Radio România Internațional

Category: Today in the News

  • Romania reacts to allegations by Russian intelligence service

    Romania reacts to allegations by Russian intelligence service

    The Romanian authorities have categorically denied statements by Russia’s foreign intelligence service that the European Union blackmailed Romania into blocking the independent candidate Călin Georgescu from entering the presidential elections in May.

    Without providing any evidence, the Russian service says the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, asked the Romanian authorities to ban Georgescu from running in the upcoming elections, or else restrict the country’s access to European funding. The same allegations were made recently by Georgescu himself in an interview to journalist James Freeman, in which he says a referendum should be held on Romania’s exiting the European Union and NATO.

    The Romanian foreign ministry has described the accusations of the Russian intelligence service as “ridiculous and completely ungrounded” and says they are part of a hybrid campaign to undermine democracy and diminish trust in the authorities. “The entirety of these activities, which include public messages and campaigns to influence and interfere with democratic processes, is aimed at reducing trust in the authorities and criticise Romania’s membership of the European Union and NATO”, the Romanian ministry said in a statement.

    Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu has described the comments by a Russian secret service on decisions taken by the Romanian state as unacceptable, posting on social media: “Russia cannot tell the Romanian authorities who to investigate and who not to, Russia cannot dictate who the Romanian people should elect and it cannot be a role model when it comes to democracy”.

    Elena Lasconi, the president of the centre-right opposition party, the Save Romania Union, said Russia is now “overtly and officially” supporting Călin Georgescu. Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential elections in Romania a few months ago and was to face Elena Lasconi in the decisive round before the entire election process was cancelled.

    In the meantime, Georgescu has been placed under investigation for 60 days, facing a number of restrictions, including that of leaving the country without approval from judicial authorities. He is also not allowed to post on social media content of a fascist, anti-Semitic, racist and xenophobic nature. Prosecutors accuse Georgescu of masterminding a plan to destabilise Romania with the help of mercenaries led by Horaţiu Potra after the Constitutional Court cancelled the first round of the presidential elections. The Court invoked foreign interference and the elections will be repeated in May. Călin Georgescu is under investigation in two cases, being already indicted in one case for activities against constitutional order, while in another, Horaţiu Potra and his mercenaries have been placed under temporary arrest.

  • Romania and NATO’s Eastern Flank

    Romania and NATO’s Eastern Flank

    Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, spoke by phone with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, on Monday, when he said that the North Atlantic Alliance remains the main guarantor of Romania’s security. Article 5, which provides that an armed attack against one of the allies is considered an attack against all the members, is the one, which most effectively discourages threats and attacks against NATO members, president Bolojan explained.

    The leader in Bucharest also insisted over the importance of the transatlantic relation and the US presence in Europe, which are crucial in his opinion for the security of the continent. Romania continues to contribute to the stability and security of NATO’s Eastern Flank together with its partners and is supporting the consolidation of security in the Black Sea region, Bolojan underlined.

    The president explained that Bucharest, which is presently allotting 2.5% of its GDP for defence, is ready to further increase investment in this area.

    Referring to the situation in Ukraine, President Bolojan highlighted the need for a fair and durable peace as well as the importance of carrying on support for this country. The NATO Secretary General thanked Romania for its contribution in the alliance, as well as for being a member which acts responsibly as a major factor of security and stability in the Black Sea area and the Eastern Flank. Mark Rutte said these efforts are all the more so relevant in the present security context and voiced NATO’s support for strengthening the allied presence in the region.

    NATO Secretary General reiterated the commitment of NATO and the United States to collective defence and Article 5, underlining the United States’ efforts for a durable peace in Ukraine. Mark Rutte also hailed Romania’s decision to raise its defence budget and underlined the need for other European allies to have similar approaches.

    The two leaders agreed to maintain a constant dialogue on these issues. The Romanian president and the NATO Secretary General had attended an informal meeting on European security in London on Sunday. The participants in the aforementioned meeting, hosted by British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, pledged to carry on financial and military support for Ukraine.

