The French Army has started to load Leclerc tanks on trains bound for Romania
The French Army has on Monday started to load 13 Leclerc tanks on platform wagons bound for the Cincu military base in Romania. The combat vehicles and two repair engines are due to arrive at the training ground in Brasov county in a week time. The first French convoys with armored vehicles are already at Cincu, where they arrived by land. In total, France will send to Cincu almost 150 combat vehicles with weapons, ammunition and related equipment. The objective is to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. The allied battle group from Romania, stationed at the Cincu military base, was created and is coordinated, since May, by France.
The Romanian National Bank has again raised the key interest rate
The Romanian National Bank (BNR) has again raised the annual monetary policy interest rate from 6.25% to 6.75%. It is the highest level in the last 12 years. The BNR has justified its decision saying that the rising cost of electricity and food has led to a surge in the annual inflation rate in September to almost 16%, above the forecast level. Experts at the Central Bank have said that there had been expectations of a moderate growth in inflation towards the end of the current year, but it should enter a gradual downward trajectory, to reach 10% in the first semester of 2024. The BNR has also emphasized that its new forecast is marked by high uncertainties associated with energy and fuel price capping and compensation schemes, the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the level of absorption of European funds, especially the from PNRR, but also fiscal policy.
Romania has not changed its position regarding Kosovo’s independence
Romania has not changed its position and does not recognize the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said, before the debate on the liberalization of the visa regime for Kosovo citizens, at a meeting of the European Union Council working group. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated in its response to the Kosovar daily „Lajmi” that Bucharest is still analyzing Romania’s position regarding the liberalization of the visa regime for the citizens of the „province of Kosovo, starting from the neutrality of the EU regarding the status of the province”. The press release has also underlined that Romania intends to contribute to boosting the influence of the EU in the Western Balkans region./mbrotacel
Mădălina Brotăcel, RADOR
