September 21, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 21.09.2024, 20:00
SUMMIT – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, will lead Romania’s delegation at the summit of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which will take place in New York. The central theme of the session is “Unity in diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for everyone everywhere”. According to a Presidency release, Klaus Iohannis will give a speech on Wednesday, when he will plead for the maintenance of multilateral dialogue, especially in the UN format, as a key element of regional and global security. The president will also highlight Romania’s efforts and contribution at all levels with a view to solving current global problems, from security crises such as the war in Ukraine or the conflict in the Middle East, to major challenges for humanity, including climate emergency or cyber threats.
ADJUSTMENT – The Romanian government is next week discussing a budget adjustment proposal presented by the Ministry of Finance. Although it is based on an increase in revenues, expenses have also significantly increased, which will lead to a deficit of 7%, two percentage points above the authorities’ estimate at the start of the year. Meanwhile, the economic growth forecast was downgraded from 3.4 to 2.8% of GDP. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu gave assurances the adjustment is sustainable, as investment-related expenses account for 84% of the deficit. According to the draft decree published on the website of the Ministry of Finance, healthcare, transports and education will receive additional funds. The social insurance budget will also be increased, to ensure the payment of recalculated pensions, as well as unemployment benefits and related social insurance contributions.
MEETING – In Toronto, Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, presented Romania’s experience in terms of promoting equal opportunities, combating discrimination and stereotypes, eliminating all forms of violence and abuse. The Romanian official attended the “Women Foreign Ministers’ Meeting”, organized by the Canadian and Jamaican Foreign Ministers, Melanie Joly, and Kamina Johnson Smith, respectively. Luminiţa Odobescu reiterated the importance of equal opportunities in Romanian diplomacy, a fact that has led to a situation of parity between women and men, both at the level of the Ministry staff, and in terms of management positions. On the other hand, the Romanian official met with representatives of the Romanian community in Toronto and with a group of students from York University, at a lecture given by university professor Dan Berbecel.
FLOODS – The Danube floods peaked on Saturday in Budapest, with water flows reaching 8,200 cubic meters per second, which could significantly reduce flows on the Romanian segment, Romanian Water Administration officials say. Experts expect a maximum flow below 9,000 cubic meters per second, to be reached by September 29. In 2006, the Danube flow reached 15,600 cubic meters per second. In Budapest, the Danube overflowed, the streets and buildings near the embankment were flooded, and the Parliament building was also flooded. The Danube also overflowed in Slovakia and Austria. The European Commission has promised an emergency aid of 10 bln EUR for countries in Central and Eastern Europe affected by the floods.
CLEANUP DAY – Over 200,000 volunteers and thousands of employees from institutions subordinated to the Environment Ministry took part in Saturday’s national campaign “National Cleanup Day, Let’s Do It, Romania!”, Environment Minister Mircea Fechet said. This year saw the launch of the “Let’s Do It, Romania!” mobile app, available on iOS and Android, which allows users to report the existence of waste or ragweed and send notifications to the relevant authorities to ensure the cleaning of these areas. This app represents an essential element in efforts to protect the environment, facilitating the direct and quick involvement of citizens. According to data gathered by the “Let’s Do It, Romania!” team, from 2009 until now, over 2.4 million volunteers took part in greening actions on National Cleanup Day, carried out at national level. Romania thus joins 198 other countries in this global effort, which seeks to reduce waste and promote a cleaner and healthier environment.
BUCHAREST DAYS – The Bucharest Days Festival has kicked off, marking the anniversary of 565 years since the city was first documented. Concerts, theater shows, acrobatics and animation performances, installations and art exhibitions are organized on this occasion, as well as various interactive activities for children. This weekend, the George Enescu Square hosts the 12th edition of “Bucharest Music Film Festival”, including performances by prestigious ensembles and artists. Also, children are invited on Sunday to take part in the workshop “Remi and the adventure of sounds: drums and rhythm, small percussion instruments”, where they will be able to experience various sounds and rhythms. (VP)
