Category: The Week in Review

A summer under the specter of social movements?

Only the Orthodox Pentecost mini-vacation, in extension of International Childrens Day, temporarily silenced the noise of social discontent in Romania! Once the mini-vacation ended, the protests were resumed with intensity, a sign of deep dissatisfaction in society. The general strike of pre-university teachers, who are demanding higher incomes, entered its third week on Monday. On Friday, a new protest march of employees in the field, still dissatisfied with the Governments response to their demands, was scheduled in Bucharest. The day before, in an attempt to calm their anger, the Executive adopted a memorandum by which it undertook to bring the salary of a beginner teacher to the level of the gross average for the economy in the salary scale that will come into force next year. Union leaders, however, declared themselves dissatisfied with the legal guarantees offered. In parallel, as at the end of any school year school situations must be concluded and national exams organized, the line ministry shifted some dates from the calendar of the education system, waiting for the end of the social conflict and the return of teachers to work. On the other hand, also this week, in Bucharest, there was also a protest by healthcare employees. Their major grievances are mainly related to salaries and bonuses. If the salary of a doctor with over 25 years of experience can reach 9,000 lei net per month (1,800 euros), that of a medical assistant with the same seniority barely exceeds 3,000 lei, only if they also work night shifts. Right during the protest, healthcare employees received the news that the Government adopted an emergency ordinance by which it correlated salaries with the 2022 salary scale for nurses, caregivers, and ambulance workers. Based on the same ordinance, police officers incomes would increase to the maximum level provided by law. Police officers also protested against the reform project, undertaken under the NPRR, of the special state pensions that they currently enjoy, along other professional categories, such as magistrates,. The police demand the removal of military pensions from the NPRR. According to the reform, the retirement age would be increased, and pensions would be reduced.

Neither the situation of Romanians, nor that of the economy, is exactly flourishing!

The total average monthly income in Romania last year was almost 6,500 lei (about 1,300 euros) per family, up by almost 14% compared to 2021, according to data provided on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics. However, more than 85% of the money earned was spent on food, housing, utilities, and paying taxes. At the macro level, the countrys economy grew by 2.3 percent in the first quarter, compared to the same period last year. According to estimates, economic growth will continue, but at a slower pace than in 2022, due to persistent inflation, tight financing conditions, and weaker economic growth of Romanias trading partners.

B9 condemns Russia

By order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, the Russian ambassador in Bucharest was informed on Thursday about the decision of the Romanian authorities to reduce the diplomatic and technical-administrative staff of Moscow in Romania, by limiting their number to a level close to that of Romanias diplomatic and technical-administrative representation in Russia. Thus, Moscow must reduce the number of staff by 21 diplomat positions and 30 technical-administrative staff positions, which amounts to 61%. The measure reflects the current level of bilateral relations, drastically reduced by Romania after Russia launched the war of aggression against Ukraine, according to the MFA. The Russian side has 30 days at most to implement the decision made by the Romanian side. On the other hand, the presidents present, early this week, at the Bratislava summit of the Bucharest 9 Format countries, including the Romanian head of state, Klaus Iohannis, firmly condemned the brutal, unjustified and illegal war against Ukraine. The Romanian head of state spoke about the crucial importance of NATOs eastern flank in the face of the Russian threat.

King Charles III, at home in Romania

King Charles III of Great Britain ended his five-day private visit to Romania, the first outside the Kingdom since his coronation. On Tuesday, in Viscri, in Brașov county (center), where he bought a house as far back as 2006, then transforming it into a botanical museum – one of the kings passions, Charles III was greeted by locals and tourists delighted by his presence in the heart of Romania. The Kings visit began on June 2, when he was received in Bucharest by President Klaus Iohannis. About 300 people attended the reception organized in honor of the current sovereign to mark 25 years since his first visit to the country. Then, he went to the village of Valea Zălanului, in Covasna county, where he owns several traditional houses.

Waiting for the UNITER Gala

On June 12, the 31st edition of the UNITER Awards Gala will take place, through which the Romanian theater scene rewards the best creations of the previous year. This year, the city of Timişoara (south-west) – Cultural Capital of Europe – was chosen for the Gala. The organizers promise a special event that will be inspired by the 20s and 30s period last century. Until then, it has been decided to present on stage, this week, the theater plays nominated in the Best Play category. On the other hand, almost 200 films will be screened in Cluj (north-west), starting on Friday, for 10 days, as part of a new edition of the Transilvania Film Festival, where famous actors and directors have announced their presence from within the country and abroad, including the actors Geoffrey Rush and Timothy Splash, and the director Oliver Stone.

A summer under the specter of social movements?

Only the Orthodox Pentecost mini-vacation, in extension of International Childrens Day, temporarily silenced the noise of social discontent in Romania! Once the mini-vacation ended, the protests were resumed with intensity, a sign of deep dissatisfaction in society. The general strike of pre-university teachers, who are demanding higher incomes, entered its third week on Monday. On Friday, a new protest march of employees in the field, still dissatisfied with the Governments response to their demands, was scheduled in Bucharest. The day before, in an attempt to calm their anger, the Executive adopted a memorandum by which it undertook to bring the salary of a beginner teacher to the level of the gross average for the economy in the salary scale that will come into force next year. Union leaders, however, declared themselves dissatisfied with the legal guarantees offered. In parallel, as at the end of any school year school situations must be concluded and national exams organized, the line ministry shifted some dates from the calendar of the education system, waiting for the end of the social conflict and the return of teachers to work. On the other hand, also this week, in Bucharest, there was also a protest by healthcare employees. Their major grievances are mainly related to salaries and bonuses. If the salary of a doctor with over 25 years of experience can reach 9,000 lei net per month (1,800 euros), that of a medical assistant with the same seniority barely exceeds 3,000 lei, only if they also work night shifts. Right during the protest, healthcare employees received the news that the Government adopted an emergency ordinance by which it correlated salaries with the 2022 salary scale for nurses, caregivers, and ambulance workers. Based on the same ordinance, police officers incomes would increase to the maximum level provided by law. Police officers also protested against the reform project, undertaken under the NPRR, of the special state pensions that they currently enjoy, along other professional categories, such as magistrates,. The police demand the removal of military pensions from the NPRR. According to the reform, the retirement age would be increased, and pensions would be reduced.

Neither the situation of Romanians, nor that of the economy, is exactly flourishing!

The total average monthly income in Romania last year was almost 6,500 lei (about 1,300 euros) per family, up by almost 14% compared to 2021, according to data provided on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics. However, more than 85% of the money earned was spent on food, housing, utilities, and paying taxes. At the macro level, the countrys economy grew by 2.3 percent in the first quarter, compared to the same period last year. According to estimates, economic growth will continue, but at a slower pace than in 2022, due to persistent inflation, tight financing conditions, and weaker economic growth of Romanias trading partners.

B9 condemns Russia

By order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, the Russian ambassador in Bucharest was informed on Thursday about the decision of the Romanian authorities to reduce the diplomatic and technical-administrative staff of Moscow in Romania, by limiting their number to a level close to that of Romanias diplomatic and technical-administrative representation in Russia. Thus, Moscow must reduce the number of staff by 21 diplomat positions and 30 technical-administrative staff positions, which amounts to 61%. The measure reflects the current level of bilateral relations, drastically reduced by Romania after Russia launched the war of aggression against Ukraine, according to the MFA. The Russian side has 30 days at most to implement the decision made by the Romanian side. On the other hand, the presidents present, early this week, at the Bratislava summit of the Bucharest 9 Format countries, including the Romanian head of state, Klaus Iohannis, firmly condemned the brutal, unjustified and illegal war against Ukraine. The Romanian head of state spoke about the crucial importance of NATOs eastern flank in the face of the Russian threat.

