November 16, 2018

For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here

Newsroom, 16.11.2018, 13:55

VISIT – European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and leaders of
political parties and other EU high-ranking officials will visit Bucharest next
week, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has announced. The visit is aimed at
discussing aspects of high interest for the future of the European Union and
the management of important programmes, such as the multiannual financial
framework, Brexit, the future of the EU post-Brexit and the security policy,
ahead of Romania taking over the EU Council presidency on January 1, 2019.
Prime Minister Dancila said Romania is ready to take over and carry out
successfully the EU Council presidency, saying that the events timetable is finalized
and all working mechanisms have been created.

MOLDOVA – The Romanian-Moldovan inter-government committee will
convene twice a year, Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip announced during the
11th meeting of the committee hosted by Chisinau. Prime Minister
Filip said close cooperation involves concrete projects and that economic
relations between the two states are on an upward trend, with many joint
projects with high priority for the Republic of Moldova. These include
cooperation with a view to boosting energy security, interconnecting
electricity grids as well as social projects, such as refurbishing
kindergartens using funds from the Romanian state. On the other hand, the
European Commission has approved the four large infrastructure projects
submitted for funding under the 2014-2020 Romania-Moldova Joint Operational
Programme, with a total worth of 40.5 million euros, of which the EU will cover
24.3 million.

MILITARY – After nearly 2 and a half years of training and a
wide-ranging exercise held in Cincu shooting range, Brasov County, central
Romania, the first NATO Multinational South-East Brigade has been declared
combat ready. Attending the 2018 Scorpions Fury exercise were 1,800 military
backed by 250 pieces of military equipment. The exercise involved real-life
firing drills to prove the increase of interoperability.

BLACK FRIDAY – The number of online purchases as part of the Black
Friday winter holidays sales campaign went up by 56% as compared to last year,
according to data made public by PayU, the biggest online payments company in
Romania. The best-sold categories were computers, cell phones and clothing and
included buyers from Great Britain and Hungary. The average value of a basket
was 189 euros. The largest retailer in Romania kicked off its Black Friday
program at 7 AM, with nearly 43 million euros reported in sales two hours
later. The total number of products sold stood at 460,000.

RADIRO – Starting November 18
Bucharest plays host to one of the most important music events of the year: the
International Radio Orchestras Festival – RaDiRo. The festival marks 90 years
since the public radio was founded and 100 years since the Great Union. The
Radio Concert Hall and the Auditorium Hall of the Fine Arts Museum will host 8
symphonic concerts and 4 jazz concerts. This year’s guests include pianist
Mihai Ritivoiu and cellist Andrei Ionita, alongside the famous vocalist Aura
Urziceanu. Europe’s oldest radio
orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra from Germany, will return to
Romania this year along with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra of Great Britain,
Svizzera italiana – Lugano of Switzerland and RTE National Symphony Orchestra
from Ireland. All concerts are broadcast live on Radio Romania and the Romanian
Television Corporation, as well as members of the European Radio Broadcasting
Union.

GAUDEAMUS FAIR – The 25th edition of the Gaudeamus
International Educational Book Fair organized by Radio Romania continues until
Sunday. This year’s edition is devoted to the Great Union Centennial and marks
90 years since the public radio was founded. Over 300 publishers are attending
and organizers have prepared over 900 events, including book launches,
screenings, debates and lectures.

FOOTBALL – Romania’s under-21 team drew 3-all on Thursday at home
against Belgium in a friendly game. Both teams have already secured
qualification to the European Under-21 Championship to take place in June 2019
in Italy and San Marino. This is Romania’s second qualification to a European
Under-21 championship after the one in 1998 held in Bucharest. On Saturday,
Romania’s senior team will take on Lithuania at home in Group 4 of League C in
Nations League. Romania will next play Montenegro on Tuesday away from home.
With one win and three draws, Romania has 6 points. Serbia tops the group
tables with 8 points, followed by Montenegro with 7 points.

(Translated by V. Palcu)