Radio România Internațional

Tag: war

June 3, 2022 UPDATE

Ukraine — On Friday it’s 100 days since Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, during which time the Russian military failed to achieve any of its initial campaign goals, according to the British Military Intelligence Service. The Russians were unable to capture the capital, Kyiv, or the Ukrainian power centers. After losing the battle for Kyiv, Moscow decided to focus its efforts on Donbas, an area made up of two regions of Ukraine where the Russian army has been pressing for weeks. The Russians have resorted to heavy artillery fire there, including on the localities, and have made some tactical progress, the British experts show. The Russian army has advanced not only into eastern Ukraine but also into the southern region. All in all, the attackers managed to occupy about 20% of Ukraines territory, according to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. He added that the entire Russian-occupied territory was a disaster area and that Moscow was solely responsible for it. The Russians have destroyed cities, bombed homes and civilian targets, and have been charged with numerous war crimes. They have also been subjected to a number of international economic and political sanctions. Ukraine hopes to turn the tide of battle, with the arrival of heavy weapons promised by the West, especially high-performance missile systems.

Drill – Romanian soldiers and allies from five European countries and the United States are participating in a multinational exercise at the NATO Smârdan Center in eastern Romania. Both ground and air combat equipment is used. The exercise, which has been taking place since May 24, is attended by over 1,000 Romanian soldiers along with comrades-in-arms from France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal and the United States. The training aims to increase interoperability through computer-assisted command exercises, field troop training and tactical training with real combat ammunition. Through such training events, the Command of the Southeast Multinational Brigade is being trained to be able to command forces deployed in the NATO Southeast region, in order to ensure the contribution of this structure to the collective defense of the Alliance, the Romanian Defense Ministry says.

Film – The 3rd edition of the Romanian Film Festival in Washington, the largest event promoting Romanian cinema in the USA, begins on June 3rd at Miracle Theatre. Organised by the Embassy of Romania to Washington and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, the festival is devoted to the 25 years since the signing of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the USA. Screened as part of the event, under the heading “Reinventing realism: the Romanian New Wave,” are 12 feature films: “Blue Moon”, “Berliner”, “The Windseeker”, “Poppy Field”, “Mikado”, “Unidentified”, “#dogpoopgirl”, “Luca”, “Man and Dog”, “Lebensdorf”, “Otto the Barbarian”, and “Miracle”. The festival will come to an end on June 19.

School — For the Romanian 8th graders, Friday was the last day of school, and also the last day of enrollment for the National Assessment Exam, the high school final exam that is the basis for high school admission. The tests are scheduled for the middle of this month. However, the high school graduates will be the first ones to take the Baccalaureate exam, which starts on Monday with the oral examination in the Romanian language subject. The school year ends on June 10, and the next one, with a radically modified structure, will begin on September 5.

Prize — On Saturday, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will be awarded the European Charlemagne Prize of the Sudeten German Homeland Association for 2020. The ceremony will take place in Hof, Germany. The association decided to award him the distinction in recognition of his merits in terms of the understanding and cooperation between the peoples and countries of Central Europe. In the context of the pandemic, the ceremony could not be held, being rescheduled for June 4 this year, when the Day of Sudeten Germans is also celebrated. (LS)

3 June 2022
The 100-day war in Ukraine

Thousands of civilians killed and wounded, millions of
refugees, destroyed cities – this is what Ukraine looks like 100 days on from
the onset of the conflict. Europe has been destabilized (as if the pandemic
wasn’t enough) and the EU has approved six sanction packages against Russia.
The global geo-political order has been disturbed and the international economy
weakened.

All this time, a defiant Kremlin leader has been waging
his war against the Ukrainians. Russia has so far occupied 20% of the territory
of Ukraine, whereas the latter is presently investigating 15 thousand alleged
war crime cases. Right at the beginning of the war the country’s capital Kyiv
was heavily bombed but could not be conquered. On March 2nd, the
city of Kherson, close to Crimea, a region previously annexed by the Russians,
became the first big city occupied.

Bilateral political talks don’t seem to have a
positive outcome and pictures with the killings in Bucha have been given a wide
coverage by international media. The city of Mariupol connecting Crimea with
the breakaway regions in the east of the country fell after fierce fighting
inside the Azovstal steelworks.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been constantly
sending messages to encourage his troops and has called for international
assistance. The USA, G7, NATO and the European Union ran to the help of Ukraine,
concurrently closing ranks in the event of a war. Ukraine wants to join the EU
whereas Sweden and Finland call for NATO accession. Ukraine’s massive cereal
crops can no longer be exported and a major food crisis is looming large
particularly for the world’s poorest nations.

An opinion poll recently conducted among the Romanians
shows that over 71% of the respondents are blaming Russia for the war in
neighboring Ukraine while over 87% believe that Russian leaders should be
convicted for war crimes. 65% of the interviewees considers the deployment of
NATO and US troops as something good.

Respondents have shown a pro-West, pro-NATO attitude, in
line with the strategy the EU and the entire Euro-Atlantic zone is promoting
these days, pundits in Bucharest believe while the Romanian government
continues to take measures to support the refugees. Authorities here have recently
held talks over a national plan aimed at assisting Ukrainians in finding jobs,
accommodation, sending their children to schools so that they may learn Romanian
and get quickly integrated. The government has made available an information
platform for the refugees seeking temporary assistance amid a wave of sympathy the
Romanians have shown for the refugees ever since the beginning of the war.

(bill)

3 June 2022
June 3, 2022

UKRAINE 100 days have passed since the start of the Russian invasion in
Ukraine. Since February 24, Russia has captured a sizeable part of its
neighbouring country’s territory, but the Ukrainian army has put up a tougher
resistance than most experts had expected. Russian forces now control around
20% of the Ukrainian territory, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said
in his midnight address, which has become a tradition since the start of the
war. He added that the entire occupied territory is now a disaster area, and
Moscow is fully responsible for this. Violent clashes continue, especially in eastern
Ukraine, where Russia tries to capture Donbas. The fiercest battles are
currently fought in the town of Severodonetsk, the most important one still
controlled by the Ukrainian forces in Luhansk region. Russian forces have
resorted to intensive shelling, including on civilian targets, having
completely destroyed several Ukrainian cities, such as Mariupol, captured after
3 months’ fighting, and Severodonetsk, where two-thirds of the homes are in
ruins. Russia has suffered substantial losses, over 30,000 dead and thousands
of pieces of equipment according to Ukraine, but it still retains superiority
in the field. Moscow is also superior in terms of heavy weaponry, but as of
recently Ukraine is receiving this type of weapons from its Western supporters.

