Category: The Week in Review

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.

Romania’s Supreme Defence Council convenes in Bucharest

Romania will buy F-35 latest generation fighter jets. The country’s supreme defense council (CSAT), which analyzed security risks in the Black Sea region, took this decision. The US-made jets are equipped with a wide range of advanced sensors and encrypted information can be exchanged in real time, with both air platforms and ground defence systems. The intention to buy F-35 fighter jets had been announced ever since last year by President Klaus Iohannis, as part of the process of modernizing air defence. The agenda of the CSAT meeting focused on the security situation in the Black Sea area, in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Council members decided that the national security remains the top priority. They also decided that Romania must further ensure the necessary support for vulnerable partners in the region, the Republic of Moldova in particular. After Ukraine, Moldova is the country most exposed to Russian aggression and pressure, being the target of hybrid destabilizing actions of unprecedented intensity and complexity.

Security in the Black Sea region, discussed in Bucharest

Romanian foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said Thursday that Bucharest becomes again the international capital of diplomacy by staging the first Black Sea Security Conference under the aegis of the International Crimea Platform and a new meeting of the Romania-Moldova-Ukraine trilateral. Aurescu condemned again the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Organised by the Romanian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry, together with the corresponding ministries in Ukraine, in partnership with Ukraine’s Centre for Defense Strategies, the conference is the first such extensive event dedicated to the Black Sea, co-organised by the two countries, under the aegis of the International Crimea Platform. As regards the agenda of the Romania-Moldova-Ukraine trilateral, debates focused on the security situation in the region, in the context of the Russian pressure on Moldova and the support of NATO and the EU for Ukraine and Moldova. Also for talks on the security situation at the Black Sea, Admiral Rob Bauer, the Chair of the Military Committee of NATO, was in Romania from Monday to Friday. He discussed with Foreign Minister Aurescu about preparations for the summit in Vilnius due in July and the implementation of decisions of the allied meeting in Madrid, while at the Defence Ministry’s offices he had talks with Defence Minister Angel Tilvar and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Daniel Petrescu. Bauer’s visit to Romania also included visits to the allied commands dispatched in Bucharest and Sibiu (centre), the NATO battlegroup in Cincu (centre) and the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base (south-east).

The European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, in Romania

The European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, has paid a visit to Romania. He met with PM Nicolae Ciuca with whom he discussed Romania’s role in consolidating the European defence capacity and the support for Ukraine and Moldova.

Commissioner Breton hailed the earmarking, by Romania, of 2.5% of the GDP for defence, especially in the current security context. Also, the European official visited, together with Economy Minister Florin Spataru, two military equipment factories. The European official said that Romania is among the 11 countries identified by the European Commission as having companies in the defence industry that could increase their production capacity, to support Ukraine. In turn, Florin Spataru said that also discussed was the European support that the Romanian industry can get, so as to contribute to reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

The IMF has revised downwards Romania’s economic growth forecast

The IMF has revised Romania’s economic growth forecast for this year from a little over 3%, estimated last fall, down to 2.4%. The economic growth next year is expected to be 3.7%, according to the financial institution. In terms of inflation, the level forecast by the IMF for this year is 10.5%. The growth pace of prices will slow down significantly only in 2024, when it should be less than 6%.

Preparations for Easter

Orthodox Christians, who form the majority in Romania, and Greek-Catholic believers on Sunday entered the Holy Week, the last week of the Easter Lent. Religious services were held in churches, remembering the last days of Christ on earth, before being his Crucifixion and Resurrection. Pilgrims from Romania have already arrived at the holy places in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem, for the Easter mass.

On another hand, Reveal Marketing Research company has conducted a poll in order to find out how Romanians get ready for Easter. 71% of respondents said they spend Easter at home, with their families, while younger respondents, aged 18 to 24 years, will spend Easter with their group of friends. As regards the interest in Easter traditions, 78% plan to attend the Easter mass and 45% said they usually fast. Also, over 64% of Romanians plan to buy presents for their loved ones, which is less than in 2019, when 8 in 10 people said they planned to do so. (EE)

Romania’s Supreme Defence Council convenes in Bucharest

Romania will buy F-35 latest generation fighter jets. The country’s supreme defense council (CSAT), which analyzed security risks in the Black Sea region, took this decision. The US-made jets are equipped with a wide range of advanced sensors and encrypted information can be exchanged in real time, with both air platforms and ground defence systems. The intention to buy F-35 fighter jets had been announced ever since last year by President Klaus Iohannis, as part of the process of modernizing air defence. The agenda of the CSAT meeting focused on the security situation in the Black Sea area, in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Council members decided that the national security remains the top priority. They also decided that Romania must further ensure the necessary support for vulnerable partners in the region, the Republic of Moldova in particular. After Ukraine, Moldova is the country most exposed to Russian aggression and pressure, being the target of hybrid destabilizing actions of unprecedented intensity and complexity.

Security in the Black Sea region, discussed in Bucharest

Romanian foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said Thursday that Bucharest becomes again the international capital of diplomacy by staging the first Black Sea Security Conference under the aegis of the International Crimea Platform and a new meeting of the Romania-Moldova-Ukraine trilateral. Aurescu condemned again the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Organised by the Romanian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry, together with the corresponding ministries in Ukraine, in partnership with Ukraine’s Centre for Defense Strategies, the conference is the first such extensive event dedicated to the Black Sea, co-organised by the two countries, under the aegis of the International Crimea Platform. As regards the agenda of the Romania-Moldova-Ukraine trilateral, debates focused on the security situation in the region, in the context of the Russian pressure on Moldova and the support of NATO and the EU for Ukraine and Moldova. Also for talks on the security situation at the Black Sea, Admiral Rob Bauer, the Chair of the Military Committee of NATO, was in Romania from Monday to Friday. He discussed with Foreign Minister Aurescu about preparations for the summit in Vilnius due in July and the implementation of decisions of the allied meeting in Madrid, while at the Defence Ministry’s offices he had talks with Defence Minister Angel Tilvar and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Daniel Petrescu. Bauer’s visit to Romania also included visits to the allied commands dispatched in Bucharest and Sibiu (centre), the NATO battlegroup in Cincu (centre) and the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base (south-east).