King Charles III, at home in Romania

King Charles III of Great Britain ended his five-day private visit to Romania, the first outside the Kingdom since his coronation. On Tuesday, in Viscri, in Brașov county (center), where he bought a house as far back as 2006, then transforming it into a botanical museum – one of the kings passions, Charles III was greeted by locals and tourists delighted by his presence in the heart of Romania. The Kings visit began on June 2, when he was received in Bucharest by President Klaus Iohannis. About 300 people attended the reception organized in honor of the current sovereign to mark 25 years since his first visit to the country. Then, he went to the village of Valea Zălanului, in Covasna county, where he owns several traditional houses.

Waiting for the UNITER Gala

On June 12, the 31st edition of the UNITER Awards Gala will take place, through which the Romanian theater scene rewards the best creations of the previous year. This year, the city of Timişoara (south-west) – Cultural Capital of Europe – was chosen for the Gala. The organizers promise a special event that will be inspired by the 20s and 30s period last century. Until then, it has been decided to present on stage, this week, the theater plays nominated in the Best Play category. On the other hand, almost 200 films will be screened in Cluj (north-west), starting on Friday, for 10 days, as part of a new edition of the Transilvania Film Festival, where famous actors and directors have announced their presence from within the country and abroad, including the actors Geoffrey Rush and Timothy Splash, and the director Oliver Stone.

The summit of the European Political Community took place in Chisinau

The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, reaffirmed, on Thursday, in Chișinău during the second edition of the European Political Community (ECP) summit, the importance of support for Ukraine, a country that continues to be the target of Russias merciless attacks. The head of state declared that the summit hosted by the Republic of Moldova is illustrative of its European vocation, of the seriousness of the reform efforts dedicated to its accession to the EU, and proves the focus of attention on the entire Eastern Neighborhood and the Black Sea region. Iohannis welcomed the presence at the meeting of Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine. The consolidation of the Republic of Moldova also means the consolidation of Europes strategic resilience, the leader from Bucharest remarked. Almost 50 heads of state and government met in the Republic of Moldova, the host of the summit being President Maia Sandu. She specified that the presence of European leaders is clear proof that Moldova is not alone. The European Commission was represented by its president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell. The leaders discussed security and peace, the development of economic and social infrastructure in the European space, but also the war in Ukraine. The ECP is an intergovernmental format for debate, and a platform for political coordination between European states in order to promote political dialogue and cooperation on topics of common interest, to strengthen security, stability and prosperity on the continent. The first ECP meeting took place in October 2022 in Prague.

The general strike in education continues

In Bucharest, the trade unions in education announced that the general strike will continue on Tuesday, after the mini-vacation for Childrens Day and Orthodox Pentecost. The announcement was made after the new round of consultations with the executive on Thursday. Previously, he had adopted the emergency ordinance which stipulates that the salary of teaching and auxiliary teaching staff will increase by 1,000 lei gross monthly (200 euros), respectively by 400 lei (approx. 80 euros) gross for non-teaching staff. The trade unions consider these increases to be insufficient, and at the same time reject the governments proposal that future increases be made in stages, within a maximum of 3 years from the enforcement of the new wage law. According to promises made by the authorities, in the future scheme for state employee incomes, the salary of a beginner teacher will be related to the average gross salary in the economy, and will represent the reference point for the salary scheme in education. President Klaus Iohannis expressed his hope that teachers will return to school on Tuesday. He asked the teachers not to cause difficulties at the national exams. In addition to the strike, massive street protests have taken place in the last few days, both in the capital and in numerous cities in Romania. The unions demand a 25% increase in the incomes of all employees, and for beginners a salary at the level of the gross average for the economy, i.e. almost 4,000 lei (approx. 800 euros). Employees in education went on strike on May 22, dissatisfied with the level of wages and working conditions.

Protests in Romania

In addition to education employees, prison police officers are starting to protest. They reject the increase of the retirement age to 65 years, as they claim that the life expectancy of employees in the system is 62 years. On Wednesday, some of them postponed the start of work, in order to express their dissatisfaction regarding the level of wages and working conditions. Court clerks announced that they will join the protests started by the other categories of employees in the budget system. They also criticize the raising of the retirement age to 65, including for auxiliary staff in the courts. For their part, on Monday, in the capital, hundreds of employees from the national railway company, CFR, organized a protest rally. They accuse the continuation of the degradation of working conditions, and the fact that there is no salary at CFR Călători that would allow a system to incentivize performance and increase the efficiency of employees. Trade unionists from the medical sector have also launched a calendar of protests. The claims concern the application of provisions of the salary law to all employees, the granting of vacation vouchers, and the modification of the calculation system for bonuses, night shifts, and food allowances.

Special pensions under scrutiny

Romanian deputies in the lower chamber of Parliament have on their desk the draft law that reforms the pension system, which mainly benefits magistrates and the employees of law enforcement agencies. Reform in this field is an objective written in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. USR, in the opposition, has been pleading continuously for the elimination of special pensions, and the project received amendments from the parties of the PSD – PNL – UDMR coalition before reaching the deputies. Among them is the correlation of the standard retirement age with the public pension system, in order to eliminate exceptions, so that, for diplomats and auxiliary staff in the courts, the standard retirement age increases to 65 years. The basis for calculating special pensions for alignment with the public system is also modified. If currently the wages over the last 12 months were considered, this period will increase in stages to 300 months. In addition, no employment pension will exceed the income obtained during the period of activity. Predictably, the Superior Council of the Magistracy criticized the special pensions project, and warned that a sudden increase in the retirement age for judges and prosecutors could cause more than 1,500 magistrates to leave the system.

The summit of the European Political Community took place in Chisinau

The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, reaffirmed, on Thursday, in Chișinău during the second edition of the European Political Community (ECP) summit, the importance of support for Ukraine, a country that continues to be the target of Russias merciless attacks. The head of state declared that the summit hosted by the Republic of Moldova is illustrative of its European vocation, of the seriousness of the reform efforts dedicated to its accession to the EU, and proves the focus of attention on the entire Eastern Neighborhood and the Black Sea region. Iohannis welcomed the presence at the meeting of Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine. The consolidation of the Republic of Moldova also means the consolidation of Europes strategic resilience, the leader from Bucharest remarked. Almost 50 heads of state and government met in the Republic of Moldova, the host of the summit being President Maia Sandu. She specified that the presence of European leaders is clear proof that Moldova is not alone. The European Commission was represented by its president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell. The leaders discussed security and peace, the development of economic and social infrastructure in the European space, but also the war in Ukraine. The ECP is an intergovernmental format for debate, and a platform for political coordination between European states in order to promote political dialogue and cooperation on topics of common interest, to strengthen security, stability and prosperity on the continent. The first ECP meeting took place in October 2022 in Prague.

The general strike in education continues

In Bucharest, the trade unions in education announced that the general strike will continue on Tuesday, after the mini-vacation for Childrens Day and Orthodox Pentecost. The announcement was made after the new round of consultations with the executive on Thursday. Previously, he had adopted the emergency ordinance which stipulates that the salary of teaching and auxiliary teaching staff will increase by 1,000 lei gross monthly (200 euros), respectively by 400 lei (approx. 80 euros) gross for non-teaching staff. The trade unions consider these increases to be insufficient, and at the same time reject the governments proposal that future increases be made in stages, within a maximum of 3 years from the enforcement of the new wage law. According to promises made by the authorities, in the future scheme for state employee incomes, the salary of a beginner teacher will be related to the average gross salary in the economy, and will represent the reference point for the salary scheme in education. President Klaus Iohannis expressed his hope that teachers will return to school on Tuesday. He asked the teachers not to cause difficulties at the national exams. In addition to the strike, massive street protests have taken place in the last few days, both in the capital and in numerous cities in Romania. The unions demand a 25% increase in the incomes of all employees, and for beginners a salary at the level of the gross average for the economy, i.e. almost 4,000 lei (approx. 800 euros). Employees in education went on strike on May 22, dissatisfied with the level of wages and working conditions.

