Trump is also accused of having tried to destroyed case evidence, and faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years. (VP)

  • July 10, 2024 UPDATE

    July 10, 2024 UPDATE

    NATO – On the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Washington, Allies have reached consensus on the final resolution of the summit. NATO will reassert its commitment to support Ukraine’s irreversible Euro-Atlantic trajectory, once all accession criteria have been met. The war in Ukraine ranked high at the NATO summit, marking 75 years since the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Five Allied presidents and Prime Ministers, including the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, signed a joint statement to donate Patriot missile systems and parts to Ukraine. Italy pledged to deliver an additional system. Denmark and the Netherlands will send F-16 jets to overfly Ukrainian airspace over the summer, Reuters reports. The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, called for increasing assistance for Ukraine, arguing that if Ukraine loses the war, “we all lose”. “Russia remains the biggest threat to European and Euro-Atlantic security. Facing the Kremlin’s hybrid attacks, NATO states need to be ready to defend themselves. Therefore, the decision we will take over the next days will lead to more efficient actions to consolidate our security”, Iohannis pointed out. The summit will spell critical progress for strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture, particularly in the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea region, the Romanian official added.

     

     

    FUNDS – Minister of European Funds, Adrian Câciu, said Romania has managed to absorb an additional 4 bln EUR from corresponding Cohesion Policy mechanisms as part of the 2021-2027 financial framework, taking the total value of contracts signed by Romania to 14 bln EUR. Another 6-bln-EUR worth of projects are still pending approval, the Romanian official wrote on social media. This rhythm of absorption will continue, making it the right approach for ensuring Romania’s sustainable development, Adrian Câciu added.

     

     

    OECD – Romania received the formal approval of the OECD for regional development, said the ministry for development, public works and administration. The statement also says that this confirms both the will and capacity of Romania to implement the legal instruments of the OECD and the alignment of Romania’s policies and practices to those of the OECD in matters of regional development. Romania’s efforts are thus recognized in terms of the consolidation of the regional development policy, especially with respect to the drafting of a solid system of territorial statistics, the adoption of a localized approach in the field of regional development and of strategic documents at regional, county and local levels, by means of consolidating governance at a number of levels and improving institutional and fiscal capacity of subnational governments. The formal approval also contains a series of recommendations for improving the policy, governance and financing framework in the field of regional development.

     

     

    TRADE – Romania’s trade balance deficit between January 1 and May 31 2024 stood at 12.288 bln EUR, 1.230 bln EUR more compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Institute. In the first five months of the year, exports dropped by 2.9%, while imports rose by 0.2%. According to the National Statistics Institute, the areas accounting for the largest shares of exports and imports are represented by cars and transport equipment and other manufacture products.

     

     

    REPAIRS – Starting July 10 the Giurgiu-Ruse bridge over the Danube will undergo repair works on the Bulgarian section. Repairs are expected to complete in two years. According to the motorway company in neighboring Bulgaria, the works are divided into six stages, without closing traffic, with vehicles travelling on one lane only. Romanian citizens are advised to use alternative border crossings during the interval.

     

     

    FOOTBALL – Romania’s football champions FCSB defeated the San Marino champions Virtus AC 7-1 in an away match on Tuesday evening, in the first leg of the Champions League first preliminary round. The second leg is scheduled for July 16 in Bucharest. If they advance to the second preliminary round, FCSB will play Maccabi Tel Aviv. The other Romanian clubs playing in European competitions are Romanian Cup winners Corvinul Hunedoara, CFR Cluj and Universitatea Craiova. (CM & VP)

  • July 9, 2024 UPDATE

    July 9, 2024 UPDATE

    NATO – The war in Ukraine and Russian security threats rank high on the agenda of the NATO summit underway in Washington, especially after Monday’s massive Russian attack on several Ukrainian cities that left dozens dead. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will attend the meeting, asked the allies to respond more firmly to Russia’s aggressiveness by strengthening his country’s air defenses. For his part, US President Joe Biden said that NATO will announce new measures to help Ukraine protect its cities and civilians. The president will meet Zelenskyy and the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Represented by president Klaus Iohannis, Romania will reaffirm its firm support for Ukraine, including with respect to NATO accession. At the same time, Romania will argue in favor of continuing support to the Alliance’s vulnerable partners, especially for the Republic of Moldova and for increasing their capacity to respond to hybrid threats. The summit’s agenda includes three meetings at the highest level, including in formats with Ukraine, the European Union and NATO partners in the India-Pacific, as well as NATO’s 75th anniversary.