The European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, in Romania

The European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, has paid a visit to Romania. He met with PM Nicolae Ciuca with whom he discussed Romania’s role in consolidating the European defence capacity and the support for Ukraine and Moldova.

Commissioner Breton hailed the earmarking, by Romania, of 2.5% of the GDP for defence, especially in the current security context. Also, the European official visited, together with Economy Minister Florin Spataru, two military equipment factories. The European official said that Romania is among the 11 countries identified by the European Commission as having companies in the defence industry that could increase their production capacity, to support Ukraine. In turn, Florin Spataru said that also discussed was the European support that the Romanian industry can get, so as to contribute to reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

The IMF has revised downwards Romania’s economic growth forecast

The IMF has revised Romania’s economic growth forecast for this year from a little over 3%, estimated last fall, down to 2.4%. The economic growth next year is expected to be 3.7%, according to the financial institution. In terms of inflation, the level forecast by the IMF for this year is 10.5%. The growth pace of prices will slow down significantly only in 2024, when it should be less than 6%.

Preparations for Easter

Orthodox Christians, who form the majority in Romania, and Greek-Catholic believers on Sunday entered the Holy Week, the last week of the Easter Lent. Religious services were held in churches, remembering the last days of Christ on earth, before being his Crucifixion and Resurrection. Pilgrims from Romania have already arrived at the holy places in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem, for the Easter mass.

On another hand, Reveal Marketing Research company has conducted a poll in order to find out how Romanians get ready for Easter. 71% of respondents said they spend Easter at home, with their families, while younger respondents, aged 18 to 24 years, will spend Easter with their group of friends. As regards the interest in Easter traditions, 78% plan to attend the Easter mass and 45% said they usually fast. Also, over 64% of Romanians plan to buy presents for their loved ones, which is less than in 2019, when 8 in 10 people said they planned to do so. (EE)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Bucharest

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated in Bucharest on Monday his support for Romania joining the Schengen Space. During his meeting with President Klaus Iohannis he said that Bucharest has made great efforts to this end. In turn, President Iohannis said that Romania is meeting its role as a safeguard for the outer borders, and that Schengen would consolidate this space. He said that increased NATO presence was needed at the Black Sea. He thanked Germany for its help in strengthening the eastern flank as part of the areal defense of the countrys airspace in 2022, as well as for taking part in the NATO presence in Romania. At the forefront of the talks was the security situation created by Russias war in Ukraine. Also on Monday, Scholz and Iohannis held talks that also included Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The Romanian president pledged his continued support for the Republic of Moldova, especially given that this country is under systematic hybrid threats, including attempts to undermine constitutional order. President Sandu said that her country is the most vulnerable of Ukraines neighbors, and that it needs economic support, but it also needs help to consolidate institutions that provide security for citizens, as well as its defense system. In Bucharest, the German chancellor also talked with PM Nicolae Ciuca about issues related to partnerships and expertise exchange, especially in industry. Olaf Scholz indicated that trade between the two countries has reached a record high. PM Nicolae Ciuca said that the dynamic nature of the business environment makes it more attractive for new investments, especially in energy, foodstuffs, and the digital domain, which have a significant potential for Romania.

Two European Commissioners visit Romania

PM Nicolae Ciuca met in Bucharest two European officials, Elisa Ferreira, commissioner for cohesion and reform, and Nicolas Schmit, commissioner for labor and social rights. They discussed the positive impact of European funds for Romanias development in the attempt to attenuate the developmental gap between regions. Ciuca thanked the European officials for their support in configuring programs associated with the policy of cohesion. At the same time he assured them that the executive in Bucharest, along with the EC, would continue to cooperate to ensure that every Euro is used towards the public interest. In turn, Elisa Ferreira expressed appreciation for Romanias economic growth, and Nicolas Schmit emphasized the fact that European funding can be good support for an equitable economic and social development of the country. Among the topics on the agenda were the support the EU grants against the background of the energy crisis, and the Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

New bills on the Chamber of Deputies floor

The Chamber of Deputies passed the bills regulating the Penal Code and the criminal procedural code, in the form submitted by the Ministry of Justice, unaltered. This comes against the scandal caused by the attempt in the Senate by ruling coalition parties to set a minimum threshold of 250,000 lei, around 50,000 Euro, below which gains from abuse of office and negligence would not be considered criminal and could not be prosecuted. This bill was drastically adjusted by the MPs, who eliminated any kind of threshold. This absence of a limit raised issues of constitutionality, however. Previously, the Constitutional Court had established that a minimum amount was necessary for the prosecution of cases, as long as damages are being calculated in order to bring indictments. The Chamber of Deputies is the decision making body for this bill. The changes in the two bills is a landmark in the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience, therefore it constitutes an obligation that Romania has in exchange for promised funding from the EU.

The executive sets a ceiling on RCA insurance premiums

The government in Bucharest set a ceiling on the so-called RCA, the obligatory car insurance, for the next six months, also setting a limit of 8% commission for insurance brokers for the same period. The decision comes after Euroins, the insurance company with the highest market share at the time, filed for bankruptcy. RCA premiums on offer are set to be those from the end of February. The decision to set the ceiling and to freeze prices was made in order to defend drivers from extreme costs, after the nefarious experience two years ago, caused by the collapse of another big player in this area, City Insurance, which was a market leader back then.

National Bank decisions

The National Bank of Romania has decided to maintain its reference interest rate at 7% per year. They also maintain at 8% the rate at which commercial banks can borrow from the National Bank, and maintain at 6% per year the interest rate for deposits kept in the central bank. These decisions are based on macroeconomic evolution over the last few months. According to estimates, the annual rate of inflation would likely rise over the upcoming period. The central bank specified that the annual rate of inflation went down to 15.52% in February from 16.37% in December 2022, more or less in line with forecasts.

