January 14, 2022 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 14.01.2022, 20:00

ENERGY The
Romanian government is planning an emergency order within the coalition formed
by the National Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic
Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, to support the citizens affected by the
rise in electricity and natural gas prices. This announcement was made by prime
minister Nicolae Ciucă after a meeting of the three-party council for social
dialogue. He said protection measures will expand beyond 1st April based on a
special bill. Trade unions say electricity and natural gas prices should be
capped at the level of December 2020, before deregulation, both at the
producers’ end, and at the suppliers’ end, for at least another six months,
even a year. They say the cap should be uniform for the population and small
businesses.

FOREIGN POLICY The EU hopes to convince the Russian president Vladimir Putin through
dialogue to give up his intentions to attack Ukraine, but it is also preparing
tough sanctions to discourage Russia, the EU foreign ministers convening in
Brest, France concluded on Friday. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent
in Paris, the French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, whose country is
holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, said Europeans are united
and determined to make their voice heard. The EU foreign ministers are
preparing sanctions against Moscow, and new talks on the matter are scheduled
to take place in Brussels on January 24. Romania was represented in Brest by
foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu who, according to the Foreign Ministry, pleaded
for a number of elements that best reflect Romania’s interests. He said the
EU’s partnership with NATO and the US must be clearly emphasised, and stressed
the importance of presenting appropriately the current security situation in
the Eastern Neighbourhood, including the Black Sea region.

COVID-19 Romania reported on Friday almost 9,900 new Covid cases, 60% more than a
week ago, as well as 30 deaths, including three recorded earlier. Some 450
Covid patients are in intensive care. 230 outpatient centres are now available
across the country for the persons infected with Covid to check their health
condition and receive free antiviral medicine based on daytime hospitalisation,
irrespective of whether they have health insurance. Health minister Alexandru
Rafila says it is very important for patients to use these centres, unless they
are in critical situation, thus lowering pressure on hospitals.

LIST The National Committee for Emergency Situations updated the list of
high COVID risk countries. All countries in the EU and the European Economic Area
remain in the red tier, along with non-EU countries like Turkey, Israel and the
US. South Africa, Brazil and India are no longer included in the red list. Among
Romania’s neighbouring countries Serbia is on the yellow list, whereas Ukraine
and the Republic of Moldova are now in the green tier. The new list takes
effect on January 16.

CULTURE DAY Romania’s National
Culture Day is again celebrated this year through numerous concerts,
performances, exhibitions, guided tours and workshops. We have a sacred
duty. To honour our personalities, our works of art and our national
heritage, said culture minister Lucian Romaşcanu, adding: I’m
encouraging all Romanians, of all ages, to continue to respect their history,
national identity and traditions, for they are the only visiting card that
never loses its currency. National Culture Day has been celebrated for
the last 12 years on 15th January, on the anniversary of the birth of national
poet Mihai Eminescu. As part of the programme of events held this year, the
Romanian Academy Friday hosted a special event attended by leading local
cultural figures. (tr. A.M.P., C.M.)