The Week in Review, 23-29 May, 2016

The main developments of the week in Romania

Mihai Pelin, 29.05.2016, 12:30

Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos pays official visit to Washington

US vice-president Joe Biden received at the White House Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos. The Strategic Partnership between the two countries and economic cooperation were the main topics on the agenda for talks, along with preparing the NATO Summit of Warsaw in July. Joe Biden has reiterated the United States support, both at bilateral and at NATO level, to consolidating security and defense in the Euro-Atlantic area. Prime Minister Ciolos has called on the US to deploy a NATO-led multi-national brigade on Romanias territory in order to strengthen the security of NATOs southeastern flank. Joe Biden highlighted that Romania has been and continues to be a trusted ally and partner of the United States, referring to both countries interest to access the untapped potential for developing the economic cooperation between Romania and the US. Dacian Ciolos also discussed with other Washington officials and with representatives of the US business sector, whom he encouraged to invest in Romania. The Prime Minister also met with members of the Romanian community.

New Health Minister for Romania

Ensuring cheap and effective medication in hospitals and reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infections are among the priorities of the new Health Minister, Vlad Voiculescu. The Romanian official wants to use European funding to build three regional hospitals in Iasi, Cluj and Craiova. Vlad Voiculescu also wants to change management contracts, investment plans for hospital laboratories and to improve the Ministrys control mechanisms. All these measures, Vlad Voiculescu argues, are aimed at restoring patients trust in the Romanian healthcare system.

Negotiations continue between trade unions in the education sector and the Government

Negotiations between the Romanian Government and trade unions representing the education system continued this week. Previously, the Government had proposed an average increase of 10% in the salaries of the teaching staff, to come into effect starting August 2017. Unionists have rejected the Governments offer regarding the budget allocations to education, which they see as insufficient. Trade unions say that unless an agreement is reached at the forthcoming round of talks, they would stage a rally in Bucharest on June 1. In turn, Labour Minister Dragos Pislaru has announced that the implementation of the Governments ordinance on adjusting the salaries of some 6,000 employees in the education sector starting January 1, 2017 would entail a financial effort worth 800 million lei.

NATO to focus on the Balkans

NATO officials plan on focusing on the Balkans at the forthcoming NATO Summit to be hosted by Warsaw in July. NATO Assistant Secretary General Sorin Ducaru says Montenegros NATO accession could create the premises for restoring stability in the region. NATO is currently facing the most complex challenges and risks since the Cold War, coming from the east and the south, Sorin Ducaru added. Romania currently has 690 military deployed in NATO operations abroad.

Bucharest hosts plenary session of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

The working definition of anti-Semitism was adopted at the plenary session of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance hosted by Bucharest between May 23 and 26. Romania is holding the presidency of this Alliance from 2016 to 2017. The 31 member states of the Alliance reconfirmed through this decision their commitment to observing the Stockholm Declaration and to making efforts to fight anti-Semitism. 240 experts and decision makers talked about policies and projects in the field of education, research and Holocaust remembrance from the perspective of their contemporary political relevance.

Romania does not agree with amending the EU directive on posted workers

Romania does not agree with the modification of the EU directive on posted workers, the Romanian deputy prime minister and minister of economy and trade, Costin Borc said in Brussels. He pointed out that the Romanian workers should not be discriminated against. The European Commission has proposed the modification of the ceiling for salaries to which posted workers are entitled. The current directive stipulates that posted workers have the right to a minimum salary. 11 EU members have expressed opposition to the modification of the directive. Given the circumstances, the European Commission has to revise its proposal or to withdraw it.

Cluj is the venue for the Transylvania International Film Festival

The 15th edition of the Transylvania International Film Festival- TIFF has opened in Cluj Napoca, in western Romania, with the film “6.9 on the Richter scale screened for the first time in the presence of its director, Nae Caranfil. 248 productions will be screened until June 5. For the first time at the TIFF, the film “Dogs, winner of this years critics prize at the Cannes Festival, will be screened. The special guest of the 2016 edition of the TIFF is actress Sophia Loren, who came to Romania for the first time. She will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.