Protests in Romania

In addition to education employees, prison police officers are starting to protest. They reject the increase of the retirement age to 65 years, as they claim that the life expectancy of employees in the system is 62 years. On Wednesday, some of them postponed the start of work, in order to express their dissatisfaction regarding the level of wages and working conditions. Court clerks announced that they will join the protests started by the other categories of employees in the budget system. They also criticize the raising of the retirement age to 65, including for auxiliary staff in the courts. For their part, on Monday, in the capital, hundreds of employees from the national railway company, CFR, organized a protest rally. They accuse the continuation of the degradation of working conditions, and the fact that there is no salary at CFR Călători that would allow a system to incentivize performance and increase the efficiency of employees. Trade unionists from the medical sector have also launched a calendar of protests. The claims concern the application of provisions of the salary law to all employees, the granting of vacation vouchers, and the modification of the calculation system for bonuses, night shifts, and food allowances.

Special pensions under scrutiny

Romanian deputies in the lower chamber of Parliament have on their desk the draft law that reforms the pension system, which mainly benefits magistrates and the employees of law enforcement agencies. Reform in this field is an objective written in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. USR, in the opposition, has been pleading continuously for the elimination of special pensions, and the project received amendments from the parties of the PSD – PNL – UDMR coalition before reaching the deputies. Among them is the correlation of the standard retirement age with the public pension system, in order to eliminate exceptions, so that, for diplomats and auxiliary staff in the courts, the standard retirement age increases to 65 years. The basis for calculating special pensions for alignment with the public system is also modified. If currently the wages over the last 12 months were considered, this period will increase in stages to 300 months. In addition, no employment pension will exceed the income obtained during the period of activity. Predictably, the Superior Council of the Magistracy criticized the special pensions project, and warned that a sudden increase in the retirement age for judges and prosecutors could cause more than 1,500 magistrates to leave the system.

The political castling is postponed, the strike continues

The government rotation protocol stipulated that the liberal Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă give up his position as head of the Government on May 26, and he stated the other day that he would resign even if the negotiations with PSD and UDMR regarding the leadership of the ministries were not concluded. The government castling, after which the position of prime minister will go to the PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, was, however, postponed at the last moment due to the situation created by the strike in Education, which started on May 22. We have agreed that, until these problems are resolved, I will not resign my position, and continue to carry the responsibility of the position of prime minister. In this way, I hope conditions will be created so that, in the shortest period of time, we can implement the castling plan at the coalition level, Nicolae Ciucă announced on Friday morning. At the same time, he called on teachers to be reasonable, stating that the Government cannot take responsibility for a one-way measure that throws off kilter the entire state budget. During the week, several rounds of discussions took place between the representatives of the Government and those of the education unions, who also resumed the street protests. There was a rally and protest march attended by approximately 10 thousand people passing through the center of the Capital, and union actions of employees dissatisfied with the offers received from the authorities in response to salary demands were organized in several cities in the country. The trade unionists from the healthcare sector also picketed the Ministry of Health on Tuesday. They announced a warning strike for June 8, with a two-hour work stoppage, followed by a general strike on June 15. According to the trade unionists, the relevant law is not fully applied, since there are still categories of employees who did not receive their due salary rights.

Germany reiterates its support for Romania’s accession to Schengen

Germany has, for a long time, been of the opinion that Romania’s place is in the Schengen Area – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Bucharest, on a state visit at the invitation of his counterpart, Klaus Iohannis. I hope that through our efforts to support the common European effort to strengthen internal security and the protection of the EU’s external borders, we will succeed in finalizing Romania’s accession to Schengen, because our place, without any doubt, is in Schengen, the leader from Bucharest also stated. The two presidents had talks focused on the development of political, security and economic cooperation, and sent messages of solidarity and support for Ukraine, as well as support for the Republic of Moldova, respectively. Thursday and Friday were reserved for visits to Sibiu (center) and Timișoara (west), where meetings with representatives of the German minority also took place.

The Minister of Defense at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting

Romania was represented at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, attended by Ministers of Defense from the member states of the European Union, in Brussels, by the line minister, Angel Tîlvăr. In an interview granted to Radio Romania, the minister said that, following the discussions, an enhancement in EU-NATO cohesion was found. In the field of defense, one does not spend, but invests, and Romania understands this – said Angel Tîlvăr. The current security context showed that it was necessary to increase the budget for the armed forces to 2% in the last six years. The 2.5 percent allocated this year for defense allows us, in addition to the high-tech equipment and capabilities we have now, to be able to afford to purchase or manufacture other materiel that meets the citizens’ expectation of the military’s duty to to ensure a climate of peace, predictability and stability – said Angel Tîlvăr.

The economic situation in Romania, under the magnifying glass of Brussels

The European Commission once again draws attention to the economic situation in Romania, currently the only EU country with an excessive deficit procedure based on developments before the pandemic. According to officials in Brussels, by next year Romania should bring the deficit below the 3% level. The Community Executive’s recommendation is that the Government reduce energy subsidy measures, and use the related savings to reduce the public deficit. Another recommendation refers to ensuring effective governance and strengthening administrative capacity, in order to enable continuous, rapid, and consistent implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Romania has six months at its disposal to resolve the issues pointed out by Brussels regarding certain benchmarks or targets in the NRRP that it has not properly met. Referring to the implementation stage of the program, the state secretary in the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, Carmen Moraru, said that, currently, financing contracts worth about 26 billion euros are concluded.

Ruling at the ECHR against Romania

Romania must adopt the necessary legislation to recognize same-sex couples. On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Romania for refusing to legally recognize such unions, at the end of a class action lawsuit, started 4 years ago by 21 same-sex couples. Romania, which decriminalized homosexuality in 2011, several decades later than other EU countries, does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships. Several legislative proposals to amend civil partnerships to include same-sex couples have failed to pass in recent years.

The political castling is postponed, the strike continues

The government rotation protocol stipulated that the liberal Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă give up his position as head of the Government on May 26, and he stated the other day that he would resign even if the negotiations with PSD and UDMR regarding the leadership of the ministries were not concluded. The government castling, after which the position of prime minister will go to the PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, was, however, postponed at the last moment due to the situation created by the strike in Education, which started on May 22. We have agreed that, until these problems are resolved, I will not resign my position, and continue to carry the responsibility of the position of prime minister. In this way, I hope conditions will be created so that, in the shortest period of time, we can implement the castling plan at the coalition level, Nicolae Ciucă announced on Friday morning. At the same time, he called on teachers to be reasonable, stating that the Government cannot take responsibility for a one-way measure that throws off kilter the entire state budget. During the week, several rounds of discussions took place between the representatives of the Government and those of the education unions, who also resumed the street protests. There was a rally and protest march attended by approximately 10 thousand people passing through the center of the Capital, and union actions of employees dissatisfied with the offers received from the authorities in response to salary demands were organized in several cities in the country. The trade unionists from the healthcare sector also picketed the Ministry of Health on Tuesday. They announced a warning strike for June 8, with a two-hour work stoppage, followed by a general strike on June 15. According to the trade unionists, the relevant law is not fully applied, since there are still categories of employees who did not receive their due salary rights.

Germany reiterates its support for Romania’s accession to Schengen

Germany has, for a long time, been of the opinion that Romania’s place is in the Schengen Area – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Bucharest, on a state visit at the invitation of his counterpart, Klaus Iohannis. I hope that through our efforts to support the common European effort to strengthen internal security and the protection of the EU’s external borders, we will succeed in finalizing Romania’s accession to Schengen, because our place, without any doubt, is in Schengen, the leader from Bucharest also stated. The two presidents had talks focused on the development of political, security and economic cooperation, and sent messages of solidarity and support for Ukraine, as well as support for the Republic of Moldova, respectively. Thursday and Friday were reserved for visits to Sibiu (center) and Timișoara (west), where meetings with representatives of the German minority also took place.