MILITARY Romanian troops and Allies from 5 European
countries and the USA are taking part in a multinational exercise at the
Smârdan NATO Centre in eastern Romania. As part of the exercise, today a drill
is organised in which NATO military use land and air equipment. Taking part in
the training operation, which started on May 24, are over 1,000 Romanian
troops, joined by military personnel from France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy,
Portugal and the US. The training session is designed to enhance
inter-operability, so as to enable the Multinational Brigade South-East Command
to manage forces deployed to NATO’s south-east region to protect the Alliance,
the national defence ministry explains.

AID The government of Romania will grant
EUR 140 in aid next month to pensioners whose retirement benefits do not exceed
EUR 400. The measure was approved on Thursday and is designed to help the most
vulnerable pensioners cope with the recent price rises. The government is also
working on an emergency order increasing the value of meal vouchers.

JUBILEE Britain is celebrating these days the Platinum Jubilee of Queen
Elizabeth II, the monarch with the longest reign in the history of the country.
The Royal Family convene today for a religious service at St. Paul’s Cathedral,
celebrating the Queen’s 70-year rule,
however the sovereign will not be present after experiencing discomfort while
watching Thursday’s parade at Buckingham Palace. On Thursday London hosted a
large-scale military parade, with 70 aircraft, some of
them used during WWII, flying over the crowds.

FILM The 3rd edition of the Romanian Film
Festival in Washington, the largest event promoting Romanian cinema in the USA,
begins on June 3rd at Miracle Theatre. Organised by the Embassy of
Romania to Washington and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, the festival
is devoted to the 25 years since the signing of the Strategic Partnership
between Romania and the USA. Screened as part of the event, under the heading Reinventing
realism: the Romanian New Wave, are 12 feature films: Blue Moon,
Berliner, The Windseeker, Poppy Field,
Mikado, Unidentified, #dogpoopgirl, Luca,
Man and Dog, Lebensdorf, Otto the Barbarian, and Miracle. The festival
will come to an end on June 19. (AMP)

3 June 2022
June 2, 2022 UPDATE

GOVERNMENT On Thursday the
Government of Romania passed an emergency order under which pensioners with
pension benefits below roughly EUR 400 will benefit in July from financial aid
amounting to EUR 140. The measure is intended to offset the drop in spending
power for vulnerable people, generated by the recent increase in fuel, food and
utility prices. Around 3.3 million people will benefit from the aid. Wednesday
also saw the start of a social voucher distribution programme called ‘Support
for Romania’. The EUR 50 vouchers are intended for over 2.5 million vulnerable
Romanians, and can be used for food purchases.

HOLIDAY Romania, a country
with an Orthodox majority, Thursday celebrated the Ascension of Lord Jesus
Christ, 40 days after his resurrection. Orthodox believers celebrated the event
with painted eggs and traditional Easter meals. Since 1920 Romanians have also
paid homage to their war heroes on Ascension Day. A series of events have been
staged to the memory of Romania’s heroes like religious services as well as
moments of silence in all major institutions across the country. In a message on Heroes Day, the country’s
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said ‘our thoughts of gratitude are today directed
towards those who made the supreme sacrifice for the better destiny of the
generations to come.’

POLL Over 70% of Romanians
blame the war in Ukraine on Russia, according to a poll conducted by INSCOP
Research over May 16th and 21st. Over 87% of the Romanians believe that Russian
leaders must be convicted for war crimes and 65% believe the presence of NATO
and US troops in Romania is a good thing. 50% of the respondents believe
Ukraine will win the war, whereas 26% believe Russia will be the victor.
According to the poll, only 25% of Romanians believe Russia is defending
traditional values against the decadence of the West, as compared to 41% in
February. 67% of the respondents believe that extraction of natural gas from
the Black Sea will significantly reduce the country’s dependence on Russian
gas.

LETTER Romania’s president
Klaus Iohannis has sent a congratulation letter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on her
anniversary and the platinum jubilee, the presidential administration in
Bucharest has announced. The Romanian president voiced his belief that the
Strategic Partnership between Romania and the UK will continue to be
consolidated in the future, for the mutual benefit of both nations. Starting on
Thursday, Britain is celebrating for 4 days the Queen’s 70 years of rule, the
longest in the kingdom’s history. The government has exceptionally approved a
four-day bank holiday allowing millions to participate in various events staged
on this occasion, such as street parties, concerts and military parades.
According to the BBC, the 96-year-old monarch, who has mobility issues and has
recently cancelled several public appearances, is likely to join members of the
Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the display.

REFUGEES The government of
Romania Thursday approved the provision of new emergency humanitarian aid
amounting to EUR 185,000 for the management of the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Also
as of Thursday, a governmental information platform is available to Ukrainian
nationals benefiting from temporary protection in Romania. At
protecţieucraina.gov.ro, refugees can find all the necessary information on the
rights and services they can receive, how they can enter Romania or answers to
frequently asked questions in the legal field. The Romanian Border Police
announced that on Wednesday little over 10,000 Ukrainian citizens entered
Romania, down 13% since the previous day. Since the start of the crisis in
Ukraine on February 24, nearly 1.1 million refugees have entered Romania. Most
of them transited the country towards Western Europe, but several tens of
thousands applied for asylum or temporary protection from the Romanian
government. (AMP)

2 June 2022
How we talk to children about the war

The complicated situation in Ukraine has brought out an extremely sensitive issue. Maybe we can keep our children away from a dramatic situation in our family, but we certainly cannot cover their eyes when they see terrible images of war. How do we explain to children the drama of war? How do we prepare them to deal with complicated situations that may arise later in their own lives? Do we filter reality or not?