Snow in April

The winter was back in force in multiple regions in Romania, with temperatures dropping significantly. There was snow and rain in almost the entire country, with gusts of wind reaching speeds of 70 to 75 km/h, disrupting air and road traffic. Hundreds were left snowed in on national and county roads, causing traffic to be shut down completely in some cases.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Bucharest

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated in Bucharest on Monday his support for Romania joining the Schengen Space. During his meeting with President Klaus Iohannis he said that Bucharest has made great efforts to this end. In turn, President Iohannis said that Romania is meeting its role as a safeguard for the outer borders, and that Schengen would consolidate this space. He said that increased NATO presence was needed at the Black Sea. He thanked Germany for its help in strengthening the eastern flank as part of the areal defense of the countrys airspace in 2022, as well as for taking part in the NATO presence in Romania. At the forefront of the talks was the security situation created by Russias war in Ukraine. Also on Monday, Scholz and Iohannis held talks that also included Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The Romanian president pledged his continued support for the Republic of Moldova, especially given that this country is under systematic hybrid threats, including attempts to undermine constitutional order. President Sandu said that her country is the most vulnerable of Ukraines neighbors, and that it needs economic support, but it also needs help to consolidate institutions that provide security for citizens, as well as its defense system. In Bucharest, the German chancellor also talked with PM Nicolae Ciuca about issues related to partnerships and expertise exchange, especially in industry. Olaf Scholz indicated that trade between the two countries has reached a record high. PM Nicolae Ciuca said that the dynamic nature of the business environment makes it more attractive for new investments, especially in energy, foodstuffs, and the digital domain, which have a significant potential for Romania.

Two European Commissioners visit Romania

PM Nicolae Ciuca met in Bucharest two European officials, Elisa Ferreira, commissioner for cohesion and reform, and Nicolas Schmit, commissioner for labor and social rights. They discussed the positive impact of European funds for Romanias development in the attempt to attenuate the developmental gap between regions. Ciuca thanked the European officials for their support in configuring programs associated with the policy of cohesion. At the same time he assured them that the executive in Bucharest, along with the EC, would continue to cooperate to ensure that every Euro is used towards the public interest. In turn, Elisa Ferreira expressed appreciation for Romanias economic growth, and Nicolas Schmit emphasized the fact that European funding can be good support for an equitable economic and social development of the country. Among the topics on the agenda were the support the EU grants against the background of the energy crisis, and the Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

New bills on the Chamber of Deputies floor

The Chamber of Deputies passed the bills regulating the Penal Code and the criminal procedural code, in the form submitted by the Ministry of Justice, unaltered. This comes against the scandal caused by the attempt in the Senate by ruling coalition parties to set a minimum threshold of 250,000 lei, around 50,000 Euro, below which gains from abuse of office and negligence would not be considered criminal and could not be prosecuted. This bill was drastically adjusted by the MPs, who eliminated any kind of threshold. This absence of a limit raised issues of constitutionality, however. Previously, the Constitutional Court had established that a minimum amount was necessary for the prosecution of cases, as long as damages are being calculated in order to bring indictments. The Chamber of Deputies is the decision making body for this bill. The changes in the two bills is a landmark in the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience, therefore it constitutes an obligation that Romania has in exchange for promised funding from the EU.

The executive sets a ceiling on RCA insurance premiums

The government in Bucharest set a ceiling on the so-called RCA, the obligatory car insurance, for the next six months, also setting a limit of 8% commission for insurance brokers for the same period. The decision comes after Euroins, the insurance company with the highest market share at the time, filed for bankruptcy. RCA premiums on offer are set to be those from the end of February. The decision to set the ceiling and to freeze prices was made in order to defend drivers from extreme costs, after the nefarious experience two years ago, caused by the collapse of another big player in this area, City Insurance, which was a market leader back then.

National Bank decisions

The National Bank of Romania has decided to maintain its reference interest rate at 7% per year. They also maintain at 8% the rate at which commercial banks can borrow from the National Bank, and maintain at 6% per year the interest rate for deposits kept in the central bank. These decisions are based on macroeconomic evolution over the last few months. According to estimates, the annual rate of inflation would likely rise over the upcoming period. The central bank specified that the annual rate of inflation went down to 15.52% in February from 16.37% in December 2022, more or less in line with forecasts.

Snow in April

The winter was back in force in multiple regions in Romania, with temperatures dropping significantly. There was snow and rain in almost the entire country, with gusts of wind reaching speeds of 70 to 75 km/h, disrupting air and road traffic. Hundreds were left snowed in on national and county roads, causing traffic to be shut down completely in some cases.

Special pensions are a sticking point for the government

No Romanian politician can contest the fact that the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience, which provides Romania with dozens of billions of Euro in return for essential reforms in many areas, is the guiding light of the government and ruling parties. Special pensions, provided mainly to magistrates and security services, including the armed forces, is not based on contributions, like the rest of pensions, and sorting out this issue is pivotal to the NPRR. A bill aimed at this was submitted on Wednesday by the ruling coalition to the Senate, which voted on it. According to the bill, no pension can exceed the salary during active years, and the portion of special pensions that is not based on contributions will be taxed. At the same time, pensions over 6,000 lei, about 1,200 Euro, will be taxed by 15%. In addition, special pensions cannot be collected in parallel, and five kinds of bonuses will be eliminated from military pensions. The opposition USR party criticized the bill, and supports a radical reform, that of eliminating special pensions altogether, and making them contribution based. At the same time, representatives of military personnel, police, and penitentiary employees called on military pensions to be eliminated from the NPRR, so that they are not subject to adjustments that would affect them negatively. They claim that this would motivate youth to opt for a military career.

