May 24, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 24.05.2023, 20:00

VISIT – The president of Romania, Klaus
Iohannis, on Wednesday met his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier who
is paying a three-day state visit to Romania. The two presidents discussed
political, security and economic cooperation and conveyed a joint message of
solidarity with and support for Ukraine and of support for the Republic of
Moldova. Klaus Iohannis expressed Romania’s appreciation for Germany’s firm
support for Romania’s Schengen accession. In turn, president Steinmeier said
Germany has long believed Romania belongs in Schengen. The German official also
met with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă. The two highlighted the privileged
status of Romanian-German relations, grounded on a consistent political
dialogue and a robust economic collaboration. Prime Minister Ciucă hailed the
activity of the over 25 thousand companies with German capital in Romania,
which makes Germany the top investor in a number of major sectors of the
Romanian economy.

DEFENSE – Defense spending is an investment,
a lesson Romania understands, Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr has told Radio
Romania. The current security context has highlighted a need to increase
defense spending, the Romanian official said, arguing this allows Romania to
access state-of-the-art technologies and capabilities and help ensure a climate
of peace, predictability and stability. The Romanian official on Tuesday
attended the EU Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels, discussing military aid
to Ukraine. According to the EU’s chief of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, Member
States have managed to deliver a quarter of shells promised for an entire year
within just a few days. However, the next installment of military aid disbursed
to Ukraine remains blocked due to opposition from Hungary. Attending the event,
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also referred to heavy tanks delivered
to Kyiv by a number of allied states, as well as the training of Ukrainian
pilots to fly F-16 jets.

HEALTHCARE – A
strike action in the healthcare system depends on how negotiations with
government representatives will unfold, Leonard Bărăscu, the leader of the
SANITAS Federation has said on Wednesday upon meeting with Chamber of Deputies
Speaker Marcel Ciolacu, who is expected to be appointed Prime Minister in the
upcoming period. Leonard Bărăscu said the salary law must be observed to the
letter, while revenues for nurses, for instance, should be increased two-three
times. Healthcare trade unions have announced a strike action on June 15.

BOOKFEST – The Bookfest International Book Fair got under
way in Bucharest in the presence of the Romanian minister for culture Lucian
Romaşcanu and Italy’s ambassador to Romania Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni.
Italy is the fair’s guest country this year. On this occasion, Ambassador
Mangoni said relations between Italy and Romania are very strong at all levels.
Over 200 exhibitors from around the country and the neighboring Republic of
Moldova, alongside foreign cultural institutes will be present every day until
Sunday, according to the Book Publishers’ Association in Romania, the organizer
of the event. Twelve Italian writers are taking part in book presentations and
debates, almost half of them having already had their works translated into
Romanian. A project co-funded by the ministry of culture, Bookfest also travels
to Timişoara, Cluj-Napoca, Târgu Mureş, Braşov and Chişinău.

TENNIS – Romania will play Serbia in the Billie
Jean King Cup playoffs following Wednesday’s draw in London. The matches will
be played in November, and the winner is set to play the preliminaries for the
final tournament. The loser will play in Group I. In April, Romania lost to
Slovenia 3-2 after leading 2-0, thus failing to qualify to the final
tournament. (CM & VP)