May 27, 2023 UPDATE

STRIKE - The all-out strike in the education system will continue next week as well. Union leaders are preparing a new rally in Bucharest, following Friday's protest actions in a number of cities across the country. Education employees are disgruntled with the Government's offer of €500 bonuses. The government has accepted to increase salaries for auxiliary staff by 9%, also providing them with bonuses of €200. Trade unions have called for a 25% increase in salaries, raising the entry level salary to some €600. The strike action started on May 22, education employees voicing discontentment regarding salaries and work conditions. Union leaders have warned that the strike will continue unless their demands are met.

HEALTH - The Government has adopted a new framework agreement for health insurances, to take effect starting July 1. The underlying feature of the new contract is prevention. Family physicians travelling to rural areas will receive bonuses. The agreement for the first time regulates performance-related payments. Family physicians will also be provided with new instruments to make pre-emptive consultations for patients of various ages. The agreement also stipulates the legal framework for employees' access to vocational medicine and outpatient rehabilitation services. In the case of hospitals, the agreement introduced some 100 new medical services that can be provided in the case of one-day hospital admissions.

PILGRIMAGE - Some 300,000 Roman-Catholic Christians from all over the world, including the president of Hungary, Novak Katalin, on Saturday took part in the Catholic Pentecost pilgrimage in Șumuleu Ciuc (central Romania). Organizers expect Catholics from all over Europe, particularly Hungary, but also Australia and the USA to attend. Considered the largest of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, the pilgrimage has a history of over 450 years and is devoted to the miracle-working statue to the Virgin Mary in the local Franciscan church. According to legend, in 1567, Transylvanian prince John Sigismund tried to forcefully convert the local Romanian-Catholic population of Ciuc, Gheorgheni and Cașin to Unitarianism. Only with the help of the miracle-working statue were the people able to resist and keep their ancestral faith. Since then, every Pentecost Eve, Catholics from all over the world go on pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary in Șumuleu Ciuc, home to the miracle-working statue.

SUMMIT - Germany will be moving its Patriot anti-missile defense system currently deployed to Slovakia to Lithuania, to protect the NATO Summit of July in Vilnius, the German Defense Minister said. Germany has stationed two Patriot units in Slovakia and another three in Poland. Germany's Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said the summit will be particularly devoted to clear-cut assistance to Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg a few days ago admitted Allies are divided over Ukraine's bid to join NATO, a topic which will be addressed at the summit in Vilnius. Stoltenberg recalled that all NATO decisions need to be unanimous.

ROWING - The Romanian women's four-scull crew made up of Mădălina Bereş, Maria Tivodariu, Magdalena Rusu and Amalia Bereş have won the gold medal in Saturday's four event at the European Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia. Great Britain came in second while the Dutch came in third. Also on Saturday, the Romanian 8+1 men's crew won silver in the final. On Sunday, Romanian rowers will compete in another 6 events. Last year, Romania won five gold medals and five bronze at the European Championship in Munich, the best result in the history of Romanian rowing. (VP)