April 12, 2018

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Newsroom, 12.04.2018, 13:26

INFLATION — The annual rate of inflation went up to 5% in March 2018, from 4.7% the previous month, against the backdrop of a rise in the prices for food and non-food products and services, the National Institute for Statistics has announced today. The inflation rate was higher only in June 2013, when consumer prices went up by 5.37%. This February the National Bank of Romania revised its inflation forecast for the end of the year, from 3.2 to 3.5%. The Bank estimates an annual inflation rate of 3.1% for 2019.

SYRIA — There is an uncrossable red line for Paris in the case of Syria, and that is the use of chemical weapons, the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Bucharest, upon meeting his Romanian counterpart, Teodor Melescanu. Le Drian said France is ready to act. In turn, Teodor Melescanu said Romania supports an enquiry in the case of the latest attack in Syria, carried out by a special body which should also decide the course of action. The United States said all options are on the table in response to the alleged chemical attack perpetrated in Syria. The White House blames Syria and Russia for this incident. Activists, members of rescue teams and doctors said dozens were killed in Saturday’s attack in the rebel-held city of Douma. The Syrian Government, currently receiving military support from Russia, has denied any involvement.

FORUM — Romania’s Interior Minister Carmen Dan is as of today taking part in the two-day Salzburg Forum Vienna Process inter-ministerial conference. High on the agenda are topics important for member states, particularly for countries that will take over the rotating presidency of the European Council. Talks will also focus on EU security, migration, asylum-granting procedures at EU level, police cooperation and combating terrorism. Romania is currently holding the presidency of the Salzburg Forum for a six-month term. The Forum is a security cooperation organization comprising states from Central and Eastern Europe, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

EURO — The first session of the National Commission for the switch to the euro is today taking place in Bucharest. The Commission is convening to discuss the criteria for adopting the European single currency, and it includes the Prime Minister, the National Bank Governor and the President of the Romanian Academy. According to Bucharest authorities, Romania is expected to join the Eurozone in 2024.

HEALTHCARE — Members of the SANITAS trade union federation in the healthcare sector have announced a new series of protests, unhappy with the level of their net income after the recent salary increase and the introduction of the new bonus scheme. The leader of the federation’s branch in Iasi, Iulian Cozianu, said unionists will be protesting in front of the Iasi County prefecture starting Friday. Unionists demand the increase of the cap on bonuses above 30% for public healthcare units and the payment of the same bonuses in all healthcare units. The 30% cap means hundreds of employees will see their incomes slashes by as much as 280 euros. Last month, SANITAS announced stage an all-out strike.

SPOTLIGHT — The fourth edition of the Spotlight Festival is kicking off today in Bucharest. The festival consists in projecting large images on the city’s iconic buildings. For four days, the city center will become an open-air exhibition. This year’s edition of the festival is entitled United We Shine and brings to Bucharest 27 installations, projects and video mapping sessions from France, Australia, Israel, Germany, China, Russia, Italy, Spain and Romania. For the first time, the organizers will project famous works of art on the facades of several buildings, including the Romanian Athenaeum.

(Translated by V. Palcu)