    After the meeting, president Bolojan said the security guarantees to Ukraine would in fact be for the entire Eastern Flank, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. However, the Romanian official said these guarantees cannot be assured without support from the United States. The informal meeting in London was one of coordination in the run up to the European Council proceedings on March 6 and a meeting that is to bring together, on March 7, leaders of the non-EU countries who want an approach to settling the conflict in Ukraine that might lead to the implementation of sustainable peace in the region.

    (bill)

  • The EU supports Moldova

    The EU supports Moldova

    This year, the European Union will allocate, within the framework of the European Peace Facility, 60 million euros to strengthen the defence capabilities of the Republic of Moldova, the former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population, which neighbours Romania and Ukraine. The announcement was made by the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, who paid a visit to Chisinau, three years after the Republic of Moldova submitted its application to join the European Union. The request was filed on the same day as Georgia and three days after Ukraine, in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    The administration of the Republic of Moldova, a state that wants to join the EU by 2030, is trying to establish closer relations with the EU, especially in matters of security and defence. Antonio Costa specified that, within the European Peace Facility, created to support the defence capabilities of various countries, the Republic of Moldova is the second beneficiary, with almost 37 million euros allocated so far.

    Antonio Costa praised the efforts of the authorities in Chisinau to strengthen the European path against those who “ seek to undermine Moldova’s path to progress, prosperity and stability, through energy blackmail, fake news and hybrid attacks”. He also said that the use of energy as a weapon is unacceptable, and the European Union and its member states will continue to support the Republic of Moldova in obtaining total independence from any type of energy or supplier from Russia. “What is happening in Ukraine is related to the entire security of the European Union, it is not only related to our partners in the East, not only to Moldova”, said the Brussels official.

    In Chisinau, the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, met with the head of state, Maia Sandu. She also stressed the importance of European support for the security of the region in the current international context, marked by hybrid threats, cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns. Maia Sandu reiterated the commitment of the Republic of Moldova to the consolidation of national security and its integration into the European Union, stressing that the Union supports Moldova in moments of crisis. In May last year, Moldova concluded a security and defense partnership with the EU, becoming the first state to sign such an agreement with the EU bloc.

    The pro-European government of the Republic of Moldova condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, and the relations between the authorities in Chisinau and Moscow have deteriorated significantly. The Moldovan authorities announced that Russian drones violated their country’s airspace and also talked about the discovery of drone remains on their territory. (MI)

  • European support for Ukraine

    European support for Ukraine

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

     

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

     

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

  • Romania – Moldova summit meeting

    Romania – Moldova summit meeting

     

    Romania and the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet republic, mostly Romanian-speaking) insist that no decision regarding peace in Ukraine and the future of the Ukrainian people can be made without Ukraine and without adequate security guarantees, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said on Saturday, in a joint conference with his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu.

     

    At the end of a meeting in Chișinău, he pointed out that ‘the way to achieving peace for Ukraine will decisively influence’ the common security of Romania and the neighbouring Republic of Moldova.

     

    Ilie Bolojan believes that extensive dialogue between Europe and the United States of America is ‘a very good condition’ for reaching a consensus on the war in Ukraine.

     

    As regards the talks between the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US president Donald Trump, Ilie Bolojan voiced moderate optimism with respect to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but said he hoped that ‘wisdom will prevail’. He explained that neighbouring Ukraine needs a lasting peace and warned about the danger posed by Russia’s aggression:

     

    Ilie Bolojan: “If Russia’s expansionist views remain a constant in the years to come, it means that we can imagine a new conflict starting over, and Ukraine may be only the first victim”.

     

    On the other hand, Ilie Bolojan promised that Romania will ask for more financial support, know-how and projects for Moldova at European level. Also, Bucharest will continue to cap prices for a large part of the electricity the neighbouring country buys from Romanian producers. According to him, the Romanian authorities ‘continue to work on strengthening the interconnection with the Republic of Moldova in the electricity sector’.

     

    In turn, president Maia Sandu said Romania is the “best friend” and “most important partner” of the Republic of Moldova, on which Chişinău has relied in all circumstances. Over the years, Bucharest has stood by Chişinău, “with concrete support, with projects that improve people’s lives, with a clear and firm voice in supporting our European path,” Maia Sandu added.

