Romania’s unemployment rate goes up
Romania’s unemployment rate hit 4.1 percent in the last quarter of 2018, according to data provided by the country’s National Institute of Statistics on Thursday. The level is 0.2 higher than figures in previous quarters. Unemployment rate is higher among young people where it reached more than 16 percent. Romania’s active population includes almost 9 million people while 8.6 million were still employed at the end of 2018. Almost 370,000 people were unemployed. Some 70 per cent of Romania’s unemployed reside in rural areas while one third of the total number is represented by people with no qualifications. In its report on the 2018 Convergence Programme of Romania issued last May, the EU Council stated that Romania had substantial unused labour potential, and several groups such as young people, Roma, the long-term unemployed and people with disabilities had difficulties in accessing the labour market.
Thursday, last day to file for EP candidature
Romania’s governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) filed its list of candidates for EU elections on Wednesday, one day before the end of the deadline on Thursday, March 28.
Rovana Plumb, Romania’s current Minister for European Funds, is the party’s front runner followed by Carmen Avram, a TV anchor. A coalition of opposition Save Romania Union and the Plus Party has Dacian Cioloş, a former European Commissioner and Romanian prime minister, as front runner while the newly established National Union for Progress of Romania (UNPR) has former Romanian tennis star Ilie Năstase as main candidate. However, Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) previously rejected the joint application for the European elections of the “Alliance 2020 USR PLUS”. It was the first time since the fall of Communism when an electoral list was rejected.
EU commissioner to attend a „Dialogue with Citizens” in capital Bucharest
EU education, culture, youth and sport commissioner Tibor Navracsics is on a visit to Bucharest where he is expected to attend a „Dialogue with Citizens” organised by Romania’s National Library on Thursday. The conference is expected to focus on „youth contribution to EU’s future”. Also attending the event are Romania’s Youth and Sport Minister Constantin-Bogdan Matei, Anje Rothermund, programme co-ordinator from Council of Europe’s Youth Department, and Carina Autengruber, head of the European Youth Forum.
Alexandru Danga
