November 29, 2018 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 29.11.2018, 19:48
MOTORWAY – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis
on Thursday ratified the law on the Union Motorway, which will cross the
Carpathians and link the cities of Iasi in Moldavia to Targu Mures in
Transylvania. The president said the motorway could stop the fierce migration
of the workforce to the eastern part of the country and capitalize on the
region’s development potential. This project also holds a particular strategic
importance, as it will firmly contribute to the European Union accession of the
Republic of Moldova. The motorway will start on the Romanian-Moldovan border on
a new bridge over the river Prut and end with a connection to the Brasov-Bors
motorway, on the Hungarian border. Each year the government will earmark budget
allocations to this project. The Transport Ministry will oversee the project
and will kick off procedures to attract investment within 30 days of the law
taking effect.
STUDY – Romania’s population will drop by approximately 5 million
inhabitants by 2050, a study carried out by a US research company warns. The
main causes behind this sharp drop include migration, population aging, the low
birth rate and an even lower fertility rate. According to the latest study
conducted by the Association of Human Reproduction in Romania, one in five
couples faces infertility issues. Experts claim public policies and concrete
measures are needed to encourage and support young people to become parents.
GOVERNMENT – The
government will continue to implement public policies to benefit the country
and its citizens, Romania’s prime minister Viorica Dancila has promised.
Together with her cabinet, she took part in a special government meeting on
Thursday in Alba Iulia, central Romania, dedicated to the celebration of
Romania’s National Day on 1 December, in a year when the country celebrates 100
years since the creation of the Romanian nation state. Alba Iulia is the city
where the Great Union was accomplished in 1918. Viorica Dancila
announced that the building sector would be considered a priority and of
national importance for the Romanian economy, and that a minimum gross salary
of some 640 euros would be set in this field. January 1 will also see a 5-time
increase on average of the allowances of war invalids, veterans and widows.
Last but not least, the government will approve the creation of a Food Trade
National Society, a commercial mechanism meant to promote the local resources
and agricultural products. Before the government’s meeting, the prime
minister visited the Union Memorial, one of the most spectacular projects
celebrating the Centenary of the Great Union. The structure is 22 m high and
will be unveiled on 1 December, in the presence of president Klaus Iohannis.
FEAST DAY – Orthodox, Eastern -Catholic and Roman-Catholic
Christians in Romania on Friday celebrate the feast day of Saint Andrew the
Apostle, the patron saint of Romania. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, Saint
Andrew preached and converted people in Dobrogea, eastern Romania. Over 700,000
Romanians celebrate their name day on Friday.
HANDBALL – The Romanian women’s handball team is in France where it
will play the Czech Republic in the European Championship’s Group D on
Saturday. Romania will next play Germany on December 3 and Norway on December
5. The first three teams in each group will advance to the next phase. Coached
by Ambros Martin of Spain, Romania is taking part in the Championship for the
13th time. Two years ago it ranked 5, while its best performance was
in 2010, when it scooped bronze.
(Translated by V.
Palcu)
