March 17, 2023

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 17.03.2023, 14:12

MOLDOVA — The wording ”Romanian language” will replace ”Moldovan language” in all pieces of legislation in the Republic of Moldova, after the country’s Parliament passed a law in this respect. The law enforces a Constitutional Court ruling from 2013, according to which the 1991 Moldovan Declaration of Independence setting Romanian as the official language has the authority of a constitutional text and forms a single entity together with the Constitution.

INAUGURATION – The European Cybersecurity Competence Center (ECCC) will be inaugurated on May 9th, on Europe Day, in Bucharest, at the Polytechnic University, rector Mihnea Costoiu told Radio Romania. He also said this is the first European agency headquartered in Romania’s capital. The ECCC has a 4.5-billion euro budget for investment. Bucharest could thus become a hotspot for global leaders in cybersecurity, given that the EU lays great emphasis on digital economy and protecting companies and citizens in the online environment. The ECCC aims to increase Europe’s cybersecurity capacities and competitiveness, working together with a Network of National Coordination Centres (NCCs) to build a strong cybersecurity community.

FRANCOPHONIE — Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu emphasized on Thursday evening in Bucharest, during a gala marking 30 years since Romania’s joining the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the organisation’s role as institutional mechanism dedicated to political, educational, scientific, economic and cultural cooperation. Aurescu pointed out that Romania has a substantial contribution to the programmes of the OIF, a community of 88 countries on five continents, built around the French language. Aurescu also said that, given the regional and global impact of the Russian war against Ukraine, the Francophonie’s objectives, that is peace, democracy respect for human rights and education for sustainable development, are more important than ever.

FILM — The nominations for the Gopo Awards, a yearly event dedicated to Romanian cinema, have been made public. The film “Metronom”, directed by Alexandru Belc, got most nominations, alongside “Immaculate” and “Men of Deeds”, with 10 nominations each. The awards ceremony will be held on April 25 in Bucharest.

UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate in Romania in the last quarter of 2022 went up by 0.4% to reach 5.8%, according to the National Statistics Institute in Bucharest. The highest unemployment rate has been reported among the young people — almost 23%. The rate is by 1.2% higher among men as compared to women and three times higher in the rural area as compared to the urban area. According to INS, around 7.8 million people in Romania are employed. (EE)