June 18, 2022

3SI - Romania's president, Klaus Iohannis, will attend the 7th edition of the Three Seas Initiative Summit and the 4th edition of the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum, both hosted by Riga, Latvia on Monday. Leaders of 3SI participant states will look at approaches to the current security framework in Europe in the context of the war in Ukraine. Participants will also discuss the contribution of the Three Seas Initiative by implementing strategic interconnection projects in the three key sectors of 3SI: transport, energy and digital infrastructure. According to the Romanian presidency, president Klaus Iohannis will reiterate Romania's support for Ukraine at both bilateral and multilateral levels. At the same time, Klaus Iohannis will highlight the importance of providing the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine with support in their efforts to join the European Union. The Three Seas Initiative is a political platform bringing together 12 EU Member States located between the Adriatic, Baltic and Black Seas.

REFUGEES - The Police General Inspectorate announced that 9,147 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania on Friday, down by 6% compared to the previous day. Since the start of the war in neighboring Ukraine on February 24, some 1.2 million refugees have entered the country. On the other hand, Bucharest has joined European cities hosting charity concerts designed to raise funds to provide medical equipment to hospitals in Ukraine and support artists in this country. The main squares in capitals or cities in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy or Spain were redesigned to host cultural events. In Bucharest, a stage was set up in George Enescu square on Saturday to host a concert.

MOLDOVA - A joint session of the Romanian and Moldovan Parliaments was held on Saturday in Chișinău. This is the first time such an event takes place. Romanian and Moldovan MPs conveyed a joint message in support of Moldova being granted EU candidate status. Attending the meeting was Moldova's president, Maia Sandu, who expressed hope Moldova should be granted EU candidate status. In response to Friday's recommendation issued by the European Commission, president Sandu says the candidate status will represent a long-expected result, and that Chișinău will rely on Bucharest's support while moving forward. The future of the Republic of Moldova is in the great European family, and Romania is and will be Moldova's most trusted partner, the speaker of the Romanian Senate, Florin Cîțu, said in turn. The speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, also said Romania and the Republic of Moldova must work together to ensure better living standards for their citizens.

ELECTION IN FRANCE - This weekend will see the second round of legislative elections taking place in France. On Saturday, French citizens in overseas territories and living abroad will be able to cast their votes, while citizens in continental France will hit polling stations on Saturday. The vote will determine the balance of power in the Assemblée Nationale, between the presidential coalition "Ensemble!" and the left-wing alliance NUPES. None of the two election blocs managed to secure absolute majority in the French Parliament, thus extending uncertainty over the future government. Led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, NUPES grabbed good scores in the first round, as did Marine Le Pen's National Rally. The two parties hope to prevent Emmanuel Macron from securing a Parliament majority that would help him implement his agenda.

TIFF - The city of Cluj-Napoca in northwestern Romania is hosting the Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF). This year's edition started with a special screening of one of the most anticipated films of the year, The Janes, a story about a few courageous women who changed the world. Late on Friday night, pop vocalist Corina Chiriac gave a concert. Running until June 26, TIFF will consist of 350 screenings in Cluj, which UNESCO designated City of Film. Dozens of Romanian and foreign guests from the world of cinematography are expected to attend the 2022 edition.

GYMNASTICS - 12 athletes are representing Romania in the World Aerobic Gymnastics Championships hosted by Guimarães, Portugal over June 16-18. On Friday, Romania won silver in the team event. Also on Friday, in the trio event, the team made up of Gabriel Bocşer, Miruna Iordache and Daniel Ţavoc ranked fourth, while the team made up of Claudia Gheorghe, Leonard Manta and Antonio Surdu finished in 7th place.

TENNIS - Romanian tennis players Sorana Cîrstea and Simona Halep are today competing in the semi-finals of the WTA 250 tournament in Birmingham, totaling some 250 thousand dollars in prizes. In the first semi-final, Cîrstea will take on Shuai Zhang of China, the competition's eighth seed. In the second semi-final, Simona Halep will go up against Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil. (VP)