Abuse of office under scrutiny

Senators in the ruling coalition voted on a bill to amend the Penal Code, setting the amount of damages produced by abuse of office to 250,000 lei, some 50,000 Euro, in order to result in criminal prosecution. This amendment resembles very closely the infamous Emergency Ordinance 13 of 2017, the first step in a process by which the Social Democrats, then ruled with an iron fist by Liviu Dragnea, tried to roll back previous efforts to reform the justice system. At that time, tens of thousands took to the streets in protest, and the ordinance was rescinded. On Wednesday, after the vote in the Senate, hundreds protested in Bucharest, claiming that the change would encourage corruption and illegal acts in the country. Facing this criticism, the coalition took a step back, and said they supported the proposal of the Justice minister, which sets the amount of damages produced by abuse of office at 9,000 lei. Just as the special pension bill, this change to the Penal Code goes to the Chamber of Deputies for debate if it is to become law.

Government passes new education laws

New laws on education were endorsed this week by the executive. As such, Romanian high schools are allowed to organize their own admission competitions in specialized subjects for 60% of their student slots, in addition to the National Evaluation. Also, the graduation exam, the baccalaureate, will have an additional exam, one that is not part of the student’s major. The laws are based on the Educated Romania project, introduced by President Klaus Iohannis, and 3 billion Euro will be allocated for these reforms, taken out of the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience. The laws applying to higher education are aimed at lowering the dropout rate, and at supporting European cooperation for Romanian universities. The lower education laws are aimed mainly at reducing school dropout rates, as well as functional illiteracy, which are chronic issues with Romanian education. Education Minister Ligia Deca said that the education system will be student centered, stimulating their potential.

The EC president and the PM of Poland visit Bucharest

Romania’s failure to join the Schengen space, the free circulation area in Europe, due to opposition from Austria, generated frustration in the country, and encouraged Euroskeptics. This was the statement from President Klaus Iohannis, after the talks he held in Bucharest with EC President Charles Michel. The latter had an encouraging message. He provided assurance that there is European support for Romania entering the Schengen space of a speedy manner. The European official said that he was convinced that the EU would be safer if Romania was in the Schengen space, and that it was clear to him that Romania had met all obligations needed to join. Also this week, Bucharest was visited by the Polish PM, Mateusz Morawiecki. The parties want for the close bilateral ties in security and defense would be mirrored by robust and productive economic cooperation, up to the potential of the two economies. Poland is one of the main trading partners in the region, with bilateral trade amounting to a record level of almost 11 billion Euro.

High hopes for football and certainties in handball

The Romanian national football squad overcame Andorra and Belarus at the start of the Euro 2024 preliminaries, sparking new hopes for supporters. Romania’s group is dominated by Switzerland, which made it to the last world cup, but there are chances for the Romanians to take second place if they defeat Kosovo and Israel, securing a place in the European tournament. 2016 was the last year when the national team took part in the final rounds of the competition. In handball, national champion Rapid defeated the Slovenian team Krim, and as such, for the first time, they will attend the quarter finals of the League of Champions. National vice-champions CSM Bucharest have already made it to that stage. With two teams in this stage, Romanian women’s handball proves once again its value.

Special pensions are a sticking point for the government

No Romanian politician can contest the fact that the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience, which provides Romania with dozens of billions of Euro in return for essential reforms in many areas, is the guiding light of the government and ruling parties. Special pensions, provided mainly to magistrates and security services, including the armed forces, is not based on contributions, like the rest of pensions, and sorting out this issue is pivotal to the NPRR. A bill aimed at this was submitted on Wednesday by the ruling coalition to the Senate, which voted on it. According to the bill, no pension can exceed the salary during active years, and the portion of special pensions that is not based on contributions will be taxed. At the same time, pensions over 6,000 lei, about 1,200 Euro, will be taxed by 15%. In addition, special pensions cannot be collected in parallel, and five kinds of bonuses will be eliminated from military pensions. The opposition USR party criticized the bill, and supports a radical reform, that of eliminating special pensions altogether, and making them contribution based. At the same time, representatives of military personnel, police, and penitentiary employees called on military pensions to be eliminated from the NPRR, so that they are not subject to adjustments that would affect them negatively. They claim that this would motivate youth to opt for a military career.

Abuse of office under scrutiny

Senators in the ruling coalition voted on a bill to amend the Penal Code, setting the amount of damages produced by abuse of office to 250,000 lei, some 50,000 Euro, in order to result in criminal prosecution. This amendment resembles very closely the infamous Emergency Ordinance 13 of 2017, the first step in a process by which the Social Democrats, then ruled with an iron fist by Liviu Dragnea, tried to roll back previous efforts to reform the justice system. At that time, tens of thousands took to the streets in protest, and the ordinance was rescinded. On Wednesday, after the vote in the Senate, hundreds protested in Bucharest, claiming that the change would encourage corruption and illegal acts in the country. Facing this criticism, the coalition took a step back, and said they supported the proposal of the Justice minister, which sets the amount of damages produced by abuse of office at 9,000 lei. Just as the special pension bill, this change to the Penal Code goes to the Chamber of Deputies for debate if it is to become law.

Government passes new education laws

New laws on education were endorsed this week by the executive. As such, Romanian high schools are allowed to organize their own admission competitions in specialized subjects for 60% of their student slots, in addition to the National Evaluation. Also, the graduation exam, the baccalaureate, will have an additional exam, one that is not part of the student’s major. The laws are based on the Educated Romania project, introduced by President Klaus Iohannis, and 3 billion Euro will be allocated for these reforms, taken out of the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience. The laws applying to higher education are aimed at lowering the dropout rate, and at supporting European cooperation for Romanian universities. The lower education laws are aimed mainly at reducing school dropout rates, as well as functional illiteracy, which are chronic issues with Romanian education. Education Minister Ligia Deca said that the education system will be student centered, stimulating their potential.

The EC president and the PM of Poland visit Bucharest

Romania’s failure to join the Schengen space, the free circulation area in Europe, due to opposition from Austria, generated frustration in the country, and encouraged Euroskeptics. This was the statement from President Klaus Iohannis, after the talks he held in Bucharest with EC President Charles Michel. The latter had an encouraging message. He provided assurance that there is European support for Romania entering the Schengen space of a speedy manner. The European official said that he was convinced that the EU would be safer if Romania was in the Schengen space, and that it was clear to him that Romania had met all obligations needed to join. Also this week, Bucharest was visited by the Polish PM, Mateusz Morawiecki. The parties want for the close bilateral ties in security and defense would be mirrored by robust and productive economic cooperation, up to the potential of the two economies. Poland is one of the main trading partners in the region, with bilateral trade amounting to a record level of almost 11 billion Euro.

