May 24, 2023 UPDATE

VISIT - The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday met his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier who is paying a three-day state visit to Romania. The two presidents discussed political, security and economic cooperation and conveyed a joint message of solidarity with and support for Ukraine and of support for the Republic of Moldova. Klaus Iohannis expressed Romania's appreciation for Germany's firm support for Romania's Schengen accession. In turn, president Steinmeier said Germany has long believed Romania belongs in Schengen. The German official also met with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă. The two highlighted the privileged status of Romanian-German relations, grounded on a consistent political dialogue and a robust economic collaboration. Prime Minister Ciucă hailed the activity of the over 25 thousand companies with German capital in Romania, which makes Germany the top investor in a number of major sectors of the Romanian economy.

DEFENSE - Defense spending is an investment, a lesson Romania understands, Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr has told Radio Romania. The current security context has highlighted a need to increase defense spending, the Romanian official said, arguing this allows Romania to access state-of-the-art technologies and capabilities and help ensure a climate of peace, predictability and stability. The Romanian official on Tuesday attended the EU Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels, discussing military aid to Ukraine. According to the EU's chief of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, Member States have managed to deliver a quarter of shells promised for an entire year within just a few days. However, the next installment of military aid disbursed to Ukraine remains blocked due to opposition from Hungary. Attending the event, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also referred to heavy tanks delivered to Kyiv by a number of allied states, as well as the training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 jets.

HEALTHCARE - A strike action in the healthcare system depends on how negotiations with government representatives will unfold, Leonard Bărăscu, the leader of the SANITAS Federation has said on Wednesday upon meeting with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu, who is expected to be appointed Prime Minister in the upcoming period. Leonard Bărăscu said the salary law must be observed to the letter, while revenues for nurses, for instance, should be increased two-three times. Healthcare trade unions have announced a strike action on June 15.

BOOKFEST - The Bookfest International Book Fair got under way in Bucharest in the presence of the Romanian minister for culture Lucian Romaşcanu and Italy's ambassador to Romania Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni. Italy is the fair's guest country this year. On this occasion, Ambassador Mangoni said relations between Italy and Romania are very strong at all levels. Over 200 exhibitors from around the country and the neighboring Republic of Moldova, alongside foreign cultural institutes will be present every day until Sunday, according to the Book Publishers' Association in Romania, the organizer of the event. Twelve Italian writers are taking part in book presentations and debates, almost half of them having already had their works translated into Romanian. A project co-funded by the ministry of culture, Bookfest also travels to Timişoara, Cluj-Napoca, Târgu Mureş, Braşov and Chişinău.

TENNIS - Romania will play Serbia in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs following Wednesday's draw in London. The matches will be played in November, and the winner is set to play the preliminaries for the final tournament. The loser will play in Group I. In April, Romania lost to Slovenia 3-2 after leading 2-0, thus failing to qualify to the final tournament. (CM & VP)