June 26, 2021

Romania celebrates National Flag Day./ Forecasts warn of more severe weather with heavy rain, storms and flooding.

Newsroom, 26.06.2021, 13:49

Covid-19. 62 new Covid cases
from over 27,000 tests were reported in Romania on Saturday, as well as 6 new
related deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours. 532 Covid patients are
receiving hospital treatment, including 97 in intensive care. More than 4.7
million Romanians have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, which
accounts for 25% of the country’s eligible population. A further easing of
coronavirus restrictions will come into effect from 1st July.

Flag Day. On
National Flag Day on Saturday, president Klaus Iohannis issued a statement
saying the Romanian flag witnessed the most important events in modern Romanian
history and symbolises the link between the country’s past, present and future.
Together with the coat of arms and the anthem, the flag, the president also
said, forms part of the national identity and represents the unity of the
Romanian nation, the independence, sovereignty and indivisible nature of the
state. The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban, who attended events in Iaşi to
celebrate National Flag Day, spoke about the importance of the flag in the
development of the Romanian state and the challenges faced by Romanians
throughout history. Various military and cultural events were held to mark
National Flag Day. In June 1848, the revolutionary government in Bucharest
established, in its first decree, blue, yellow and red as the colours of the
Romanian flag.

Diplomatic tour. Romanian foreign
minister Bogdan Aurescu and his Austrian and Lithuanian counterparts are in Georgia’s
capital Tbilisi today, on the last leg of a tour of South Caucasus aimed at
consolidating the European Union’s geopolitical profile in its own
neighbourhood and boost its involvement and role in solving the region’s
protracted conflicts. On Friday in Yerevan and Baku, the three ministers had
talks with high officials from Armenia and Azerbaijan, respectively. The
Romanian minister emphasised during talks that the trip to South Caucasus by
three EU foreign ministers reiterates the priority given by both the European
Union and member states to the stability and security of the states in this
region, including through enhanced involvement to find sustainable solutions to
protracted conflicts.

Investment. Prime
minister Florin Cîţu conveyed
to German investors that he would like to see stronger economic ties between
Romania and Germany. In a Facebook post, he said his government would carry out
reforms and that its strategy is to gradually increase the budgets for
development and investments on the international market leading to accumulation
of technology and know-how. He emphasised that his government will keep its
promise not to introduce new taxes and will focus on the efficient spending of
the funds in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Cîţu attended on Friday
an economic conference held in Bucharest by the Romanian-German Chamber of
Industry and Commerce.

Government. The government is today
discussing the framework agreement for the conditions for providing medical
care in Romania. The bill aims to increase the share of primary and outpatient
care and reduce unjustified hospitalisation. The bill also introduces further specialist
services provided through primary and outpatient care, such as remote
consultations for chronic patients, psychiatric therapy and medical-related
services provided by psychologists and speech therapists.

Tennis. Romania’s
Monica Niculescu reached the Wimbledon main draw after defeating the American
player Kristie Ahn in straight sets on Friday in the last qualifying round.
Romania has six players on the women’s singles main draw at Wimbledon, which gets
under way on Monday: Sorana Cîrstea, Patricia Ţig, Irina Begu, Ana Bogdan,
Mihaela Buzărnescu and Monica Niculescu. World no. 3 Simona Halep and the
winner in London two years ago, on Friday pulled out of the tournament with
calf injury.

Weather. 50 localities in 22 counties were affected
by the bad weather seen in the last 24 hours, with many households and
basements being flooded. Road travel was disrupted on 35 county roads. The wind
tore down the roofs of several buildings, felled over 200 trees and damaged electric
power poles. The electricity supply was disrupted in 162 localities in seven
counties. (CM)