High hopes for football and certainties in handball

The Romanian national football squad overcame Andorra and Belarus at the start of the Euro 2024 preliminaries, sparking new hopes for supporters. Romania’s group is dominated by Switzerland, which made it to the last world cup, but there are chances for the Romanians to take second place if they defeat Kosovo and Israel, securing a place in the European tournament. 2016 was the last year when the national team took part in the final rounds of the competition. In handball, national champion Rapid defeated the Slovenian team Krim, and as such, for the first time, they will attend the quarter finals of the League of Champions. National vice-champions CSM Bucharest have already made it to that stage. With two teams in this stage, Romanian women’s handball proves once again its value.

The Romanian president goes to Brussels

Late this week in Brussels, the Romanian president attended the spring European Council, expressing the need for unity in supporting Ukraine. The main topic of the meeting of European leaders was continued support for this country in the face of Russian invasion. President Iohannis recalled that Romania supports a blanket European approach in supplying Ukraine with munitions. At the same time, he talked to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, the difficult situation facing Romanian farmers, who need aid as a result of losses suffered as grain exports to Ukraine are ever higher. President Iohannis called on the Commission to review the subsidies granted to Romania, and von der Leyen said she would make adjustments in the figures. Klaus Iohannis said that EC officials should take into account the sacrifices made by Romania in order to facilitate exports of Ukrainian grain. He said that it was very strange that the EC is not negotiating anything, but instead is using formulas. He concluded that these things cannot be solved through accounting. Romania obtained a mere 10 million Euro, way below estimates, in the negotiations within the council of European agriculture ministers, as compensation for the farmers affected by the trade in cheap grain with Ukraine.

PM Ciuca goes to Chisinau

While the Romanian president was announcing in Brussels that the Republic of Moldova would get sizable supplementary aid from the EU, the Romanian PM, Nicolae Ciuca went on Thursday on his first official visit to Chisinau. He reaffirmed the unconditional support from Bucharest for the small neighboring republic in its European membership bid, as well as in its attempt to consolidate economically, maintaining stability and security against the challenges in the region. Ciuca discussed with his counterpart, Dorin Recean, the renovation or construction of bridges over the river Prut, and about opening new border crossing points and developing the energy infrastructure between the two countries. They also discussed the presence of Romanian investors in the Republic of Moldova, and the creation of a business climate up to European standards, supporting increasing investments. Moldovan political analysts underlined that, in the present geopolitical context, the visit by the Romanian PM to Chisinau has special connotations, noting that Romania plays a special role in ensuring the security of the small neighboring state as the general situation changed after the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Over the last few years, Bucharest granted support in various forms to the Republic of Moldova, and now, in the context of the war, it has become an economic and trade lifesaver for the republic, and a major force in assuring it can overcome a major energy crisis. During the meeting with PM Ciuca, Moldovan President Maia Sandu thanked Romania for its support.

Romania — UK — USA

Romania and the US signed in Bucharest an agreement on social security, with the purpose of protecting the rights to retirement benefits for Romanian and American workers employed on the territory of the other state. According to the document signed by US Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec and Labor Minister Marius Budai, this allows counting towards retirement the time spent working both in Romania and the US, opening up the right to pensions. The agreement is to be voted into law by the parliament of Romania. Meanwhile, in London, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and the British foreign minister, James Cleverly, signed an updated common declaration on the Romanian — British strategic partnership. They also opened the first edition of the Romania — UK bilateral forum, meant to identify opportunities for consolidating bilateral cooperation.

A celebration of francophony

On March 20, International Francophony Day was celebrated in 88 states and governments on five continents, with a total of 321 million French speakers, as members or observers of the International Organization of Francophony. For Romania, a member of the IOF, 2023 is a double event, as it celebrates three decades since it joined the organization. On this occasion, the foreign ministry, through its embassies and consulates, as well as the Romanian Cultural Institute, scheduled dozens of events in approximately 50 states around the world. (CC)

The Romanian president goes to Brussels

Late this week in Brussels, the Romanian president attended the spring European Council, expressing the need for unity in supporting Ukraine. The main topic of the meeting of European leaders was continued support for this country in the face of Russian invasion. President Iohannis recalled that Romania supports a blanket European approach in supplying Ukraine with munitions. At the same time, he talked to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, the difficult situation facing Romanian farmers, who need aid as a result of losses suffered as grain exports to Ukraine are ever higher. President Iohannis called on the Commission to review the subsidies granted to Romania, and von der Leyen said she would make adjustments in the figures. Klaus Iohannis said that EC officials should take into account the sacrifices made by Romania in order to facilitate exports of Ukrainian grain. He said that it was very strange that the EC is not negotiating anything, but instead is using formulas. He concluded that these things cannot be solved through accounting. Romania obtained a mere 10 million Euro, way below estimates, in the negotiations within the council of European agriculture ministers, as compensation for the farmers affected by the trade in cheap grain with Ukraine.

PM Ciuca goes to Chisinau

While the Romanian president was announcing in Brussels that the Republic of Moldova would get sizable supplementary aid from the EU, the Romanian PM, Nicolae Ciuca went on Thursday on his first official visit to Chisinau. He reaffirmed the unconditional support from Bucharest for the small neighboring republic in its European membership bid, as well as in its attempt to consolidate economically, maintaining stability and security against the challenges in the region. Ciuca discussed with his counterpart, Dorin Recean, the renovation or construction of bridges over the river Prut, and about opening new border crossing points and developing the energy infrastructure between the two countries. They also discussed the presence of Romanian investors in the Republic of Moldova, and the creation of a business climate up to European standards, supporting increasing investments. Moldovan political analysts underlined that, in the present geopolitical context, the visit by the Romanian PM to Chisinau has special connotations, noting that Romania plays a special role in ensuring the security of the small neighboring state as the general situation changed after the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Over the last few years, Bucharest granted support in various forms to the Republic of Moldova, and now, in the context of the war, it has become an economic and trade lifesaver for the republic, and a major force in assuring it can overcome a major energy crisis. During the meeting with PM Ciuca, Moldovan President Maia Sandu thanked Romania for its support.