Heres psychologist Cristina Năstase’s opinion: “In a crisis situation, a child first and foremost needs safety. Lies, omission of information and false assurances cannot create safety. On the contrary. They deepen the uncertainty, throwing the child into a situation of total confusion, given that children can no longer trust their parents words. If parents don’t talk to children, they can somatize their distress, refuse to leave the house, become apathetic or, on the contrary, become angrier. Talk to your children as much as necessary, give them information, but not in excess. Give them only basic information, in a progressive way. Children need time to process. If a child asks a question about a certain situation, specific only to a certain event, it is important to answer that question alone and avoid enlarging upon the issue, but, still, show availability, a sincere openness, so that whenever the child has questions, he or she should know that the parent will answer it. If children come up with questions and parents deny them, children will be confused, they will think that the adult is lying, and the parents lose the opportunity to assure them that they are safe. But parents are supposed to be the children’s safe haven. Parents, especially of children aged up to 11-12 years, can filter and translate the information to make it accessible to them. They can reassure them, encourage them to let out their emotions, and be there for them. Not talking to them means letting them fill the narrative gap, and the child will think like this: if they hide this from me, it must be something serious, which leads to increased anxiety. If they dont tell me, it means they dont trust me, which leads to lower self-esteem. So, be honest and direct, but without extreme details.”

Next Cristina Năstase will tell us how we should approach the subject of death with children of different ages and will also talk about the role of the parent in this equation: “It is recommended to start from what children already know, then they should be encouraged to ask questions. They should also be helped to share their feelings of worry, fear, anger, sadness and compassion. What’s the role of parents? To explain, depending on age, what war is. There are history books for kids that parents can get inspiration from, to give explanations to their kids. You can read them stories about battles in which the good wins. Or you can watch animated films or movies with them, adapted from history books. It is very good to play with your children war games, if this game is initiated by the child. The game helps them release their fear and project in the game their war-related fantasies, a game in which you should let the children be in control. Most likely, this game will be initiated by younger children and children of up to 9-10 years. Maybe with the older kids you can use strategy games or video games. Humor is an important resource, because it releases pressure, puts things in perspective and produces joy, and laughter has the potential to wave off fear and anger. For some children it may be enough. Others would ask if people who are fighting a battle die. And you will have to tell them the truth, and answer other questions related to death, because the fear of war ultimately boils down to the fear of death. You can reassure them that they will not die, and neither will you, the parents, because the adults from all countries are working to solve the situation, you assure them that this is not their responsibility, that they do not need to feel guilty, that they can play with their friends, and they can continue do everything they enjoy. Parents can tell children that themselves, as adults, feel the same emotions, worries, sadness, anger, and that they are sure that the war will not extend, that our country will not be at war. They can say that it is important to focus on what we have to do every day, that we can help those from Ukraine, that they can also help if they want to, that it is important to be united, that together we can resist better. Children will feel safe as the grown-ups explain them what is happening. They won’t let themselves be overwhelmed, they dont cry, theyre not terrified.”

Psychologist Cristina Năstase also teaches us how to talk to teenagers about war: “The big children, the teenagers have a representation of what war entails. What consequences derive from this? They know this from books, movies, friends, history classes, and from TV. Never before has the war been so close. With them, parents need to check the source of information. To bring clear, logical arguments to help them calm down. You need to validate their emotions, accept when they tell you that they are not afraid, although their behavior says something else, to help them become aware of the relationship between their thoughts and emotions, to work with thoughts, to make them think rationally. You can share, as parents, your own views about the war, you can encourage them to talk about theirs. You can talk to them about how we can help refugees. Pick a time in the day when to talk about what changes have occurred in the course of events, if they appear more anxious than the previous day. Be open to discussions, but dont prolong them excessively.”

Do not try to cancel children’s emotions, talk together about their emotions. Thus, children will feel safe and will learn about themselves, says Cristina Nastase: “Although they are difficult for adults, these conversations should take place. Such a dialogue should be seen as an open door to other future discussions on complicated topics. Adults must accept childrens emotions, not repress them, and find, to the extent to which this is possible, appropriate answers to their questions, so that the image they will process should be as appropriate as possible for their understanding. Do not forget that children can experience strong emotions, but not for too long. The better you master them, the faster they pass. By talking about fear, you bring it out and help the child calm down. Parents don’t have to have perfect answers to all the problems and questions. Analyzing a topic with children is the way to teach children to navigate through ambiguous feelings, to think difficult, complicated things through, which will increase their psychological resistance to them. Parents shouldn’t be afraid to say ‘I dont know’ and ‘I cant’. Showing ones own vulnerability, in a calm and self-controlled manner, is useful, because it encourages the expression of feelings.” (LS)

1 June 2022
The Week in Review 21 – 27 May 2022

The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, talked on the phone with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, on Thursday spoke on the phone with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, before the special proceedings of the aforementioned council in Brussels at the end of the month, which has high on the agenda the humanitarian and financial aid for Ukraine. Food safety, energy, security and defence were the main topics of the discussion between the head of the Romanian state and president of the European Council. In the meantime, the Russian troops are continuing their onslaught on the neighbouring Ukraine where the situation is difficult. According to the General Border Police Inspectorate, since the beginning of the conflict on February 24th, over one million Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania.

An offshore law regulating Black Sea gas exploitation has come into effect

The offshore law regulating gas exploitation in the Black Sea was enacted on Wednesday by Romanias president Klaus Iohannis. In its new form, the law is more investor-friendly and is supposed to benefit both the state and companies, government representatives say. After the endorsement of the draft law in the Chamber of Deputies, Energy Minister, the Liberal Virgil Popescu, has said the new regulations ensure stability, predictability as well as lower gas prices for household consumers. The law stipulates a series of measures on the stability of the fiscal regime and oil royalties as well as the elimination of additional income taxation for selling prices at which investors do not make surplus profits. During the duration of the agreements concerning the deep-sea offshore and onshore perimeters, the holders of the agreements have the right to freely trade the hydrocarbons produced from the respective oil perimeters at the prices and in the quantities determined by them under the provisions of the national and European legislation in force. Under the document, Romania will have priority in exploiting the gas deposits and the profit will be divided between the Romanian state, which is to receive 60% and investors who are to get 40%. The first gas extraction has been scheduled for June, part of a project carried out by the company Black Sea Oil&Gas. According to estimates, over one billion cubic meters would be delivered annually throughout this exploitation thus covering 10% of Romanias needs.

Prince Charles, heir to the British Crown, is back in Romania

Currently on a visit to Romania, after a break caused by the pandemic, Prince Charles, heir to the British Crown, on Wednesday met in Bucharest the countrys president Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and the custodian of the Romanian crown, Princess Margareta. Talks focused on the Ukrainian refugee crisis and the support granted by Romania to its neighboring country in the context of the Russian invasion. President Iohannis informed Prince Charles on the humanitarian hub in Suceava, north-eastern Romania, and on the coordination of support efforts by a number of states, to Ukraines benefit. Also discussed were the Romanian-British strategic partnership, solutions to limit the impact of climate change and to preserve biodiversity and the need for educational projects on climate change. During the meeting he had with Romanias Prime Minister, Prince Charles was interested in Romanias policies in the field of green and renewable energies. Prime Minister Ciuca voiced support for investment in green energy, the offshore wind power in particular, in which British companies are invited to invest in the upcoming period.