     

     

    ATTACK – Ukraine’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Ihor Prokopchuk on Monday attended a spontaneous action mourning the victims of Monday’s Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including on a children’s hospital in Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, attending the event were Ukrainian diplomats, Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Romania and Romanians. Ambassador Prokopchuk strongly condemned Russian terrorism and stated that despite its brutal attacks, Russia will not succeed in defeating the Ukrainian nation, which will continue to fight for its independence and territorial integrity.

     

     

    TAROM – All internal and external flights of the Romanian state airliner TAROM are on schedule, after several flights were canceled on Tuesday when 30 of the 150 pilots called in sick. According to the Union of Airline Pilots, Tuesday’s decision was, in fact, a protest related to the working conditions and salaries, as well as what the pilots called poor management. In the meantime, the management of TAROM and the representatives of pilots have reached an agreement regarding the latter’s salary grievances. The pilots’ protest action caused great disturbances for the passengers, who should have been notified in advance to be able to plan their journeys accordingly, EU commissioner for transport, Adina Vălean, says. The situation doesn’t look good considering the company benefits from state aid approved by the European Commission, the EU official added. Tarom apologized and announced it would compensate travelers who purchased tickets directly from the company and who submit a refund request.

     

     

    TRANSPORT – Romania benefited from a new transport corridor during my term in office and a total of 12 biln EUR allotted to transport from various financial instruments, an unprecedented amount, the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean said in Bucharest on Tuesday, presenting a report of her term in office. The new North-South transport corridor connects the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. The European official also said that the port of Constanţa (southeast) on the Black Seacoast benefited from 149 mln EUR in grants from the EU for the improvement of the railway infrastructure and 13 mln EUR for the electrification of the railway connection from the port. According to the EU commissioner, Romania is the 6th country in terms of the allocation of funds in the European Union, after Poland, Italy, France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

     

     

    EDUCATION – Over 300,000 Romanians benefited from activities designed to combat drug abuse, carried out in the first half of the year at national level by National Anti-Drug Agency experts, both in schools as well as at community level. The team of experts provided information regarding the effects of drug consumption, banned in crowded areas, high-attendance events or in tourist resorts. The beneficiaries of these actions were pre-school children, pupils, students, teaching staff, parents, maternity assistants, children in institutional care as well as medical staff and former drug users. (VP)

  • June 30, 2024

    June 30, 2024

    OSCE PA – The 31st session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe continues in Bucharest. Until Wednesday, MPs from over 50 states will be discussing the war in Ukraine. Participants have called for peace, stability and the observance of international regulations. Artificial intelligence, climate change, combating drug and human trafficking as well as migration are other topics high on the agenda for talks.

     

     

    SECURITY – An additional 1,000 police officers and firefighters are deployed to seacoast resorts this weekend, the Interior Ministry announced in the context of a wave of violence in Black Seacoast resorts. 357 crimes are reported in the last week, the Constanța City Police inspectorate announced, most incidents occurring the wake of spontaneous brawls and alcohol abuse. According to estimates, some 180 thousand tourists are this weekend in seacoast resorts.

     

     

    FITS – In news from the International Theatre Festival in Sibiu (FITS), actor Constantin Chiriac, the director of the “Radu Stanca” National Theatre in Sibiu and president of the International Theatre Festival in Sibiu was hospitalized after suffering from digestive issues caused by excessive heat, doctors say. Aged 67, Constantin Chiriac was unwell during Saturday evening’s star-awarding ceremony for the Sibiu Walk of Fame. The ceremony paid homage to French actress Isabelle Adjani, American actor John Malkovich and Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse, the recipient of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature. The International Theatre Festival in Sibiu is set to close on Sunday.

