August 26, 2022 UPDATE

LAWS - Draft laws on the reform of Romania's education system could be submitted to the government in early September, Education Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu has announced. The minister says that upon public debates over the documents, almost 15 hundred amendments are to be assessed by experts with the ministry. We recall that representatives of the teaching staff, students, parents and society have called for the extension of the period of debates, but the ministry turned down the proposal.

ORDINANCE -The government in Bucharest has endorsed an emergency ordinance providing for a 30 Euros pay rise for state employees starting August 1st, Labor Minister Marius Budăi has announced, adding that the raise is only one fourth of the level stipulated in Law 153 for the year 2022 and it accounts for 2 billion lei of the state budget. According to Budăi, almost one million out of the 1.2 million state employees will benefit from the new ordinance. The medical personnel and several other categories had already benefitted from the aforementioned pay rise.

TRADE - Romania's exports of drinks have increased by 52 % in the first five months of 2022 up to 108 million Euros, the National Institute for Statistics has announced. Between January and May this year Romania's imports of beverages grew by 45% up to 251 million Euros, which resulted in a trade deficit of 143 million Euros. According to Bucharest media, the most sought-after drink is the Romanian version of the French cognac. The demand for this product has significantly increased on markets in Europe, the USA and Japan.

PURCHASE - The Mintia thermoelectric power plant, part of the Hunedoara Energy Complex, was bought by Mass Global Energy Rom, part of Mass Group Holding, a company from the Middle East dealing in the fields of energy, steel and cement works for a 91-million-EUR fee. This is one of the largest transactions in the Romanian energy sector and, also the biggest insolvent company sold in recent years in Romania. Mass Global Energy Rom was the only participant in Friday's tender.

FOOTBALL - Romania's football champions CFR Cluj qualified to the groups of Europa Conference League after a 1-0 home win on Thursday against Slovenian side NK Maribor in the play-offs. The first game in Slovenia ended in a goaless draw. FCSB, runner up in the Romanian championship, have also qualified after a 3-1 away win against their Norwegian opponents Viking. Another Romanian side Universitatea Craiova was eliminated in the play-offs by the Israeli side Hapoel Beer-Sheva during the penalty shootout. Following Friday's draw, FCSB will play in a group alongside West Ham United (England), Anderlecht Brussels (Belgium) and Silkeborg (Denmark). CFR was drawn in a group alongside Slavia Prague (the Czech Republic), Sivasspor (Turkey) and Ballkani (Kosovo).

TENNIS -Romanian tennis player Simona Halep will be up against an opponent from the qualifying round at the US Open, the year's last Grand Slam tournament. Halep last year made it to the round of 16 of the aforementioned competition, her best performance being in 2015, when she played in the semifinals. Another tennis player from Romania, Irina Begu, will be up against Elise Mertens of Belgium who has so far won all head-to-head matches. Sorana Cîrstea, also from Romania, will be up against Laura Siegemund of Germany while Gabriela Ruse will be playing Daria Saville of Australia. Another Romanian player Jaqueline Cristian will be up against Anett Kontaveit of Estonia. (DB & VP)