November 13, 2024
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 13.11.2024, 13:55
Defence. The current security situation shows that peace is no longer a certainty on the European continent, says the chief of defence of Romania, general Gheorghiţă Vlad on the anniversary of 165 years since the establishment of the Chief of Staff. He said that, counter to international humanitarian law, the actions of the Russian Federation fuel the negative progression of potential threats and security risks, while the Black Sea region, a strategic area of interest for NATO, is witnessing a defence crisis.
Visit. Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu is today having talks in London with his British counterpart Keir Starmer. Ciolacu will also meet the speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alastair King. He will also attend an economic forum, where he will present the conditions offered by Romania for green and sustainable investments in order to combat climate change, as well as infrastructure development projects, as part of support and reconstruction efforts with respect to neighbouring Ukraine, in the wake of the Russian invasion. Earlier, the Romanian prime minister had talks with the representatives of the Romanian community in London, telling them that the state is aware that it must come up with medium-term programmes for those wishing to return to their home country. A leader of the Social Democratic Party, in the ruling coalition, Ciolacu is running in the presidential elections held this month.
EU. Roxana Mînzatu, the candidate proposed by Romania for the position of vice-president of the European Commission in charge of the people and skills portfolio was heard on Tuesday in the European Parliament, but the parliamentary committees postponed a decision. All candidates for the six positions of vice-president are faced with the same delay, which is caused by Italy’s proposal for the position of vice-president for cohesion, Raffaele Fitto. Roxana Mînzatu’s hearing reportedly went well and her answers were appreciated by most members of the joint committees.
Travel. The Romanian foreign ministry reminds Romanian citizens currently in Andalusia or transiting or wishing to travel to this Spanish region that the local weather agency issued an orange code for bad weather, including heavy rain, large amounts of precipitation and strong winds in the Malaga province. If in need, Romanian nationals are urged to seek consular assistance by calling the telephone numbers of Romania’s general consulate in Seville, their calls being redirected to the call centre of the Contact and Support Centre for Romanian Citizens Abroad. Also, Romanian nationals who find themselves in difficult, special, emergency situations can call the permanence telephone number of Romania’s General Consulate in Seville.
Tennis. The Romanian women’s tennis team is taking part in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup finals held in Malaga between the 13th and the 20th of November. Romania will face Japan on 14th November, and the winner will play against Italy, last year’s finalist, in the quarterfinals. The team’s non-playing captain Horia Tecău called up Jaqueline Cristian, Ana Bogdan, Gabriela Ruse, Anca Todoni and Monica Niculescu for this tournament. Romania qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup finals after defeating Ukraine 3-2 on 14th April in Florida.
Football. The Romanian national football side are preparing their match against Kosovo as part of the Nations League, taking place on Friday in Bucharest. Romania will play their next match on Monday at home against Cyprus. Romania top Nations League Group C2, with four wins in four matches and with 12 points to their record. They are followed by Kosovo, with 9 points, Cyprus, with 3 and Lithuania with no points. The best four group winners in the Nations League will take part in a tie for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.