News review of the day – June 30th

ABU and Radio Romania team up for Media 2020 Conference

A Media 2020 Conference on „Bringing Media to the Future” opened in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday. The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and Romania’s public radio (Romanian Broadcasting Corporation – SRR) teamed up for the first time in their effort to address changes currently under way in media industry. Participants to the June 30 – July 1 conference will include major media professionals in Asia and Europe expected to focus on how media would evolve in the next five years. The opening address belonged to Ovidiu Miculescu, President – Director General of the Romanian Broadcasting Corporation. Other speakers addressing the conference included ABU Secretary General Dr. Javad Mottaghi and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.

Romania’s minimum wage: RON 1,050 starting from July 1

Romania’s minimum wage for full-time employees is expected to hit RON 1,050 starting from July 1. It is the second pay rise after a similar move in January. „1,388,00 employees, including 488,000 public servants, are expected to benefit from a minimum wage of RON 1,050, Romanian Labour Minister Rovana Plumb announced following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The government also adopted a 12 percent pay rise for non-teaching staff in the educational sector starting from August 1. The financial impact is expected to hit around RON 445 ml by the end of the year.

Problems for SIE’s newly appointed chief

The hearing of a senator of the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL) was cancelled by commissioners of the Special Committee overseeing the activity of Romania’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) on Tuesday. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis appointed Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu, a former prime minister and foreign minister, as new head of the SIE. But the hearing had to be cancelled as commissioners of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) failed to attend. Mr. Ungureanu’s appointment seems controversial as the governing PSD already announced it would reject it. However, the governing National Union for Romania’s Progress (UNPR) said it would support the move along with the opposition PNL, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) and national minority groups.

Israel and Romania sign business co-operation agreement

The Israel Chamber of Commerce, headed by Chairman Uriel Lynn, signed an agreement for business co-operation with counterpart Mihai Daraban, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, during a recent visit by an Israeli business delegation to the country. The document is designed to promote trade relations between business sectors in both countries. Monday’s agreement also encourages increased investment by both countries as well as a network expected organise different projects and joint-business ventures.

Alexandru Danga, Rador