July 17, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 17.07.2023, 20:00

Summit. The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis takes part on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels in the 3rd summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The main goal of the summit is to revive the partnership between the EU and Latin American countries, in the context of current geopolitical developments, including Russias war against Ukraine. According to the Romanian presidency, Mr. Iohannis will highlight the importance of the cooperation between the two regions for the management of the new global challenges and complex crises facing them. On Monday, the European Commission announced a 45 billion Euro investment program for Latin America and the Carabbeans, to be implemented in the next four years. The program includes 130 projects on renewable energy, digitalization, critical materials, state of the art technology, transport, medicine and human resources.

Government. The Social Democratic MPs Natalia Intotero and Simona Bucura-Oprescu have been appointed by their party leaders as the new ministries for family and labour, respectively. The two positions were vacant after the resignation of Gabriela Firea as minister for family and of Marius Budăi as labour minister, following a scandal concerning care home abuses in Ilfov County, near the capital Bucharest, where prosecutors are investigating organised crime groups that have exploited vulnerable people. Simona Bucura-Oprescu chairs the Committee on public administration and country planning in the Chamber of Deputies. She was elected as Deputy for Argeş County as a Social Democratic candidate, first in 2012, and then in 2016 and 2020. Natalia Intotero was a minister for the Romanian diaspora in 2018-2019 and a state secretary with the Foreign Ministry. She is also at her 3rd term in office as an MP, and since December 2020 she has been chairing the Chambers committee on education.

Taxation. The government of Romania is looking at a set of tax increases to be applied as of September 1 in order to offset the budget deficit. The planned changes include a new 1% tax on residential buildings worth over EUR 500,000, and higher taxes on tobacco products and gambling. According to governmental sources, 2 VAT rates will remain in force, with a 9% tax rate for foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and prostheses, and a 19% rate for other products and services. The government is also considering the introduction of public health insurance contributions for employees in agriculture and constructions, thus eliminating current exemptions in these sectors. Additional taxes will be charged on transfers by companies that move their profits out of the country. As many as 85.8% of the small and medium-sized enterprises are against these proposed amendments to the Fiscal Code, the SME Council president Florin Jianu says.

Moldova. On Monday, the Republic of Moldova appointed a new minister of the interior, after the resignation of his predecessor as a result of a deadly exchange of fire at the countrys main international airport. A spokesperson for the government stated that the new minister – Colonel Adrian Efros – worked at the ministry before his appointment and was sworn in alongside two other ministers at the residence of President Maia Sandu. Both Efros and the new Ministers of Science and Education, Dan Perciun, and Infrastructure and Regional Development, Andrei Spînu, replaced the ministers who resigned on Friday, without giving any reason. The opposition demanded the resignation of the previous Minister of the Interior, Ana Revenco, in connection with the incident at the airport in Chisinau. After being denied entry into the Republic of Moldova on June 30, a Tajik citizen fatally shot two security officers and wounded a civilian at the airport. Later, the Tajik citizen, wounded in the fire exchange, also died.

Culture. This weeks agenda of the Timişoara – European Capital of Culture programme includes theatre, performing arts, cinema, exhibitions and gastronomy. The world-famous US actor John Malkovich stars in “The Infernal Comedy” staged by the National Theatre in Timişoara, supported by the Vienna Academy Orchestra, in 3 sold-out performances on Thursday and Friday. On Tuesday, the Revolution Memorial Museum opens an exhibition on “The Berlin Wall, a border through Germany”, and Wednesday sees the first screening of a travel documentary by Florin Iepan, entitled “My journey to Romania – Letter from Timişoara”, depicting the city as seen by a Norwegian traveller, Christoffer Johansen.

Physics. The Romanian team won first place at the European level and third place in the nation ranking, with three gold and two silver medals, at the International Physics Olympiad held Tokyo, Japan, the Education Ministry announced on Monday. China and Korea ranked first, followed by the United States of America. Almost 400 students from 84 countries participated in the competition. Romanias team also ranked first among the European countries and fourth in the ranking of nations at the International Mathematical Olympiad in Chiba, Japan, after the students won six medals.

Pianist. Valentin Gheorghiu, one of the greatest pianists in the musical history of Romania and an acclaimed composer, passed away at the age of 95. Valentin Gheorghiu studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Bucharest and attended the National Conservatory of Music in Paris. He debuted at the age of 15 as a soloist, on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum. Noticed and appreciated by George Enescu, the pianist Valentin Gheorghiu had an impressive artistic activity, spanning eight decades. At the age of 90, he was awarded the National Order “Star of Romania” in token of deep appreciation for his extraordinary musical career.

Football. Romanian football champions Farul Constanţa take on Sheriff Tiraspol, of the Republic of Moldova, on Tuesday night, in the Champions Leagues first qualifying round. In the first leg, Farul won 1-0 on home turf. The winning team is next to play against the winner of the round pitting Maccabi Haifa (Israel) against Hamrun Spartans (Malta), in which the Israeli side won the first leg 4-0. Three Romanian teams are playing in Conference League as well. In the 2nd qualifying round, former champions CFR Cluj take on Adana Demirspor, of Turkey. Cup winners Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe are pitting against CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria), while vice-champions FCSB (Bucharest) are facing CSKA 1948 Sofia. The first leg is scheduled for July 27, with the return leg due a week later. (MI)