May 19, 2022
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 19.05.2022, 13:54
FOOD SECURITY – Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, attended on Wednesday, in New York, the ministerial meeting Global Food Security Call to Action, where he said that, in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, capitalising on the potential of the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta is a matter of strategic importance. Constanta has become the most important port in terms of cereal exports, Aurescu said. He also called for an enhanced international effort to create a corridor for the transport of products and cereals from Ukraine, including by sea. Aurescu is today taking part in another meeting on global food security, initiated by the US, which this month holds the presidency of the UN Security Council.
MEETING – Romania and Portugal, both EU and NATO members, have proven they can count on each other and that together they can develop very good cooperation ties, Romanian PM Nicolae Ciuca said on Thursday after talks in Bucharest with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa, who is on a working visit to Romania. In turn, the Portuguese official said his country supports Romania’s accession to the Schengen area and that he hopes this membership will ease the circulation of Romanians residing in his country and the exchanges between the two people. He also said that the Romanian-Portuguese accord on military cooperation signed in Bucharest will enhance bilateral military cooperation in areas such as defence planning and management, participation in bilateral and multinational military drills, cyber defence and counteracting hybrid war. PM Costa was also received by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
BLUE FLAG – Six beaches in the Romanian Black Sea resorts of Năvodari, Mamaia, Eforie and Olimp have received the Blue Flag distinction this year from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Blue flags are granted based on strict criteria, such as water quality, first aid services, facilities for people with disabilities and eco practices. The Blue Flag programme for beaches and marinas, run by the Foundation for Environmental Education, an international, nongovernmental, non-profit organisation, promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas. It challenges local authorities and beach operators to achieve high standards in terms of water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety.
FOOTBALL – Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe and FC Voluntari are today playing in Bucharest the Romanian Football Cup final. On Saturday, Romanian football club CFR Cluj won the eighth domestic championship title in its history and the fifth won in a row. CFR won the trophy one round ahead of the end of the season, after defeating Universitatea Craiova 2-1 on Sunday at home. The team in runner-up position is FCSB, which drew 2-2 against FC Voluntari.
WAGE – The Government passed on Wednesday an emergency decree allowing employers to operate a tax-free increase in the minimum wage. The measure will take effect starting June 1 and is part of the “Support for Romania” package, designed to combat the negative effects of the price hikes. Workers with full-time individual employment agreements are eligible for the wage increase, as well as people who are hired over June 1 – December 31, 2022. Basically, employees can opt to increase the minimum wage from 510 to 550 Euro. Also on Wednesday, the Government passed a decree granting 3,000 passenger and freight road transporters fuel subsidies worth 60 million euro to cover the increase in the fuel price. (EE)
