June 1, 2015
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 01.06.2015, 13:09
Almost 4 million Romanian children are celebrating today the International Childrens Day. In Bucharest they are celebrated with open air shows, free access to museums, concerts, sports contests and many other activities. June 1st is also the day when the amount of child allowance in Romania has doubled to reach 84 lei per month (around 20 euros). President Klaus Iohannis has decided to promulgate this law, previously passed by Parliament, precisely on Childrens Day.
Steaua Bucharest won Romanias Cup – Timisoreana on Sunday, for the 22nd time in this football clubs history. Bucharests National Arena was the venue for the final, with Steaua Bucharest defeating Universitatea Cluj 3-0. Steaua was the competitions main favourite after having won another two trophies last month: the national football championship for the third consecutive time and the first edition of the Leagues Cup. Starting next season the domestic League One will have only 14 teams, 4 teams less than at present, a move aimed at increasing the competitions quality.
As of June 1st, the value-added tax on foodstuffs, non-alcoholic beverages and food industry services in Romania has been cut from 24 to 9%. An argument in favour of this measure was that it is expected to encourage domestic producers to charge competitive prices, reduce tax evasion, encourage consumption and boost economic growth. This significant drop in the VAT on foodstuffs comes a year and a half after a 9% decrease of the VAT for bread has been enforced. Both employers associations and trade unions in the food industry deem the measure as a good one.
Prince Charles of Britain arrived on Sunday evening at his manor house in the Valea Zalanului village, in central Romania, where he usually spends a few days every summer. The Prince is interested in the Saxon medieval architecture in central Romania – citadels, fortified churches and houses built by the German settlers who came to Transylvania in the Middle Ages. Previously, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, had received Prince Charles in Bucharest. According to a release by the presidency, talks focused, among other things, on the importance of preserving and promoting the natural and historical heritage and also on protecting biodiversity and the environment. Prince Charles invited President Iohannis to visit the UK, and he received a positive answer.
Radio Romania is staging between June 1st and 6th the 3rd edition of the International Radio Drama Festival Grand Prix Nova. The festival is held under the high patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Margarita of Romania. As many as 50 radio dramas from 28 countries have been included in the competition. The president of this years edition is Reto Ott, a director and producer from Switzerland.
The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schuz, is today going to ask Russias Ambassador to the EU for more explanations on the so-called “black list of Europeans who are denied access on Russias territory. According to Radio Romanias correspondent to Brussels, Schulz deems the Russian authorities gesture as unacceptable. “It is unacceptable that this further diminishes mutual trust and hampers any efforts for constructive dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the current geopolitical crisis, Schulz said in a press release. There are 89 names on this list, including those of some former heads of government and MEPs who have criticised Moscows intervention in Ukraine. There are also 5 Romanians on the Russian black list.
