May 15, 2022
Everything you need to know about Romania in less than 60 minutes.
Newsroom, 15.05.2022, 13:58
EUROVISION — Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest held on Saturday night in the Italian city of Turin with the song Stefania, performed by Kalush Orchestra. The artists collected 631 points, most of them from the audience. The song became increasingly popular after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. International leaders congratulated the band for the achievement. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Layen wrote: “Congratulations Kalush Orchestra and Ukraine for winning Eurovision! Tonight your song won our heart. We are celebrating your victory all over the world. Europe is with you!” In turn, the European Council President Charles Michel said after the winner was announced: “Sincere congratulations to the Kalush Orchestra on winning Eurovision 2022! I will always come to you on broken roads. I wish that next year’s Eurovision will be held in Kyiv, in a free and united Ukraine.” The leader of the British government, Boris Johnson, also congratulated the winners, while the head of European diplomacy, Joseph Borell wrote: “Europe has voted and Ukraine has won. Long live music! Long live Europe! Congratulations, Ukraine, for winning Eurovision!” Romania, represented by WRS with the song “Llamame” came out 18th, with 65 points.
MUSEUMS – The Night of Museums was celebrated with over 200 cultural events on Saturday night in 87 towns and cities in Romania. More than 60 cultural sites and unconventional spaces stayed open in Bucharest in the largest such event since the pandemic. The Bucharest City Hall opened to visitors, with events showcasing the history and architecture of the palace hosting it. Some of the most popular tourist sites in Romania, such as Bran Castle, Peleş Castle and Făgăraş Citadel, also prepared surprises for their guests. The European Night of Museums is an event that takes place across Europe.
CENSUS — The online census, the first stage of a population and household census in Romania, that should have ended today, has been extended by two weeks, until May 27. The decision was taken by the authorities following that fact that, in the last week, the average daily number of filled in questionnaires went up to 450 thousand. Some 8.4 million Romanians have so far filled in the form. Romanians who do not have access to the Internet will be interviewed at home between May 31 and July 17. The census started on March 14.
DIPLOMACY — Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu who attended a two-day informal meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Berlin, said Romania supports the accession of Finland and Sweden to the Alliance and that Bucharest is ready to support the fast NATO accession of the two countries. He also stressed the importance, to Romania, of the two states’ contribution to the consolidation of NATO’s defence and deterrence posture on the Eastern Flank in a balanced manner, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, for the long run.
UKRAINE — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski said Saturday night that the situation remains very difficult in the Donbas region after its troops freed the city of Harkiv from the pressure of Russian artillery and launched a counteroffensive in the town of Izyum, a strategic point for Russia in its effort to control eastern Ukraine. On another hand, Russian missiles hit military infrastructure in the Lviv region, in the west. According to Kyiv Independent hundreds of civilian cars left Mariupol after days of waiting and reached Zaporojie safely, while the drama of the soldiers caught in the Azovstal plant continues. Local officials in Mariupol published images showing that Russia used phosphor bombs in the attacks on Azovstal. (EE)