     

    “Romania is a reliable partner in our efforts to become a modern, European state. Beyond common projects, we are linked by a vision for the future, we are linked by the desire to live in peace, freedom, and democracy,” Maia Sandu also said. She also explained that the people of the Republic of Moldova will not forget the times when Moscow tried to erase their identity and kill their language and culture.

     

    Maia Sandu: “We will continue to protect free elections, fight electoral corruption in any form it may take, and defend the right of our citizens; people, the nation should decide what kind of life they want, not Moscow.”

     

    As for the war on the border, Chișinău supports Kyiv in its efforts to achieve a lasting and just peace. (AMP)

  • Energy price caps, extended

    Energy price caps, extended

    In Romania, the energy price cap will further apply after April 1.

     

     

    The government in Bucharest has announced the extension of the electricity and natural gas price cap. This will apply after the end of next month, when the current price compensation mechanism was due to expire. For electricity, the cap will be extended for three months, until the end of June, and for natural gas, the extension will be for one year, until March 31, 2026. This extension will respect the scheme that is currently in force and aims to protect citizens’ incomes, said Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja. According to him, the ministry opted to extend the energy price capping period because, as calculations show, had it been liberalized now, it would have prompted increases in bills ranging from 60% to 100% for 95% of the consumption points. He specified that the one-year extension of the natural gas cap is aimed at restoring deposits for next winter, which would be done at low prices.

     

    Burduja also explained that, in making the decision to extend the cap, it was considered the fact that, in recent months, for reasons unrelated to Romania, prices on international markets have increased significantly, after the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine was halted. The price of gas has increased by up to 65% on the European market and the price of electricity by around 25%. Sebastian Burduja also said that the compensation-cap scheme ensured, according to Eurostat data, the fifth lowest price for electricity and the fourth lowest price for gas in the entire European Union. For natural gas, the maximum price will remain the same for another year, until March 31, 2026, because, the Energy Minister specified, at the end of the current cold season, deposits will reach a very low level, and their refill will mean an increased demand for gas, which will implicitly lead to price increases and much higher bills next winter for the population.

     

    In the meantime, the Ministry of Labor will develop a support mechanism, energy cards or vouchers that will later be granted to vulnerable people as support to cover costs. The Government’s decision to extend the electricity and natural gas price cap  was taken on the same day that Hidroelectrica, a state-owned company and the main producer and supplier of electricity in Romania, announced an increase in electricity prices by approximately 60% starting April 1. Minister Burduja recommends  Romanians to constantly check the website of the National Energy Regulatory Authority and opt for the best offer. (EE)

  • Anticorruption annual report

    Anticorruption annual report

    5,400 anticorruption investigations were closed and nearly 260 people holding management positions were prosecuted in Romania last year, according to the activity report presented by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA). It was one of the Directorate’s best years, says the head of the institution, Marius Voineag, with numerous achievements and a generally positive trend, confirmed by the evolution of statistical, quantitative and qualitative indicators and especially by the increase in the diversity of the type of evidence administered and the significant decrease in the degree of acquittals. The anticorruption chief prosecutor says the institution he leads has technical capabilities that rival those of Western institutions. Marius Voineag also announced he intends to continue to prioritize cases where a lot of money is at stake, due to high temptations and the significant impact such cases have on society. “You won’t get away with the money”, Marius Voineag told those who violate the law.

     

    “At the end of last year, the balance of assets effectively frozen amounted to over €56 million. Over the course of 2024, precautionary measures were ordered in the amount of €47 million, reflecting our constant concern for the recovery of criminal proceeds generated by corruption or similar crimes. The intensification of our activity in terms of recovering the proceeds of crime is intended to send a message to all those who are tempted to commit corruption or similar abuses, in the sense that no one should ever be able to keep the money”.

     

    Attending the official presentation of the Directorate’s yearly activity report, Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu spoke about the global phenomenon of corruption, which has gained momentum, despite efforts to stop it, both in Romania and at global level. Regarding the recovery of crime-derived proceeds, the Romanian official believes Romania is far from an ideal position, and that there is a need for better institutional and international cooperation, the adaptation of tactics and the specialization of police officers and prosecutors.

