October 20, 2022 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 20.10.2022, 20:00

WAR IN UKRAINE -
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that its forces continued to
target military and energy infrastructure objectives in Ukraine. The Ministry
also claims its forces repelled a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson
region in the south, where the local occupation administration is trying to
evacuate tens of thousands of residents. The Russian MFA claims weapon
deliveries from the EU to Kyiv have turned the community bloc into a
belligerent faction in the Ukrainian conflict. MFA spokesperson Maria Zakharova
referred to countries that delivered weapons to Ukraine as sponsors of
terrorism.

RESIGNATION – British Prime
Minister Liz Truss has announced her resignation amidst challenges targeting
both herself and her party. The British official admitted she cannot keep the
promises made when she submitted her candidacy for the leadership of the
Conservative Party after her predecessor, Boris Johnson, stepped down. Liz
Truss’s economic measures based on reducing taxation have disrupted global
markets, resulting in a sharp drop of the Pound and state bonds. Liz Truss
steps down after only 45 days in office, thus becoming the shortest-ruling Prime
Minister in the history of the UK.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL – Romania’s
president, Klaus Iohannis, is attending the European Council meeting devoted to
the energy crisis and solutions for Europeans to pay their bills. European
leaders met to reach consensus regarding a reduction of energy prices in the
context of the war in Ukraine. President Iohannis said the European
Commission’s proposal with regard to the steep price of natural gas is good,
and that Romania agrees to the proposal. The president explained gas prices
will be capped without causing troubles for distributors while preventing the
unwarranted increase of prices. We have started working on regulations that
separate the natural gas market from the electricity market. We have a number
of common acquisitions as part of a joint platform for natural gas. We have a
series of elements that can help member states cope with the energy crisis,
Klaus Iohannis further pointed out.

PROTESTS – Trade unions of
the Cartel Alfa trade confederation on Thursday staged a protest action in
Bucharest, calling on the authorities to curb impoverishment. Unionists call
for a better control of prices and taxing excess profits, an increase of
salaries and pensions and starting collective negotiations for the modification
of the Law on Social Dialogue. Protesters have warned that, unless their
demands are met, they will return in larger numbers to call for the resignation
of the government. Earlier this month, Cartel Alfa representatives decided to
organize a number of protests at national level in response to what they have
described as absurdly high energy costs and the soaring prices for food and
other essential goods, which force millions of workers to make painful
decisions and bring many of them on the brink of poverty.

SCHENGEN – The Dutch
Parliament on Thursday passed a resolution calling on the Government to vote
against the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria. Dutch MP Sophia in ‘t
Veld, the coordinator of the Renew Europe group in the Committee on Civil Liberties,
Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in the European Parliament, expressed regret
for the decision, arguing that both countries comply with technical accession
criteria. We recall that the European Parliament on Tuesday adopted with a
large majority a resolution calling on the Council of the European Union to
take all the necessary measures to allow Romania and Bulgaria to join the
visa-free travel area by the end of the year. Schengen enlargement requires a
unanimous decision at the level of the EU Council. At present, of all EU Member
States, only Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the
Schengen area, which also includes countries that are not members of the
community bloc (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein).

FOOTBALL – Romania’s Under-21 team has been drawn in
Group B alongside Spain, Ukraine and Croatia at the U21 European Championships
in 2023. The competition will be hosted by Romania and Georgia over June 21 -
July 8. Romania’s matches will take place in Bucharest, whereas the city of
Cluj will host matches in Group D. The U21 teams of Norway, Switzerland, France
and Italy will play their matches in this city. Romania will also host two
matches in the quarterfinals phase. The top three teams will automatically
qualify to the Paris Olympics of 2024. For the first time in its history,
Romania will be present in the European Championships for the third consecutive
time, after securing qualification to the 2019 and 2021 editions. (VP)