May 23, 2024 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 23.05.2024, 20:00

Protests – Trade unionists from several public institutions and governmental organizations protested on Thursday in front of the headquarters of the Romanian Government. They complained about wage inequities and discrimination in their fields of activity. These are employees from Environmental Protection domain, the Trade Register, the National Archives, the National Council for Combating Discrimination, as well as from the Sports and Youth domains. They were joined by a few employees from the government’s working apparatus, who started a spontaneous protest, stopping their  activity. In the meantime, the Government adopted an emergency ordinance that provides for 10% salary increases, in two installments, and the covering of costs for eyeglasses for several categories of employees in institutions under its authority, ministries or under the control of Parliament, including for some of those who were at the rally on Thursday. However, the offered increase displeases some of the protesters, who consider it too small. The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu told them that for the institutions in question, more flexible staff structure solutions can be found, and from the savings made, the salaries of those who deserve it can be increased.

Salaries – The minimum gross salary in Romania will increase to 3,700 lei (almost 744 Euros) from July 1, and the facility granted to employers regarding the 200 lei (about 40 Euros) exempted from taxes will be kept until the end of the year. The decision was announced by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in a Facebook post, after the conclusion of the Tripartite Council: Government – employers – unions. The Prime Minister said that in this way, Romania is on the right track for the implementation of the European minimum wage.

Exhibition – The regional military equipment exhibition “Black Sea Defense and Aerospace” 2024 takes place, until Friday, in Bucharest. The event is attended by over 400 global manufacturers of military equipment and technology from approximately 30 NATO member states or partners. Experts from all over the world will see the latest military equipment and weaponry, the main attraction of the exhibition being the fifth generation F-35 multi-role aircraft, which the US Air Force brought to an exhibition in Europe for the first time. Marcel Ciolacu, who participated in the opening of the exhibition, stated that, in the context of the bloody conflict in Ukraine, the revitalization of the national defense industry has become a priority of the Romanian government.

Strategy – The National Youth Strategy 2024 – 2027 was approved on Thursday by the Romanian Government. Starting from the results of an academic research, the strategy addresses various areas that can influence the quality of life of young people. This aims to increase the number of projects addressed to young people in order to increase access to education, culture and to develop the entrepreneurial spirit, said the spokesperson for the Executive, Mihai Constantin. He pointed out that, in the implementation of the strategy, several institutions from the fields of Education, Culture and entrepreneurship will be involved.

Forum – Romania openly supports the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in their European aspirations and the progress of these two countries on the path of reforms is visible, but ‘this road is not easy at all, the speaker of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, said Thursday in Bucharest in the framework of the “Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum”. He mentioned that the two countries must work on several clear lines of action, so as to integrate into the EU. Officials, military diplomats and analysts from Romania, the United States and other NATO and EU countries gathered in Bucharest for this important security, defense and foreign policy event. The “Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum”, now in its eighth edition, debates topics related to developments in the Black Sea region, in the context of the war in Ukraine. George Scutaru, general director and founding member of the New Strategy Center Romania, organizer of the event, said that Romania, located on the border with a war zone, must invest in defense capabilities and adapt its legislation to the current situation. Among others, the well-known economist Nouriel Roubini, the former commander of the NATO Forces in Europe, General Phillip Breedlove, or the reserve general David Petraues, the former head of the CIA, participate in the forum in Bucharest.

Film – The feature film “NASTY”, directed by the Romanians Cristian Pascariu, Tudor D. Popescu and Tudor Giurgiu, was presented, on Thursday, in the “Special Screenings” Section of the Official Program of the Cannes International Film Festival. The screening of the film ended with a Q&A session in the presence of the three directors. The documentary film NASTY offers the public a captivating foray into the life of the legendary Ilie Năstase, the first rebel in the history of tennis. Ilie Năstase dominated the Romanian and world tennis scene in the 1970s. In addition to pure talent, he stood out through an electrifying style of play, and his eccentric personality and volcanic, often controversial temperament brought him special fame. The Cannes Film Festival ends on Saturday. (LS)