May 6, 2019 UPDATE
Extreme weather phenomena are expected across Romania.
Newsroom, 06.05.2019, 19:50
MOTION – The Romanian Senate did not pass on Monday the simple motion filed by the right-wing opposition against Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. 27 senators voted in favor, 70 against and 9 abstained from the vote. The National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union claim Teodorovici should step down as he has proven unfit for the job and is thus jeopardizing the economy of the country and weakening Romanias relations with its Euro-Atlantic partners. The opposition also criticized the tax on banking assets, as well as the additional taxes implemented in the energy and telecom sectors.
WEATHER – The Romanian Weather Administration on Monday issued a code yellow alert against extreme weather phenomena in most of the country, in place until Tuesday evening. The south, east and the mountainous regions on Monday saw thunderstorms, hailstorms, heavy rain and wind. Heavy rain was also reported in the center, northwest and the southeast. Hail and strong wind were reported locally. Snowfalls are expected in the mountains. Tuesday temperatures will drop nationwide, ranging from 6 to 16 degrees Celsius. Hydrologists have issued a yellow code alert for flooding, valid until Tuesday evening for rivers in 27 Romanian counties.
ROYAL BABY – Meghan, Dutches of Sussex gave birth on Monday to her first child with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the royal family has announced. The baby is the first child for both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, will be seventh in line to the throne and is the Queen‘s eighth great-grandchild. In keeping with tradition, a framed notice formally announcing the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby was placed on an easel outside of Buckingham Palace on May 6.
MEETING — Romanian PM Viorica Dancila had a meeting in Bucharest on Monday with Count Georges Jacobs de Hagen, President of Europalia International. The meeting took place in the context of Romania being this year’s guest of honor of Europalia International festival, now at its 50th edition. For four months, from October 2019 to January 2020 a series of artistic events will highlight Romania’s cultural diversity. The centerpiece of Europalia Romania will be a prestigious exhibition about Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957), the most influential sculptor of the 20th century. It’s the first time in almost 25 years that a solo exhibition will be devoted to this artist. The exhibition opens on 1 October 2019 in Bozar, Brussels, and brings together top pieces from museums and private collections around the world. The Europalia Romania programme, includes around 200 events held in more than 50 locations.
SUMMIT IN SIBIU – The Romania-EU 2019 inter-ministry security committee has decided to start implementing security measures gradually as of Monday ahead of the EU Summit to be hosted by Sibiu on May 9. Security measures are very strict, given the scope and importance of the event. The summit will bring together heads of state and government from the EU27 group, 36 official delegations, 400 high-ranking guests, some 900 journalists and 100 interpreters. We recall Romania is currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
POPE FRANCIS – Pope Francis continued on Monday his visit to Bulgaria. During his meeting with President Rumen Radev, the Pope tackled the delicate issue of migration, with nearly half of Bulgarias working-age population leaving the country in recent years. The Pope warned that demographic winter is coming and called on the Government to create conditions allowing for young people to stay in the country. Pope Francis also referred to refugees, calling on the authorities to let them in. In Sofia, the Pope prayed together with Christians. Analysts say that, despite festivities, Bulgarias relations with the Vatican remain docile. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is a close ally of the Russian Orthodox Church, thus opposing close relations with the Vatican. The Pope will next visit North Macedonia and at the end of the month he will visit Romania, the second visit of a Pope after John Paul IIs visit 20 years ago.
MULTINATIONALS – Germany, France and Italy were the top three countries that controlled multinational branches in Romania in 2017. Over 13 thousand of these were controlled by foreign enterprises, while 62 thousand were controlled by foreign natural persons, the National Statistics Institute reports. Most multinational companies in Romania were operating in the trade sector, with a 35% share. 11% of them were active in constructions and the manufacturing industry, 9% were performing scientific and technical activities while 8% were involved in real estate. (Translated by Elena Enache)
