January 17, 2023
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 17.01.2024, 13:55
Protests. Family doctors in many cities across Romania are protesting, once again, dissatisfied with the amounts proposed by the authorities for the reimbursement of services. They say that the decrease in the family medicine offices budget will have negative consequences especially for the patients, but also for the entire health system. A draft normative act, under public debate on the website of the National Health Insurance Company, provides, among other things, that the funding granted to family doctors will decrease by over 30% in 2024, and the increase granted to those who practice in rural areas will be removed. A spontaneous protest was also triggered by the employees of some of the nine agencies of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the country. They refused to work for two hours and are demanding a salary increase to the level of those in the Ministry of Economy, given that some earn around 600 euros a month. In another move, dozens of drivers heading to the protest held at some of the entrances to the Port of Constanţa (south-east) were left without their drivers licenses. They claim that a crew of gendarmes gave them a race, directing them to go in the opposite direction, on the emergency lane of the highway, and that, subsequently, they were stopped by the police and fined. The protests of farmers and transporters continue in the country, although employers in the field claim that they reached a consensus with Minister Sorin Grindeanu and a protocol with clear deadlines was signed, beneficial for the transport of people and goods. The Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, has also held talks with the professional associations, and says that at this moment there are no more farmers claims to have been presented and not solved.
Markup. Today, the Romanian Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, has a meeting with retailer representatives, the discussions mainly focusing on the subject of extending the measure to cap the markup for basic foods for another three months. Barbu has stated that he wants to maintain this measure after January 31, 2024, and that he is considering adding new products to the list, including lamb. An emergency ordinance regarding the establishment of a temporary measure to combat excessive price increases for some agricultural and food products came into force on August 1st, 2023, and targeted 14 groups of food products, including bread, cow milk, cottage cheese, eggs, sunflower oil, fresh chicken and pork.
Sanctions. People who evade criminal prosecution, trial or execution of punishment and who fled from Romania abroad could be obliged to pay the expenses incurred by the State for bringing them to the country. The Minister of Justice, Alina Gorghiu, has announced the introduction into public debate, on the website of the ministry, of a draft law in this sense. She says repatriating a fugitive criminal can cost the state up to €25,000. Last year alone, Romania spent ten million lei (the equivalent of two million euros) of taxpayers money for the repatriation of some 600 fugitives.
Schengen. The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, albeit partial, is a good sign, said the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, whose country took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. He applauded the efforts made by both countries to address Schengen concerns and stressed that, if things continued to go according to plan, the next steps would be taken. On March 31, Romania and Bulgaria will join the European area of free movement only with air and maritime borders.
Citizenship. The number of applications for obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking) has registered a significant increase in the last period, which is why the Chisinau authorities are asking for an extension of up to six months for the examination of applications. According to official data, 70% of the applicants are Russian citizens, and 20% are Ukrainian. The increase in the number of citizenship applications made by Russians indicates attempts to avoid enlisting in the army – says analyst Anatol Ţaranu, former ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Russian Federation, quoted by Radio Chisinau. According to experts, Russia could begin a full mobilization after the presidential elections due in March 2024. Kyiv claims that Moscow is losing about 1,000 soldiers on the front in invaded Ukraine every day. (MI)
