May 30, 2015 UPDATE
For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.
Newsroom, 30.05.2015, 12:15
BILATERAL RELATIONS – Minister Delegate for Romanians Abroad Angel Tilvar starting Saturday is paying a four-day official visit to Portugal. The visit is a good opportunity to consolidate bilateral relations in all fields. The agenda includes meetings with Education Minister Nuno Crato, with High Commissioner for Migration and Intercultural Dialogue Pedro Calado and with Deputy Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Manuel Castro. Tilvar will also meet with representatives of Romanian associations and will attend the Day of Romanians in Portugal, an event held in Lisbon and commonly bringing together both Romanians and Moldovans.
INVESTMENT – Romania has reported a significant increase in foreign direct investment, Prime Minister Victor Ponta has said. Ponta next week will present the quarterly economic report in the Chamber of Deputies. According to the Prime Minister, investor trust in the private sector has hit its highest level in recent years, and Romania must continue its economic measures to remain among the regions economic leaders. On Monday, a 9% slash in the VAT for foodstuffs and services in the food industry will come into force. At present the VAT stands at 24%, with the exception of bread and bakery products, which already have a 9% VAT. The National Forecast Committee has upgraded its economic growth forecast for 2015 and 2016, to 3.3% this year and 3.4% next year. Previously, the committee last winter had announced a growth of the GDP of 2.8% for this year. In 2017, the Committee expects an economic growth of 3.7% and of 4% in 2018.
RUSSIA – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the list banning entry to Russia also includes Romanian citizens. The Ministry says it will demand an explanation for this list, which the Romanian embassy in Moscow received from the EU Delegation in Moscow. According to a document posted by former presidential advisor Iulin Chifu on his Facebook page, the list includes people such as Chifu himself, former Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu, Romanian Air Force commander Tiberiu Liviu Chondon, Diaspora MP Eugen Tomac, born in the former USSR as well as the deputy chairman of Transgaz, Gheorghe Hategan. The list also includes officials from Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom. The list comes as a response to EU sanctions on Russia after the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014. Romania has repeatedly argued in favour of observing the integrity and territorial sovereignty of neighbouring Ukraine and has severely criticized Moscows ingressions.
FOOTBALL – Steaua Bucharest is playing Universitatea Cluj on Sunday evening in the Romanian Cup final in Bucharest. Steaua is the favourite, after winning the League trophy and the League Cup this season. Universitatea on the other hand has been relegated to the second tier, alongside two other former champions – Rapid Bucharest and Otelul Galati, and FC Brasov, Gaz Metan Medias and Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt. FC Voluntari and ACS Poli Timisoara have been promoted to the first League. Starting next season, the first league will have only 14 teams in play off – play out system. This is seen as a solution to improve the quality of the championship, seen as subpar by both experts and fans.
VISIT – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis on Sunday will receive British Crown heir Prince Charles, the presidency reports. Prince Charles pays frequent visits to Romania, where he also holds various estates. The prince has a passion for Romanias medieval Saxon architecture, typical of Transylvania, where German colonists in the Middle Ages built citadels, fortified churches and houses. President Iohannis is a descendant of their lineage.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Andreea Mitu on Saturday qualified to the round of 16 at Roland Garros after defeating 7-5, 6-4 Francesca Schiavone of Italy. This is the best performance of her career for Mitu, who is currently 100th ranked in WTA standings. She will play Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium in the next round. Also on Saturday, Irina Begu lost to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2. In the mens competition, Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands will play Florin Mergea and Rohan Bopanna of India. The latter pair knocked out Austin Krajicek and Donald Young of the US. Mergea and Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands and Tecau and Katarina Srebotnik are also competing in the round of 16 of the mixed doubles.
THE PENTECOST – Orthodox and Greek Catholic Christians in Romania and worldwide on Sunday are celebrating the Pentecost, marking the foundation of the Christian Church. Known as the fiftieth day, the Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the 12 Apostles, who converted some 3,000 people, making the first Christian community in Jerusalem and the core of the Christian Church.
