March 9, 2015
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Mihai Pelin, 09.03.2015, 12:00
Romanian president Klaus Johannis has today received German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Bucharest. High on the talks agenda was the two countries cooperation on economic and security issues. Talks also focused on issues pertaining to NATOs presence in Romania, in compliance with decisions made at the Alliances most recent summit, as well as on developments in the European Unions eastern neighborhood. The German high-ranking official also held talks with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, as well as with other officials in Bucharest. In Sibiu, central Romania, Steinmeier will be attending events marking the 25th anniversary of the Democratic Forum of Ethnic Germans from Romania.
The European Commission has this year reimbursed 565 million euros in funds to Romania for payment applications filed in 2014; the EU fund absorption rate has reached 52%, sources with the European Funds Ministry announced on Monday. According to official data, the largest sum was reimbursed through the Sectoral Operational Programme (POS) Transport (roughly 300 million euros). According to EU Funds Minister Eugen Teodorovici, Romanias absorption rate will be reaching nearly 80% at the end of this year, which is a very important moment because this is the last year when funds earmarked for the 2007-2013 period can be attracted.
Romanian rock band Voltaj will be representing Romania at the Eurovision music awards due in Vienna in May. Their song, ‘All over again was selected during a national TV programme on Sunday night from 12 songs that were competing. The song is about the ordeal of the Romanians who go to find employment in foreign countries leaving their children behind.
Foreign Ministers from the eurozone are today assessing a list of measures, Greece is pledging to implement in exchange for the next loan installment of the bailout package. The measures are focusing on administrative reforms on the labour market, in fighting corruption, tax evasion and smuggling. Creditors, on the other hand, are requesting measures with immediate effect – such as an increased VAT, viable privatization projects, cuts in state employees salaries and pensions. Under the recently signed accord with the eurozone countries, Greece will not receive additional funds until June unless it implements fresh economic reforms. On Friday, Greece reimbursed 310 million euros out of a total one billion and a half, which is to be paid to the IMF in the following two weeks. Unemployment is affecting a quarter of the population in Greece, whose foreign debt stands at 315 billion euros, accounting for 175% of the GDP.
The European Central Bank has today unleashed its 1.1 trillion euro stimulus programme mainly aimed at boosting economic recovery in the eurozone and avoiding deflation in the EU. According to Central Bank president Mario Draghi as of Monday the bank will start buying 60 billion euros a month in government and corporate bonds. The measure comes against the significant depreciation of the single currency against the US dollar and the pound, reaching the lowest level since 2007. The ECB purchases are aimed at driving down market interest rates stimulating lending and growth and raising the rate of inflation, which is dangerously low at minus 0.3%.
Orthodox and Catholic believers are today celebrating the 40 Christian martyrs one of the most important springtime festivity before Easter. The 40 soldiers in the Roman army were sentenced to death around 320 A.D. in the Armenian city of Sevastia, during the anti-Christian persecution ordered by Roman emperor Licinius. A special flavoured dessert dish called ‘mucenici is being served on this occasion in Romanian households.