     

     

    ELECTION – French voters are this weekend hitting the polls as part of the first round of snap elections, a historical ballot held after president Emmanuel Macron dissolved Parliament after his party sustained a bitter defeat in the June 9 European Parliament election. Some 49 million voters are expected to cast their votes to elect the 577 representatives in the National Assembly, the lower chamber of Parliament. The populist and nationalist right is favorite to win according to polls, with a wide margin ahead of Emmanuel Macron’s party. The second round is scheduled for July 7.

     

     

    WIMBLEDON – Romanian tennis players enrolled in the women’s singles at Wimbledon will take on tough opponents in the opening round. Gabriela Ruse (152 WTA) will take on Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (4 WTA), the 2022 champion. Jaqueline Cristian (62 WTA) will go up against Bianca Andreescu of Canada (165 WTA). Anca Alexia Todoni (141 WTA), who has qualified to the main draw for the first time in her career, will play Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy (41 WTA). Irina Begu (127 WTA) will take on Lin Zhu of China (60 WTA). Ana Bogdan (50 WTA) will play Cristina Bucșa of Spain (63 WTA). Sorana Cîrstea (29 WTA and seeded 29th) will play Sonay Kartal of Great Britain (295 WTA). Romanian-born British player Emma Răducanu (168 WTA), the beneficiary of a wild card, will play Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia (22 WTA and seeded 22nd).

     

     

    EURO 2024 – The European Football Championship underway in Germany on Sunday will see matches on day 2 of the round of 16. England will play Slovakia while Spain will take on Georgia. On Saturday, the defending champions Italy were knocked out by Switzerland 0-2, while the host country Germany defeated Denmark 2-0. Romania will play the Netherlands on July 2 on Allianz Arena in Munich. The Romanian team qualified from the top of Group E after beating Ukraine 3-0, losing 0-2 to Belgium and drawing 1-1 against Slovakia. All teams in Group E had 4 points at the end of the group phase, but Romania topped the standings owing to a better goal average ratio. The last time Romania qualified to the round of 16 was at EURO 2000. This is the first time Romania wins a group in a world or European competition. (VP)

  • Romania and European diplomacy

    Romania and European diplomacy

    With few exceptions, Russia’s war against Ukraine dominates the meetings of EU member states at the level of foreign ministers. Such was also the case of the Foreign Affairs Council that took place on Monday in Brussels. Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, emphasized the need for swiftly providing military assistance to Ukraine, while at the same time adopting the 14th package of sanctions against Russia. The Romanian Minister also expressed support for the introduction of a new regime of sanctions for Russia’s hybrid actions. She condemned the recent unacceptable challenges to some EU member states in the Baltic Sea region and expressed Romania’s solidarity in that regard. The Romanian official also highlighted Russia’s hybrid attacks on the Republic of Moldova, which generate vulnerabilities in the context of the electoral processes in this country.

     

     

    Luminiţa Odobescu emphasized the need to continue and strengthen support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s intense and repeated attacks on its civilian and energy infrastructure. Bucharest has offered substantial support to Ukraine in the field of energy and is willing to continue doing so, Minister Odobescu said. The Romanian chief of diplomacy also reiterated our country’s support for the European integration efforts of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and the organization of the first Intergovernmental Conferences by the end of June. With regard to president Zelenskyy’s peace plan, Minister Odobescu emphasized the importance of coordination at European level and with global partners to ensure the success of the Conference slated in June in Switzerland.