Together with Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, prince Charles visited a refugee centre in Bucharest, and talked to the refugees and volunteers there. The centre has more than 1 thousand Ukrainian visitors per day, who receive food, hygiene products and clothing, and also benefit social services and counseling during their stay in Romania.

Prince Charles first visited Romania in 1998 and has returned to the country almost every year ever since. He has been supporting foundations and programs focused on the protection of Transylvanias heritage and biodiversity and, through Prince Charles of Wales Romania Foundation, he supported small farmers and ran a special program for the Romanian military injured in Afghanistan.

The executive in Bucharest has approved a new package of social and economic measures

The Bucharest Government on Monday announced a new package of social and economic measures agreed on by the ruling coalition, against the background of unprecedented price hikes affecting the population. The package, worth 1.1 billion euros, takes effect starting July 1st. Among these measures are the postponement, by nine months, of interest rates on loans for citizens and companies facing difficulties triggered by the multiple crises that have emerged lately. Also decided was the granting of a quarter of the salary difference, in keeping with the unitary payment law for public sector employees, and of a single financial aid of 140 euros to all pensioners with pensions smaller than 400 euros.

At the same time, the Government will take measures for fiscal consolidation and for observing its commitments as regards the public deficit. This means cutting public expenditure by at least 10%, except for expenses with salaries, pensions and social assistance, freezing jobs in the public sector as of July 1st and increasing the collection of revenues to the consolidated general budget by 2 billion euro.

Also on Monday, the Minister of Investment and European Projects, Marcel Bolos, announced that most vouchers for vulnerable persons will be distributed to the beneficiaries starting in June and the rest of them in the first half of July. He mentioned that the vouchers to be distributed by June 10 will be funded in 2 or 3 days, in keeping with the public payment mechanism.

We recall that on May 9 the Government adopted the measure regarding social vouchers to be granted to a number of categories of people who are at risk of material deprivation and extreme poverty. Thus, more than 3 million Romanians will receive every two months, social vouchers worth 50 euros each.

(bill)

28 May 2022
What kind of neutrality for the Republic of Moldova

The readiness recently expressed by the EU,
the USA and the UK to provide modern weaponry to the Republic of Moldova in the
context of the devastating war in Ukraine but also given the situation in the
breakaway region of Transdniester brings back to attention the issue of
neutrality as stipulated by the country’s Constitution since 1994.

In fact, the constitutional neutrality has
been largely discussed by the authorities in the neighboring country in the
past three months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a report conducted
by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives shows that half of the
country’s population supports the concept of neutrality. Government officials
have given assurances that this kind of neutrality, closely monitored by Moscow
for almost 30 years now, represents the redline in terms of the republic’s
security strategies. Ioan Leahu, expert
in Transdnistrean issues, is backing the policy of his republic and believes
that Russia should not be provoked on this matter.

Ioan Leahu: Neutrality per see is sterile, it doesn’t
make any sense. It’s up to you and it is only you to decide whether to keep it
or take sides. Given the present situation, however, in my opinion we should
not send negative signals. If we are listening carefully to Mrs. Zakharova, the
head of the information and press department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, we
see that every time she finds a way to point the finger at us. And maybe all
these talks and fuss about this neutrality has a minute political context. From
the viewpoint of drawing up a strategy, it seems to me that the government of
the Republic of Moldova is taking into account that neutrality is written in
the Constitution and that allows them to find solutions to other issues as well.

In turn experts in security believe that the neutrality of the little
neighboring country needs to be clarified. According to security expert Igor
Munteanu, the promoters of the republic’s security strategies should question
and clearly define the term.

Igor
Munteanu:Every
state has its own interpretation of neutrality. Neutrality may mean the idea of
not joining a certain defensive bloc, but it may also be nonparticipation in
aggressive actions against other countries. Interpretation may very well vary
in this case. Concerning the Republic of Moldova, the insistence the Russian
Federation has on its neutrality speaks about the strategy to keep the Republic
disarmed and thus maintain its troops there to prevent the expansion of the
West.

The Foreign Ministry in Chisinau gives
assurances that all international partnerships and cooperation have so far been
carried out under the constitutional principle of neutrality. And after talks
with Moldovan president Maia Sandu, the United States has pledged that the
support given will not exceed Chisinau’s requests.

(bill)

25 May 2022
May 24, 2022 UPDATE

Schengen — The European Commission on Tuesday reiterated its recommendation that three member states, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania, should be admitted to the Schengen area after they have complied with the accession criteria, shows the State of Schengen Report 2022, published on the website of the EC. The same is true for Cyprus once that country successfully completes the Schengen evaluation process. It is the first time that the European Commission has presented such a report, following the Schengen Area Strategy adopted last year. The report sets out a list of priority actions for the period 2022-2023 to be addressed at both national and European levels.

Refugees – The number of Ukrainian nationals entering Romania on Monday was 2.4% smaller than on the previous day, reaching 7,709, the Romanian border police announced. Since the start of the crisis, more than one million refugees crossed the border into Romania. Meanwhile, new checkpoints will be opened on Romania’s border with Ukraine, leaving the Siret checkpoint, in the north-east, where trucks are currently waiting up to 14 hours to leave the country, will give priority to humanitarian assistance shipments. In a first stage, a checkpoint will be opened at Vicovu de Sus (north) for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, and another one at Racovăţ (north-east) for vehicles of up to 7 tonnes. Later on, a new checkpoint will also be operational in Ulma (north-east).

Chisinau — The former President of Moldova between 2016-2020 Igor Dodon was detained for 72 hours on Tuesday after prosecutors ordered searches of his residences. In the criminal case opened against him, the former leader of the Socialist Party is suspected of passive corruption, acceptance of his political party being financed by a criminal organization, treason and illicit enrichment. The interim chief prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office, Elena Cazacov, said that law enforcement officers searched 10 buildings and 3 cars, where they found significant amounts of money, contracts and receipts, as well as several luxury goods that were confiscated for checks. The Moldovan authorities on Friday reopened the criminal case of corruption against the pro-Russian politician.

