December 16, 2022

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Newsroom, 16.12.2022, 13:55

SCHENGEN
The losses incurred by Romania for the rejection of its Schengen accession bid
are over EUR 25 bln, says the Romanian interior minister Lucian Bode. For 11 years
we have been securing Schengen’s border, investing in human resources,
capabilities and modern technologies. The losses incurred by Romania during all
this time, since it has fulfilled the criteria but has not benefited from the
related rights, are immeasurable, Mr. Bode said at a meeting of EU gendarme
chiefs. The topic of Romania’s Schengen accession and of the negative vote
given by Austria in the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting last week was
also raised by president Klaus Iohannis at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
Senior European officials conveyed a message of support for Romania’s and
Bulgaria’s Schengen accession. The EC president Ursula von der Leyen and the
Council president Charles Michel said further discussions would be held on this
topic and progress was expected in the following months.

FUNDING The
Romanian ministry for EU funding and investments has submitted to the EC the
second payment request, amounting to EUR 3.228 bln, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The 3rd payment request, amounting to EUR 3.1 bln, is to be submitted
to the Commission next spring. Romania benefits from over EUR 29 bln for the
implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, including grants
of up to EUR 14.24 bln and loans of nearly EUR 15 bln. The country has already
cashed in 2 pre-financing instalments totaling EUR 3.79 bln.

EU The president of
the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will attend in Bucharest on
Saturday the signing of an agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Romania and Hungary concerning the Strategic Partnership in the
development and transport of green energy. The agreement will be signed by the
president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the PM of Georgia
Irakli Garibashvili, the PM of Romania Nicolae Ciucă, and the PM of Hungary
Viktor Orban. According to the Romanian Presidency, the document is based on
the interests of the 4 states concerning a strengthened national and regional
energy security. The agreement will provide a financial and technical framework
for the construction of an underwater renewable energy transport cable between
Romania and Azerbaijan, via Georgia and the Black Sea, and further on for the
transport of this energy to Hungary and the rest of Europe.

INFLATION The EU
annual inflation rate dropped from 11.5% in October to 11.1% in November, but in
8 member countries the rate rose from one month to the other, including in
Romania, where it went from 13.5% to 14.6%, Eurostat announced on Friday. In November,
the EU member states with the highest inflation rates were Hungary, Latvia, Estonia
and Lithuania. At the opposite pole, the lowest inflation rates were reported
in Spain, France and Malta.

PROTEST Hundreds
of employees in the Romanian public education system are today picketing
prefect offices in several counties, primarily demanding the full
implementation of a law concerning their incomes. Education unions say the net
salaries for this category are up to EUR 440 and warn that 2023 will bring a
new series of union actions unless the government solves the problems in this
sector. The trade unions also criticise the government’s failure to pay for
overtime and travel expenses and to adjust revenues to the inflation rate.

TIMISOARA Romania
commemorates today 33 years since the start of the anti-communist uprising in Timişoara,
western Romania. The anniversary is marked by a traditional solemn meeting of
the Local Council. The participants, including members of revolutionary
associations, discuss the events of December ’89 and observe a moment of
silence to honour those who died during those days. Exhibitions, film
screenings, round tables, a concert entitled Folk for the Revolution as well
marches are also organised on this occasion. 33 years ago, in Timişoara, a
solidarity rally for the Reformed pastor Laszlo Tokes grew into an uprising
that spread across the country and led to the fall of the communist regime.

RESCUERS Romanian
mountain rescuers were awarded in Paris at the International Rescuers Congress,
attended by relevant institutions, associations and research institutes from
over 60 countries in the world. Salvamont Romania was acknowledged as one of
the best drone-assisted search and rescue services, and the distinction was
received for the Data Analysis Centre in Târgu Jiu. The centre uses special software
and drones for victim identification. (AMP)