December 6, 2022 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 06.12.2022, 18:20
SUPPORT – The European Commission has approved an approximately 75-million euro Romanian scheme to support farmers affected by the severe drought in 2021 and 2022. Grain and technical plant producers who lost more than 30% of their crops due to draught qualify for the state aid. In case of total damage, they can receive approximately 305 euros per hectare, without exceeding 40% of eligible costs. The scheme unfolds until the end of the year.
DEFENCE — The Romanian Defense Ministry is staging Romanian-American cooperation activities on Woman, Peace and Security. The events are held on the sidelines of the visit that a US National Guard delegation of the state of Alabama, led by Gen. Sherly Gordon, is paying to Romania. The Defence Ministry pointed out that the UN Security Resolution on Women, Peace and Security, passed on 2000, acknowledged the important role that women play in preventing and solving conflicts, peace negotiations, peace keeping and consolidation, humanitarian actions and post-war reconstruction.
SUMMIT – President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday attended the EU-Western Balkans summit hosted by Albanias capital Tirana. According to a statement from the presidents office, this is the first event of its kind held in a capital in the region, which once again shows the European commitment to the states in the Western Balkans. A declaration will be adopted at the summit to reflect the support of the European Union and of member states to the European prospects of the Western Balkans. The Romanian president is expected to state his countrys support for EU enlargement based on the applicants merits, and to discuss the need to consolidate partners resilience and European support in sectors such as energy, digital transformation, cyber security and migration management.
FAIR – The 29th edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair organised by Radio Romania opens on Wednesday in Bucharest. The event brings together 200 participants and a variety of editorial products on different formats, for all ages and areas of interest, including music and educational games. The line-up features 600 different events and related projects. All stands are also available online on the gaudeamus.ro website. The fair is financed by the ministry of culture.
ENVELOPE – Two suspicious envelopes received Tuesday by the Ukrainian embassy in Bucharest were collected and will be checked, said the Romanian Intelligence Service. Recently, Ukrainian embassies in various countries have been receiving a series of parcels and letters containing explosives and animal parts. On Monday, the Spanish police confiscated three more suspicious parcels sent to Ukrainian diplomats at a post office, said the Ukrainian foreign ministry.
BAN – The ban on Russian crude oil that came into effect on Monday will not affect Romania, given that Romanian oil companies have found alternative sources and are no longer importing from Russia, said energy minister Virgil Popescu. He added that Romanias oil companies and refineries have already been processing only non-Russian crude oil from as early as last week.
HOLIDAY – Christians celebrated on Tuesday the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, one of the most popular saints and bringer of gifts for children. St. Nicholas was a bishop who lived at the beginning of the 4th century in Myra, in present-day Turkey and was known as a generous man. Most of his relics are in Bari, in Italy, while part of his hand is preserved in the New St. George Church in Bucharest. Around 800,000 Romanians are named after the saint. (EE)