Romania — UK — USA

Romania and the US signed in Bucharest an agreement on social security, with the purpose of protecting the rights to retirement benefits for Romanian and American workers employed on the territory of the other state. According to the document signed by US Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec and Labor Minister Marius Budai, this allows counting towards retirement the time spent working both in Romania and the US, opening up the right to pensions. The agreement is to be voted into law by the parliament of Romania. Meanwhile, in London, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and the British foreign minister, James Cleverly, signed an updated common declaration on the Romanian — British strategic partnership. They also opened the first edition of the Romania — UK bilateral forum, meant to identify opportunities for consolidating bilateral cooperation.

A celebration of francophony

On March 20, International Francophony Day was celebrated in 88 states and governments on five continents, with a total of 321 million French speakers, as members or observers of the International Organization of Francophony. For Romania, a member of the IOF, 2023 is a double event, as it celebrates three decades since it joined the organization. On this occasion, the foreign ministry, through its embassies and consulates, as well as the Romanian Cultural Institute, scheduled dozens of events in approximately 50 states around the world. (CC)

Strategic partnership between Romania and Bulgaria

Romania and Bulgaria will continue their joint efforts towards the adoption this year of the decision to join the Schengen space. This announcement was made by President Klaus Iohannis in Sofia, where he was received by his counterpart, Rumen Radev. The two heads of state signed a strategic partnership declaration. Among other things, it provides for enhanced bilateral political dialog, it encourages cross-border cooperation, as well as energy security. As for Schengen, Klaus Iohannis reiterated that the two countries are ready to join, and that expansion is not linked with illegal migration on the outer borders of the EU. Here is President Iohannis:

“The Schengen space refers to the right of citizens to circulate freely within EU states. Illegal migration is a completely different thing. It refers to people who cross illegally into the EU and try to go into other countries. For political reasons, these two issues are mixed up by some European politicians. This is an error, but we understand the difficulties faced by some European states in the problem of illegal migration. We are willing to participate in all the programs that aim to solve these problems.

The Bulgarian president reaffirmed that Romania and Bulgaria will make additional efforts for a speedy joining of the Schengen space. He showed that, over the few months, the two countries fought against illegal migration, which has gone up considerably. We recall that, in December 2022, in the Council for Justice and Internal Affairs, Austria and The Netherlands blocked Romania and Bulgaria’s access to the free circulation space. Austria invoked illegal migration on the Balkan route. Romania rejected these accusations, which was endorsed by European institutions.

The transition to a green society

The government in Bucharest approved an emergency ordinance which is meant to bring the country into compliance with requirements by the EC for Romania to receive the second tranche of the PNRR, worth 3.2 billion Euro. One of the provisions of the document stipulates that real estate developers have to install charging stations for EVs in new buildings. The same obligation applies to the owners of old buildings, in case of major refurbishment. Another provision in the ordinance refers to shutting down the coal based energy producers in Turceni and Rovinari, suspending their activity for 3 years. The government adopted another normative act that institutes a financial aid plan worth 26 million Euro for SMEs and large companies that plan to build installations for waste recycling. According to PM Nicolae Ciuca, the projects financed by the mechanism are aimed at protecting the environment. At the same time, the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest passed the support agreement between the Romanian state and the Nuclearelectrica National Administration for building units 3 and 4 of the nuclear electrical plant in Cernavoda. By implementing the project, the contribution of nuclear plant produced electricity to the national grid would be 36%, while the percentage contributed to the total of green electricity would be 66%.

Rising inflation

Last month, the annual rate of inflation in Romania went up slightly from January, reaching 15.52% as opposed to 15.07%, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics. According to experts, this should not alter the National Bank prognosis according to which inflation would go down to single digits by the end of the year. Here is financial analyst Adrian Codirlasu:

“The deflationary process continues, but it will not be a smooth process, with month by month decrease of inflation, with such episodes appearing, where inflation goes up slightly. The exact same situation was seen in other EU countries, with inflation in February going over that in January.

According to the NIS, the prices that went up the most in February against January were foodstuffs, 3.4%, and services, with 2.5%. The highest rises in price over the last 12 months were sugar, by 63%, followed by butter, almost 45%, and gas, by around 42%. Rises in prices of over 30% were registered for potatoes, eggs, margarine, and dairy products. Adrian Vasilescu, adviser to the governor of the National Bank of Romania, explains:

“Why do food prices go up in the country? One, all over the world, food prices have gone up lately. In addition, we have the shock created by the import-export balance, because imports of foodstuffs are very high, and we have this year the highest deficit. That is the problem.

Against the background of rising prices lately, employees in education have protested around the country, demanding higher wages and threatening with a general strike. Union leaders claim a lack of social dialog, and accuse government officials of bad faith.

Moldovan Parliament makes Romanian official language

The Romanian language will replace the Moldovan language by name in all laws in the Republic of Moldova, including the Constitution. The parliament in Chisinau voted this change in a second session. The bill applies a ruling made ten years ago by the Constitutional Court, according to which Romanian is the official language of the Republic of Moldova. According to Radio Chisinau, the vote was met with applause by the pro-European deputies in the PAS party, which introduced the bill and has the majority in Parliament. At the same time, pro-Russian Socialist and Communist deputies raised signs bearing messages critical of the present power. In Bucharest, the vote in the Moldovan Parliament was saluted by the political class.

