October 21, 2022

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 21.10.2022, 13:55

EU. European Union leaders agreed during a meeting in
Brussels on a roadmap to contain energy prices amid the war in Ukraine and the
sanctions against Russia. According to the French president Emmanuel Macron,
the mechanisms envisaged could be implemented at the end of October, beginning
of November. He said EU leaders sent a very
clear signal to the markets of our determination and our unity. EU heads
of state and government called on the European Commission to submit concrete
solutions for a set of measures, including interventions to address the
volatility of gas prices. The 27 EU member states agreed to support joint gas
purchases on a voluntary basis but enough to hit at least 15% this winter. EU
leaders also called for negotiations to be stepped up with viable producing
countries such as Norway and the United States. Romania is represented at the
EU summit by president Klaus Iohannis.

Protest. Romanian trade unions affiliated to Cartel
Alfa are again protesting in Bucharest outside the presidential palace,
following Thursday’s protests in front of the labour ministry and the government
headquarters. The protest is part of a series of rallies held this week in
several cities around the country. Protesters are unhappy with the authorities’
lack of decisive action over major issues that affect people’s living
standards. They are demanding a rise in pensions and salaries, income
protection against inflation, price controls and taxation of excessive profits
and the unblocking of collective negotiations.

Travel. The foreign ministry in
Bucharest warns Romanian nationals currently in Italy that air traffic
controllers are on a national strike today. According to the Italian
authorities, the strike will affect a number of flights to and from Italy and
some public transport services. The Romanian foreign ministry is reminding
citizens in difficulty that they can request assistance from their country’s
general consulates in Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Trieste, Bari and Catania.

Ukraine. Ukrainian president
Volodymyr Zelensky accused invading Russian troops of planting mines at
a hydroelectric dam in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine which is under
Russia’s control. Four people were killed in Kherson after a Ukrainian rocket
artillery hit a ferry crossing. The pro-Moscow authorities in the region
installed by the Russian army this week said they are planning to evacuate
50,000-60,000 people in the coming days following an intensification in the
Ukrainian counteroffensive.

UK. Former British chancellor Rishi Sunak is top contender to take over
the leadership of the Conservative Party and the post of prime minister after
Liz Truss resigned on Thursday. Truss resigned after her decisions in the last
few weeks led to a turmoil on the financial market, causing her party to slide
further in opinion polls. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in London,
the tensions created in such as short time shocked the political world and British
society. Truss’ economic policies led to a collapse of the national currency
and an explosion of interest rates ahead of winter and in the context of a
profound economic crisis. A new prime minister is expected to be designated
next week. (CM)