July 6, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 06.07.2024, 19:27
Romania-Spain. The timetable for the implementation of the agreement on granting dual citizenship for Romanian nationals residing in Spain was the main subject of talks between the Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez. Ciolacu said the document was at the ministry of justice in Madrid and gave assurances that the measure would come into force by the end of the year. He said that also by the end of the year, Romanians will no longer need visas to travel to the US and voiced hope that Romania would fully join Schengen. If the dual citizenship agreement is adopted, Romania will become the third state in Europe, after France and Portugal, to close such an agreement with the Spanish state.
Alert. Romanian military forces are investigating an area in the Danube Delta to check whether there are any objects fallen on the national territory after Saturday morning’s Russian strike against targets in Ukraine, near the border with Romania. On Saturday morning, as Russian drones were detected heading for Ukrainian territory near the Romanian border, the decision was taken that two Romanian F-16 planes would immediately take off and monitor the aerial situation. The population in the region was alerted about the possibility of drone parts falling in the area, but no such incidents have been reported so far, according to the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. The authorities began sending such alerts last autumn, when parts of drones used in Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports fell in Tulcea county. The Romanian defence ministry gave assurances that the country’s defence structures are constantly monitoring the situation in the border area.
Meeting. The foreign ministers of Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine signed a joined declaration on the security environment at the end of a three-party meeting held on Friday in the Moldovan capital Chişinău. The document highlights the determination of the three states to build a common democratic, peaceful and prosperous European future. The objective remains that of ensuring international support for comprehensive, just and durable peace, said the Moldovan foreign minister Mihai Popşoi. For her part, Romania’s foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu said the meeting was yet another proof of the support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty in the context of the war of aggression waged by Russia. She pointed out that Romania supports the European aspirations of both the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and that the start of EU accession talks paves the way for a complex reform period that requires political commitment and perseverance. The three ministers also signed a memorandum on combating the information manipulation and foreign interference.
Travel. Travel restrictions will be imposed from next Wednesday on the Bulgarian section of the Giurgiu-Ruse bridge between Romania and Bulgaria, on account of infrastructure rehabilitation works. The Romanian foreign ministry issued a statement advising Romanian citizens to drive cautiously and respect traffic signs. The works will last two years, with traffic to be conducted only on one lane. Another decision that will affect road travel is the closure of traffic on the Valea Oltului national road, a very busy road that connects the south to the centre of the country. Travel will be closed during the day between 6 am and 8 pm from 8th July to 9th August. 20,000 trees will be cut on the mountain sides bordering the road in order to build the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway.
Rugby. The Romanian rugby side won the Pershing Cup after defeating the United States in a match that formed part of the America Series and marked the relaunch of the Pershing Cup. The match took place on Friday evening in Chicago and was attended by many Romanians living in the US. The Romanian ambassador to Washington, Andrei Muraru, who handed the trophy to the Romanian captain, described the team’s victory as “a dream come true”. The match took place one day after the 4th July celebrations. Last year, the US defeated Romania in Bucharest in an international match held on 5th August. The two sides first played each other at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, when the US won the gold medal and Romania won the bronze. Romania will next play Canada on 12th July as part of their North American tour.
