A look at some of the main stories in Romania today.
Coronavirus Romania. Almost 8,500 new coronavirus infections and 172 related deaths were reported on Friday in Romania. More than 450,000 people have been infected so far and almost 11,000 people have died to the virus in Romania. 1,226 patients are in intensive care. Several villages around the capital city are now in quarantine after seeing a spike in infection rates. Doctors say the measures taken by the authorities are not enough to keep the pandemic in check. They are asking for harsher restrictions, warning that the number of beds in intensive care units across the country is getting lower by the day. In another development, the National Authority for Consumer Protection has submitted seven notifications regarding uncertified masks in Romania, which have already been filtered through the EU's rapid alert system. The Authority has recently put a trade ban on nearly 33 million such masks in Romania.
Talks. Romanian prime minister Ludovic Orban on Friday had talks in videoconference format with German chancellor Angela Merkel. The two officials reviewed topical issues on the bilateral and European agenda, with an emphasis on ways to deepen Romanian-German cooperation, in particular the economic sector. Ludovic Orban hailed the efforts made by the German presidency of the Council of the EU, including with respect to tackling the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. He also highlighted the stringent need to reach an agreement on the multiannual financial framework for the 2021-2027 period and the European economic recovery plan to allow for the release of European funds as soon as possible. The Romanian prime minister also reiterated how important accession to the Schengen area is for his country. Romania already fulfils the technical criteria in this respect and a favourable decision soon would reconfirm Romania's status as a fully committed member of the European Union. The two officials also exchanged views on the latest developments in the eastern and southern neighbourhood, with a focus on the post-election situation in the Republic of Moldova. They agreed on the need to continue support, including at European level, for the democratic reform process in the Republic of Moldova.
Recovery. The Government in Bucharest has submitted for public consultation the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, a post-COVID economic recovery plan, under which Romania will receive 30 billion euros worth of European funds. The plan is designed to uphold an accelerated growth rate over the next four years. The European funds will be used to build new hospitals and hundreds of kilometers of motorway, to develop school infrastructure and digitise local administrations. Of the 30 billion euros, 14 billion euros represent non-refundable grants, while the rest accounts for low-interest loans the Commission has taken out on behalf of all Member States.
Black Sea. Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Friday reiterated Romania's commitment to consolidate regional cooperation in the wider Black Sea area as a means of promoting stability and prosperity. He was speaking at the 42nd meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation held in videoconference format. Romania held the presidency of the organisation in 2020, with Albania taking over in the first six months of next year. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine and the deputy foreign ministers of Greece, the Russian Federation and Turkey, as well as the national coordinator in Armenia and the secretary general of the Permanent International Secretariat of the organisation.
Statistics. Romanian business managers are expecting a slump in activity and a drop in the number of employees in constructions and services and a stability of prices in the processing industry and constructions in the next three months, according to a poll published on Friday by the National Institute for Statistics. According to forecasts, turnover will also see a drop in the next three months, as will artistic activities and the hospitality industry.
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