ENERGY <\/b>The
\nRomanian government is planning an emergency order within the coalition formed
\nby the National Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic
\nUnion of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, to support the citizens affected by the
\nrise in electricity and natural gas prices. This announcement was made by prime
\nminister Nicolae Ciuc\u0103 after a meeting of the three-party council for social
\ndialogue. He said protection measures will expand beyond 1st April based on a
\nspecial bill. Trade unions say electricity and natural gas prices should be
\ncapped at the level of December 2020, before deregulation, both at the
\nproducers’ end, and at the suppliers’ end, for at least another six months,
\neven a year. They say the cap should be uniform for the population and small
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n
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FOREIGN POLICY<\/b> The EU hopes to convince the Russian president Vladimir Putin through
\ndialogue to give up his intentions to attack Ukraine, but it is also preparing
\ntough sanctions to discourage Russia, the EU foreign ministers convening in
\nBrest, France concluded on Friday. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent
\nin Paris, the French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, whose country is
\nholding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, said Europeans are united
\nand determined to make their voice heard. The EU foreign ministers are
\npreparing sanctions against Moscow, and new talks on the matter are scheduled
\nto take place in Brussels on January 24. Romania was represented in Brest by
\nforeign minister Bogdan Aurescu who, according to the Foreign Ministry, pleaded
\nfor a number of elements that best reflect Romania’s interests. He said the
\nEU’s partnership with NATO and the US must be clearly emphasised, and stressed
\nthe importance of presenting appropriately the current security situation in
\nthe Eastern Neighbourhood, including the Black Sea region.<\/p>\n
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COVID-19 <\/b>Romania reported on Friday almost 9,900 new Covid cases, 60% more than a
\nweek ago, as well as 30 deaths, including three recorded earlier. Some 450
\nCovid patients are in intensive care. 230 outpatient centres are now available
\nacross the country for the persons infected with Covid to check their health
\ncondition and receive free antiviral medicine based on daytime hospitalisation,
\nirrespective of whether they have health insurance. Health minister Alexandru
\nRafila says it is very important for patients to use these centres, unless they
\nare in critical situation, thus lowering pressure on hospitals.<\/p>\n
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\n
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LIST <\/b>The National Committee for Emergency Situations updated the list of
\nhigh COVID risk countries. All countries in the EU and the European Economic Area
\nremain in the red tier, along with non-EU countries like Turkey, Israel and the
\nUS. South Africa, Brazil and India are no longer included in the red list. Among
\nRomania’s neighbouring countries Serbia is on the yellow list, whereas Ukraine
\nand the Republic of Moldova are now in the green tier. The new list takes
\neffect on January 16. <\/p>\n
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CULTURE DAY <\/b>Romania’s National
\nCulture Day is again celebrated this year through numerous concerts,
\nperformances, exhibitions, guided tours and workshops. We have a sacred
\nduty. To honour our personalities, our works of art and our national
\nheritage, said culture minister Lucian Roma\u015fcanu, adding: I’m
\nencouraging all Romanians, of all ages, to continue to respect their history,
\nnational identity and traditions, for they are the only visiting card that
\nnever loses its currency. National Culture Day has been celebrated for
\nthe last 12 years on 15th January, on the anniversary of the birth of national
\npoet Mihai Eminescu. As part of the programme of events held this year, the
\nRomanian Academy Friday hosted a special event attended by leading local
\ncultural figures. (tr. A.M.P., C.M.)<\/p>\n
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