The Minister of Defense at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting

Romania was represented at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, attended by Ministers of Defense from the member states of the European Union, in Brussels, by the line minister, Angel Tîlvăr. In an interview granted to Radio Romania, the minister said that, following the discussions, an enhancement in EU-NATO cohesion was found. In the field of defense, one does not spend, but invests, and Romania understands this – said Angel Tîlvăr. The current security context showed that it was necessary to increase the budget for the armed forces to 2% in the last six years. The 2.5 percent allocated this year for defense allows us, in addition to the high-tech equipment and capabilities we have now, to be able to afford to purchase or manufacture other materiel that meets the citizens’ expectation of the military’s duty to to ensure a climate of peace, predictability and stability – said Angel Tîlvăr.

The economic situation in Romania, under the magnifying glass of Brussels

The European Commission once again draws attention to the economic situation in Romania, currently the only EU country with an excessive deficit procedure based on developments before the pandemic. According to officials in Brussels, by next year Romania should bring the deficit below the 3% level. The Community Executive’s recommendation is that the Government reduce energy subsidy measures, and use the related savings to reduce the public deficit. Another recommendation refers to ensuring effective governance and strengthening administrative capacity, in order to enable continuous, rapid, and consistent implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Romania has six months at its disposal to resolve the issues pointed out by Brussels regarding certain benchmarks or targets in the NRRP that it has not properly met. Referring to the implementation stage of the program, the state secretary in the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, Carmen Moraru, said that, currently, financing contracts worth about 26 billion euros are concluded.

Ruling at the ECHR against Romania

Romania must adopt the necessary legislation to recognize same-sex couples. On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Romania for refusing to legally recognize such unions, at the end of a class action lawsuit, started 4 years ago by 21 same-sex couples. Romania, which decriminalized homosexuality in 2011, several decades later than other EU countries, does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships. Several legislative proposals to amend civil partnerships to include same-sex couples have failed to pass in recent years.

Klaus Iohannis at the Council of Europe Summit

President Klaus Iohannis participated, on Tuesday and Wednesday, together with heads of state and government from 46 member countries of the Council of Europe and the leaders of the European Union, in the fourth CoE summit in Reykjavik, Iceland. “Unity and support for Ukraine” were the key words that dominated the discussions. Klaus Iohannis stated, during the meeting, that democratic countries support Ukraine and its citizens. “Russias war is an attack on our common values and principles. But this crisis, the most severe since the end of the Second World War, catalyzed our unity and determination to defend the democratic way of life” – said Klaus Iohannis. The head of state co-chaired a round table with the theme “Protecting democracy in trying times”, stating that in recent years, the continent has faced many challenges, starting with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but also with a massive wave of disinformation, which allowed the revival of accentuated nationalism. Here is Klaus Iohannis:

“Hate speech, especially on social media platforms, disinformation, manipulation, violence against journalists, malignant influences are just a few examples of the effects of these crises throughout Europe. Democratic values, civic space, press freedom, diversity and liberal democracy are all under pressure on the European continent.”

For Romania, participation in this meeting had a special meaning, because in 2023 it will be 30 years since the country joined the Strasbourg institution as a full member state.

Security Forum in Bucharest

The implications of Russias war against Ukraine were also discussed in Bucharest, within the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă pleaded for strengthening NATOs presence in the Black Sea region, where, due to Russian threats, the freedom of maritime and air traffic is endangered. The officials present at the event appreciated that all free and democratic countries must get involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war, and this also implies a possible reconstruction of the Republic of Moldova. Present at the forum, Igor Grosu, the president of the legislature in Chisinau, highlighted the dynamics of the reforms that have been undertaken, and expressed his hope that the EU will send the message regarding the start of the accession process by the end of the year. He appreciated the constant help that Romania offered to Chisinau, a fact also highlighted by the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean.

General strike in Romanian education

The trade unionists in education announced, after being on a two-hour warning strike on Wednesday, a general strike starting on Monday, because following the negotiations, they say, no solutions were found regarding the demands of education staff. They say that teachers can no longer live on salaries of 2,000-2,600 lei (400-520 Euros) and demand a correct positioning in the future salary scale. They mainly want their work to be remunerated according to its social importance. According to them, the salary of teaching staff should be progressive, according to position, studies, seniority and teaching degree, and the rule of annual indexation of the salaries of staff paid from public funds with the rate of inflation should be established. The teachers also request the payment of overtime for work by auxiliary and non-teaching staff, as well as an annual increase in investments in education, in order to improve the material base and infrastructure. The line minister, Ligia Deca, believes that the structure of the school year or the educational process should not be jeopardized in any way, and promised to fight both for a decent salary for the teachers, as well as for the school year to take place in optimal conditions and be completed. On Monday, when the general strike is announced, the Senate has scheduled the final vote for the package of laws on education, as a decision-making body.

Spring economic forecasts

The latest economic forecasts from the European Commission show that Romania has among the best economic growth this year, compared to other EU countries, as well as a lower unemployment rate. Moreover, the Romanian economy is stable and recovering mainly due to the reduction in energy prices, consumption and investments. Thus, according to the EC, the GDP of the country should increase this year by 3.2 percent, and by 3.5% next year. Inflation, which in 2022 was 12 percent, will drop to single digits this year. As for the unemployment rate, the EC predicts that the indicator will reach 5.4 percent in 2023 and 5.1 percent in 2024. The budget deficit could decrease less than the community average, to 4.7 percent this year and to around 4 .4 percent next year – the Commission also estimates.

75 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Israel

The Bucharest Parliament marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Romania and the State of Israel with a solemn meeting. It was the first time that a speaker of the Israeli Parliament spoke in front of Romanian senators and deputies. Amir Ohana emphasized the deep ties between the two countries and the fact that, in these 75 years, bilateral relations have been strengthened in fields such as technology, tourism, and the economy. Amir Ohana appreciated the fact that Romania was the only country in the communist bloc that did not break diplomatic relations, even though the state of Israel was almost permanently in a hostile environment. The interim speakr of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, emphasized that Romania is a regional model in terms of combating anti-Semitism and taking responsibility for the Holocaust. The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, said that the special relationship between Romania and Israel is one based on tradition , friendship and mutual respect. The solemn meeting was attended by members of the government, of the diplomatic corps accredited in Bucharest, as well as representatives of the Jewish communities in Romania. (CC)

Klaus Iohannis at the Council of Europe Summit

President Klaus Iohannis participated, on Tuesday and Wednesday, together with heads of state and government from 46 member countries of the Council of Europe and the leaders of the European Union, in the fourth CoE summit in Reykjavik, Iceland. “Unity and support for Ukraine” were the key words that dominated the discussions. Klaus Iohannis stated, during the meeting, that democratic countries support Ukraine and its citizens. “Russias war is an attack on our common values and principles. But this crisis, the most severe since the end of the Second World War, catalyzed our unity and determination to defend the democratic way of life” – said Klaus Iohannis. The head of state co-chaired a round table with the theme “Protecting democracy in trying times”, stating that in recent years, the continent has faced many challenges, starting with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but also with a massive wave of disinformation, which allowed the revival of accentuated nationalism. Here is Klaus Iohannis:

“Hate speech, especially on social media platforms, disinformation, manipulation, violence against journalists, malignant influences are just a few examples of the effects of these crises throughout Europe. Democratic values, civic space, press freedom, diversity and liberal democracy are all under pressure on the European continent.”

For Romania, participation in this meeting had a special meaning, because in 2023 it will be 30 years since the country joined the Strasbourg institution as a full member state.

Security Forum in Bucharest

The implications of Russias war against Ukraine were also discussed in Bucharest, within the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă pleaded for strengthening NATOs presence in the Black Sea region, where, due to Russian threats, the freedom of maritime and air traffic is endangered. The officials present at the event appreciated that all free and democratic countries must get involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war, and this also implies a possible reconstruction of the Republic of Moldova. Present at the forum, Igor Grosu, the president of the legislature in Chisinau, highlighted the dynamics of the reforms that have been undertaken, and expressed his hope that the EU will send the message regarding the start of the accession process by the end of the year. He appreciated the constant help that Romania offered to Chisinau, a fact also highlighted by the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean.

