THE WEEK IN REVIEW

April 9-15, 2023

Leyla Cheamil, 14.04.2023, 14:05

Romania’s Supreme Defence Council convenes in Bucharest

Romania will buy F-35 latest generation fighter jets. The country’s supreme defense council (CSAT), which analyzed security risks in the Black Sea region, took this decision. The US-made jets are equipped with a wide range of advanced sensors and encrypted information can be exchanged in real time, with both air platforms and ground defence systems. The intention to buy F-35 fighter jets had been announced ever since last year by President Klaus Iohannis, as part of the process of modernizing air defence. The agenda of the CSAT meeting focused on the security situation in the Black Sea area, in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Council members decided that the national security remains the top priority. They also decided that Romania must further ensure the necessary support for vulnerable partners in the region, the Republic of Moldova in particular. After Ukraine, Moldova is the country most exposed to Russian aggression and pressure, being the target of hybrid destabilizing actions of unprecedented intensity and complexity.

Security in the Black Sea region, discussed in Bucharest

Romanian foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said Thursday that Bucharest becomes again the international capital of diplomacy by staging the first Black Sea Security Conference under the aegis of the International Crimea Platform and a new meeting of the Romania-Moldova-Ukraine trilateral. Aurescu condemned again the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Organised by the Romanian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry, together with the corresponding ministries in Ukraine, in partnership with Ukraine’s Centre for Defense Strategies, the conference is the first such extensive event dedicated to the Black Sea, co-organised by the two countries, under the aegis of the International Crimea Platform. As regards the agenda of the Romania-Moldova-Ukraine trilateral, debates focused on the security situation in the region, in the context of the Russian pressure on Moldova and the support of NATO and the EU for Ukraine and Moldova. Also for talks on the security situation at the Black Sea, Admiral Rob Bauer, the Chair of the Military Committee of NATO, was in Romania from Monday to Friday. He discussed with Foreign Minister Aurescu about preparations for the summit in Vilnius due in July and the implementation of decisions of the allied meeting in Madrid, while at the Defence Ministry’s offices he had talks with Defence Minister Angel Tilvar and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Daniel Petrescu. Bauer’s visit to Romania also included visits to the allied commands dispatched in Bucharest and Sibiu (centre), the NATO battlegroup in Cincu (centre) and the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base (south-east).

The European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, in Romania

The European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, has paid a visit to Romania. He met with PM Nicolae Ciuca with whom he discussed Romania’s role in consolidating the European defence capacity and the support for Ukraine and Moldova.

Commissioner Breton hailed the earmarking, by Romania, of 2.5% of the GDP for defence, especially in the current security context. Also, the European official visited, together with Economy Minister Florin Spataru, two military equipment factories. The European official said that Romania is among the 11 countries identified by the European Commission as having companies in the defence industry that could increase their production capacity, to support Ukraine. In turn, Florin Spataru said that also discussed was the European support that the Romanian industry can get, so as to contribute to reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

The IMF has revised downwards Romania’s economic growth forecast

The IMF has revised Romania’s economic growth forecast for this year from a little over 3%, estimated last fall, down to 2.4%. The economic growth next year is expected to be 3.7%, according to the financial institution. In terms of inflation, the level forecast by the IMF for this year is 10.5%. The growth pace of prices will slow down significantly only in 2024, when it should be less than 6%.

Preparations for Easter

Orthodox Christians, who form the majority in Romania, and Greek-Catholic believers on Sunday entered the Holy Week, the last week of the Easter Lent. Religious services were held in churches, remembering the last days of Christ on earth, before being his Crucifixion and Resurrection. Pilgrims from Romania have already arrived at the holy places in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem, for the Easter mass.

On another hand, Reveal Marketing Research company has conducted a poll in order to find out how Romanians get ready for Easter. 71% of respondents said they spend Easter at home, with their families, while younger respondents, aged 18 to 24 years, will spend Easter with their group of friends. As regards the interest in Easter traditions, 78% plan to attend the Easter mass and 45% said they usually fast. Also, over 64% of Romanians plan to buy presents for their loved ones, which is less than in 2019, when 8 in 10 people said they planned to do so. (EE)