March 22, 2023

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 22.03.2023, 14:10

VISIT — The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is paying a two-day official visit to the UK, at the invitation of his British counterpart James Cleverly. The two officials will sign an updated Joint Declaration of the Romania-UK Strategic Partnership and will open the first edition of the Romania-UK Bilateral Forum. The Joint Declaration updates priorities in the field of bilateral cooperation. Aurescu will also meet with representatives of the Romanian community in Britain.

NATO — Seven out of the 30 NATO member countries reached the target regarding military expenditure in 2022, the Alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Tuesday evening when he presented the organization’s annual report. These countries are the US, the UK, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Greece. According to the report, Romania allocated to defense 1.75% of its GDP in 2022, 1.86% in 2021, a little over 2% in 2020 and 1.84% in 2019. Jens Stoltenberg called on the allied countries to supplement their military expenses as soon as possible.

DEFENSE — The Romanian Defense Ministry has asked for Parliament’s approval to purchase weapon systems such as anti-aircraft defense systems, air-to-air missiles and infantry vehicles, under an equipping programme aimed at strengthening the Romanian army by 2040. Their role is to create flexible and modern forces, provide military means to ensure survival on the battlefield and increase mobility, the Defense Ministry said in a communiqué.

MEASURES – The Bucharest Government steps in, in the crisis on the car insurance policy market after the insolvency of Euroins company and is preparing an Order that will cap tariffs at their level in March, for a period of six months. The Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) will have to come up with a plan, within these six months, to render efficient the mandatory car insurance policy market. The possible bankruptcy of Euroins could result in 140,000 damage files worth almost a quarter billion euros.

HANDBALL – The Romanian men’s handball team CS Dinamo is today playing on home turf against the German champion THW Kiel, in a match in the Champions League’s play-off. The German team has won the title four times, most recently in 2020. (EE)