General strike in Romanian education

The trade unionists in education announced, after being on a two-hour warning strike on Wednesday, a general strike starting on Monday, because following the negotiations, they say, no solutions were found regarding the demands of education staff. They say that teachers can no longer live on salaries of 2,000-2,600 lei (400-520 Euros) and demand a correct positioning in the future salary scale. They mainly want their work to be remunerated according to its social importance. According to them, the salary of teaching staff should be progressive, according to position, studies, seniority and teaching degree, and the rule of annual indexation of the salaries of staff paid from public funds with the rate of inflation should be established. The teachers also request the payment of overtime for work by auxiliary and non-teaching staff, as well as an annual increase in investments in education, in order to improve the material base and infrastructure. The line minister, Ligia Deca, believes that the structure of the school year or the educational process should not be jeopardized in any way, and promised to fight both for a decent salary for the teachers, as well as for the school year to take place in optimal conditions and be completed. On Monday, when the general strike is announced, the Senate has scheduled the final vote for the package of laws on education, as a decision-making body.

Spring economic forecasts

The latest economic forecasts from the European Commission show that Romania has among the best economic growth this year, compared to other EU countries, as well as a lower unemployment rate. Moreover, the Romanian economy is stable and recovering mainly due to the reduction in energy prices, consumption and investments. Thus, according to the EC, the GDP of the country should increase this year by 3.2 percent, and by 3.5% next year. Inflation, which in 2022 was 12 percent, will drop to single digits this year. As for the unemployment rate, the EC predicts that the indicator will reach 5.4 percent in 2023 and 5.1 percent in 2024. The budget deficit could decrease less than the community average, to 4.7 percent this year and to around 4 .4 percent next year – the Commission also estimates.

75 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Israel

The Bucharest Parliament marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Romania and the State of Israel with a solemn meeting. It was the first time that a speaker of the Israeli Parliament spoke in front of Romanian senators and deputies. Amir Ohana emphasized the deep ties between the two countries and the fact that, in these 75 years, bilateral relations have been strengthened in fields such as technology, tourism, and the economy. Amir Ohana appreciated the fact that Romania was the only country in the communist bloc that did not break diplomatic relations, even though the state of Israel was almost permanently in a hostile environment. The interim speakr of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, emphasized that Romania is a regional model in terms of combating anti-Semitism and taking responsibility for the Holocaust. The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, said that the special relationship between Romania and Israel is one based on tradition , friendship and mutual respect. The solemn meeting was attended by members of the government, of the diplomatic corps accredited in Bucharest, as well as representatives of the Jewish communities in Romania. (CC)

Romania to reduce public spending

The ruling coalition in Romania has decided the means by which they would reduce public spending, which was needed to put a dent into the budget deficit. This resulted into an emergency ordinance issued on Friday. According to this, state institutions have to reduce by 10% their spending on goods and services, positions for advisers to public dignitaries will go down by 50%, and one single person will no longer be able to have two seats on boards of administrators of national companies and other public institutions. At the same time, hiring was frozen this year in public institutions and authorities, with the exception of health and education. Staring in April 2020, Romania has applied the excessive deficit procedure, given that the latter went over the 3% of GDP threshold set by the Pact for Stability and Growth. Starting in 2021, the budget deficit went on an adjustment trajectory in line with EU recommendations, but it is still at a very high level. The measures of the ordinance issued on Friday will bring over 5 billion lei to the budget, which is around 1 billion Euro.

Protest by education workers

Employees in education organized in mid-week a protest march between the Government and Parliament buildings. Taking part were teachers, instructors, non-teaching and auxiliary personnel. The main union federations in this domain demand higher salaries, in line with the social importance of the work they do, and want starting salaries for teachers to be at least equal to the median gross wage nationally. Protesters also call for adjusting salaries to inflation, payment of overtime for both teaching and non-teaching staff. On the list of demands were other items as well: ability to pay commuting expenses, installation indemnities, supplementary paid vacation, and financial compensation for vacation days not taken. The unions in education also demand an annual rise in investments in education, in order to improve the material base and the infrastructure. They have issued a threat with a general strike.

Lower chamber of Parliament issue education law package

Romanian MPs in the lower chamber have voted the law package introduced by the line ministry, saying that it addresses the chronic conditions in the system, among which the most pressing are school abandonment and functional illiteracy. According to Minister Ligia Deca, investments, setting as budget priorities disadvantaged areas, and measures that aim at improving success along the entire life of education, are the the pillars of this legislative package. In terms of lower education, a possibility was provided for high schools to opt for an additional exam, in addition to the national evaluation, in order to get them to achieve at least 50% occupancy. At the same time, religion becomes an optional exam as part of the baccalaureate, a program to acquire school supplies for disadvantaged areas is introduced, and a national plan for combating school violence comes into effect. Last but not least, large fines are provided for people who sell scientific papers, reports, papers for evaluation exams, as well as diplomas at all levels of higher education.

Romania as a pillar of European cybersecurity

This week, the European center for competencies in cybersecurity was inaugurated in Bucharest. Its purpose is to support innovation and industrial policy in cybersecurity, and to develop and coordinate EU security projects in IT. The center will manage projects for centers for IT security as part of the proposed European cybersecurity shield planned by the EC, and will work together with a network of national coordination centers, with a view to creating an ecosystem of innovation and competitiveness in cybersecurity throughout Europe. The internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton, said that cybersecurity was an essential priority, and that protecting the EU’s digital sovereignty takes a joint effort. The official in Brussels said that the European center for cybersecurity competence brings together high level resources from the entire EU, in order to develop innovative solutions against cyberattacks. The commissioner said that only by working together can we build a better and more secure digital world for all Europeans.

Triple anniversary: Independence Day, Royalty Day, and Europe Day

On May 10, Romania held military and religious ceremonies to celebrate National Independence Day. On May 10, 1877, Prince Carol I signed the proclamation for Romania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, granting it the power of law. Four years later, on May 10, 1881, Carol I was crowned king of Romania. Royalty Day was simply Independence Day during communist rule. At the same time, Europe Day was celebrated on May 9. In a message for this occasion, President Klaus Iohannis said that Europe is not a prize that has been won, but one that must be protected at all times, in the context in which values that have been underpinning world peace after WWII are under threat, and that globally there is a trend of fragmentation and geopolitical reshuffling. The leader in Bucharest said that by protecting Europe protects us, our security and prosperity. European solutions for present challenges are solutions for the future of our citizens. He expressed confidence that the support from Romanian citizens for the EU and fundamental European values will remain steadfast.

Romania to reduce public spending

The ruling coalition in Romania has decided the means by which they would reduce public spending, which was needed to put a dent into the budget deficit. This resulted into an emergency ordinance issued on Friday. According to this, state institutions have to reduce by 10% their spending on goods and services, positions for advisers to public dignitaries will go down by 50%, and one single person will no longer be able to have two seats on boards of administrators of national companies and other public institutions. At the same time, hiring was frozen this year in public institutions and authorities, with the exception of health and education. Staring in April 2020, Romania has applied the excessive deficit procedure, given that the latter went over the 3% of GDP threshold set by the Pact for Stability and Growth. Starting in 2021, the budget deficit went on an adjustment trajectory in line with EU recommendations, but it is still at a very high level. The measures of the ordinance issued on Friday will bring over 5 billion lei to the budget, which is around 1 billion Euro.