     

    “There has been talk for years about recovering the proceeds of crime. Great efforts have been made in this regard in recent times. Progress has been made, we have the relevant institutions, the culture has changed too, it is very true. But I think we are, however, far from the ideal goal of not letting anyone keep the money. The truth is that many people are left with a lot of money, as we well know. So, there is room for improvement in this direction of recovering the proceeds of crime. Of course, it remains to be seen whether we also need to improve the legislative framework, whether it is a matter of tactics or method. At any rate, we all know it is very difficult, on the other hand, to recover absolutely all the proceeds of crime. That’s virtually impossible and I think that no country in the world manages to accomplish that”.

     

    Cătălin Predoiu also emphasized that combating corruption must remain a top priority, and the institutions involved in the process should continue to show good results. (VP)

  • Official inquiry into election interference

    Official inquiry into election interference

    Former far-right presidential candidate Călin Georgescu has been placed under pre-trial arrest for 60 days, after prosecutors questioned him for several hours on Wednesday at the Prosecutor General’s Office, where he was brought in with a warrant. Georgescu was presented with six criminal charges, some of them in aggravated form. One of these marks a premiere for Romania – incitement to actions against the constitutional order, a crime for which no one has ever been prosecuted. Georgescu was also accused of communicating false information, making false declarations regarding financial statements and the funding of the election campaign, initiating or establishing organizations with a fascist, racist or xenophobic and anti-Semitic character and joining or supporting such groups in any form, as well as publicly promoting figures who committed genocide and war crimes. Călin Georgescu denied all allegations, accusing the authorities of employing methods that are reminiscent of the communist regime.

     

    Last December, the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election, invoking external interference in the election, which is set to be reorganized in full. In the second round, Călin Georgescu, who had unexpectedly managed to rank first in the Romanians’ voting options, was supposed to face the president of the USR (Save Romania Union), Elena Lasconi. After the announcement of the indictment of the former presidential candidate, Romanian politicians reasserted their trust in the judiciary and its independence. Social-Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, stressed, however, that, given the tense electoral context, judicial authorities must present extremely solid evidence in this investigation.

     

    The leader of AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians), George Simion, expressed his continuous support of Călin Georgescu’s candidacy in the presidential election. Simion said he is waiting for incontestable evidence regarding the investigation launched by the Prosecutor’s Office. In turn, USR president, Elena Lasconi, stated that she continues to have confidence in the justice system and believes that prosecutors are fulfilling their duties responsibly. In contrast, the president of POT (Young People’s Party), Ana Maria Gavrilă, accused the authorities of terrorizing Călin Georgescu’s supporters. The new presidential election is slated for May 4 and 18. Upon leaving the Prosecutor’s Office, Călin Georgescu said that he will definitely run for the presidency this spring. (VP)

  • Political consultations for Romania’s security

    Political consultations for Romania’s security

    Interim President Ilie Bolojan held consultations with representatives of the parliamentary parties to define Romania’s position at the extraordinary European Council on March 6, a summit expected to bring important decisions on European security. Both the ruling and opposition parties rejected the scenario of Bucharest sending peacekeeping troops to neighboring Ukraine. The co-ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) does not agree with Romania sending troops and is in favor of allocating additional funds for defense, in the form of investments in the national arms industry.

    In a statement, party leader and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu proposes excluding defense spending from the calculation of the budget deficit. The National Liberal Party (PNL) also supports higher defense investment, but believes that in the context of diplomatic talks on the ceasefire, the topic of participating with peacekeeping troops is premature.

    The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR), also a member of the ruling coalition, believes that Romania should invest in modern military capabilities. Party president Kelemen Hunor has stated that he does not agree with sending Romanian soldiers to Ukraine.

    Kelemen Hunor: “Security guarantees must be ensured, including through the United States, and Romania can provide logistical and infrastructural support for Ukraine, for the European Union states and for those who wish to be more actively involved, but without troops in Ukraine.”

