March 28, 2023

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 28.03.2023, 14:08

MEETING – Romanian PM Nicolae Ciuca has today received with military honors his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, who pays an official visit to Bucharest. The two officials are taking part in an inter-governmental meeting of the two countries official delegations, followed by the signing of two memorandums in the filed of sport and civil protection, respectively. They will also attend the Romania – Poland Economic Forum, meant to ease contacts between the business circles in the two countries and a better understanding of opportunities for cooperation. Polish companies activating in sectors like defense, IT, agriculture, energy, transport, smart city solutions and urban mobility are taking part in the event. Also today, Mateusz Morawiecki is holding official talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

SPECIAL PENSIONS – The draft law on reducing expenditure with the special pensions is being debated today in the Romanian Senates expert committees. Passing the law is a condition, included in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, for the disbursement of the third trench of European funds. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition in Bucharest has considered a number of modifications to the law, so as to meet the European Commissions requirements. The center-right opposition on Monday requested PM Nicolae Ciuca to come before Parliament and give explanations as regards the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the special pensions.

CELEBRATION – Romanian politicians attended on Monday in the neighboring Republic of Moldova the events occasioned by the 105th anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania. One of the most important moments was the unveiling in Ialoveni of the busts of the Romanian prime minister at the time, Alexandru Marghiloman, and of the president of the Country Council in Chişinău in 1918, Ion Inculeţ. Also, the bust of King Ferdinand I, nicknamed the Unifier, was unveiled in the Moldovan city of Balti.

CHISINAU – The European Council President, Charles Michel, is today paying a visit to the Republic of Moldova. On Monday he was in Bucharest, for talks with President Klaus Iohannis and other high officials, on the topic of Romanias Schengen accession. Charles Michel said Romania met all accession criteria and gave assurances that there is support, at European level, for the country to join Schengen as soon as possible.

FOOTBALL – Romanias national football squad is up against Belarus this evening on home turf, in a match counting for Group I of the EURO 2024 preliminaries. On Saturday, in the debut matches, Romania defeated Andorra away from home, 2-0, while Switzerland beat Belarus nil-0. Israel and Kosovo are also part of the group. The first two ranked qualify to the final tournament held next year in Germany. (EE)