FARMING – A second aid package for the Romanian farmers affected by the import of cheap grain from Ukraine was green lighted by the European Commission on Monday. Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia, alongside Romania, benefit European support in this sector, the total aid package being worth 100 million euros. In order to prevent other crisis situations generated by imports from Ukraine, the EC has initiated a platform for discussions with the five countries affected, and also with Moldova. Taking into account the first aid package, Romania gets a total of 40 million euros for farmers.
MEETING – The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, participated on Monday in the meeting of the EU ministers of foreign affairs, which took place in Luxembourg. The heads of European diplomacy announced they would adopt a new aid package for Ukraine, worth 3.5 billion euros. As regards the turmoil in Russia, member states are putting together information alongside their Euro-Atlantic partners. European officials, Luminita Odobescu included, also consider the negative effects of Russia’s destabilization given that the country has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, participated in the discussions via video conference. Minister Luminiţa Odobescu emphasized the need to continue supporting Ukraine as long as it is necessary. Another topic for discussion was the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo, after the High EU Representative Josep Borrell held separate talks in Brussels last Friday with representatives of the administrations in Belgrade and Pristina. The announcement of Kosovo’s PM Albin Kurti to resume local elections in Kosovo and the promise of the Serbian President, Alexandar Vučić, to convince the Serbs in northern Kosovo to go to the polls, may help ease tensions.