    From the opposition, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) is also against sending troops to the neighboring country. The leader of the group, George Simion has said:

    “The only solution at this moment is a ceasefire, by observing all international agreements and security guarantees that Romania and all countries in the region must benefit from.”

    The opposition Save Romania Union (USR) believes that Romania must invest more in defense and emphasizes the need for a clear plan for participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

    The sovereignists from SOS Romania do not want Romanian troops in Ukraine either and are against the continuation of the war.

    Meanwhile, the Senate in Bucharest has adopted, as a decision-making body, a bill that allows the shooting down of drones that illegally enter Romanian airspace and another that regulates the way military missions in Romania are carried out in peacetime. One of the measures allows, for a limited period, the authority of some structures of the Romanian Army to be transferred to a commander of the allied military forces participating in these missions.

    In this context, it should also be mentioned that the United States has announced a new investment at the Deveselu Base, in southern Romania, which hosts elements of the anti-missile shield. The Pentagon has published a notice of intent for a tender in order to establish special telecommunications links between the Deveselu anti-missile shield and other American bases in Europe, especially in Italy and Germany. (MI)

  • No-confidence vote in Bucharest

    No-confidence vote in Bucharest

    On Tuesday, AUR, SOS and POT MPs from the so-called sovereignist opposition in the Bucharest Parliament called for the first vote of no-confidence against the PSD-PNL-UDMR government, installed at the end of December and led by Social-Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The motion is titled “Prime Minister Nordis must go, Romanians are fed up with humiliation” – a reference to the alleged connections between Ciolacu and the perpetrators of a far-reaching real estate scam. Earlier this month, former PSD deputy Laura Vicol and her husband, businessman Vladimir Ciorbă, were placed under pre-trial arrest. Three other defendants were also placed under house arrest in the same case. In the case of six others suspects, the court ordered house arrest or judicial proceedings.

     

    The investigation by anti-mafia prosecutors from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) targets 40 individuals and 32 companies, accused of having collected over €195 million from individuals or legal entities, but not delivering the apartments and parking spaces for which the clients had paid. According to investigators, there were also cases where the same apartment was sold to several clients. The political boss of Laura Vicol, who served as president of the legal committee in the Chamber of Deputies in the previous legislature, Prime Minister Ciolacu admitted that he flew to France and Spain on private jets, together with the former deputy and her husband, Vladimir Ciorbă. The Minister of Transport, Sorin Grindeanu, is reported to have joined them on these trips.

     

    Motion initiators say that the current government is illegitimate, has lost its credibility, precisely as certain cabinet members are associated with the Nordis investigation. The opposition says the Cabinet does not observe its own governing program, where it promised, among other things, to increase allowances and pensions. The government is already accumulating a shameful record of abuses and failures, which demonstrates the total rupture between political power and the Romanian people – the nationalist opposition also says.

     

    Also in the opposition, the pro-European USR party announced it would not vote the motion. USR says that the motion has zero chances of passing, and the entire opposition is missing the chance to initiate a procedure to dismiss the Government in the current parliamentary session. Representatives of the majority coalition say that Romania needs serious solutions, not image strategies, and have promised to create a shield around Ciolacu and his team. Moreover, the Social-Democrat and Liberal leaders say that any defections from the ruling majority will be punished without mercy, and whoever votes in favor of the motion will be expelled from the party. AUR, SOS and POT have a combined 154 MPs in the current legislature. However, for the motion to pass, 232 votes in favor are required, tantamount to half plus one of the total number of senators and deputies. (VP)

  • High school curriculum, under debate

    High school curriculum, under debate

    The Romanian Education Ministry is preparing a reform of the high school curriculum, adjusted to current needs.

     

     

    The reform of the high school curriculum in Romania is currently in the attention of the Romanian Education Ministry.  Minister Daniel David, participated in Iaşi (northeast) in a debate on the draft framework plans for high schools. He called on all interested parties, students, teachers and parents alike, to get involved in the process of developing them, saying that if good ideas emerge from the debates, the documents will be modified accordingly, as it has already been the case after the discussions and meetings in recent weeks, after the projects were put up for public debate. Education Minister Daniel David: “There were a lot of good ideas that emerged and are still emerging along the way. We are in the stage where we are building. I encourage you to go a little further in the coming weeks, to come up with simulations.”

