June 12, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 12.06.2024, 20:00
ELECTIONS – The alliance comprising the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party (currently in power in Romania) carried close to 49% of the votes in Sunday’s elections for the European Parliament, according to partial data released by the Central Electoral Bureau. Next came AUR party with nearly 15%, the United Right Alliance with 8.6 %, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania with 6.5% and SOS Romania party with 5%. One of the 33 MEPs to represent Romania in the European Parliament is non-affiliated. Local elections were also held in Romania on Sunday, with the Social Democrats winning the mayor and county council elections, followed by their Liberal partners and by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians. In Bucharest, the incumbent mayor general, Nicuşor Dan, has won a new term in office.
INFLATION – In Romania, the year-on-year inflation rate dropped from 5.9% in April to 5.12% in May, as foodstuff prices went up 1.24%, non-food prices rose by 6.38%, and services are 9.29% more expensive, the National Statistics Institute announced on Wednesday. The National Bank adjusted the inflation forecast for this year to 4.9%, from 4.7% previously, and expects the indicator to reach 3.5% by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, net investments in the national economy totaled some EUR 7 bln in the first quarter of the year, up 6.7% as compared to Q1, 2023, the institution also reports.
NATO – The German Armed Forces are contributing 2 operations centres and a PATRIOT combat squadron to NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence international exercise Ramstein Legacy 24, held in Romania and Bulgaria. According to the German Embassy in Bucharest, roughly 260 German troops and 100 vehicles traveled to the Romanian Black Sea coast. “We stand strong with our Allies to ensure the security of Romania and of our entire Allied territory,” the German Ambassador to Bucharest, Peer Gebauer, said after visiting the German military. After Romania and Bulgaria, Germany is the biggest troop contributor in this week’s exercise, alongside units from France, Finland, the UK, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Turkey and Hungary near Constanţa, in south-eastern Romania. Units from Greece, Italy and Slovenia are also taking part in the Bulgarian section of the exercise, which is designed to improve interoperability and help integrate the NATO air defense forces into the NATO common air defense command structure.
VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis received on Wednesday, in Bucharest, the president of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Martin Schulz, former president of the European Parliament. According to a press release of the presidency, in the context of the recent European elections, the two discussed the new political configuration of the European Union and its priorities for the next legislature. At the same time, aspects regarding the geopolitical situation in the region and globally were addressed. The two also discussed the very good relations between Romania and Germany, based on close bilateral cooperation, at the European, allied and international level. The important contribution of the German minority in Romania and of the Romanian community in Germany was also highlighted.
UKRAINE – As many as 95 investment projects are being discussed at the International Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin. On Wednesday, the participants discussed the funding for these reconstruction projects. So far the European Commission has announced agreements with various banks amounting to EUR 1.4 bln, and a EUR 1.9 bln assistance package. The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy Tuesday called for the consolidation of air defence in the face of Russian attacks. Attending the conference, the Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu said Bucharest supported Ukraine with electricity and was working to improve inter-connection. Bucharest has a regional approach, which also includes the neighboring Republic of Moldova, Luminiţa Odobescu pointed out.
UNIVERSITY – The Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest ranks 401-600 out of 1,963 universities included, internationally, in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2024, which evaluates universities based on the UN’s sustainable development goals. According to a press release from the higher education institution, in this year’s edition the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest is ranked 401-600 in the general ranking and obtained a score of 71.9 points out of 100. In the 2024 edition of the ranking, Romanian 19 universities are present.
