November 29, 2017 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 29.11.2017, 19:36

MINIMUM SALARY – The Romanian Government on Wednesday decided to increase the minimum gross salary from 1450 to 1900 lei, the equivalent of some €410. According to specialists, the measure will stimulate employment and discourage illegal work. Romania is currently faced with a serious shortage of workers, especially in construction, agriculture, IT and health-care. Maintaining the current level of penalty point under the totting up system is also on the agenda of the Executive. As the value of this point is calculated depending on the minimum salary, maintaining its current level has been proposed to prevent traffic fines from growing excessively.

MILITARY – Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor and US Ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm, attended Wednesdays signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the purchase of Patriot missile systems. Minister Fifor thanked the USA and said Romania would become an important ally for NATO. The surface-to-air Patriot missile system will become operational by mid-2020. Romanias President Klaus Iohannis on Monday ratified the law on the purchase of Patriot missile systems, after last week the Chamber of Deputies adopted it as the decision-making body. Romania plans on purchasing seven Patriot missile systems worth $3,9 billion.

NORTH KOREA – Romanias Foreign Ministry has firmly condemned the launch of a new ballistic missile by North Korea, labeling it a threat to regional and international peace and security. North Koreas repeated challenges are violating the resolutions of the UN Security Council, the Ministry also writes, calling on North Korea to prevent the situation from further escalating and resume dialogue with the international community. North Korea has announced the successful testing of a new type of inter-continental missile, which can hit any part of the US territory. The test, carried out after a two-month break, has been condemned by the US, Japanese and South-Korean authorities, as well as by the European Union. The UN Security Council has called an emergency session to discuss new sanctions against Pyongyang.

INVESTMENT – European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu has approved two new investment projects in road and water infrastructure, worth some €252 million. €76 million from the European Regional Development Fund will be invested in works on the European road E 79, which will link Romania to Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece. Also, some €176 million from the Cohesion Fund will be invested in water management and distribution infrastructure in urban areas in Vrancea County, in the east.

MINIVACATION – Thursday is the first day of a 4-day mini-vacation, occasioned by the celebration of Saint Andrew, Romanias patron saint, and Romanias National Day on December 1. Romanians have chosen to spend this extended weekend in the country, mostly in resorts on Prahova Valley, in Bukovina, in the north and in spas. The average budget allocated for such trips is approximately €170 per person. On the other hand, the Romanians who have chosen to go abroad will spend on average €320 per person. On December 1, Romanias National Day, the main event on the celebration agenda is the military parade in Bucharest, which will be attended by some 3,500 military staff, fighter jets and military vehicles.

CANADA – The Romanian Defense Ministry has recalled that, as of December 1, Romanian citizens will be able to travel to Canada visa free, for periods of maximum 6 months, for tourist purposes. Those who intend to travel by plane will have to first get an Electronic Travel Authorization – eTA. The others will only have to have a valid passport. The Romanian Foreign Ministry hails the decision made by the Canadian authorities to liberalize the visa-regime for the Romanian citizens, the outcome of years of diplomatic cooperation, also with the participation of the European Commission.

HANDBALL – As of December 1st, Germany will be hosting the World Womens Handball Championship. Romania is part of Group A, alongside France, Spain, Slovenia, Angola and Paraguay. On December 2nd, in their first match, the Romanian squad will take on the team of Paraguay. At the previous World Championship, in 2015, Romania won bronze. The Romanian team is the only team to have participated in all the 22 editions of the World Championship held so far. (Translated by M. Ignatescu & V. Palcu)