August 11, 2021 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 11.08.2021, 19:51
Budget. The Governing coalition in Bucharest carries on negotiations over the current budget adjustment, which is to be approved next week. On Tuesday evening, after a meeting of the leaders of the ruling parties, the Liberal PM Florin Citu announced that additional funds would be earmarked for the ministries of health, transport, education, justice and energy. As regards the ministry of development, talks have not been completed yet, as the line minister Cseke Atilla presented a 10 billion Euro investment program, to cover several fields: roads, water, sewerage and connection to the natural gas pipelines. Under this program, the state would invest in local infrastructure, in correlation with investments from the European funds. On Wednesday, the leader of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, stated that the start of the new program of investments benefiting local communities was decided at government level.
Covid-19RO. 326 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Romania on Wednesday, out of more than 29 thousand tests performed. Also, 8 related deaths were registered. 710 people are hospitalized, of whom 96 in intensive care. The coordinator of the National Vaccination Campaign, Valeriu Gheorghiţă, has stated that, although the number of new cases of infection is growing slowly, its a progressive and sustained growth, therefore, in a pessimistic scenario, the figure could go up to 1,500 daily cases in the second half of September. In another move, in order to give a boost to the vaccination campaign, the governing coalition has agreed to grant meal vouchers to those who get fully vaccinated.
Inflation – According to the National Institute of Statistics, in Romania, the annual inflation rate went up to 5% in July as against 3.9% in June. Prices of non-food products went up by 8%, of services by 2.74%, and of foodstuffs by 2.33%. Higher prices were reported for electricity, gas, fuels and edible oil. On Monday, Romanias Central Bank increased the inflation forecast to 5.6% for the end of this year, according to Governor Mugur Isărescu. Romania is no longer a country of low salaries, the PM Florin Cîțu replied, adding that more than 1% of employees have a net salary higher than the equivalent of 3,000 Euros, and the share of people who have net salaries of over 1,000 Euros is on the rise. According to the NIS, the average net salary stands at 3,541 lei (about 700 Euros).
Strategy. Romanias military strategy for the next three years was approved at Wednesdays government meeting. The document reflects the security and defense guidelines of the North Atlantic Alliance and the EU, taking into account the risks and threats of a military nature to Romania, Army missions and national military objectives set out in the White Paper on Defense, a communiqué issued by the line ministry reads. At the same time, the strategy sets priorities in developing the Armys defense capabilities, continuing the lines of action of previous strategies in conjunction with security guarantees arising from Romanias dual membership of NATO and the EU, as well as the strategic partnerships with other states. The document emphasizes the need to innovate, adapt and implement objectives to configure the command and force structure, increase the responsiveness of units, digitize and use new technologies, modernize the education and medical-military system, and adapt the legal framework. necessary to carry out missions in time of peace, crisis and war.
Wildfires. In Greece, the population affected by the wildfires of the past two weeks accuses authorities of failing to act effectively in the fight against the fires. The causes of this unprecedented disaster are also being investigated by the Prosecutor General, as there are suspicions of an organized criminal activity. As many as 600 outbreaks are active, and the situation does not seem to be improving despite the huge efforts of the Greek firefighters, who have also received international aid. The most dangerous situation is in Evia Island, where more than 100 Romanian firefighters are operating. The Romanian firefighters have received much appreciation from the press, the locals, and also from their Greek colleagues for their intervention manner and courage. The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has admitted that the government could have done more. He has promised that 500 million Euros worth of aid will be sent to the Peloponnese, in the Attica region near Athens and to the island of Evia, that new trees will be planted to replace the burned forests and that those who lost their properties will receive compensations. The damage is difficult to estimate, but the flames have already destroyed 65,000 hectares of vegetation. The wildfires have not yet been put out in Italy, northern Macedonia and Siberia, and in California 200,000 hectares of vegetation have burned in recent weeks.
Football. Romanias football champions, CFR Cluj (northwest), have failed to qualify for the Champions League play-offs, after losing 3-1, away from home, the match against the Swiss team Young Boys Bern, in the decisive leg of the third preliminary round. CFR will play in the Europa League play-off against Red Star Belgrade. If they are eliminated, CFR Cluj will still play in the Europa Conference League groups. (MI)
