September 8, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 08.09.2023, 19:16

Port. The
Romanian government on Friday approved the allocation of some 300 million euros
for the modernisation of the Black Sea port of Constanţa. The funds will be
used to expand, modernise and rehabilitate the roads and the
infrastructure used for the electricity and water supply for the port, which
has gained more importance at regional level amid the conflict in Ukraine.
Non-reimbursable external funds will be used under the 2021-2027 transport
programme and from the state budget. Also on Friday, the government approved
the allocation of some 22 million euros to pay for the accommodation and meal
of Ukrainian refugees in May and June. The money comes from the government’s
budget reserve funds.

Request.
Romania on Friday presented the European Commission with a request to modify
its national recovery and resilience plan and add a new chapter on REPowerEU, a
programme aimed at consolidating the EU’s strategic autonomy. According to the
Commission, the chapter proposed by Bucharest covers two new reforms, six new
investments and an expanded measure relating to increasing the production of
green energy, improving the energy efficiency of buildings and consolidating
the training of the staff working in the production of green energy. Romania
also requests the elimination of four investments from the initial plan and the
modification of around 70 measures. Brussels will now assess if the changed
plan meets all the criteria laid down in the Regulation establishing the
Recovery and Resilience Facility. If the assessment is positive, the Commission
will present the EU Council with a proposal for the modification of the
execution decision to take into account the adjustments brought to the Romanian
plan.

ROMANIA-USA. Romanian
Defence Minister Angel Tîlvăr on Thursday met US Ambassador in Romania,
Kathleen Kavalec. According to a Ministry release, the two officials discussed
the latest Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube River, close to
Romania’s borders. Minister Angel Tîlvăr hailed the strong solidarity expressed
by the Allies. In turn, Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec said the US government
remains firmly committed to consolidating the defence and deterrence capacities
of Romania and NATO against any type of aggression targeting allied territory
on the Eastern Flank. In a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State,
Antony Blinken, Romania’s Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu hailed the support
and solidarity expressed by the USA and NATO and highlighted the need for NATO
to monitor the developments in the Black Sea and the region. Secretary Blinken expressed
solidarity with Romania and thanked Bucharest for its support for Ukraine, as
well as the additional measures Romania has taken to facilitate the transit of
Ukrainian grain on its territory.

Film. Do Not
Expect Too Much From the End of the World, a film written and directed by Radu
Jude, is Romania’s proposal for the Oscars’ 2024 best international feature
film. The film opened last month at the International Film Festival in Locarno,
in Switzerland, where it won a number of distinctions. The short list for the
Oscars will be announced on 23rd January next year, with the awards
gala to take place on 10th March in Los Angeles. A film director and
script writer, Radu Jude is the recipient of a number of international awards,
including the Golden Bear in Berlin in 2021.

Sports. Romania
are playing Ireland on Saturday in their opening World Cup match in France.
Romania are in Group B, alongside South Africa, Scotland and Tonga. Also on
Saturday, Romania’s football side are facing Israel at home, before taking on
Kosovo, again on home turf. With two wins and a draw, Romania are in second
place in a group led by Switzerland and which also includes Belarus and
Andorra. (CM)