Romania approves the Plan for managing the energy situation during the winter period
The Romanian government approved on Thursday the so-called „Plan for managing the energy situation during the winter period”. The plan comprises a series of measures concerning the functioning of the National Energy System, such as achieving needed fuel stocks and water volume in reservoirs for the period from 1 November to 31 March next year. A newly established Winter Energy Command will be responsible for the continuity of energy supply during the cold season – says Dan Dragan, Secretary of State in the Ministry. The command aims to set up and identify dysfunctional situations that may arise in the energy and gas sector and to establish operational measures, other than administrative ones, on ensuring the level of safety and security in the operation of the national electro-energy system and the national gas transmission system, as well as ensuring operational measures to be taken with regard to fuel stocks, Dan Dragan said.
Romania launches its Climate Change Plan
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis hosted an event at the Cotroceni Palace on Thursday to launch the Climate Change Plan for Romania. The event was attended by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, Environment Minister Tanczos Barna, experts in the field and other officials. President Klaus Iohannis is actively involved in national and international efforts to combat climate change and to strengthen public policies that make the climate transition possible. The Romanian Head of State decided to set up a working group on this issue at the level of the presidential administration in 2022. Made up of Romanian and foreign experts, the working group identified a number of challenges for Romania in the context of climate change and set out a package of measures to effectively address these challenges, all of which are underlined in the report ‘Limiting Climate Change and its Impacts. An Integrated Approach for Romania’. The report was launched for public debate on Thursday at presidential palace. Experts say atypical weather events that are becoming increasingly common – extreme heat waves, severe droughts and vegetation fires – point to accelerating global warming, which could have negative implications for Romania’s environment and economy if countermeasures are not implemented.
Romania sets up EU political dialogue platform on integration of Ukrainian refugees
A political dialogue platform is being set up in Romania at EU level on the integration of Ukrainian refugees. Representatives from 23 EU member states and other countries on the continent are invited, alongside experts from the European Commission and UN agencies, in a forum organised by the Romanian government in Bucharest, aiming to find common solutions for Ukrainian refugees. With around 7 million Ukrainian refugees currently living in the European Union, member states need to coordinate their actions so that what happens in Romania does not differ too much from what happens in other countries, says State Counsellor Mădălina Turza. The Romanian official added that this would avoid a situation where refugees would only head to a certain part of Europe: „There is a gap between states and obviously we, as border states, are more involved and more on the front line. But the tide is going west and this is basically the first platform for coordination and dialogue at the political level,” stressed Mădălina Turza. The integration of refugees from Ukraine into the societies of the host countries is a complex process with various challenges, which requires coordinated and sustained efforts from all actors involved, said Romanian President Klaus Iohannis./mbaciu
Magda Baciu