     

    The Minister emphasized the high level of functional illiteracy in various fields and the fact that many of the adults who graduated from high school have worryingly low skills, which is “intolerable for a modern country, which has other ambitions in Education”. He also explained what the next steps are. Daniel David: “After the framework plans, we will have to move to the second stage, namely to rethink the contents so as to make them relevant, attractive, less dense, so that we also have time for consolidation, for remedial activities, to think about how to apply the knowledge acquired, to everyday life. Another step, after we decide on the contents, will be related to the textbooks, how we put those contents in attractive textbooks. And in parallel, we will also do training for teachers, to make sure that these contents and the textbooks that we will have, are taught using modern education techniques, which manage to transfer competences to the minds and behavior of children and are not mere knowledge on paper.”

     

    The framework plans for high school must focus on topics relevant to the labor market and integrate practical learning experiences, to increase student involvement and their degree of understanding, the ProEDU Parents’ Federation said in turn. Its president, Eugen Ilea, said he is preparing a series of proposals that he wants to send to the ministry by the end of this week and specified that parents are also asking that the emotional well-being of students be ensured, as well as the inclusion of topics regarding mental health, stress management and personal development. The public debate period ends next week, on March 6, and the final form of the documents is expected to be presented in early May. The new framework plans will be introduced starting with the 9th grade of the 2026-2027 school year. (EE)

     

  • Talks on Ukraine

    Talks on Ukraine

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

     

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

     

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

  • Economic Forecasts for Romania

    Economic Forecasts for Romania

     

    Romania no longer leads the EU ranking in terms of the highest average annual inflation rate, but remains among the top 3 countries, the EU Statistics Office reports.

     

    After 10 months of unwanted leadership of this ranking for our country, in January 2025 Hungary climbed to first place, with 5.7%, followed by Romania, with 5.3% and Croatia, with 5 percent.

     

    The average rate of consumer price increase is calculated over the last 12 months, and in this case it compares the figures reported in February 2024 – January 2025 with the period February 2023 – January 2024.

     

    In the European Union, this indicator reached 2.8% last month, from 2.7% in December 2024, while in the Eurozone it rose to 2.5% in January, from 2.4% in December. The European Central Bank has set a 2% inflation target, which it views as healthy for economic growth in the EU.

     

    In Romania, according to data released by the National Statistics Institute, the year-on-year inflation rate dropped from 5.14% in December to 4.95% in January 2025, as food prices rose by 4.54%, non-food prices by 4.60%, and prices for services by 6.54%.

     

    Last week, the National Bank of Romania adjusted the inflation forecast for the end of this year from 3.5% to 3.8%. The Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu, said that inflation would be fluctuating in the first half of this year, then it would stay on a slight downward trend, but it would not fall below 3.5% until the first quarter of 2026. He expects Romania to see a period of lower deficit, which is good for inflation, but could affect economic growth:

     

    Mugur Isărescu: “The country enters a period of decreased demand, so let’s see how it works. The important thing is for this new situation, combined with the fiscal policy, the monetary policy, not to lead to recession. If economic growth is based mainly on investments and especially on EU fund absorption, we believe this can be avoided and we can have decreasing inflation. We are talking about economic growth—not great, but growth nonetheless.”

     

    The central bank governor also explained that in the future as well, inflation remains marked by risks and uncertainties, both domestic and foreign. Among the domestic elements affecting inflation, Isărescu listed the electoral year marked by political and social tensions, while for external elements he mentioned a possible trade war between the United States of America and the European Union, which he said could have significant negative effects on Romania.

     

    In this context, Mugur Isărescu appreciated the decision of the Romanian government to declare the absorption of EU funds as a top priority, and emphasised that revitalising investments is important. For the end of 2026, the central bank of Romania predicts a 3.1% annual inflation rate. (AMP)

  • Three years of war in Ukraine

    Three years of war in Ukraine

     

    Three years after Russia’s invasion, EU leaders went to Kyiv to express their support for Ukraine, in a summit dedicated to a common defence and security strategy. “We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. She was accompanied in Kyiv by the College of Commissioners, and emphasised the need to strengthen military aid.

