August 22, 2016

For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.

Newsroom, 22.08.2016, 12:00

VISIT – The Romanian PM Dacian Cioloş will pay an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on Thursday, after earlier this month the Romanian Government disbursed a first installment worth 60 million euros of the non-reimbursable financial aid package for the Republic of Moldova of 150 million euros. The two sides have agreed on a number of obligations that the Republic of Moldova has to fulfill for this first installment to be disbursed, such as the setting up of a roadmap for reaching an agreement with the IMF, the passing of laws meant to improve the business environment. The Republic of Moldova also has to present a plan for updating the reform strategy in the justice sector and a national anti-corruption strategy.

SUMMIT – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande are holding talks in Italy together with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. According to Radio Romanias correspondent on the ground, talks are focused on the outcomes of the Brexit vote, combating terrorism and the issue of migration. The meeting follows ahead of the EU Summit of Bratislava scheduled three weeks from now, which is of capital importance for the future of the EU, the first to take place without the participation of Great Britain.

STRIKE ACTION – On hunger strike since Thursday, Romanian farmers say they would not renounce their protest in front of the Government building until they get subsidies for their animals. The total amount demanded stands at 360 million euros. Protesters say the Agriculture Ministry must disburse the money by August 15. The Agency for Payments and Interventions in Agriculture claims that 61% of subsidies have been paid by mid-August, the equivalent of 193 million euros.

TRANSPORTS – Romanian carriers have called a work-in strike. They will run at 30 km/h for an hour every day across the country, until the civil liability premiums for car owners will be reduced to 1,100 euros per year. Employers in the field will also stage a large protest nationwide on September 15. Carriers say that unless immediate action is taken, they might opt for calling an all-out strike. They claim premiums for car owners doubled their cost from 2,000 to over 4,000 euros only in one year. Under these circumstances, carriers in Romania are reporting huge costs and can no longer be competitive at European level.

OLYMPICS – The Olympic Games in Rio ended with a modest result for Romania, with only 5 medals. Romania ranks 47 in the medal standings, with one gold for the womens epee team, the silver won by Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau in the mens tennis doubles and three bronze medals, grabbed by weightlifter Gabriel Sincraian, the womens coxed eight rowing crew and Albert Saritov in wrestling. Tokyo will host the Olympic Games of 2020.

TENNIS – Tennis player Simona Halep went down one position in WTA standings to 5th place after losing 6-3, 6-4 to Angelique Kerber of Germany in the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Cincinnati, US. In the doubles competition, Horia Tecau of Romania and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands lost to Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Mercelo Melo of Brazil in the finals, score 6-7, 7-6, 6-10.

(Translated by V. Palcu)