THE WEEK IN REVIEW
July 18 - 22 2022
Corina Cristea, 24.07.2022, 05:35
Sweltering heat in Romania
As the temperatures rise in the red, the authorities in Bucharest are taking measures valid for this summer, during periods of the season with alerts for higher than usual temperatures. As such, a crisis center has been set up, with first aid centers providing drinking water. The authorities are coordinating with NGOs to provide priority aid to disadvantaged people, while keeping the population informed at all times. The authorities are recommending staying indoors when possible, alternating outings with breaks in spaces providing air conditioning, especially for people with ailments and the elderly. Decision makers draw attention to the present drought, warning against wasting potable water in order to water green spaces, and recommend that local authorities impose restrictions to this end. Also, the national railroad operator may reduce during high heat periods the number of travelers on trains without air conditioning, while certain counties have already imposed temporary restrictions for road traffic above a certain tonnage.
Strategy to combat drought
PM Nicolae Ciuca said that a rapid intervention is needed, using all national and European resources, to protect Romanian agriculture and farmers. On Tuesday, he called the first meeting of the cross-ministry committee to mitigate the effects of climate change in agriculture. The group gathers representatives of multiple ministries, and has analyzed the effects of climate change on farming, including the consequences of drought. As a short and medium term objective, the committee aims to implement measures to increase the capacity of industrialization for farming, and supporting farmers for the preparation and success of the autumn harvest. The PM also announced that the authorities are preparing for autumn negotiations in order for European funds that are part of the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience to be used to expand the irrigation system. Many counties in Romania are hit by drought, with crops on wide areas having been destroyed by the lack of rain. Authorities announced that 70% of Romania has been plagued by drought.
Ratification of NATO integration protocols
Meeting on Wednesday in extraordinary session, the Parliament in Bucharest ratified Sweden and Finlands integration into the North Atlantic Alliance, placing Romania among the first countries to contribute to the speedy process of bringing the two Scandinavian countries into the fold of NATO. All parliamentary groups voted in favor of this process, with representatives of all parties stating that this is a process demanded by the present global security context, gravely affected by the war in Ukraine, and one which proves European solidarity. The protocols that have just been ratified were signed on July 5 in Brussels, after Sweden and Finland officially expressed their wish to join NATO in view of security concerns related to Russias invasion of Ukraine.
Romania and natural gas security
Romanian PM Nicolae Ciuca provided assurances that Romania will cover its need for natural gas in the 2022- 2023 winter season. According to the head of government, this week the country secured a level of 1,600 cubic meters of gas in storage, while the plan for energy storage is to secure 80% of capacity by November 1. According to the official, right now the country has set aside gas in excess of the promised figures. The former president of the National Authority for Energy regulation, Niculae Havrilet, said that Romania would be able to cover from internal sources its needs for gas this winter without resorting to imports. This was stated in view of the fact that the country has major domestic production, propped by the newly passed offshore law, which regulates gas extraction from the Black Sea. The official emphasized the fact that Romania could even actually support other EU countries with gas supplies, provided proper compensation. According to him, this is not a fantasy scenario, but is perfectly feasible, as the Energy Ministry has actually prepared a reaction plan in case of issues with natural gas supplies.
Romania attends the Foreign Affairs Council
Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu joined this week his counterparts from other EU countries in the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The agenda of the meeting included detailed discussions regarding Russias aggression against Romanias neighbor Ukraine. According to a ministry press release, the head of diplomacy from Bucharest encouraged Ukraine to sustain reforms, while underlining the difficult context in which these can be implemented, in view of Russian aggression. He also expressed his support for consolidating the regime of sanctions against Moscow, as well as the EUs support for Ukraine. In the context of the food crisis caused by Russia, Aurescu pointed out that around 2.7 million tons of grain from Ukraine have transited Romania, which so far is about half of the quantity of grain exported by the neighboring country.
Remarkable results for Romanian Olympiad contenders
Romanian students won four gold and one silver medals at the International Physics Olympiad, held in Switzerland, placing them in the second place worldwide after South Korea. Romanias math contingent came in first in Europe, and fifth in the world at the International Mathematics Olympiad held in Oslo, with two gold and four silver medals. In May, Romanias national mathematics team won six medals and came in first place at the 39th edition of the Balkan Mathematics Olympiad in Cyprus. Alsop this week, Romanian students came in third place worldwide at the International Geography Olympiad.
