February 3, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 03.02.2023, 19:47

ACCIDENT — Three Romanian citizens died and four others were urgently transported to hospital following a road accident that took place on Friday in Slovenia. They were among the 32 passengers of a bus taking them to Italy, which overturned on a motorway in Slovenia on Friday, February 3. A consular team from the Romanian Embassy in Ljubljana went to the scene to provide assistance to the Romanian citizens involved in the accident.

GAS – Romanian president Klaus Iohannis on Friday made an address in Baku in the presence of his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev and the European energy commissioner Kadri Simson in the official opening of the ministerial meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor. In the two years since becoming operational, the Corridor has demonstrated its strategic importance for Europes energy security and is becoming even more important now, when Russias war of aggression against Ukraine has drastically changed the geopolitical context, especially in the field of energy, said the Romanian president. He also spoke about Romanias involvement in ensuring European energy security, which can be achieved by expanding cooperation with regional partners and diversifying the sources and routes of transport for the energy resources. Romania is an important producer of hydrocarbons in Europe and intends to develop this role with the help of the gas deposits discovered in the Black Sea, Johannis also said. Also on Friday, during the presidents two-day visit to Azerbaijan, Romanias and Azerbaijans state-owned natural gas companies, Romgaz and SOCAR signed a new one-year contract from April.

TAX – The National Liberal Party, in the ruling coalition, issued a statement saying it firmly opposed the proposal of the Social Democratic Party, also in government, to levy a 1% tax on the turnover of big companies, saying this surcharge may lead to a rise in prices. “We will not support the increase or introduction of new taxes or duties that may place a further burden on an economic environment that is already facing problems”, said the Liberals in the statement. According to the Social Democrats, a solidarity tax would see big companies pay a profit tax of at least 1% of their turnover, as do all small companies in Romania. They are also saying that the tax should be applied because many Romanian companies declare their real profits, while others find ways to pay less tax by declaring lower profits.

KIEV — Top EU leaders met on Friday in Kyiv in a show of support for Ukraine’s accession to the community block, at a time when Russian attacks intensify in the east of the country. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country deserved to start accession talks this year, but some EU leaders believe the accession process may take decades. Ukraine is in any case to receive substantial support from the European Union. A first meeting between Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelensky already ended with optimistic statements. The good news announced by the European Commission president refers to Ukraines accession to a number of European programs and a proposal to extend a waiver on customs duties on all Ukrainian exports for another year. Moreover, Ukraine will soon be able to apply for funding for various types of projects and a 15-point action plan was agreed for Ukraines access to the European single market. Von der Leyen also announced support worth 150 million euros for the purchase of vital energy equipment for Ukraine, the sending of 2,400 power generators and a 10-million euro grant aimed for helping the children. She also said the 10th package of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation will take effect as of February 24, when 1 year since the start of the war is celebrated.

CULTURE – Two well-known international actors, John Malkovich and Isabella Rossellini will come this year to Timişoara, when this western Romanian city is holding the title of European Capital of Culture. The two actors will perform at the Mihai Eminscu National Theatre, Malkovich in June in the show Infernal Comedy, while Rossellini at the end of November in Darwins Smile. (EE)