May 4, 2022

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 04.05.2022, 13:51

VISIT — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is today meeting with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is on an official visit to Romania. The visit is held against the background of the celebration of 30 years since the signing of the Romanian-German Treaty on Friendly Cooperation and Partnership in Europe. Talks will focus on ways to develop and strengthen ties between the two countries. Germany is Romania’s largest commercial partner, with 35-billion euro worth of trade in 2021 and also the third largest investor in Romania’s economy. Regional, European and Euro-Atlantic security, in the context of the Russian Federation’s illegal aggression against Ukraine, the issue of Ukrainian refugees, energy security and measures to consolidate NATO’s eastern flank will also be discussed. The German President will also meet with PM Nicolae Ciuca.

GOVERNMENT — The Bucharest Government is today passing an emergency order setting the way in which European money will be used to modernise energy systems and improve their effectiveness. All EU states which in 2013 had a GDP per capita below 60% of the European average are benefitting these funds. Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Baltic states are also on the list alongside Romania. The funds will be used to combat climate change, by decreasing polluting gases, developing renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency and enhancing the interconnection of electricity networks.

LABOUR — The labour standards and rights at work of the Romanian citizens working in Italy and of the Italian citizens working in Romania must be respected in keeping with the EU regulations, PM Nicolae Ciuca said Wednesday in Bucharest when a memorandum of understanding in the field of workplace inspection was signed by the relevant ministers, Marius Budai and Andrea Orlando respectively. The PM voiced hope that such memorandums would be signed with other countries as well.

UKRAINE — The Ukrainian forces have pushed back, in the last 24 hours, some 12 missile attacks of the Russian military in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, where the aggressors are still trying to advance from the north in order to surround Ukrainian troops in the area, news agencies report. Maryupol continues to be the hotspot of the Donetk region, where over 90% of infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said another 156 civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant and from other parts of the besieged city and that other evacuation operations are being prepared.

PROTESTS — Members of a large trade union confederation in Romania protested on Wednesday in front of the Government offices, asking for the observance of the state of law and of the legislation passed by Parliament, and for solutions to social problems signalled repeatedly to the authorities, and still unanswered. According to the trade unions, inflation, the expensive basic products, the high price of electricity and heating and the mandatory insurance policies are a very heavy burden for Romanians. Protesters have asked for an increase in the gross minimum salary to around 600 euros, for bringing salaries and pensions in line with inflation and for passing a new trade union law, in keeping with Romania’s EU member status.

CINEMA – Radu Judes Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn was the big winner of the Gopo Awards, an event dedicated to Romanian cinema. The film also won awards for best feature film, best female lead (Catia Pascariu) and best editing (Cătălin Cristuţiu). However, the production that won most awards was Cristi Puius Malmkrog, namely for best director, cinematography, stage design, costumes, make-up and hairstyle. The award for best male lead went to actor Bogdan Farcaş, for his role in Unidentified.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep is today up against Tunisian Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Tournament. Halep leads 2-1 in direct matches. Having won the tournament in 2016 and 2017, and two time finalist, in 2014 and 2019, Halep scored 30 wins at the Madrid tournament, right after Petra Kvitova, who won the tournament three times. (EE)