May 22, 2023

STRIKE An all-out strike has been initiated today in Romanian public undergraduate education. According to trade unions, taking part are over 150,000 teachers and 70,000 non-teaching staff, disgruntled with the government's salary policies. A two-hour token strike in higher education is also scheduled for today. 

EDUCATION The new undergraduate and higher education bills are discussed and voted on as of today in the Senate, the decision-making parliamentary body in this respect. At the end of last week's talks in the Senate's committee on education, the representatives of students and parents said that over 90% of their requests were answered in the new legislation. In turn, the religious denominations welcomed the amendments to the new bills. With respect to the undergraduate education, the National Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, in power, say the bill meets students' educational needs, supports teachers' career development and fosters quality and equity in the education system. The draft law includes measures to enhance safety in schools and to ensure the access of children with special needs to regular classes. The opposition, on the other hand, believes these important issues noted by civil society are not solved.

VISIT The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will make an official visit to Romania on the 24th to 26th May, at the invitation of president Klaus Iohannis. According to the Romanian presidency, the visit is a major landmark for the excellent Romanian-German relations. Talks will focus on extending and deepening bilateral cooperation in political, security and economic areas. The Romanian presidency also mentions that Germany is a reliable ally of Romania, contributing to the security in the region, and also the country's main trade partner and the second-largest foreign investor in the national economy. The two heads of state will also exchange opinions on current security developments and on consolidating the defence posture in NATO's eastern flank. During his visit to Romania, the president of Germany will also travel to Sibiu (centre) and Timisoara (west).

DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu takes part today in the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The EU foreign ministers discuss measures to mitigate the effects of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate Romania's firm, multidimensional and continuing support for Ukraine and will express hopes that an agreement will be reached as soon as possible on the 8th support package for the Ukrainian air forces under the EU Peace Facility. Minister Aurescu will also highlight the importance of keeping pressure on Russia by consolidating sanctions, and will reiterate the idea of setting up a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression during the war in Ukraine.

TECHNOLOGY Bucharest Tech Week, the largest technology and innovation trade fair in Central and Eastern Europe, has begun in Bucharest today. The event brings together over 70 speakers, national and international tech experts, and 1,500 professionals from over 100 companies operating in various fields. The first 5 days are devoted to conferences on innovation, HR, retail, Java and Software Architecture, under the heading Business Summits. The largest technology and innovation exhibition, Tech Expo, will also be open to the public over the weekend of 26 May.

GREECE The right-of-centre party headed by Greece's incumbent PM, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has won Sunday's parliamentary election, but failed to get absolute majority. New Democracy won over 41% of the votes, and will have 146 seats in parliament. Its left-of-centre rivals, Syriza party, won 21% of the votes and 71 seats in parliament. The 3% threshold has been reached by 5 of the 36 parties that took part in the election. Kyriakos Mitsotakis ruled out a coalition government. Unless the winning parties manage to form a government, early elections will be held on 25 June.

FOOTBALL Farul Constanţa won Romania's football championships, after defeating FCSB 3-2, on home turf on Sunday night, in the 9th round of the Super League. Farul managed a spectacular come-back in the championship final, after FCSB had been leading 2-0. (AMP)