June 30, 2023

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Newsroom, 30.06.2023, 13:55

PRICES The government of Romania is discussing today an emergency
order introducing temporary measures to curb the excessive rise of foodstuff
prices. Under the new regulation, food processors may charge a maximum 20%
mark-up on production costs. The combined mark-up throughout the distribution
chain, regardless of the number of distributors, may not exceed 5%, while
retailers may charge an additional maximum 20% on purchase prices plus
overheads and direct expenses. The emergency order will be valid for 90 days
after endorsement.

EU Europe’s relations with China
are on the agenda of Friday’s talks at the European Council meeting in Brussels.
Some member states believe the West relies too much on an undemocratic country
that has close ties with Russia. The invasion of Ukraine highlighted the West’s
dependence on Russian oil and gas, and there are concerns that a similar
mistake is being made with respect to China, the source of many consumer goods,
the BBC notes. On Thursday, the first day of the Council meeting, the situation
in Ukraine and Russia was in the focus on the talks. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, EU leaders have undertaken
to help Ukraine in the long run to defend itself against Russia’s military
aggression. The meeting was also attended by the NATO secretary general Jens
Stoltenberg, with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr
Zelenskyy joining in via video link. The
president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said both the EU and NATO must provide
proportional support to the R. of Moldova as well, which is waiting to take the
next step towards European integration. As regards the transit of Ukrainian
grain, which has affected Romanian farmers, the president says Romania may
provide an answer to Kyiv’s request for more intensive use of the Danube as a
transit option.

SALARIES Teaching staff in the Romanian public
undergraduate education sector will receive more benefits under the new
collective bargaining agreement signed on Thursday. The announcement was made
by the education minister, Ligia Deca. On the other hand, Sanitas trade union
announced they have secured pay raises for public healthcare staff.

PENSIONS The Constitutional Court of Romania will discuss on 26 July
a notification filed by the High Court of Cassation and Justice against the
scrapping of special pensions and the law prohibiting the payment of both
public sector salaries and pensions to the same person at the same time. Both
bills were passed on Wednesday in Parliament and are being checked for
compliance with the Constitution, before being sent for promulgation by
president Klaus Iohannis. Supreme Court judges decided to notify the
Constitutional Court with respect to the two bills, which they claim violates
several of their rights.

SUPPORT The PM of Spain Pedro Sanchez travels to Kyiv on Saturday to
reiterate the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, on the first day of Spain’s
rotating presidency of the EU Council, 1 July. The announcement was made by the
president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine is an EU candidate country
and is hoping to open accession negotiations at the end of this year.

EUROPEAN GAMES Romania is placed 13th in the nations
ranking at the European Games in Krakow-Malopolska (Poland), 9 days into the
competition. Romanian athletes have so far won 14 medals (5 gold, 4 silver and
5 bronze). Cyclist Vlad Dascălu in the mountain bike event, athlete Claudia
Bobocea in the 1,500m race, Bernadette Szocs in the table tennis final, as well
as Kinga Barabasi and Apor Gyorgydeak in teqball are Romania’s gold medallists.
Silver medals went to athletes Bianca Ghelber in the hammer throw event and
Daniela Stanciu in the high jump, to rower Cătălin Chirilă in the 500m canoe
race and to Ilinca Pantiş in the saber event. Ştefan Comănescu in the 67 kg kumite,
Andrea Miklos in the 400 m race, Mălina Călugăreanu in the foil event, Ovidiu
Ionescu/Bernadette Szocs in the mixed doubles and Elizabeta Samara in the women’s
table tennis competitions, respectively, won bronze medals. Romania takes part
in this year’s edition of the European Games with 150 athletes in 18 sports. (AMP)