November 23, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 23.11.2023, 20:00

AFRICAN TOUR – The president of
Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Thursday ended his tour of Africa with his visit in
Senegal. The president previously visited Kenya, Tanzania and Cape Verde. In a
press briefing held jointly with his counterpart from Senegal, Macky Sall,
Klaus Iohannis said Romania supports African nations in their efforts to
develop capabilities to ensure national security. I have highlighted the need
for stability in Sahel, where Senegal plays a key role, the president said,
adding that Senegal is a priority for Romania in Africa. The two officials signed three documents
regarding the management of emergency situations, health and education
cooperation. The president said he has put Romania back on the African radar.
I have recuperated everything that has been all but lost, a valuable
cooperation between Romania and its African partners. Not only will this
strategy spell positive effects for Romania and the countries I have visited,
but it will produce clear-cut results in EU relations with African nations,
relations between the European Union and the African Union, president Iohannis
said.

AID – The government
announced it will provide emergency aid consisting of accommodation and warm
meals to the families evacuated from Gaza, irrespective of citizenship. 400 EUR
will be provided to a single person or to a family of five every month, while
families with more than five members will receive 600 EUR for accommodation
expenses. An additional food allowance worth 120 EUR will be paid to every
individual. The aid will be provided over a maximum period of four months
starting November. A group of 12 Romanian citizens and members of their
families were evacuated from Gaza into Egypt on Wednesday evening, crossing the
Rafah checkpoint, the Foreign Ministry Announced. This takes the total number
of citizens evacuated from Gaza since the outbreak of hostilities in the region
to 249.

GOVERNMENT – 60,000 households
from Romania can apply for European funding capped at 10,000 EUR to buy and
install photovoltaic panels to improve energy efficiency, Prime Minister Marcel
Ciolacu has announced. The funds are provided under the REPowerEU programme,
where Romania has been allotted 1.4 bln EUR. The government will earmark over
700 mln EUR to ensure the good functioning of the healthcare system until the
end of the year and some 40 mln EUR to cover hospital expenses, Marcel Ciolacu
also said, adding that next week the Finance Minister will disburse the 40 mln
EUR allotted for November. The overall cap on public guarantees as part of the
SME Invest state-subsidized scheme will be increased by nearly 800 mln EUR, the
Romanian Prime Minister also said.

GAUDEAMUS
– The 30th edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair, organized by Radio
Romania, is running in Bucharest until Sunday. A large variety of titles and up
to 50% discounts await visitors. The National Cultural Fund Administration on
Thursday launched the project titled To me. Self-Development Writing
Workshops, teaching special writing skills to pupils. Two of the participants
have already published their own volumes. Dozens of other events are also held
on the sidelines of the fair. (VP)