September 26, 2024

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 26.09.2024, 14:00

UN. However insecure the world is today, the answer to our problems will always be more cooperation and more solidarity, said Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis in his address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. He also highlighted Romania’s efforts and contribution to solving current global challenges, from security crises such as the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict to the major challenges facing the world. Iohannis pointed out that security is not a regional, but a global matter, and that the war waged by Russia in Ukraine has affected nations and people around the globe.

Ukraine. The United States said on Wednesday that it will send military aid to Ukraine worth 375 million dollars at a time when Kyiv is trying to convince the West to authorise the use of long-range missiles against Russian territory, France Presse news agency reports. The new aid package includes munitions, armoured vehicles and rockets, says the US State Department. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday told the UN General Assembly in New York that his country at war with Russia will never agree to a peace imposed by the big powers. He also accused Russia’s president Vladimir Putin of planning to attack Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure.

Economy. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development significantly revised downwards its economic growth forecast for Romania this year, as the lower outsourcing demand has hit the IT sector, according to a report published today. The EBRD expects Romania’s GDP to grow by 1.4% this year, down from its previous estimate of 3.2% in May. For next year, the EBRD expects a 2.6% growth, down from the 3.4% figure proposed in May. The increase in the minimum wage in Romania and Bulgaria has stimulated demand but led to a growth in the trade deficit and added to inflationist pressure, the report also says. The EBRD recalls that the latest forecasts of the Tax Council in Bucharest indicate an increase in the budget deficit to around 8% of GDP this year. The International Monetary Fund also revised downwards its forecast concerning Romania’s economic growth this year, from 3.8% in October last year to 2.8% in its World Economic Outlook published in April this year. Last week, the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis revised its estimates concerning GDP growth down to 2.8% from 3.4% previously.

Schengen. The European Commission has reiterated its position that Romania and Bulgaria are prepared for a full entry to the Schengean area. A spokesman for the European Commission said Romania and Bulgaria are ready and must fully benefit from Schengen membership in response to a question about the consequences of introducing internal border controls by a number of Schengen states. Ten days ago, Germany introduced 6-month controls on all its land borders in order to combat illegal migration. Romania partly joined the free-movement Schengen area at the end of March this year, with air and sea controls lifted but land border controls still in place, owing to a lack of consensus in the EU Council, with a decision in this respect yet to be made.

Children. The number of Romanian children whose parents are working abroad dropped by 17% in the last year, according to statistics. More and more parents are returning to their home country and are able to support their children financially without having to leave the country. However, more than 60,000 children from around 50,000 families live apart from their loved ones. An alarming fact is that some of these children end up in the special protection system, where they are faced with the additional challenge of adapting to new environments and lack of constant contact with their parents. Specialists say the presence of a parent figure is essential for the emotional and social development of children.

Football. The Romanian football champions FCSB are today facing the Latvian side RFS at home in the first leg of the new Europa League format. FCSB will play a total of 8 matches in the group, taking on clubs like Rangers FC, Manchester United, PAOK Thessaloniki and Olympiacos Piraeus. FCSB are the only Romanian side to play in European competitions this season.