Strategic partnership between Romania and Bulgaria

Romania and Bulgaria will continue their joint efforts towards the adoption this year of the decision to join the Schengen space. This announcement was made by President Klaus Iohannis in Sofia, where he was received by his counterpart, Rumen Radev. The two heads of state signed a strategic partnership declaration. Among other things, it provides for enhanced bilateral political dialog, it encourages cross-border cooperation, as well as energy security. As for Schengen, Klaus Iohannis reiterated that the two countries are ready to join, and that expansion is not linked with illegal migration on the outer borders of the EU. Here is President Iohannis:

“The Schengen space refers to the right of citizens to circulate freely within EU states. Illegal migration is a completely different thing. It refers to people who cross illegally into the EU and try to go into other countries. For political reasons, these two issues are mixed up by some European politicians. This is an error, but we understand the difficulties faced by some European states in the problem of illegal migration. We are willing to participate in all the programs that aim to solve these problems.

The Bulgarian president reaffirmed that Romania and Bulgaria will make additional efforts for a speedy joining of the Schengen space. He showed that, over the few months, the two countries fought against illegal migration, which has gone up considerably. We recall that, in December 2022, in the Council for Justice and Internal Affairs, Austria and The Netherlands blocked Romania and Bulgaria’s access to the free circulation space. Austria invoked illegal migration on the Balkan route. Romania rejected these accusations, which was endorsed by European institutions.

The transition to a green society

The government in Bucharest approved an emergency ordinance which is meant to bring the country into compliance with requirements by the EC for Romania to receive the second tranche of the PNRR, worth 3.2 billion Euro. One of the provisions of the document stipulates that real estate developers have to install charging stations for EVs in new buildings. The same obligation applies to the owners of old buildings, in case of major refurbishment. Another provision in the ordinance refers to shutting down the coal based energy producers in Turceni and Rovinari, suspending their activity for 3 years. The government adopted another normative act that institutes a financial aid plan worth 26 million Euro for SMEs and large companies that plan to build installations for waste recycling. According to PM Nicolae Ciuca, the projects financed by the mechanism are aimed at protecting the environment. At the same time, the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest passed the support agreement between the Romanian state and the Nuclearelectrica National Administration for building units 3 and 4 of the nuclear electrical plant in Cernavoda. By implementing the project, the contribution of nuclear plant produced electricity to the national grid would be 36%, while the percentage contributed to the total of green electricity would be 66%.

Rising inflation

Last month, the annual rate of inflation in Romania went up slightly from January, reaching 15.52% as opposed to 15.07%, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics. According to experts, this should not alter the National Bank prognosis according to which inflation would go down to single digits by the end of the year. Here is financial analyst Adrian Codirlasu:

“The deflationary process continues, but it will not be a smooth process, with month by month decrease of inflation, with such episodes appearing, where inflation goes up slightly. The exact same situation was seen in other EU countries, with inflation in February going over that in January.

According to the NIS, the prices that went up the most in February against January were foodstuffs, 3.4%, and services, with 2.5%. The highest rises in price over the last 12 months were sugar, by 63%, followed by butter, almost 45%, and gas, by around 42%. Rises in prices of over 30% were registered for potatoes, eggs, margarine, and dairy products. Adrian Vasilescu, adviser to the governor of the National Bank of Romania, explains:

“Why do food prices go up in the country? One, all over the world, food prices have gone up lately. In addition, we have the shock created by the import-export balance, because imports of foodstuffs are very high, and we have this year the highest deficit. That is the problem.

Against the background of rising prices lately, employees in education have protested around the country, demanding higher wages and threatening with a general strike. Union leaders claim a lack of social dialog, and accuse government officials of bad faith.

Moldovan Parliament makes Romanian official language

The Romanian language will replace the Moldovan language by name in all laws in the Republic of Moldova, including the Constitution. The parliament in Chisinau voted this change in a second session. The bill applies a ruling made ten years ago by the Constitutional Court, according to which Romanian is the official language of the Republic of Moldova. According to Radio Chisinau, the vote was met with applause by the pro-European deputies in the PAS party, which introduced the bill and has the majority in Parliament. At the same time, pro-Russian Socialist and Communist deputies raised signs bearing messages critical of the present power. In Bucharest, the vote in the Moldovan Parliament was saluted by the political class.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis speaks in Luxembourg

Speaking in Luxembourg this week, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said his country appreciates the clear and vocal support granted by the host country in its bid to join the Schengen area. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said that Romania was a reliable partner for his country, and that soon 25 military personnel would join the NATO task force quartered in Cincu, in central Romania. He also reaffirmed support for Romania getting into Schengen. The head of the Romanian state also attended the forum of the European Investment Bank, dedicated to the EUs investment agenda, where he held a speech on the new global challenges. Within the event, he also held bilateral talks with the president of the bank, Werner Hoyer, and with Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the EBRD.

Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu visits Azerbaijan

New energy projects were at the core of the agenda of the official visit paid to Azerbaijan by Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu. He met in Baku with President Ilham Aliev. Discussions centered on the contract for one billion cubic meters of natural gas to be delivered by Azerbaijan, starting in April, running for a year. Marcel Ciolacus proposal was for the contract to help the neighboring Republic of Moldova too, which was met with agreement from the Azeri president. At the same time, the two officials discussed the project for LNG supply and the ROMGAZ-SOCAR partnership to build two terminals on the Black Sea, as well as the contract on developing the infrastructure for the undersea cable in that same venue. The cable is set to have a length of 1,200 km, crossing the Black sea to bring electrical power from Azerbaijan, crossing Georgia to Romania, then further to Hungary and the rest of Europe.

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu visits Geneva

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, confirmed once again his countrys firm support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within internationally recognized borders. He also expressed Romanias determination to contribute solidly to peace, security, development, and human rights. Aurescu emphasized that efforts have to be made to hold Russia responsible for crimes committed in Ukraine, and for damages to be paid to the large number of victims.

