June 26, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 26.06.2023, 19:47

PENSIONS — Romania’s Parliament on Monday passed the bill regarding the elimination of parliamentarians’ special pensions. There were no votes against the bill, but only three abstentions, while three MPs did not vote at all. 382 senators and deputies voted in favor of eliminating special pensions. Representatives of the parties forming the ruling coalition gave assurances this was only a first document aimed at eliminating such privileges, while the opposition pointed out that there were gaps in the legislation and even unconstitutional provisions that risk triggering the annulment of the adopted law. According to PM Marcel Ciolacu, there is a roadmap in the field that will be followed by the Government.

FARMING — A second aid package for the Romanian farmers affected by the import of cheap grain from Ukraine was green lighted by the European Commission on Monday. Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia, alongside Romania, benefit European support in this sector, the total aid package being worth 100 million euros. In order to prevent other crisis situations generated by imports from Ukraine, the EC has initiated a platform for discussions with the five countries affected, and also with Moldova. Taking into account the first aid package, Romania gets a total of 40 million euros for farmers.

BUDGET – The budget correction could take place in August, the Romanian Minister of Finance, Marcel Boloş, has announced. He stated that, in this way, all the measures announced by the Bucharest Government can enter into force on September 1. Regarding the impact these measures will have on the state budget, the minister said that an exact calculation has not yet been made. “This week will be dedicated to the analysis on the expenditure side and we will communicate the budgetary impact of these measures. The more measures of this kind we have, the better we can manage the issue of state budget allocations” Boloş pointed out. He also said that the elimination of parliamentarians special pensions and banning the aggregation of pensions and salaries would bring significant savings to the Romanian budget.

MEETING – The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, participated on Monday in the meeting of the EU ministers of foreign affairs, which took place in Luxembourg. The heads of European diplomacy announced they would adopt a new aid package for Ukraine, worth 3.5 billion euros. As regards the turmoil in Russia, member states are putting together information alongside their Euro-Atlantic partners. European officials, Luminita Odobescu included, also consider the negative effects of Russia’s destabilization given that the country has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, participated in the discussions via video conference. Minister Luminiţa Odobescu emphasized the need to continue supporting Ukraine as long as it is necessary. Another topic for discussion was the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo, after the High EU Representative Josep Borrell held separate talks in Brussels last Friday with representatives of the administrations in Belgrade and Pristina. The announcement of Kosovo’s PM Albin Kurti to resume local elections in Kosovo and the promise of the Serbian President, Alexandar Vučić, to convince the Serbs in northern Kosovo to go to the polls, may help ease tensions.

BACCALAUREATE – In Romania, more than 130,000 high school graduates took the first test of the Baccalaureate on Monday, the one in Romanian language and literature. Most of them found the test not difficult, but some students admitted they had not studied enough for it. On Tuesday they will be sitting the mandatory test of the profile, and on Wednesday the optional test of the profile and specialization. On Thursday, students who belong to national minorities will take another test, the one on Mother Language and Literature. The first results will be made public on July 3, and final grades will be announced on July 7. The first results of the national evaluation exams for 8th graders will also be announced this week.

THEATRE – The International Theater Festival continues in Sibiu (central Romania). One of the most anticipated plays in Mondays program was “Father”, with the famous Romanian actor Victor Rebengiuc (90 years old) in the lead role. Many of the events in the program are street events, and access is free. Visitors are welcome to enjoy theatre, music, dance and circus performances. “Romeo and Juliet” was also part of Mondays program, this time under the direction of the Russian Andriy Zholdak, who also signed the stage design, music, lights, video and script. Also Shakespeare, but “Macbeth/ A marriage made in hell” was performed by band Tiyatro BeReZe from Turkey. Another production based on a classic text, ” A forced marriage” by Moliere, comes from the Ion Luca Caragiale National Satiricus Theatre, from the Republic of Moldova. The Juan Carlos Avecilla Flamenco Dance Company (Spain) participates in the festival with “Flamenco Fusion”, a show that concentrates the essence of the Spanish dance tradition. (EE)