Protest by education workers

Employees in education organized in mid-week a protest march between the Government and Parliament buildings. Taking part were teachers, instructors, non-teaching and auxiliary personnel. The main union federations in this domain demand higher salaries, in line with the social importance of the work they do, and want starting salaries for teachers to be at least equal to the median gross wage nationally. Protesters also call for adjusting salaries to inflation, payment of overtime for both teaching and non-teaching staff. On the list of demands were other items as well: ability to pay commuting expenses, installation indemnities, supplementary paid vacation, and financial compensation for vacation days not taken. The unions in education also demand an annual rise in investments in education, in order to improve the material base and the infrastructure. They have issued a threat with a general strike.

Lower chamber of Parliament issue education law package

Romanian MPs in the lower chamber have voted the law package introduced by the line ministry, saying that it addresses the chronic conditions in the system, among which the most pressing are school abandonment and functional illiteracy. According to Minister Ligia Deca, investments, setting as budget priorities disadvantaged areas, and measures that aim at improving success along the entire life of education, are the the pillars of this legislative package. In terms of lower education, a possibility was provided for high schools to opt for an additional exam, in addition to the national evaluation, in order to get them to achieve at least 50% occupancy. At the same time, religion becomes an optional exam as part of the baccalaureate, a program to acquire school supplies for disadvantaged areas is introduced, and a national plan for combating school violence comes into effect. Last but not least, large fines are provided for people who sell scientific papers, reports, papers for evaluation exams, as well as diplomas at all levels of higher education.

Romania as a pillar of European cybersecurity

This week, the European center for competencies in cybersecurity was inaugurated in Bucharest. Its purpose is to support innovation and industrial policy in cybersecurity, and to develop and coordinate EU security projects in IT. The center will manage projects for centers for IT security as part of the proposed European cybersecurity shield planned by the EC, and will work together with a network of national coordination centers, with a view to creating an ecosystem of innovation and competitiveness in cybersecurity throughout Europe. The internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton, said that cybersecurity was an essential priority, and that protecting the EU’s digital sovereignty takes a joint effort. The official in Brussels said that the European center for cybersecurity competence brings together high level resources from the entire EU, in order to develop innovative solutions against cyberattacks. The commissioner said that only by working together can we build a better and more secure digital world for all Europeans.

Triple anniversary: Independence Day, Royalty Day, and Europe Day

On May 10, Romania held military and religious ceremonies to celebrate National Independence Day. On May 10, 1877, Prince Carol I signed the proclamation for Romania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, granting it the power of law. Four years later, on May 10, 1881, Carol I was crowned king of Romania. Royalty Day was simply Independence Day during communist rule. At the same time, Europe Day was celebrated on May 9. In a message for this occasion, President Klaus Iohannis said that Europe is not a prize that has been won, but one that must be protected at all times, in the context in which values that have been underpinning world peace after WWII are under threat, and that globally there is a trend of fragmentation and geopolitical reshuffling. The leader in Bucharest said that by protecting Europe protects us, our security and prosperity. European solutions for present challenges are solutions for the future of our citizens. He expressed confidence that the support from Romanian citizens for the EU and fundamental European values will remain steadfast.

London writes history

May 6, 2023, goes down in history as coronation day for King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The British capital has spent all week in preparation for the Saturday ceremonies, followed by tens of millions of people all over the world. A rehearsal in the Westminster Abbey cathedral was attended by members of the royal family. Hundreds of heads of state, including Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, along with crowned heads from all over the world, announced their participation, under the scrutiny of heavy security. The representatives of the Romanian royal family, namely the custodian of the crown, Princess Margaret, and Prince Consort Radu, reached London on Thursday night in anticipation of the coronation ceremonies. According to the Royal House, in its 157 years of existence, the Romanian royal family had a constant connection with the British royal family, based on admiration, affection, and respect, both in official terms, and in family relations terms. This is the third major public event in the UK in less than a year, after the Platinum Jubilee for Queen Elisabeth II in June last year, followed, in September, by the funerals for the former monarch. The Saturday coronation of King Charles III is the official beginning of the new reign, which started de facto after his mothers demise.

European support for farmers

On Tuesday, the EC passed exceptional, but temporary, measures for the import of grain from Ukraine. More to the point, up until June 5, wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seed may still continue to flow unimpeded into all member states of the EU, with the exception of Romania, Bulgarial, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, which are strictly transit countries. These measures come along with a second package of financial support for farmers in the five member states, which have been hit hard by the tax free import of cheap Ukrainian grain. Romania gets almost 30 million Euro, in addition to the other 10 million approved by the EC. Also this week, the Romanian government approved payment for accommodation for the first three months of the year for Ukrainian refugees. These payments amount to over 100 million Euro, and will be earmarked out of the national budget. In the summer, these expenses will be propped up by EU funding. Over 4 million Ukrainians have transited Romania since the start of the Russian military aggression, of which almost 100,000 remained in the country.

Romanias currency reserves are growing

The Romanian National Bank has set aside a record amount of currency reserves, over 53 billion Euro, by the end of last month, as announced this week in Bucharest. This figure is 112 million Euro higher than in March. The level of the gold reserve stays at 103.6 tons, which brings Romanias national reserves, currency plus gold, close to 60 billion Euro, a record in the history of the country. Economic analysts say that this growing trend is mostly due to European funding intakes, which means that European moneys are not being consumed in the economy. At the same time, high reserves increase investor confidence.

The 2023 Photovoltaic Green House program begins

On May 2, the 2023 Photovoltaic Green House program kicked off in Romania. The first stage is meant to register in the program companies and contractors who install such systems of green energy. This also prompts the beginning of procedures for people who want to take advantage of the up to 4,000 Euro doled out by the state for the installation of solar panes with a capacity of at least 3 kWh. The budget that has been earmarked is over 500 million Euro, which is meant to cover 100,000 beneficiaries. By installing these solar system, users can cover their own consumption, but also pump energy into the national grid.

The May 1 holiday

Hundreds of thousands of Romanians picked the Black Sea beaches, the Danube Delta, mountain resorts, or picnic green spaces for the May 1 holiday. The Black Sea shore was by far the main attraction. The numerous music festivals and outdoor parties were more numerous than ever. However, the sale and consumption of illegal substances gave a major headache to police personnel. A number of people, including foreign citizens, were detained under charges of trafficking high risk drugs. Over two kg of such substances were confiscated, along with high amounts of money.

Successes in Romanian handball

The head of the Romanian handball federation, Constantin Din, said that qualifying for the European championships is a new start in Romanian mens handball. This comes after the national squad qualified for the EHF EURO 2024 European championship, which is a first after 1996. Dinu added that the qualification in itself is a great success, the more valuable as it comes after 28 years, and that Romania has always been a top contender in handball, while its history places a great obligation on it. The team draws for the continental championships will take place on May 10. Next years competition will be held in Germany betweeen January 10 and 28 next year.

London writes history

May 6, 2023, goes down in history as coronation day for King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The British capital has spent all week in preparation for the Saturday ceremonies, followed by tens of millions of people all over the world. A rehearsal in the Westminster Abbey cathedral was attended by members of the royal family. Hundreds of heads of state, including Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, along with crowned heads from all over the world, announced their participation, under the scrutiny of heavy security. The representatives of the Romanian royal family, namely the custodian of the crown, Princess Margaret, and Prince Consort Radu, reached London on Thursday night in anticipation of the coronation ceremonies. According to the Royal House, in its 157 years of existence, the Romanian royal family had a constant connection with the British royal family, based on admiration, affection, and respect, both in official terms, and in family relations terms. This is the third major public event in the UK in less than a year, after the Platinum Jubilee for Queen Elisabeth II in June last year, followed, in September, by the funerals for the former monarch. The Saturday coronation of King Charles III is the official beginning of the new reign, which started de facto after his mothers demise.