Reserves — Romania has no problems with the stocks of products from the state reserve, says the president of the National Administration of State Reserves and Special Issues, Georgian Pop. He said, however, that strategic reserves would be increased in the context of the war in Ukraine and of a possible food crisis. In exceptional cases, the Romanian state keeps food, fuel, antibiotics and other products in its warehouses or private ones. Recently goods have been taken out from the national reserve to help the Ukrainian refugees. The stocks are substantial but from the lessons we have learned from the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, we have greatly diversified the products in stock, the Romanian official said.

Ports — The Romanian authorities have not yet found solutions for the ships waiting in the Black Sea, even for two weeks, to enter the Sulina canal (southeast) and thus reach the Danube ports to load or unload products. Since the beginning of the month, dozens of ships have been in this situation, and the crews of some of them have been left without supplies. The Lower Danube River Administration in Galati, an institution that ensures navigability on the Sulina Canal, says the situation is caused by the inability of the Danube ports, especially of the Ukrainian ones, to rapidly operate the ships docking there. In this context, the navigation of ships heading for destinations other than the Ukrainian ports is also made difficult.(LS)

24 May 2022
May 23, 2022 UPDATE

ECONOMY Seven countries, including Romania, continue to
experience imbalances, the European Commission announced on Monday, having
assessed the existence of macroeconomic imbalances for the 12 Member States
selected for in-depth reviews in the 2022 Alert Mechanism Report. The
Commission points out that vulnerabilities in Romania’s economy relate to
external accounts, linked to large fiscal deficits, and to competitiveness
issues that are re-emerging. Large fiscal deficits pre-date the COVID-19 crisis
and have driven up the current account deficit, which poses risks to external
debt sustainability. Government debt increased significantly, although from
moderate levels, sovereign borrowing costs kept growing, while bureaucracy and
a volatile legislative framework will be a burden for investments, the
Commission warns.

RECOVERY The first payment request under the National Recovery and
Resilience Plan, amounting to EUR 3 bln, will be submitted to the European
Commission, PM Nicolae Ciucă announced on Monday. The money will finance
projects in all the sections of the Plan and will impact several strategic
sectors for Romania. PM Nicolae Ciuca appreciated the efforts of the
institutions involved in the management of the RRP and asked for a steady pace
in the efficient and high-quality implementation of the reforms and investment
projects. This is an effort that must be carried on and extended in order for
Romania to benefit from the EUR 30 bln available under the RRP for
modernisation and development projects, Ciucă said.

UKRAINE The number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human
rights violations and persecutions has exceeded 100 million for the first time,
as a result of the war in Ukraine and other deadly conflicts, shows a statement
from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The figure is staggering,
worrying and should have never been reached, said UN High Commissioner for
Refugees Filippo Grandi. By the end of 2021, the number of displaced people had
reached 90 million worldwide, due to new waves of violence or protracted
conflicts in countries such as Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Nigeria,
Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On February 24, the Russian
President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, throwing
further millions of people into the streets to flee fighting and reach less
exposed regions or other countries. Europe has not seen such a rapid inflow of
refugees since the end of World War II, UNHCR points out. Nearly 6.5 million
Ukrainians have left the country, mostly women and children, and the UN
estimates that their number could exceed 8 million by the end of the year.

CANNES The Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, competing at the Cannes Film
Festival, hopes that his film ‘R.M.N.’, in which a village in Transylvania is
like an explosive laboratory of populism, will open the eyes of Europeans to
this evil that has been gnawing at them, AFP reports. Mungiu is in the race for
a second Palme d’Or Prize, 15 years after his ‘4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days’.
The film title, ‘R.M.N.’, refers to the medical term MRI – magnetic resonance
imaging: Mungiu scans the underbelly of populism, an evil that has metastasized
in a still traditional village, on the borders of Europe, AFP reports. ‘I hope
that the public do not easily shy away from their responsibilities, do not
think that this is happening in a remote, wild land. I’m afraid that’s not the
case,’ said director Mungiu. The film takes place a few days before Christmas,
in a village in Transylvania, where the Roma population disappeared, driven
away by the inhabitants and the force of prejudice, and where the new ‘cursed
people of the Earth’ appeared: Sri Lankan workers, brought to work at the local
bakery after the Romanians went to work in the west. (AMP)

23 May 2022
May 23, 2022

Fiscal code – The Romanian Finance Ministry is analyzing a possible amendment to the Fiscal Code this week, after the National Liberal Party – PNL and the Social Democratic Party – PSD agreed that the collection of funds to the state budget should be improved. The Social Democrats are talking about the opportunity to return to progressive taxation, and the Liberals are defending the flat tax, which they say they are not willing to give up. Both parties give assurances that there will be no new taxes and duties for Romanians.

Ukraine – The number of people forced to flee the conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecutions has exceeded 100 million for the first time, as a result of the war in Ukraine and other deadly conflicts, shows a statement from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The figure of 100 million people is staggering, worrying and should have never been reached, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. By the end of 2021, the number of people displaced worldwide had reached 90 million due to new waves of violence or protracted conflicts in countries such as Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Nigeria, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On February 24, the Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of neighboring Ukraine, throwing further millions of people into the streets to flee fighting and reach less exposed regions or other countries. Europe has not seen such a rapid inflow of refugees since the end of World War II, UNHCR points out. Nearly 6.5 million Ukrainians have left the country, mostly women and children, and the UN estimates that their number could exceed 8 million by the end of the year.

Refugees — The number of Ukrainian citizens who entered Romania on Sunday decreased by 17.4% as compared to the previous day, according to a communiqué of the Border Police General Inspectorate, issued on Monday. Since the onset of the crisis until Sunday, more than a million Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania. The Interior Ministry also states that the occupancy rate in the accommodation centers of the General Inspectorate for Immigration is almost 47%. Since March 18, the same Inspectorate has issued 27,353 residence permits for beneficiaries of temporary protection. Equally, since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, 4,349 Ukrainian citizens have applied for asylum in Romania, enjoying all the rights provided by national law.