     

    According to European Commission data, the EU and its 27 member states have provided almost EUR 134 billion to Ukraine in the past 3 years, of which EUR 48 billion in military assistance. Kyiv has also received substantial support from Washington.

     

    However, Donald Trump’s new administration is approaching the situation differently. The White House said on Saturday that the US is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing the profits from Ukrainian minerals as part of efforts to end the war. Washington wants to recover the billions of US dollars given to Ukraine in military aid, which is why it is demanding rare minerals, oil or “anything we can get,” says Donald Trump.

     

    Thrown off balance by the unexpected US-Russian dialogue on Ukraine, as Washington started talks with Moscow to end the war without having the EU or Kyiv involved, Europeans fear that Donald Trump could end the war on terms favourable to Russia, without offering security guarantees to Ukraine.

     

    The successive meetings of European leaders in Paris organised last week by Emmanuel Macron have shown, on the other hand, that they are rather divided and have failed to come up with a joint response to the start of US-Russian negotiations on peace in Ukraine.

     

    As such, news agencies say, “the French president is going to Washington on Monday on behalf of his country alone, without having an EU mandate for Europe to be able to speak with one voice.” He will be followed on Thursday by British PM Keir Starmer, who travels to the White House for similar talks with the US president, the same president who recently accused the two European leaders of having done nothing to end the war in Ukraine.

     

    Attending one of the meetings in Paris last week, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, pleaded for cooperation between EU countries and the United States in resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

     

    “A just and lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved with the help of the United States, Romania’s strategic partner,” PM Marcel Ciolacu said in turn in Bucharest, in a first official reaction to the most important topic on the agenda of world leaders. The Romanian official voiced confidence that, despite the harsh political rhetoric of recent days, the steps to end the war will be successful. At the same time, Marcel Ciolacu emphasised that “Romanians have paid dearly, in economic terms, for the effects of this conflict,” and that Romanian companies should play an important role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. (AMP)

  • Romanian director Radu Jude wins another Berlinale Award

    Romanian director Radu Jude wins another Berlinale Award

    The 75th edition of the International Film Festival in Berlin, the first major cinema event of the year reached its climax on Saturday with its awards gala led by American reputed director Todd Haynes.

    19 films were vying for a prize in the main competition, which also included a Romanian director. Radu Jude, a Romanian filmmaker, recipient of the Golden Bear Award in 2021 for his dark comedy Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, could have scored a double with his production this year entitled ‘Kontinental 25’

    On Saturday, Radu Jude reaped the Silver Bear for best screenplay of ‘Kontinental ’25’, a political fresco of the contemporary society and capitalism, which is exploring present-day issues, such as the housing crisis, the post-socialist economy, nationalism and the impact language has over the social statute.

    The film is based upon a newspaper article about a guilt-ridden woman bailiff, who had to evict a homeless man from a basement. Shortly after learning that he is going to be evicted, the man commits suicide and his death sparks off the protagonist’s moral crisis.

    Shot only in ten days with a smartphone, ‘Kontinental ’25’ was among the favourites of a group of international critics in Berlin, mentioned by the specialized review Screen.

    ‘I am a poor script-writer, so winning this award is kind of funny’, Jude joked during the award ceremony. He thanked his team adding that the prize proves that Romania still has a lot of talent and that he hoped more money would be allotted to culture in this country.

    Radu Jude has dedicated the Silver Award he got for ‘Kontinental ’25’ to the heritage of the Spanish director Luis Bunuel (1900-1983), whose name was associated with the surrealistic movement and whose birthday was being commemorated right on the day of the award ceremony. ʹKontinental 25ʹs cast included Eszter Tompa, Gabriel Spahiu, Adonis Tanţa, Oana Mardare and Şerban Pavlu. The film is played in Romanian, Hungarian and German with English and German subtitles. We recall that at the 2015 edition of the aforementioned festival, Jude’s production, Aferim!, also got him the Silver Bear Award for best director.

    (bill)