July 24-29

A review of the most important events this past week

Daniela Budu, 29.07.2017, 14:13

Campaign for the immunization of children

In Romania over 220 thousand children aged between nine months and nine years have not yet received the anti-measles vaccine, according to a report made public by the Health Ministry. The Ministry has made an evaluation of the National Vaccination Programme, and found that the shortage of anti-measles shots that can be used in case of an epidemic is one of its weak points. The authorities and the public radio are conducting an information campaign on vaccination, after 30 children have died of measles. Fearing possible side effects the vaccine may have, some of the parents refuse to vaccinate their children. Prime Minister Mihai Tudose says that the state institutions, the Child Protection Authority included, should have a say in this matter, and that parents who refuse to immunize their children are in fact putting their lives in danger. Physician Sandra Alexiu, the vice-president of the National Society of Family Physicians, says that a high vaccination rate can only be achieved if there are sufficient vaccine supplies, which has not been the case in the past few years. According to the Health Ministry, the measles epidemic facing Romania is the effect of a drop in the vaccination rate in Romania over the last ten years.

Romania bids to host the European Medicines Agency

A small Romanian government delegation went to London on Monday to plead for the relocation of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to Bucharest, after Brexit. Romanian authorities are trying to prove that Bucharest is prepared to host the Agency and have presented their relocation offer in London. Also competing to become hosts of EMA are France, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Bulgaria, which have already presented their offers. Moreover, London itself would like to keep hosting the agency, even after Brexit.

The Government gives up the introduction of new taxes

The leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main party in the government coalition in Romania, made significant changes to the governing programme after the installation, a month ago, of a new cabinet headed by Mihai Tudose. Most of these changes targeted the fiscal area. One of them provided that Romanian businesses were to pay their taxes based on their turnover rather than their profit. A measure also included in the governing programme was the solidarity tax, which was supposed to apply to high-income taxpayers. Both measures have been given up, the first one over fears that it could prove disastrous for the business environment and generate a wave of negative consequences. The leftist Government has also given up the solidarity tax. According to Prime Minister Mihai Tudose, “its contribution to the budget would be minimal.” PM Tudose has announced the Government also gives up the idea to have the employees pay their health insurance and pension contributions instead of the employer. This controversial measure would have yielded no results either, as shown bysimulations conducted in this respect. Representatives of the National Liberal Party (PNL), in the opposition, say that this fiscal uncertainty proves once more that the Government has no major project for Romanias development.

Romania purchases Patriot missiles

The Romanian Defence Ministry has decided to purchase the Patriot surface-to-air defence system, and should all procedures be completed without problems, in November Romania is due to pay the first instalment for the purchase. In making this decision, the authorities took into account the risks that Romanias air space is facing, the partnership with the USA and the fact that the surface-to-air missiles that Romania has at present are obsolete. Defence Minister Adrian Tutuianu says Romania intends to purchase the latest Patriot configuration, thus strengthening not only Romanias security, but also the security of Europe as a whole. The USA, Germany, Spain, Greece and the Netherlands are also using these systems at present.

The Magurele laser project, presented officially in Astana

Romanias stand at Expo 2017 Astana presented, as part of Romanias National Day, the most powerful laser in the world, which is currently being built in Magurele, southern Romania. A number of universities in Kazakhstan have expressed interest in the Romanian project. If agreements are signed with these universities, students and postgraduate students from Kazakhstan will have a chance to work with the research platform in Magurele. Expo 2017 Astana which this year focuses on future energy and enjoys the participation of 100 countries, started on June 10 and is due to end on September 10. It is one of the worlds most important events of public and cultural diplomacy. Organisers hope that Expo 2017 Astana will attract over five million visitors from all over the world.

Unstable weather in Romania

Heat waves, storms and strong winds, hail and heavy rain that led to flooding have defined the weather in Romania in the month of July. Meteorologists and hydrologists have issues yellow and orange code alerts for bad weather almost every day for the entire country. For the upcoming period, meteorologists announce drought all across Romania, while hydrologists have warned at the beginning of the week that the level of the Danube at its entrance in Romania is half the multi-annual average of July.