Cannes — The Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, competing at the Cannes Film Festival, hopes that his film R.M.N., in which a village in Transylvania is like an explosive laboratory of populism, will open the eyes of Europeans to this evil has been gnawing at them, AFP reports. Mungiu is in the race for the second Palme dOr Prize, 15 years after his film 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days. The film title, R.M.N., refers to the medical term MRI – magnetic resonance imaging: Mungiu scans the underbelly of populism, an evil that has metastasized in a still traditional village, on the borders of Europe, AFP reports. I hope that the spectators do not easily shy away from their responsibilities, do not think that this is happening in a remote, wild land. Im afraid thats not the case, said director Mungiu. The film takes place a few days before Christmas, in a village in Transylvania, where the Roma population disappeared, driven away by the inhabitants and the force of prejudice, and where the new cursed people of the Earth appeared, Sri Lankan workers who were brought to work at the local bakery after the Romanians went to work in the west.

Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse was defeated on Sunday evening by the Belgian Elise Mertens, seed no. 31, in the first round of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament. Also on Sunday, Sorana Cîrstea qualified to the second round, after defeating the German Tatjana Maria. Today, Irina Begu and Ana Bogdan will play at the French Open, and tomorrow three other Romanians Simona Halep, Irina Bara and Mihaela Buzărnescu will play in the inaugural round. Halep, seed no. 19, is a Roland Garros champion in 2018 and a finalist in 2014 and 2017. (LS)

23 May 2022
May 20, 2022 UPDATE

UN At the UN Security Council in New York, Romania’s Foreign Minister,
Bogdan Aurescu, spoke about Romania’s contribution to mitigating the effects of
the Russian war against Ukraine, at a debate titled ‘Maintaining international
peace and security – conflict and food security’. The Bucharest diplomacy chief
Thursday participated, at the invitation of the American Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, in the open debate organised by the USA, the country that is
holding the monthly presidency of the UN Security Council. Bogdan Aurescu
reiterated the need for a wider effort at international level to create a
transport corridor that would include Romanian routes and ports, in order to
facilitate Ukrainian exports to third-party destinations. At the same time, the
Romanian minister firmly rejected the completely unfounded accusations made by
the Russian Federation’s representative during the debate that there was an
agreement for Ukraine to export grains to the West in exchange for
military assistance. The head of the Romanian diplomacy also announced that
starting with 2023 Romania will host a Regional Agro-meteorology Centre for
Europe, approved by the World Meteorological Organisation.

LABOUR The labour ministry in Bucharest plans to constantly monitor the
situation of Romanian workers abroad, especially seasonal workers, who have
sometimes been victims of exploitation. Four million Romanians are officially
registered as working abroad, in European Union states, but the actual number would
be close to 5 million. The labour minister Marius Budai has stated that
Romanian seasonal workers mainly work in agriculture, constructions or in the
meat industry, and have faced various issues related to working conditions,
occupational health and safety, or the fact that they have not been granted
even the minimum wage in Germany. Other issues include salary withholdings,
dismissals with repatriation requests, non-payment of salary, non-compliance
with labour protection regulations, non-compliance with hygiene conditions,
improper accommodation and food.

POLL Most Romanians perceive Russia as an enemy state, and the war in
Ukraine is seen as a critical or important problem for the country in the
medium and long run. These are the findings of an opinion poll conducted this
month by the Avangarde social and behavioural research. According to the
survey, 64% of the Romanians see Russia as an enemy state, and only 2% see it
as a friendly country. In a ranking of friendly states, first comes the Republic
of Moldova, followed by Germany and the US. More than half of the respondents
also see France, the UK, Spain and Italy as friendly states, while Serbia, Hungary
and China are seen rather as competitors. Among the problems seen as important
for Romania in the medium and long run, the respondents mentioned climate
change, Hungary’s investments in Transylvania, the fact that nearly half of the
Rep. Moldova’s population are pro-Russian, the war in Ukraine, as well as the
fact that Germany, Austria and Hungary rely on Russian natural gas.

UKRAINE The industrial region of Donbas in Ukraine has been completely
destroyed by the Russian forces, the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
said. Donbas is the main target of Russian troops after being pushed back from
the regions of Kyiv and Kharkiv. The Russian army resorts to intense shelling,
including over towns, in an attempt to break through the Ukrainian frontline. Odessa
has been also a preferred target of Russian bombings lately, president Zelensky
also said. Odessa is Ukraine’s main port city and has been under Russian
blockade since the war started, which prevents Ukraine’s exports and affects
global food supplies and food prices. On the other hand, the last Ukrainian
soldiers in the Azovstal plant have been ordered by Kyiv to stop defending the
city of Mariupol, the leader of the Azov Regiment announced. After the recent
evacuation of the civilians, including women and children, who had taken refuge
in the plant, nearly 2,000 Ukrainian fighters surrendered to the Russian troops
as of Monday, including wounded soldiers, according to the latest figures
announced on Friday by the Russian defence ministry.

G7 The members of the Group of 7 of the world’s largest advanced
economies promised on Friday to mobilise USD 19.8 billion to support the budget
of Ukraine, which has been struggling under the Russian invasion since February
24. The decision was announced by the German finance minister Christian
Lindner, after a meeting with his counterparts from the US, Japan, Britain,
France, Italy and Canada. Germany currently holds the presidency of the G7.

TENNIS The Romanian tennis
player Simona Halep will face the Croatian Ana Konjuh in the first round of the
Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament, which starts on Sunday in Paris, according
to the draw held on Thursday night. Halep won the French Open in 2018 and was a
finalist in 2014 and 2017. She did not attend last year’s edition due to an
injury. Sorana Cîrstea will play against the German Tatjana Maria, Gabriela
Ruse will face the Belgian Elise Mertens, and Irina Begu will take on the
Italian Jasmine Paolini. Another Romanian, Ana Bogdan, will have a difficult
mission in the match with the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. Irina Bara has also
qualified for the tournament. On Friday, Mihaela Buzǎrnescu lost the last round
of qualifiers to Mirjam Bjorklund of Sweden (6-1, 6-3). (AMP)

20 May 2022
Between stagflation and economic growth

Romania’s economic status is growing ever more disquieting,
amid pessimistic forecasts by the central bank and the European Commission’s
economic report, which estimates that central and eastern European countries
will have higher inflation rates this year than the rest of the EU. According to
Brussels, after a strong, 5.9% growth rate in 2021, Romania’s economy is likely
to slow down to 2.6% this year, as inflation erodes people’s incomes and Russia’s
aggression in Ukraine affects economies, supply chains and investments.

For next year, the European Commission expects economic
growth to pick up slightly, to 3.6%, following a possible drop in inflation. Unemployment
is predicted to stay at around 5.5 %, with prices likely to reach a peak this
year and gradually go down in 2023. Meanwhile, the public deficit will reach 7.5%
of GDP this year, possibly dropping to 6.3 % in 2023.

