PRESIDENCY – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, will be in
\nBrussels on Wednesday and Thursday for a ceremony paying tribute to Jaques
\nDelors (1925-2023), former European Commission president over 1985-1995, and
\nfor a special meeting of the European Council. The main topic on Thursday’s
\nCouncil meeting is securing consensus at community level over the main elements
\nin the package set to reform the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. The
\nmost anticipated decisions regard support for Ukraine at all levels, including
\nmilitary assistance via the European Peace Facility, in line with Ukraine’s
\nspecific needs. President Iohannis will firmly argue in favor of Ukraine
\nremaining a top priority on the EU agenda. <\/p>\n
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IMF – A special IMF delegation led by Jan Kees Martijn is in
\nBucharest to conduct a new assessment of the economy. The mission takes places
\nfour months after the previous visit and has an advisory role. The IMF
\nestimates a 2.3% economic growth for Romania this year and a budget deficit of
\n6% of the GDP. IMF experts have urged Bucharest to implement additional
\nreforms, particularly in the field of taxation. Last autumn, the IMF argued
\nthat Romanian authorities should first and foremost seek to eliminate tax
\nexemptions and privileges, implement more efficient VAT-related measures,
\nreform property taxes and encourage the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
\nRomania has no standing agreement with the IMF at present. <\/p>\n
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TRAINS – The Transport Ministry is today signing a 640-mln-EUR
\ncontract for the purchase of 62 new electric short-track trains. The contract
\nwill be signed with the Polish manufacturer PESA, the same company expected to
\ndeliver 20 long-track trains in early 2026, as per the contract signed in
\nDecember 2023. The trains will enter circulation on the main electric rails or
\nsegments that underwent modernization works in western and northwestern
\nRomania. Romania purchased another 37 electric trains from Alstom, France. On
\nMonday, the Transport Ministry signed a contract with the French company worth
\n150 mln EUR, for the purchase of 16 new electric engines. <\/p>\n
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CPI – The 2023 Corruption
\nPerception Index, published by Transparency International, shows that most
\ncountries have reported little to no progress in combating public sector
\ncorruption. The EU as a whole is either stagnant or showing signs of decline in
\nthis respect. The EU average in the last five years stood at 64. With a score
\nof 46, Romania remains one of the underperformers at EU level, alongside
\nBulgaria (45) and Hungary (42), which reflects a dysfunctional rule of law.
\nAnti-corruption measures continued to be undermined by weakened checks and
\nbalances. In several countries, including Romania, there are huge gaps between
\nlegal provisions and the way they are enforced, the document states. With
\nrespect to Romania, Transparency International recommends updating legislation
\nin the field of public integrity, improving organizational and decision-making
\ntransparency, including through efficient public consultations and improving
\naccess to public information. <\/p>\n
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PROTESTS – Farmers’ protests
\ncontinue across Europe. Farmers continue to voice complaints regarding
\nenvironment policies, fuel excises and unfair competition. In France, farmers
\nhave blocked the main motorways in and out of Paris and other large cities,
\nwarning they won’t leave unless their demands are met. President Emmanuel
\nMacron on Thursday is expected to present a number of proposals on the
\nsidelines of the European Council summit in Brussels. Today, the French
\ngovernment is expected to take a number of decisions to help farmers. Paris has
\naccused some EU partners such as Spain or Italy of unfair competition, France
\nPresse and EFE report. German farmers on Monday blocked access roads on several
\nsegments across the country, particularly in the Hamburg region, disgruntled
\nwith the government’s decision to scrap diesel tax breaks. Farmers’ protests
\nhave also been reported in Greece and North Macedonia. <\/p>\n
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CHAMPIONSHIPS – A total of eight
\nathletes will represent Romania at the World Aquatics Championships hosted by
\nDoha over February 2-18, five in swimming events and three in diving. The big
\nabsentee is swimmer David Popovici, European champion in the 100m and 200m
\nfreestyle events. Constantin Popovici, the defending high diving world champion,
\nand C\u0103t\u0103lin Preda, world vice-champion, will lead the Romanian delegation. (VP)<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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