European support for farmers

On Tuesday, the EC passed exceptional, but temporary, measures for the import of grain from Ukraine. More to the point, up until June 5, wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seed may still continue to flow unimpeded into all member states of the EU, with the exception of Romania, Bulgarial, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, which are strictly transit countries. These measures come along with a second package of financial support for farmers in the five member states, which have been hit hard by the tax free import of cheap Ukrainian grain. Romania gets almost 30 million Euro, in addition to the other 10 million approved by the EC. Also this week, the Romanian government approved payment for accommodation for the first three months of the year for Ukrainian refugees. These payments amount to over 100 million Euro, and will be earmarked out of the national budget. In the summer, these expenses will be propped up by EU funding. Over 4 million Ukrainians have transited Romania since the start of the Russian military aggression, of which almost 100,000 remained in the country.

Romanias currency reserves are growing

The Romanian National Bank has set aside a record amount of currency reserves, over 53 billion Euro, by the end of last month, as announced this week in Bucharest. This figure is 112 million Euro higher than in March. The level of the gold reserve stays at 103.6 tons, which brings Romanias national reserves, currency plus gold, close to 60 billion Euro, a record in the history of the country. Economic analysts say that this growing trend is mostly due to European funding intakes, which means that European moneys are not being consumed in the economy. At the same time, high reserves increase investor confidence.

The 2023 Photovoltaic Green House program begins

On May 2, the 2023 Photovoltaic Green House program kicked off in Romania. The first stage is meant to register in the program companies and contractors who install such systems of green energy. This also prompts the beginning of procedures for people who want to take advantage of the up to 4,000 Euro doled out by the state for the installation of solar panes with a capacity of at least 3 kWh. The budget that has been earmarked is over 500 million Euro, which is meant to cover 100,000 beneficiaries. By installing these solar system, users can cover their own consumption, but also pump energy into the national grid.

The May 1 holiday

Hundreds of thousands of Romanians picked the Black Sea beaches, the Danube Delta, mountain resorts, or picnic green spaces for the May 1 holiday. The Black Sea shore was by far the main attraction. The numerous music festivals and outdoor parties were more numerous than ever. However, the sale and consumption of illegal substances gave a major headache to police personnel. A number of people, including foreign citizens, were detained under charges of trafficking high risk drugs. Over two kg of such substances were confiscated, along with high amounts of money.

Successes in Romanian handball

The head of the Romanian handball federation, Constantin Din, said that qualifying for the European championships is a new start in Romanian mens handball. This comes after the national squad qualified for the EHF EURO 2024 European championship, which is a first after 1996. Dinu added that the qualification in itself is a great success, the more valuable as it comes after 28 years, and that Romania has always been a top contender in handball, while its history places a great obligation on it. The team draws for the continental championships will take place on May 10. Next years competition will be held in Germany betweeen January 10 and 28 next year.

Negative for Schengen

Austria cannot commit to a set date for supporting Romania in joining the Schengen free circulation space, because it does not work. This was the conclusion of the visit paid by Conservative Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on Thursday to Bucharest, meeting his Romanian counterpart, Lucian Bode, in what was supposed to be a gesture to unfreeze bilateral relations. That did not happen. Meanwhile, Croatia joined the Schengen space on January 1, 2023. In December 2022, the ministers of interior of member states, meeting in Brussels at the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs, endorsed the membership of the ex-Yugoslav republic in the free circulation zone applying to 400 million EU citizens, even as the country had joined the EU in 2013. At the same time, Romania and Bulgarias candidacy was rejected, although they have been EU members since 2007. Austria voted against them, and The Netherlands used their veto against Bulgaria. Back then, President Klaus Iohannis said that Austrias regrettable and unjustified attitude risked affecting European unity and cohesion, which was much needed, especially in that geopolitical context. The Romanian PM also expressed profound disappointment in the lack of consensus within the JAI Council. The opposition leader of the USR Party, Catalin Drula, also said that the decision was unjust, and called for Minister Bode to resign. The head of another main opposition party, the AUR, George Simion, called for the resignation of the entire Ciuca cabinet, and opined that the decision from Brussels is a resounding failure for Romanian diplomacy overall. Almost half a year later, nothing changed. Romania is still outside the free circulation space, and no one was dismissed in Bucharest, while Euroskepticism is on the rise.

Positive for South America

On Tuesday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis wrapped up his one week South American tour in Argentina. The extended visit started in Brazil, where the head of state met his counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and local officials in Rio de Janeiro. The two heads of state signed a joint declaration for developing bilateral relations in various areas. The Brazilian president said that, in addition to political and trade relations that his country has with Romania, human relations were also important, since over 40,000 Romanian origin citizens live in Brazil. The second stage of the presidential tour was in Chile, where Iohannis met president Gabriel Boric, agreeing on developing trade, investments, and other areas of cooperation. On this occasion, a memorandum was signed between institutions in both countries, some in charge of emergency management in situations such as earthquakes and forest fires. Also, Iohannis announced that the first advanced course in the Romanian language in Latin America would be set up this year at the Santiago de Chile University. In Buenos Aires, the president held talks with his Argentinian counterpart, Alberto Fernandez, with a view to enhancing bilateral political and diplomatic dialog. Two memorandums of understanding were signed, one for emergency situations, the other for farming research and environmental protection.

Trouble for the Romanian press

Romania is at the bottom of the list in terms of respecting and guaranteeing freedom and safety of the press, as well as unimpeded access to information of public interest. This was a statement from the NGO ActiveWatch, through its president, Liana Ganea. This statement comes after the EC vice-president in charge of values and transparency, Vera Jourova, had said that the situation of the press in Romania is not rosy, and there is a lot of room for improvement. The two said that the main problem is that the main political parties provide non-transparent financing to the press, which leads to reasonable suspicion that the public agenda as reflected in the media is distorted. At the same time, the few voices in the media that are critical of political power have become the target of smear campaigns, either by political actors, or by press institutions with a long history of ethical violations. Moreover, journalists are the target of threats, including death threats. In 2022, two court decisions doled out criminal convictions against people found guilty of threatening the safety of journalists. One of these decisions, which is still pending, was for planning the killing of a journalist, said Liana Ganea.

New rules for Ukrainian refugees

Starting on February 10, 2022, two weeks before the Russian armed forces invaded their country, over 4 million Ukrainian citizens entered the country. Most went on their way to the west of Europe, but over 100,000 chose to remain. The government in Bucharest decided that individuals who host refugees from Ukraine would get compensated for refugee living expenses only up until the end of this month. After this deadline, new provisions would apply, passed by emergency ordinance. Starting on May 1, people arriving to Romania from the conflict areas in Ukraine would receive a nominal amount of money for four months, meant to cover immediate needs. The money is meant to be doled out from the budget of the emergency situation inspectorate. After these four months, financial aid will only cover accommodation expenses, up until the end of the year. Refugees are encouraged to register with hiring agencies, in order to access all forms of assistance for jobs or unemployment. According to the press office of the government in Bucharest, these rules also apply to Romanian citizens.

Medals for wrestling

Trophy holders Sepsi OSK will contend Romanias football cup with Universitatea Cluj. In the finals, Sepsi defeated standing champions CFR Cluj by 3-0, while Universitatea defeated UTA Arad 1-0. Also in sports, Denis Mihai won the bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the European championships in Zagreb, Croatia. This is the only medal gained by Romania in the mens competition. The female delegation, on the other hand, had much better achievements: two gold medals, won by Andreea Ana and Alexandra Anghel, and two bronze, gained by Catalina Axente and Kriszta Incze.

