November 27, 2020 UPDATE

A look at some of the main stories in Romania today.

Newsroom, 27.11.2020, 20:00

Coronavirus
Romania. Almost 8,500 new coronavirus infections and 172 related deaths were
reported on Friday in Romania. More than 450,000 people have been infected so
far and almost 11,000 people have died to the virus in Romania. 1,226 patients
are in intensive care. Several villages around the capital city are now in
quarantine after seeing a spike in infection rates. Doctors say the measures
taken by the authorities are not enough to keep the pandemic in check. They are
asking for harsher restrictions, warning that the number of beds in intensive
care units across the country is getting lower by the day. In another
development, the National Authority for Consumer Protection has submitted seven
notifications regarding uncertified masks in Romania, which have already been
filtered through the EU’s rapid alert system. The Authority has recently put a
trade ban on nearly 33 million such masks in Romania.

Talks. Romanian prime minister Ludovic Orban on Friday had talks in
videoconference format with German chancellor Angela Merkel. The two officials
reviewed topical issues on the bilateral and European agenda, with an emphasis
on ways to deepen Romanian-German cooperation, in particular the economic
sector. Ludovic Orban hailed the efforts made by the German presidency of the
Council of the EU, including with respect to tackling the challenges posed by
the coronavirus pandemic. He also highlighted the stringent need to reach an
agreement on the multiannual financial framework for the 2021-2027 period and
the European economic recovery plan to allow for the release of European funds
as soon as possible. The Romanian prime minister also reiterated how important
accession to the Schengen area is for his country. Romania already fulfils the
technical criteria in this respect and a favourable decision soon would
reconfirm Romania’s status as a fully committed member of the European Union.
The two officials also exchanged views on the latest developments in the
eastern and southern neighbourhood, with a focus on the post-election situation
in the Republic of Moldova. They agreed on the need to continue support,
including at European level, for the democratic reform process in the Republic
of Moldova.

Recovery.
The Government in Bucharest has submitted for public consultation the National
Recovery and Resilience Plan, a post-COVID economic recovery plan, under which
Romania will receive 30 billion euros worth of European funds. The plan is
designed to uphold an accelerated growth rate over the next four years. The
European funds will be used to build new hospitals and hundreds of kilometers
of motorway, to develop school infrastructure and digitise local
administrations. Of the 30 billion euros, 14 billion euros represent
non-refundable grants, while the rest accounts for low-interest loans the
Commission has taken out on behalf of all Member States.

Black Sea.
Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Friday reiterated Romania’s
commitment to consolidate regional cooperation in the wider Black Sea area as a
means of promoting stability and prosperity. He was speaking at the 42nd
meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation held in videoconference format. Romania held the
presidency of the organisation in 2020, with Albania taking over in the first
six months of next year. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of
Bulgaria, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, North
Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine and the deputy foreign ministers of Greece, the
Russian Federation and Turkey, as well as the national coordinator in Armenia
and the secretary general of the Permanent International Secretariat of the
organisation.

Statistics. Romanian business
managers are expecting a slump in activity and a drop in the number of
employees in constructions and services and a stability of prices in the
processing industry and constructions in the next three months, according to a
poll published on Friday by the National Institute for Statistics. According to
forecasts, turnover will also see a drop in the next three months, as will
artistic activities and the hospitality industry.