May 9, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 09.05.2024, 20:00
EUROPE DAY – Romania marked, on May 9, Europe Day. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said in a message that Europeans want to live in free societies with a functional rule of law, and maintaining peace is the challenge of the moment. In his turn, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that, after joining the European Union, Romania benefited from over 64 billion euros in European funds, money that it received in addition to the amount it contributed with to the EU budget. 42 out of 100 interviewees believe that their future MEPs should have, as priority, fighting for Romanians to have the same rights as the other European citizens and for Romania’s full integration into the Schengen area, that is, including land borders. We remind you that, every year on May 9, the historic moment of 1950 is celebrated, when the then French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, proposed placing coal and steel production under the control of a common authority. The proposal, known as the “Schuman Declaration”, is believed to be the cornerstone of the European Union. Romania joined the EU in 2007. May 9 has another historical significance for Romania, as it also marks the Day of the proclamation of the State Independence.
RUSSIA – On May 9, Russia celebrated Victory Day against Nazi Germany, seen as the most important Russian military triumph. On this key holiday for Kremlin propaganda, President Vladimir Putin launched, on Thursday, a new attack against the West and threatened, once again, with Moscow’s nuclear arsenal. He said the West risked provoking a global conflict and warned that no one would be allowed to threaten Russia. The Kremlin has been claiming for years that Russia would be the target of Western aggression and used this pretext to justify the invasion of Ukraine. The invasion was denounced by most of the international community and defined as a war of conquest of the imperial type.
ELECTIONS – On Friday, the election campaign begins in Romania for the European and local elections held simultaneously on June 9th. In September, Romania will host presidential election, and in December elections for the national parliament. On June 9, in the elections for the European Parliament, Romanian citizens can vote anywhere in the country or abroad, while for the local elections they can cast their vote only at the polling stations where they have their domicile or residency. More than 900 polling stations will be opened abroad, almost twice as many as during the previous European Parliament elections. European institutions warn citizens about the increased risk of misinformation and manipulation generated by actors outside the community space. The European Commission has released an audio-video clip about disinformation that will be broadcast in the media of all member states. People entitled to vote are advised to have a critical attitude towards the content disseminated in the online media, to analyze and not to believe everything they read.
UKRAINE – Romania could be a logistic center for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the Romanian Minister of Economy, Radu Oprea, said Thursday at a conference dedicated to investments in Central and Eastern Europe held in Bucharest and attended by representatives of the financial-banking system, of the business community and public authorities of the countries in the area. “If we know how to handle the grains (70-80% of Ukrainian grains transit Romania and reach all corners of the world) it is obvious that we also know how to ensure the safety of people and equipment,” Minister Oprea also said. We remind you that the situation in Ukraine was also the hot topic in Washington, in the talks the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis held with the US President Joe Biden. Iohannis said that Romania is aware of the key role it plays in helping Ukraine achieve victory and peace, succeed economically and join the EU. The Romanian President also mentioned the possibility of Romania finding a solution for the transfer of a Patriot anti-missile system to Ukraine.
FILM – The 28th edition of the European Film Festival started in Bucharest on Thursday, on Europe’s Day, and will end in Chisinau on June 8. The Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) kicked off the festival with Blaga’s Lessons, a Bulgarian-German co-production directed by Stephan Komandarev, which got the Crystal Globe for Best Film and the Ecumenical Jury Award at the International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary. According to the ICR, the festival this year includes 40 feature films, 34 national premieres and two selections of short-reels. (EE)
