December 22, 2018 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 22.12.2018, 18:51

SUMMIT – The Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila spoke in Belgrade, at the Romania – Serbia – Bulgaria – Greece summit, about the countrys priorities during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, focusing on the cohesion policy. “During the presidency of Romania, starting January 2019, we must respond to many challenges, perhaps unique challenges for the EU, and I am convinced that together we will be able to draw a future that is closer to citizens”, the Romanian official stated. Also, the Romanian Prime Minister highlighted the support given to the European integration of the Western Balkans. The four prime-ministers discussed in Belgrade cooperation in fields such as energy, infrastructure, tourism and sport.

ORDINANCE – The Romanian Government, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, adopted in Fridays session an emergency ordinance on the fiscal measures recently announced by the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. The measures are contested by the countrys president, Klaus Iohannis, by banks and big energy and communications companies. The Social Democratic Party, the senior partner in the coalition, says though that the measures will boost Romanian economy. The measures adopted under the emergency ordinance include, among other things, capping the price of gas and electricity for the next three years for domestic consumers and lowering commission to private pension funds from 2.5% to 1%. Another measure concerns taxation of financial-banking institutions according to the evolution of ROBOR, the reference indicator used by banks in lending, which, at least in the past year, has fluctuated to the detriment of both companies and natural persons. Also, the Romanian Government has approved the setting up of an investment and development fund, which will provide funding for local community and university development projects, with a budget of approximately 10 billion Euros. As of January 1st, all employees will receive two minimum wages per year in the form of food allowance.

STOCK EXCHANGE – The Financial Supervisory Authority has announced the commencement of an analysis of the transactions carried out at the Bucharest Stock Exchange on Wednesday, as there are suspicions of abuse. If the investigation concludes the law was broken, the Authority will take measures that will be made public. On Wednesday, the Bucharest Stock Exchange registered a record low. The biggest losses were registered by the shares of banks and energy companies. The plunge occurred after the Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici had announced a number of measures, which in the meantime have already been adopted by means of an emergency ordinance.

1989 REVOLUTION – Events commemorating the heroes of the December 1989 anti-Communist Revolution were held on Saturday in Bucharest and other cities across Romania. 29 years ago, protesters laid siege to the headquarters of the Communist Party, and dictator Ceausescu fled Bucharest on board a helicopter. In the capital, commemoration events started at the monument in the Revolution Square and continued at the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation, the Romanian Television and the Telephone Palace. The participants included revolutionaries, relatives of those who died, people who were in the army in 1989 and were called to defend the public institutions from what officials back then termed as terrorists. All orthodox churches in the country and abroad held a commemoration mass to honour the heroes who sacrificed themselves in December 1989. More than 1000 people died and some 3,400 were wounded in the shootings in Romania, the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the regime was toppled violently and the communist rulers were executed.

MARCH – On Saturday, more than one thousand people gathered in Victoria Square in Bucharest for a manifestation announced in the social media as 22 December – Our Revolution. The crowed marched towards the University Square and the Revolution Square. According to the organizers, the main goal of the event was to commemorate the victims of the 1989 Revolution. “They believed in freedom at a time when Romania was going trough the darkest of times” said the organizers.

UNEMPLOYMENT – In November, the unemployment rate in Romania stood at 3.3%, lower than in the previous month and under the value registered in November 2017. According to the National Employment Agency, the total number of unemployed individuals, in late November, was 289,000 people, of whom 57,000 were receiving unemployment benefits. Most of the unemployed were aged 40 to 49.

EUROBAROMETER – 52% of the Romanians have a positive image about the EU, as compared to 43% , which is the European average. According to a Eurobarometer survey, the number of Romanians who have a positive image about the EU is on the rise and above the European average. Half of the Romanians trust the EU and believe that their voice counts in the EU, 56% of the Romanians have a positive view of the situation of the European economy, and 48% of Romanians are optimistic about the labour market situation. The survey also shows that most Europeans believe, for the first time, that their voice matters in the EU. Moreover, 20 years since the introduction of the single currency, support for the economic and monetary union and the Euro remains at a record high, with three quarters of the respondents in the Eurozone in favour of the single currency. On the other hand, immigration remains the main concern at EU level. It is mentioned twice more often than terrorism.

TRAVEL – Over the past few days, traffic at the Romanian border crossing points has intensified, as many Romanians who have settled or are working abroad are coming back to the country for the winter holidays. Also, many Romanians have planned a holiday abroad in the coming period. The General Border Police Inspectorate has reminded citizens that, by accessing the on-line application Average waiting times at border crossing points open to international traffic, they can visualize all border crossing points and the traffic situation, differentiated in various colours. The Romania Police too have announced that more than 8,500 police officers from public order and safety structures will be on duty across the country in the coming period. In another move, the Romanian Railway Company has increased the number of trains leaving from Bucharest to the big cities and mountain resorts in the country, until January 6th, 2019.