May 31, 2021
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 31.05.2021, 13:55
COVID-19 -
The largest batch of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine will reach Romania today,
totaling 1.1 million doses. The vaccine may now be administered to children
aged 12-15, after the European Medicines Agency greenlit the vaccine as safe
for this age bracket. Since the start of the vaccination campaign at the end of
2020, over 4.3 million people got vaccinated against COVID-19, three quarters of
whom with both shots. Last weekend saw new vaccination marathons across the
country. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 infections continues to drop. All counties
are reporting an incidence rate below 1 per thousand inhabitants in the last 14
days. On Monday, the Group for strategic communication announced the lowest
number of infections reported in the last 24 hours since the start of the
pandemic – 153. Another 36 related fatalities have also been reported. 425
people are still in intensive care.
MEASURES -
Starting June 1 the Government is easing a number of COVID-related
restrictions. Private parties with a limited number of attendants are allowed
again, while sports events will resume in enclosed spaces as well. Clubs,
nightclubs, as well as interior playgrounds and pools will also reopen. The
number of participants can exceed the maximum allowed provided all participants
are vaccinated. Outdoor cultural events are also permitted with a maximum of
1,000 participants, provided the incidence rate is below 3 per thousand
inhabitants. Face masks can also be eliminated in workplaces with a maximum of
5 employees allowed in each office, provided they are vaccinated.
PNRR – Romania’s
National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) might be submitted to the European
Commission today, as announced by Cristian Ghinea, the Minister of Investments
and European Projects. 30 separate documents for each of the Plan’s sections
will be uploaded to the Commission’s digital platform. After the Commission
rejected the first draft submitted by the Romanian Government, the revised Plan
will be made public on June 2, Romania being one the few countries at EU level
to do this, Minister Ghinea explains. Liberal Prime Minister Florin
Cîţu said the document has already been presented in Parliament’s specialised
committees, while experts from the Social-Democratic Party in opposition have
seen the final draft. Social-Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu expressed
disapointment that the plan hasn’t been discussed in detail and claimed the
reforms and funds alloted to SMEs are unknown. Romania will receive nearly €30
million Euro under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
INQUIRY – Interior Minister Lucian Bode said Romania is a safe
country, and the assassination in Arad is an isolated case. The Romanian
official promised the culprits will be brought to justice. On Saturday, a known
businessman in Arad died after his car exploded. The Prosecutor General’s
Office has taken lead in the inquiry. Arad County Prefect, Tóth Csaba, has
ordered additional measures to maintain public order. The businessman owned one
of the few African salmon farms in Eastern Europe outside Arad.
EPPO – The
European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the EU’s new anti-fraud prosecution
body, starts its activity on June 1, under the leadership of former head of the
Romanian Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruţa Kövesi. According to estimates,
corruption, embezzlement and fraud are causing losses of some €500 million
every year in the EU budget. Starting June 1, European prosecutors will take
action against criminal activities of this kind and will make sure no funds are
wasted due to corruption and fraud, European Commissioner for Values and Transparency,
Věra Jourová, has said. Charged with identifying and investigating corruption
cases, EPPO will have an annual budget of €45 million. Five EU member states
have refused to take part in the EPPO.
NATO – NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, is today paying
a visit to Romania, accompanied by the president of the NATO Military
Commission, General Stuart Peach. Mircea Geoană’s agenda is very busy,
including a visit to the NATO Multinational Division Southeast, which is taking
part in the NATO Steadfast Defender 21 multinational exercise. Mircea Geoană
will meet with Romania’s Defense Minister, Nicolae Ciucă and with Chief of
General Staff, Daniel Petrescu. The NATO official will also attend the Black
Sea Atlantic Security Council, hosted by Aspen Institute – Romania. During his
visit Mircea Geoană will open the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Center, alongside
Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, and EU
Commissioner for Inter-institutional relations and forecast, Maros Sefcovic,
the vice-president of the European Commission.
ROLAND GARROS
– Three Romanian tennis players are today playing in the first round at Roland
Garros, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. Irina Begu will take on
Serena Williams of the United States, the tournament’s seventh seed. Sorana
Cîrstea will go up against Johanna Konta of Great Britain, while Mihaela
Buzărnescu will play Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands. On Tuesday, Irina Bara
will go up against Astra Sharma of Australia. We recall Ana Bogdan has advanced
to the second round, where she will take on Naomi Osaka of Japan, world no. 2,
who in the first round knocked out another Romanian, Patricia Tig. Simona
Halep, world no. 3 and the winner of Roland Garros in 2018, will not take part
in the tournament due to an injury. (VP)
