August 1, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 01.08.2024, 20:00

Loan. Romania signed a financing agreement with the World Bank worth 600 million euros for development policies regarding fiscal management and green growth. The loan was conditioned on the implementation of some structural reforms, the actions related to the agreement being completed prior to the negotiation, the Finance Ministry announced on Thursday. According to a press release, it is about important structural reforms to strengthen fiscal management and improve resilience in the face of climate change. The financial support from the World Bank has a maturity of 15 years, with repayment in a single installment, on July 15, 2039. In the 32 years of partnership between Romania and the World Bank, the institution granted Bucharest 13 loans, worth 1.7 billion euros.

Warning. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that, in the context of recent security developments and the increased risk of escalation, a travel warning is in force for the State of Israel, level 8/9 – AVOID ANY TRAVEL. The ministry strongly recommends rescheduling for a later date, depending on the evolution of the security situation, all trips for tourist or pilgrimage purposes. The security situation is volatile, significant damage can occur suddenly, without prior warning, with the consequence of closing the land and air borders of the State of Israel – warns the MFA. A similar warning, level 8/9 – AVOID ANY TRAVEL, is also in place for the entire territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The MFA points out that, against the background of the recent developments in the security situation in the Gulf area, several air transport companies have taken the decision to introduce a detour route for flights transiting the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz, given the real risk to passengers and crews’ safety.

Commissioner. The Social-Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated that his colleague, MEP Victor Negrescu, is one of the options regarding the proposal that Romania is to make for the position of European Commissioner in the future European Commission. He specified that the Social-Democratic MEP Mihai Tudose refused a possible nomination for this position. August 30 is the deadline by which each member state of the European Union must propose two candidates for the post of European Commissioner in the future Community Executive. Re-confirmed for the second term as president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen emphasized, in a letter, that she wants each country to propose a man and a woman. In the former community executive, Romania was represented by the liberal Alina Vălean, who held the Transport portfolio.

Support. Romania is among the nine member states to receive technical support for the preparation of their national plans for the implementation of the Pact on migration and asylum, the European Commission Representation in Romania announced. According to a press release, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Romania have submitted requests for support and will receive specific advice from experts for four months. This support will help Member States prepare their national implementation plans, which must be submitted by early December.

Funeral. Thousands of people participated, on Thursday, in the state-organized funeral, in the capital of Iran, of the assassinated leader of the Palestinian movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, a ceremony marked by calls to avenge his death, France Presse reports. He is to be buried in Qatar on Friday. The Iranian government has declared three days of national mourning after the political leader of Hamas was assassinated in Tehran in an airstrike. Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated shortly after the military commander of the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah, another close ally of Iran, was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. The two attacks generated fears that the war in the East could expand. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, quoted by the Radio Romania correspondent in Israel, admitted that difficult days will follow, but emphasized that the Israeli army is prepared for any scenario.

Government. The Bucharest Government on Thursday approved an ordinance meant to regulate some measures for the management of European funds allocated to Romania through the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. The document also includes provisions necessary for the fulfillment of milestones and targets within the NRRP. According to a press release by the executive, the government also adopted a draft law for the ratification of the agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding its privileges and immunities in Romania. The ratification of this international agreement, signed in Bucharest on March 19, 2024, corresponds to the political commitment of the Romanian Government to support the efforts of the international community to respond to the urgent protection and assistance needs of people affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

Olympic Games. Romanian rowers Andrei Cornea and Marian Enache won the gold medals in the men’s double sculls on Thursday at the Olympic Games in Paris. Ancuța Bodnar and Simona Radiș, Olympic champions in Tokyo, won the silver medal in the women’s double sculls event. The women’s four-man crew came out fourth, and the men’s four-man crew came out fifth. Romanian swimmer David Popovici won the bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle, on Wednesday evening, in a final in which the Chinese Zhanle Pan won the gold with a new world record. According to the specialized press, the final was a formidable one, the fastest in history. On Monday, Popovici (19 years old) won gold in the 200 meters freestyle. On Fiday, On Romanian athletes compete in athletics, rowing and yachting at the Olympic Games in Paris. (EE)