According to EU officials, this year’s inflation will
get to a record-high 8.9% in Romania, almost double the 4.1% rate in 2021, and
will slow down to 5.1% in 2023.

In turn, the National Bank confirms the rise in
inflation and does not expect it to go below 10% until the second half of next
year. Meanwhile, the National Statistics Institute confirms that in the first
quarter of this year the economic growth rate stood at over 5% compared to the
previous quarter and 6.5% compared to the first quarter of last year. Nonetheless,
the central bank adviser Lucian Croitoru believes that in the forthcoming
period Romania might be facing stagflation. This is more dangerous than extended
inflation, in that it also involves stagnant economic output.

Lucian Croitoru: The first half of the word comes from stagnation.
Which is not necessarily the same as recession, it might only be a slow, 1.5-2.5%
growth, which is not something we are used to in Romania. So I think this is
very possible. On the one hand, short-term inflation encourages production, even
stimulates a rise in budget revenues, but mind you, this is fuelled by
inflation and is not going to last. On the other hand, the war may entail lots
of challenges, it is unpredictable, we have no forecasts on how a conflict like
this may end, with so many factors involved. But, as Hemingway put it, inflation
and war are always solutions to policies lacking principles.

If the Romanian economy
enters the predicted stagflation period, prices and unemployment will rise,
expenditure will be low, life will be ever more expensive and economic
difficulties will deepen. (AMP)

18 May 2022
May 16, 2022

CENSUS Romania has extended its online
self-census for another two weeks, until 27 May. Authorities have made this
decision after the finalized forms rose by 450 thousand a day. Over 8.4 million
Romanians have so far filled in the online forms and those who do not want or
cannot do the self-review online are to be reviewed at home between 31 May and 17
July.

NATO Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson is
today seeking Parliament support for an application to join NATO, after the
ruling Social Democratic Party dropped its long-standing opposition to
membership, Reuters and AFP say. Last week, Finnish president Sauli Niisto and
Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced that Helsinki would apply for NATO
membership without delay. Andersson said that NATO entry was the best thing
for the security of Sweden and the Swedish people.

COVID-19 The fourth dose of the anti-Covid vaccine has become available in
Romania as of Monday. The inoculation is on request and can be done at
vaccination centers across the country and by family physicians. The vaccine,
produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, is recommended to people over 60 years old, but is
also available to any major individual at least four months after the end of
the three-doses vaccination scheme with a messenger RNA vaccine. The number of
newly-vaccinated people is still very low against the background of the diminishing
medical crisis. Since the onset of the pandemic in Romania, more than two years
ago, the virus has killed over 65 thousand people.

REFUGEES About 78
hundred Ukrainians entered Romania on Sunday, 11 percent less than in the
previous day, authorities have informed. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine
on 24 February roughly 950 thousand Ukrainians have entered Romania.

WAR Russian forces
have carried on their attacks in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, their main objective
after the failure they experienced in the Kyiv area. Russia has been trying to
entirely occupy the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, partially
controlled by the breakaway republics with the same names. The Ukrainian army
has recently won the battle for Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city,
repelling the Russian troops to such a distance so that their artillery may pose
no real threat. According to the BBC, more than a half of those killed during
the Russian occupation of the Bucha region had been shot, in what a policeman
described, execution style. The bodies of more than one thousand civilians were
discovered in April after the pullout of the Russian troops. Moscow denies any war
crime allegations, but Ukrainian prosecutors say they have evidence
incriminating the Russian army.

LAW The offshore law
regulating the operations of oil exploitation in the Black Sea will be debated
upon in the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest tomorrow, after having been
adopted by the senators in the form agreed upon by the ruling coalition. Under the
document, Romania will have priority in gas exploitation and the profit will be
divided between the Romanian state – 60% and investors – 40%. According to
Energy Minister Virgil Popescu, the law will contribute to curbing gas prices
for household consumers. The legislative council has called into attention the
project’s constitutionality issues through the inclusion of retroactive
provisions, while the Competition Council says that some provisions could be
discriminatory for some trade partners.

MEETING Romania’s
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is in Brussels to attend the meeting of the EU
Foreign Ministers. According to the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest, the EU
ministers will be having a thorough exchange of opinions on Russia’s illegal
aggression against Ukraine and will be having informal talks with Ukraine’s
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Before the meeting, the Romanian minister will
join his European counterparts for the joint Ministerial Committee EU-Canada,
which will be presided by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Josep Borell and by the Foreign Minister of Canada Melanie Joly. Minister
Aurescu is expected to reiterate Romania’s support for the adoption of the
sixth sanction package against Russia and for the EU accession of the Republic
of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.He will be presenting the Romanian assessment
of the latest security developments in the region, including the recent
provocations in the breakaway region of Transdniester in the Republic of
Moldova.

(bill)

16 May 2022
May 13, 2022

AUTOMOBILES Starting today until the end of the month the second stage of a car-scrapping programme takes place in Romania, with the government providing substantial bonuses to people who buy new automobiles. The total budget is around EUR 60 million. The programme also covers the purchase of new electric or hybrid vehicles. The scrapping bonus is EUR 1,200 for petrol-powered car purchases and EUR 10,000 for EV purchases. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Romania is a European leader in promoting EV sales. In the first quarter of this year more than 2,000 electric cars were sold, accounting for a 400% increase since the corresponding period of 2021.

INFLATION The Romanian Central Bank has updated its inflation forecast to 12.5% for end-2022 and to 6.7% for end-2023, governor Mugur Isarescu announced on Thursday. In February, the central bank estimated inflation would stand at 9.6% at the end of 2022 and at 3.2% at the end of 2023. According to the national bank, in the context of adverse developments related to the war in Ukraine, substantial reconfigurations of previous economic scenarios cannot be ruled out.

CORRUPTION The former mayor of Bucharest Sorin Oprescu Friday received a final 10-year and 8-month prison sentence for bribe-taking, forming an organised crime group and abuse of office. Sorin Oprescu was caught taking EUR 25,000 and arrested on the night of September 6, 2015, during his second term in office as mayor of Bucharest. According to anti-corruption prosecutors, the group created by Oprescu had implemented a system at the City Hall through which businesses seeking contracts with public institutions had to pay a share of their profits in bribes.

