August 18, 2023 UPDATE

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 18.08.2023, 19:58

STATEMENT The Prime Ministers of Romania, Marcel
Ciolacu and of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, signed a political statement in
Bucharest on Friday over strengthening bilateral cooperation with a view to
easing the transit of goods from Ukraine. The two have also initialed two
agreements on the mutual recognition of education diplomas and the opening of a
new border checkpoint between the two countries at Sighetul Marmatiei – Bila
Tserkva. Romania intends to provide for the transit of over 60 % of the grain
Ukraine is exporting on the international market, Marcel Ciolacu says. On the
other hand, he recalled that Bucharest wants for the Romanian minority in
Ukraine the same rights, the Ukrainian minority has in Romania. In turn, Denys
Shmyhal has thanked Romania for its solidarity in the war against Russia, for
easing the transit of Ukrainian grain as well as for the Romanian support for
Ukraine’s European integration. He has also thanked Romania for receiving the
refugees fleeing the Russian aggression and for training Ukrainian servicemen
on its territory.

FOOTBALL Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe, holder of
Romania’s Football Cup has qualified for the play-offs of Europa Conference
League after a one-nil win against FC Aktobe in Kazakhstan in the second round
of the third preliminary leg. The first match in Romania ended in a draw. In
another development, the vice-champions FCSB have been edged out of the
competition by the Danish vice-champions FC Nordsjaelland, which after a
goaless draw in Bucharest, secured a 2-0 win in the qualifiers. Romania’s champions,
Farul Constanta, have also qualified for the competition’s after a return win against
Estonian side Flora Tallin. Finnish side HJK Helsinki will take on Farul and FK
Bodoe/Glimt of Norway will play Sepsi.

GDP Romania is among
the countries with the best results in terms of GDP growth and reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions in the first quarter of this year, according to the
Eurostat. Romania’s GDP is 2.4% and has increased more than the European
average of 1.2%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Romania has reduced them
by almost 5%, while the European average is 2.9%. The EU economy as a whole has
become more efficient and less polluting. In the first quarter of 2023, EU
economy’s greenhouse gas emissions totaled 941 million tonnes of
CO2-equivalent, a 2.9% decrease compared to the same quarter of 2022. This
decrease took place simultaneously with a 1.2% increase in the EU’s GDP in the
first quarter of 2023, compared with the same quarter of 2022, Eurostat
reports. Most emissions were released by the housing sector – 24%,
followed by industrial production – 20%, electricity and gas sector – 19%,
agriculture – 13% and transport and storage – 10%. The largest decrease in
emissions occurred in the electricity and gas sector – 12.3% while the
transport and storage sector had the largest increase – by 7.2%

(bill)