February 2, 2024

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 02.02.2024, 13:55

Health. Romanian health authorities
have declared a state of epidemiological alert as the incidence of respiratory infections
passed the average level for the last three seasons for the third week in a
row. Health minister Alexandru Rafila expects the number of cases to go
back to normal at the end of the month, saying it won’t be necessary to declare
an epidemic. He explained that the state of epidemiological alert allows the healthcare system to prepare
for a possible increase in the number of cases.

EU.
Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu is
today attending the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum and the
EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting held in Brussels. According to a statement from
the foreign ministry, the forum focuses on the consolidation of cooperation,
including aspects related to the implementation of the EU strategy for
cooperation in this region. The ministerial meeting will discuss the stage and
future of EU’s relations with the Association of South-East Asian Nations,
following the signing of a strategic partnership in 2020. Today and tomorrow,
the Romanian foreign minister is attending the informal meeting of EU foreign
ministers (Gymnich) also held in Brussels.

Swimming. Eight Romanian athletes, namely five swimmers and
three divers, are taking part in the World Aquatics Championships in Doha,
under way until the 18th of February. David Popovici, the European champion in the
100 and 200 m freestyle race, is not taking part. The leaders of the Romanian
delegation are Constantin Popovici, the defending high diving world champion,
and Cătălin Preda, the world vice-champion.

Parliament.
The Romanian Parliament has begun its last but final session before elections.
The MPs of the ruling Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party
aim to pass the bills that form part of Romania’s commitments under the
National Recovery and Resilience Plan so that Romania can receive the allocated
European funds. Combating drug use and drug trafficking and capping interest
rates on loans from non-banking financial institutions are among the priorities
of the Social Democrats. The latter also aims to pass legislation by the end of
the month to eliminate betting shops from towns and villages. The Liberals’
agenda features bills on not taxing pensions below 600 euros, combating drug
use and drug trafficking and banning advertising for gambling. The Save Romania
Union, in opposition, will again call for eliminating special pensions for the
local elected officials. Also from the opposition, the Alliance for the Union
of Romanians will propose bills to raise the minimum wage and cut salary taxes
and to increase scholarships for pupils.

Farmers.
The president of the European Commission Ursula von
der Leyen has promised measures to support Europe’s disgruntled farmers unhappy
with high costs, bureaucracy, strict environmental rules and unfair competition
from cheap imports. She said she proposed safeguards on imports from Ukraine,
adding: I’m very sensitive to the message that farmers are concerned
by administrative burdens. The farmers’ dissatisfaction has become an unofficial
subject of Thursday’s EU summit amid protests in Brussels, where farmers threw
eggs and stones at the European Parliament, started fires and set off
fireworks. The initial aim of the summit was to amend the multiannual common
budget, which also allowed for the inclusion of a 50 billion euro aid package
for Ukraine until 2027, a move Hungary is no longer opposing. (CM)