     

     

    The Foreign Affairs Council also tackled developments in the Middle East, with informal exchanges between European ministers and counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. The Romanian Foreign Minister hailed the role of regional states in maintaining regional stability, de-escalating security developments and helping broker peace, as well as facilitating the provision of urgent humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. Luminiţa Odobescu emphasized the need to solve the crisis by continuing efforts to ensure the release of all hostages, secure a ceasefire, provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance and resume the political process leading to a lasting peace, based on the two-state solution, in coordination with the USA, Great Britain and regional partners. Minister Odobescu reasserted Romania’s constant commitment to improving the humanitarian situation and announced a new humanitarian assistance transport to Gaza via the humanitarian corridor in Cyprus. (VP)

  • May 5, 2024 UPDATE

    May 5, 2024 UPDATE

    EASTER – The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the greatest holiday in the Christian calendar, was marked on Sunday by Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians around the world, including in Romania. In his Easter sermon, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said that healing the world of passing illnesses was not the ultimate design of Jesus Christ, but rather saving mankind from sin and death. The Patriarch urged Romanians to pursue good deeds. “During these days of celebration, light and joy for our Christian way of life, let us pray for global peace, let us convey a message of brotherly love to all Romanians living abroad”, the Patriarch went on to say. “The Resurrection of Christ recalls the Christian appeal to love thy neighbor and live in peace and understanding”, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis also said in his Easter message.

     

     

    MINI-HOLIDAY – Some 150,00 people are these days attending hundreds of events across the country for the Easter mini-holiday. The Interior Ministry has deployed additional forces to ensure public order. Gendarme patrols are on standby in mountain resorts and are mobilized in the main seacoast resorts, with the mission of combating drug abuse, particularly in Mamaia and Vama Veche. The Sunwaves electronic music festival is underway in Mamaia until May 7. Dozens of DJs will be mixing music day and night. No major incidents were reported during Saturday’s Easter Vigil, the Interior Ministry reports. On the other hand, the National Directorate for Cyber-Security warns that people are less vigilant around the holidays in terms of online shopping and are exposed to online scams.

     

     

    WAR IN UKRAINE – Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed the nation on Easter, saying the Ukrainian people will get down on its knees only to pray. He said Ukrainians are holding a common prayer for the servicemen celebrating Easter in the trenches and on the frontline. Russia on Saturday night launched 24 Shahed drones, of which 23 were shot down, the Ukrainian Air Forces announced on Sunday. The attack followed Russian attacks on Saturday on the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions and the port of Odesa, which killed at least two civilians, destroyed a food factory and damaged other civilian infrastructure targets, residential and commercial buildings, regional officials say. President Zelenskyy said Russia used eight different types of missiles and nearly 70 guided missiles to strike settlements and positions on the frontline. In turn, Moscow persuaded Cuban citizens to join the Russian army, offering monthly wages of approximately 2,000 USD plus Russian passports, to be delivered within months of signing up.

     

     

    EXERCISE – Romania hosts the Swift Response 24 multinational exercise over May 5-24. According to the Defense Ministry, the exercise will comprise one of the biggest airdrop exercise ever held in Europe after WWII, with units from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the USA and the Netherlands taking part. Thousands of servicemen and technical equipment from seven NATO and partner states will be involved in the exercise, organized by the United States Command Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF). Romania will deploy 2,300 military and 220 technical equipment and will prep several airbases and shooting ranges. The exercise is coordinated by the German Air Forces, in partnership with the Romanian Land Forces command and the Romanian Air Forces.

     

     

    LIFE EXPECTANCY – Spain has the highest life expectancy rate at EU level – 84 years, above the EU average of 81.5 years. According to a Eurostat report, Romania has the third-lowest life expectancy in the EU, 76.6 years, followed only by Latvia with 75.9 years and Bulgaria with 75.8 years. However, the biggest increase in life expectancy rates across the EU over 2019-2023 was reported in Romania. 15 of the 27 EU Member States exceed the EU life expectancy average. Countries with lower rates are those in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, whereas countries in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Central Europe have higher life expectancy rates.

     

     

    GYMNASTSTICS – The Romanian women’s gymnastics team ranked 4th in the team event at the European Gymnastics Championships hosted by Rimini, Italy. Italy ranked first, followed by the UK and France. Sabrina Maneca Voinea grabbed both silver medals for Romania in the beam and floor events. (VP)