Tuesday, March 1 2022

Romania in support of Ukraine’s EU membership

 “Romania fully supports Ukraine’s EU membership along with the Republic of Moldova and Georgia”, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis tweeted on Tuesday. “Their place is as part of the European family, and Romania will do everthing to make their dreams come true”, the president wrote. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday signed a membership application formally requesting that Ukraine join the European Union amid Russia’s invasion of his country. Ukraine’s parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had also signed a joint statement.

Crisis in Ukraine, an opportunity for Romania’s Schengen expectations – MP Nicoleta Pauliuc

 Romania may turn current refugee crisis into an opportunity as Schengen hopeful, the head of the defence committee in parliament’s upper house told Radio Romania. “EU decision makers should see that Romania is ready, and not only technically, to join the EU’s free movement area”, Ms. Nicoleta Pauliuc, the head of the defence committee in the Senate, said in a statement. “I believe it will be Romania’s greatest achievement on the matter as a defender of NATO’s eastern front”, she pointed out. The European Council decision depends on a vote of all 27 member states. It is also public knowledge that the Netherlands is openly opposed to Romania joining Schengen without a progress in its fight against corruption.

Romania celebrates the ‘mărțișor’ on March 1

 The ‚mărțișor’ is a celebration at the beginning of spring, on March 1 in Romania, and the Republic of Moldova. The word ‚mărțișor’ (martsishor) is a diminutive of March, the first month of the spring. The red and white string with a hanging tassel is given as a gift to Romanian girls and women, and it is believed that the wearer will be strong and healthy for the year to come. Scientists believe that ‚mărțișor’ is also related to the Bulgarian ‚martenitsa’, a similar tradition in Romania’s neighbouring country.

Romania coronavirus updates

 Romania reported 8,461 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, which is 3,704 cases more than previous day, with 164 deaths (100 men, 64 women), and only 6 people under intensive care (a figure similar to cases recorded a day before). In the capital Bucharest, the number of cases hit 2,288, according to data issued by the country’s Strategic Communication Group (GSC). With its 2,288 cases reported, Bucharest still leads amomg other regions in the country, followed by western county of Timiș (483 cases), southern county of Prahova (391 cases), and southern county of Ilfov (339 cases).

Alexandru Danga – RADOR