October 10, 2022

DEFICIT In the first 8 months of the year Romania's trade balance deficit deepened by nearly EUR 7.4 billion, to EUR 22 billion. According to data made public by the National Statistics Institute on Monday, exports went up 25%, to EUR 60.3 billion, and imports rose by 31%, to roughly EUR 83 billion. Vehicles and transport equipment, as well as other manufactured products, accounted for a large part of Romania's foreign trade. Over 70% of the total imports and exports involved the EU market.

PILGRIMAGE The north-eastern Romanian city of Iaşi is hosting these days a traditional pilgrimage devoted to St. Paraskeva, commemorated on the 14 October and viewed as the patron saint of Moldavia. Thousands of Orthodox believers from around the country and from abroad have already come to pray at St. Paraskeva's relics, hosted by the Metropolitan Cathedral. The Iași pilgrimage is the largest Orthodox pilgrimage in the country, with around 300,000 people expected to attend this year. 

REFUGEES Romania is better prepared to receive Ukrainian refugees, although there is no indication that their number may increase, the state secretary with the interior ministry Raed Arafat said in Suceava, north-eastern Romania. On Sunday the Romanian official travelled to the Suceava hub for a donation ceremony also attended by the French ambassador to Bucharest, Laurence Auer, and the Ukrainian ambassador in Romania, Ihor Prokopchuk. Fifteen fire engines and ambulances were brought to the hub by 40 members of the French civil protection agency, and further materials will reach Suceava in a few days. The largest French aid batch for Ukraine, consisting in over 1 tonne of pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and intervention vehicles, has reached the Black Sea port of Constanţa Sud-Agigea. 

UKRAINE Several blasts were reported this morning in the Ukrainian capital city and in Lviv, Ternopil and Dnipro. The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu announced that Romanian diplomatic staff in Kyiv is safe, although a missile hit 850m from the Romanian embassy office. The Romanian official firmly condemns Russian missile strikes on civilian targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities as a blatant violation of international human rights law. Meanwhile, Russia's Security Council convenes today at president Vladimir Putin's request, after Saturday's partial destruction of the Kerch bridge connecting Russia to Crimea. According to Putin, this was a terrorist act committed by Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities neither confirmed nor denied their involvement in the incident. In Washington, the White House declined comments on the topic and mentioned it would continue to supply weapons to Ukraine. Also today, the UN is holding an emergency session to discuss Russia's recent annexation of 4 other Ukrainian provinces. Radio Romania's correspondent in the US mentions that the UN General Assembly condemned the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

AIRPORT As of today, the Bucharest Otopeni Airport is upgrading its baggage handling systems at the Departures terminal, the Bucharest National Airport Company has announced. Until next August, the number of check-in counters will be significantly reduced, and waiting time will be longer. The current baggage handling system is more than 20 years old, and its replacement requires an over EUR 20 million investment. After the works, the processing capacity will be 40% higher, and 12 counters for passengers to drop off their own baggage without resorting to a check-in counter will also be available, the Company announced.

VETERINARY EU experts are assessing these days the veterinary services at the border check points Stamora Moraviţa, in Timiş County, on the border with Serbia, and at the Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport, the National Veterinary and Food Safety Agency announced. The assessment comes in the context of Romania's prospective Schengen area accession. The Czech presidency of the EU Council announced last week that in the December summit it will seek a unanimous decision on Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to the passport-free travel area. 

SPORTS The Romanian team CSM Bucharest defeated the Dutch side Odense Handbold, 31-27 (16-13), on Sunday, away from home, in Group A of the women's handball Champions' League. Undefeated in 4 matches, the Romanian team is to play next at home on 16 October, against DHK Banik Most. In turn, CS Rapid Bucharest won 34-32 (19-14) against the Danish team Team Esbjerg, in a home game on Sunday in Group B of the same competition. This was the 3rd win for the Romanian champions in the competition. Rapid will play next against Buducnost Podgorica, away from home, on 15 October. (AMP)