NATO The USA supports the NATO accession of Finland and Sweden, in spite of Moscows threat to retaliate over a new enlargement of the Alliance. NATO officials reminded Russia that this is a defensive alliance and that the decision of previously neutral countries to seek protection within the organisation has been prompted exclusively by Moscows aggression on Ukraine. The Russian foreign ministry said Finlands accession would severely affect bilateral relations and the stability and security of Northern Europe, forcing Russia to take counter-measures to offset possible threats to its national security. The Russian fleet in the Baltic Sea initiated manoeuvres to survey NATOs forces in the region on Thursday, the exact day when Finland announced its decision to join NATO. The accession may be announced officially in the Allies summit in Madrid this summer.

UKRAINE The US accuses the Russian army of having forcibly transferred thousands of Ukrainians to Russia since the start of the war, often using “filtration camps”. Kyiv speaks about 1.2 million people deported so far. Meanwhile, Ukraines deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk said on Thursday night that negotiations over the evacuation of troops from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol are ongoing, with Turkey brokering the talks. The first to be pulled out will be the severely wounded. The Ukrainian fighters in Azovstal plant reported that nearly 600 wounded soldiers are in the steel works, but their number goes up every day as a result of steady attacks. Russian forces continue to shell the east of Ukraine, but according to the British defence ministry they have so far failed to make significant progress.

MUSEUMS The Night of Museums will be celebrated with over 200 cultural events on Saturday night in 87 towns and cities in Romania. More than 60 cultural sites and unconventional spaces will stay open in Bucharest in the largest such event since the pandemic. The Bucharest City Hall will be opened to visitors, with events showcasing the history and architecture of the palace hosting it. Some of the most popular tourist sites in Romania, such as Bran Castle, Peleş Castle and Făgăraş Citadel, have also prepared surprises for their guests. The European Night of Museums is an event that takes place across Europe.

EUROVISION Romanias representative in the Eurovision song contest, WRS, Thursday night qualified into this years final of the European competition, with a song called “Llámame”. Romania had failed to qualify to the finals in the previous 3 editions of the competition. On Tuesday the band Zdob si Zdub and Advahov Brothers, representing the Republic of Moldova, also moved up into the finals hosted by the Italian city of Turin this Saturday night. (AMP)

13 May 2022
May 12, 2022 UPDATE

NATO The
president of Romania Klaus Iohannis hailed Finland’s announcement regarding its
intention to join NATO, and says Bucharest supported the decision. Romania is
a firm supporter of NATO’s open door policy and stands ready to support Finland
in the process of NATO accession. Together we are stronger! Iohannis posted on
Twitter on Thursday. The president of Finland Sauli Niinistö and PM Sanna Marin Thursday spoke in favour of the
country’s joining NATO without delay, with the candidacy to be announced on
Sunday, AFP reports. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the Alliance
as a whole, the two officials said in a joint press release. Finland’s
accession will be a threat to Russia, the Kremlin said in response. Three in
four Finnish citizens support the accession. A neutral state during the Cold
War, Finland joined the EU and NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme, but
remained outside the alliance. The decision to join NATO comes against the
background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland shares a 1,300-km border
with Russia.

RULING The Bucharest Court of Appeals Thursday passed
its final ruling on the Colectiv case, after several successive
postponements. The former Bucharest District 4 Mayor Cristian Popescu-Piedone, currently
the mayor of District 5 of the capital city, was sentenced to 4 years in prison
for abuse of office. The club owners also received prison sentences ranging
between 6 and 11 years, while the 2 firefighters with the Bucharest
Inspectorate for Emergency Situations who inspected the Colectiv nightclub and
disregarded the workplace security legislation were sentenced to 8 years and 8
months in prison, and 2 pyrotechnics workers will also serve 6 years and 10 months
each. The manager of the fireworks company received a suspended sentence. The
October 2015 fire in Colectiv killed 64 people and injured many others. It
was the most serious accident in Romania since 1989. The tragedy forced the
government at the time to step down.

INFLATION The Romanian Central Bank has updated its
inflation forecast to 12.5% for end-2022 and 6.7% for end-2023, governor Mugur
Isarescu announced on Thursday. In February, the Central Bank estimated
inflation would stand at 9.6% at the end of 2022 and at 3.2% at the end of
2023. Inflationist pressure triggered by production costs is expected to go
down gradually. However, its effects will continue to be felt for around 12
months. Romania sees the highest annual inflation rate in the last 18 years,
nearly 14%, with the steepest price rises reported for natural gas (85%).

POLL One in two Romanians has considered moving to
another country after the start of the war in Ukraine, and the first options
would be Germany, France and Britain, according to data made public by a
recruitment platform. 12% of respondents are waiting to see how things unfold
and 11% believe the war will not affect us. Another 26% say they will not leave
the country irrespective of what happens next. The main reasons for moving
abroad are the wish to change the scenery and the country where they work
(38%), personal and family safety (24%), better incomes (21%), more
opportunities for professional development (14%) and the wish to work in a
safer environment, unaffected by war (4%).

UKRAINE A first Russian soldier will be on trial in
Ukraine for killing a civilian in the Sumy region. International teams of
prosecutors and investigators continue to probe into war crimes committed by
the Russian army, with more than 10,000 such cases pending. According to Radio
Romania’s special correspondent, investigators say the 21-year old Russian
soldier killed a Ukrainian civilian who was walking his bike along the sidewalk.
The soldier and other Russian troops were in a stolen car, after their unit had
been destroyed by the Ukrainian forces. The prosecutor general of Ukraine, Iryna
Venediktova, said there was enough evidence of his involvement in violation of
the laws and customs of war, including premeditated murder, and that he was
facing 10 to 15 years or life in prison. Experts from Poland, Lithuania and
France help the teams of investigators, and the cases documented so far point
to people being killed with no reason. Clashes continued on Thursday in the
north-east and south-east of Ukraine, with both sides announcing local-scale
advances.

NATURAL GAS The Romanian Senate passed amendments to the Offshore
Act, which green lights gas exploitation in the Black Sea. The ruling
coalition, which tabled the bill, says this is a much more balanced version of
the one endorsed four years ago. Tax changes have now been introduced in favour
of the companies concerned, and dependence on Russian gas would be
significantly reduced in a few years’ time. According to estimates, around 80
billion cubic metres of gas are in the Neptune Deep perimeter alone. The
national state-owned company Romgaz-the largest gas producer in Romania-and the
Austrian company OMV will extract gas from the Black Sea in the coming years. (A.M.P.)

12 May 2022