Romania receives funding from a European project to support research and innovation in microelectronics and communications technology
Romania’s Ministry of Economy has announced that microelectronics firms, academic entities and SMEs will receive 420 million euros in funding from the European Union. The announcement was made after the European Commission approved an EU project to stimulate research, innovation and industrial deployment of microelectronics and communication technologies. According to the European Commission, 56 companies will carry out 68 projects that will enable digital and green transformation by creating innovative solutions in microelectronics and communications, as well as developing energy-efficient electronic systems and production methods.
Romania to put into service two more reactors at Cernavodă nuclear power plant
The development of reactors 3 and 4 at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant will cover more than a third of Romania’s estimated energy needs for 2030-2031, Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said at the Victoria Palace, at the signing ceremony of the support agreement for the project. According to Prime Minister Ciucă, the expansion of production capacity at Cernavodă will bring benefits including the maintenance of more than 20,000 jobs. „Europe and the whole world are concerned about providing affordable and environmentally friendly energy for citizens and economies. Romania is no exception. In the last year we have managed to take important steps in everything that means protecting Romanian consumers, developing the energy system and achieving our goal of energy independence,” said Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă. On the other hand, Ukraine has received emergency assistance from Romania and Poland to balance its energy system after Russian bombings damaged gas production facilities and power lines. According to Ukraine’s national utility Ukrenergo, Romania and Poland have delivered 1,200 megawatt-hours of electricity.
Trade union action and negotiations in the education and transport sectors
Negotiations between the Romanian government and education unions have ended, and trade unions have announced that they have received a new offer: a 45% pay rise from 1 January 2024 – not 40% as originally offered. Education workers will also receive a bonus of 1,500 lei every 5 October, International Education Day, starting from this year until 2027. These new proposals will be passed on to union members who will decide whether or not to accept, union leaders said. At Metrorex, a Romanian public rail transport company, negotiations for a new Collective Labour Contract at the Metro have broken down. The trade unionists have rejected the offer of a pay rise of around 5% offered by the company’s management and are threatening to start a labour conflict, including a general strike. Even under strike conditions, rail operator Metrorex has to run 30% of trains./mbaciu
Magda Baciu – RADOR