Negative for Schengen

Austria cannot commit to a set date for supporting Romania in joining the Schengen free circulation space, because it does not work. This was the conclusion of the visit paid by Conservative Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on Thursday to Bucharest, meeting his Romanian counterpart, Lucian Bode, in what was supposed to be a gesture to unfreeze bilateral relations. That did not happen. Meanwhile, Croatia joined the Schengen space on January 1, 2023. In December 2022, the ministers of interior of member states, meeting in Brussels at the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs, endorsed the membership of the ex-Yugoslav republic in the free circulation zone applying to 400 million EU citizens, even as the country had joined the EU in 2013. At the same time, Romania and Bulgarias candidacy was rejected, although they have been EU members since 2007. Austria voted against them, and The Netherlands used their veto against Bulgaria. Back then, President Klaus Iohannis said that Austrias regrettable and unjustified attitude risked affecting European unity and cohesion, which was much needed, especially in that geopolitical context. The Romanian PM also expressed profound disappointment in the lack of consensus within the JAI Council. The opposition leader of the USR Party, Catalin Drula, also said that the decision was unjust, and called for Minister Bode to resign. The head of another main opposition party, the AUR, George Simion, called for the resignation of the entire Ciuca cabinet, and opined that the decision from Brussels is a resounding failure for Romanian diplomacy overall. Almost half a year later, nothing changed. Romania is still outside the free circulation space, and no one was dismissed in Bucharest, while Euroskepticism is on the rise.

Positive for South America

On Tuesday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis wrapped up his one week South American tour in Argentina. The extended visit started in Brazil, where the head of state met his counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and local officials in Rio de Janeiro. The two heads of state signed a joint declaration for developing bilateral relations in various areas. The Brazilian president said that, in addition to political and trade relations that his country has with Romania, human relations were also important, since over 40,000 Romanian origin citizens live in Brazil. The second stage of the presidential tour was in Chile, where Iohannis met president Gabriel Boric, agreeing on developing trade, investments, and other areas of cooperation. On this occasion, a memorandum was signed between institutions in both countries, some in charge of emergency management in situations such as earthquakes and forest fires. Also, Iohannis announced that the first advanced course in the Romanian language in Latin America would be set up this year at the Santiago de Chile University. In Buenos Aires, the president held talks with his Argentinian counterpart, Alberto Fernandez, with a view to enhancing bilateral political and diplomatic dialog. Two memorandums of understanding were signed, one for emergency situations, the other for farming research and environmental protection.

Trouble for the Romanian press

Romania is at the bottom of the list in terms of respecting and guaranteeing freedom and safety of the press, as well as unimpeded access to information of public interest. This was a statement from the NGO ActiveWatch, through its president, Liana Ganea. This statement comes after the EC vice-president in charge of values and transparency, Vera Jourova, had said that the situation of the press in Romania is not rosy, and there is a lot of room for improvement. The two said that the main problem is that the main political parties provide non-transparent financing to the press, which leads to reasonable suspicion that the public agenda as reflected in the media is distorted. At the same time, the few voices in the media that are critical of political power have become the target of smear campaigns, either by political actors, or by press institutions with a long history of ethical violations. Moreover, journalists are the target of threats, including death threats. In 2022, two court decisions doled out criminal convictions against people found guilty of threatening the safety of journalists. One of these decisions, which is still pending, was for planning the killing of a journalist, said Liana Ganea.

New rules for Ukrainian refugees

Starting on February 10, 2022, two weeks before the Russian armed forces invaded their country, over 4 million Ukrainian citizens entered the country. Most went on their way to the west of Europe, but over 100,000 chose to remain. The government in Bucharest decided that individuals who host refugees from Ukraine would get compensated for refugee living expenses only up until the end of this month. After this deadline, new provisions would apply, passed by emergency ordinance. Starting on May 1, people arriving to Romania from the conflict areas in Ukraine would receive a nominal amount of money for four months, meant to cover immediate needs. The money is meant to be doled out from the budget of the emergency situation inspectorate. After these four months, financial aid will only cover accommodation expenses, up until the end of the year. Refugees are encouraged to register with hiring agencies, in order to access all forms of assistance for jobs or unemployment. According to the press office of the government in Bucharest, these rules also apply to Romanian citizens.

Medals for wrestling

Trophy holders Sepsi OSK will contend Romanias football cup with Universitatea Cluj. In the finals, Sepsi defeated standing champions CFR Cluj by 3-0, while Universitatea defeated UTA Arad 1-0. Also in sports, Denis Mihai won the bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the European championships in Zagreb, Croatia. This is the only medal gained by Romania in the mens competition. The female delegation, on the other hand, had much better achievements: two gold medals, won by Andreea Ana and Alexandra Anghel, and two bronze, gained by Catalina Axente and Kriszta Incze.

President Klaus Iohannis on tour in Central America

President Klaus Iohannis is on tour in Central America until April 26. The official visits to Brazil, Chile, and Argentina are aimed to relaunch political and diplomatic relations, as well as relations in other areas of interest. In a press release, the presidential administration recalled that Latin America is home to countries that are full or aspiring OECD members, with emerging economies, which contribute, or could significantly contribute, globally, to food security, energy and climate security, post-pandemic economic recovery, and sustainable development. Another main aim of these official visits is also to present Romania’s positions and evaluation – as a member state of the EU and NATO – regarding the illegal war waged by Russia in neighboring Ukraine, and ways to counteract its effect. Brazil condemns the Russian invasion in Ukraine, according to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, speaking at a joint conference with President Klaus Iohannis. During the talks, the head of the Romanian state presented to his counterpart the consequences of this war on multiple levels, from the refugee crisis to the food and energy one. Klaus Iohannis reiterated that Ukraine is a victim of Russian aggression, and that the international community has the duty to support Kiev in its war to liberate the country. In turn, President da Silva said that, in addition to the trade and political relations his country has with Romania, human relations are also important, because more than 40,000 citizens of Romanian origin live in Brazil. The two leaders also adopted a common declaration regarding the development of bilateral relations between Brazil and Romania in various areas. The visit to Brazil concluded in Rio de Janeiro, where the Romanian head of state held talks to local authorities, and signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in climate change, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as forest management and monitoring.

Measures to support farmers

Romanian farmers affected by imports of cheap Ukrainian grain will get from the state an aid budget of 10 million Euro, according to a government statement on Thursday in Bucharest. This amount is added to the 10 million Euro granted so far by the EC. The money will be granted to grain producers for expenses related storing their last year product in their own spaces or with third parties. Romanian farmers, who had recently been protesting, claimed that their losses reached more than 200 million Euro because of grain imports from Ukraine, which is around 100 Euro cheaper per ton. Meanwhile, the EC announced a second aid package for farmers, 100 million Euro, shared between five countries – Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. Romania is the only country close to Ukraine that still allows in grain from that country. Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia have banned such imports in order to protect their farmers, and will be joined by Bulgaria in a few days time. Hungary also banned imports of honey and some meat products until 30 June. From Brussels, the EC called on the four states to reverse the restrictive measures they took individually, which are considered by the commission to be illegal, and in violation of the treaty of integration, as well as of the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine.

Simple motion against the Minister of Agriculture

The simple motion in the Romanian Parliament against Minister of Agriculture Petre Daea was voted down. Opposition parties were accusing Daea of being personally responsible for the rise in basic foodstuffs, but also of failing to obtain sufficient European funds for Romanian farmers affected by grain imports from Ukraine. The minister rejected the accusations, and specified that his intervention in managing the cheap Ukrainian grain crisis led to the distribution of the first batches of European money for farmers. Daea said that these accusations are not based on real data. He added that he had continual dialog with EC representatives, which he sustained in help of the farmers. He concluded that there was no risk that Romanian farmers would fail to obtain this year’s subsidies.

Medals for Romanian athletes

Romania prevailed in the European weightlifting competition in Armenia, which is a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. It got first place with 14 medals, of which 9 gold. Mihaela Cambei grabbed three gold medals in the 49 kg category, Andreea Cotruta got three gold in the 55 kg category, while Loredana Toma got the other three, in the 71 kg category. Of the 3 silver medals, two were won by Cosmina Pana, 45 kg, and the other by Valentina Iancu, 55 kg. The two bronze medals were grabbed by Valentina Iancu, who won it in both contests. Romania had a delegation that was nine strong, three men and six women, with the aim of winning at least four medals and six 4th to 6th places. Also this week, Romanian women athletes won accolades and medals at the European wrestling championships in Zagreb, Croatia.