New Moldovan PM Dorin Recean visits Bucharest

The authorities in Bucharest are ready to support without reserves the leadership in Chisinau in order to reach its aim of integrating into the EU. This was the message conveyed by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to the new PM of the Republic of Moldova during the latters visit to Romania. He was also received by his Romanian counterpart, Nicolae Ciuca, who said that Romania had consolidated its status of main trade partner for its eastern neighbor, considering that bilateral trade went up 1.2 billion dollars in 2022, reaching 3.6 billion. Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu held a meeting with Dorin Recean, during which he assured the PM that Romania would provide support in natural gas supplies for citizens of Moldova as part of the import contract with Azerbaijan.

Special parliament session for Ukraine

The parliament in Bucharest held a solemn session for the one year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022. Senators and deputies condemned the military aggression, and promised that Romania would continue to support the former Soviet republic. The parliament session was attended by the Ukrainian ambassador to Romania, Ihor Prokopchuk, who delivered a message of gratitude for support received at all levels.

New laws in education

Romanian Minister of Education Ligia Deca submitted the new package of bills in education, after an agreement was reached by the parliamentary majority. One of the changes would introduce a national education portfolio for students, which would take into account both school grades and extracurricular activities. It would also introduce a complementary trial for basic competencies as part of the baccalaureate, the high school graduation exam. These changes come in answer to worrying studies that show that Romania is last on the European list of school performance. Politicians, unions, and parent associations accused the minister of lack of transparency, and of not consulting interested parties in regard to the future laws.

President Klaus Iohannis decorated Romanian calamity responders

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis held a ceremony in Bucharest to celebrate Civil Protection Day. On this occasion, he decorated military personnel, firefighters, medics, assistants, and volunteers who took part in the international humanitarian mission to Turkey. The teams were accompanied by the rescue dogs who joined them abroad, making a decisive contribution to recovering survivors from the rubble. At the same time, the wave of earthquakes that rocked the south of Romania brought back to the attention of the authorities the imperative of consolidating vulnerable buildings. The executive will submit to Parliament a bill which would include a provision to forbid renting out apartments in buildings that are listed as first tier in terms of seismic risk. At the same time, the government passed an ordinance referring to the Safe and Healthy School program, meant to simplify the introduction of the investment program for schools found in the top tier of seismic risk categories.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis speaks in Luxembourg

Speaking in Luxembourg this week, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said his country appreciates the clear and vocal support granted by the host country in its bid to join the Schengen area. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said that Romania was a reliable partner for his country, and that soon 25 military personnel would join the NATO task force quartered in Cincu, in central Romania. He also reaffirmed support for Romania getting into Schengen. The head of the Romanian state also attended the forum of the European Investment Bank, dedicated to the EUs investment agenda, where he held a speech on the new global challenges. Within the event, he also held bilateral talks with the president of the bank, Werner Hoyer, and with Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the EBRD.

Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu visits Azerbaijan

New energy projects were at the core of the agenda of the official visit paid to Azerbaijan by Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu. He met in Baku with President Ilham Aliev. Discussions centered on the contract for one billion cubic meters of natural gas to be delivered by Azerbaijan, starting in April, running for a year. Marcel Ciolacus proposal was for the contract to help the neighboring Republic of Moldova too, which was met with agreement from the Azeri president. At the same time, the two officials discussed the project for LNG supply and the ROMGAZ-SOCAR partnership to build two terminals on the Black Sea, as well as the contract on developing the infrastructure for the undersea cable in that same venue. The cable is set to have a length of 1,200 km, crossing the Black sea to bring electrical power from Azerbaijan, crossing Georgia to Romania, then further to Hungary and the rest of Europe.

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu visits Geneva

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, confirmed once again his countrys firm support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within internationally recognized borders. He also expressed Romanias determination to contribute solidly to peace, security, development, and human rights. Aurescu emphasized that efforts have to be made to hold Russia responsible for crimes committed in Ukraine, and for damages to be paid to the large number of victims.

New Moldovan PM Dorin Recean visits Bucharest

The authorities in Bucharest are ready to support without reserves the leadership in Chisinau in order to reach its aim of integrating into the EU. This was the message conveyed by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to the new PM of the Republic of Moldova during the latters visit to Romania. He was also received by his Romanian counterpart, Nicolae Ciuca, who said that Romania had consolidated its status of main trade partner for its eastern neighbor, considering that bilateral trade went up 1.2 billion dollars in 2022, reaching 3.6 billion. Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu held a meeting with Dorin Recean, during which he assured the PM that Romania would provide support in natural gas supplies for citizens of Moldova as part of the import contract with Azerbaijan.

Special parliament session for Ukraine

The parliament in Bucharest held a solemn session for the one year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022. Senators and deputies condemned the military aggression, and promised that Romania would continue to support the former Soviet republic. The parliament session was attended by the Ukrainian ambassador to Romania, Ihor Prokopchuk, who delivered a message of gratitude for support received at all levels.

New laws in education

Romanian Minister of Education Ligia Deca submitted the new package of bills in education, after an agreement was reached by the parliamentary majority. One of the changes would introduce a national education portfolio for students, which would take into account both school grades and extracurricular activities. It would also introduce a complementary trial for basic competencies as part of the baccalaureate, the high school graduation exam. These changes come in answer to worrying studies that show that Romania is last on the European list of school performance. Politicians, unions, and parent associations accused the minister of lack of transparency, and of not consulting interested parties in regard to the future laws.

President Klaus Iohannis decorated Romanian calamity responders

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis held a ceremony in Bucharest to celebrate Civil Protection Day. On this occasion, he decorated military personnel, firefighters, medics, assistants, and volunteers who took part in the international humanitarian mission to Turkey. The teams were accompanied by the rescue dogs who joined them abroad, making a decisive contribution to recovering survivors from the rubble. At the same time, the wave of earthquakes that rocked the south of Romania brought back to the attention of the authorities the imperative of consolidating vulnerable buildings. The executive will submit to Parliament a bill which would include a provision to forbid renting out apartments in buildings that are listed as first tier in terms of seismic risk. At the same time, the government passed an ordinance referring to the Safe and Healthy School program, meant to simplify the introduction of the investment program for schools found in the top tier of seismic risk categories.