President of the Romanian Senate to visit Madrid
The President of the Romanian Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, begins an official visit to Madrid, Spain, on Monday. On the agenda of the talks are topics such as the cooperation at parliamentary level, the situation of Romanians living in Spain, but also the current geopolitical context. Nicolae Ciucă will have official meetings with the President of the Spanish Senate, Pedro Royan, and with the Chairman of the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Upper House of the Spanish Parliament. The Romanian delegation will also visit the NATO military base near Madrid.
Romanian President chairs first security meeting of the year
The members of the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) will meet on Wednesday at the presidental palace Cotroceni, under the chairmanship of President Klaus Iohannis, for the first meeting of the body in this year. The security situation in the Black Sea and the military procurement programme are on the agenda. CSAT members will discuss the implications of the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea region in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Progress in defence planning is another topic on the agenda, with a particular focus on the conduct of military procurement programmes and the retention of military personnel. The CSAT activity report for 2023 will also be presented, as well as that of the Cyber Security Operational Council. There have been recent cyber attacks on several hospitals in the country and the government is working with a European centre on a cybersecurity guide for IT administrators in the public system.
Ambulance workers’ unions began consultations with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu
Representatives of the National Federation of Ambulance Trade Unions began consultations with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the Victoria Palace on Monday afternoon. The topics of discussion concern the salaries in the Romanian health system, but also the situation of the staff and the ambulance fleet. Trade union leader Gheorghe Chiș said that many ambulances are very old, outdated, and if solutions are not found, it will practically lead to a technical blockage. The Romanian health minister, Alexandru Rafila, also said a few days ago that the Romanian medical system needs more than 2,000 new ambulances to replace the current ones, which have many hundreds of kilometres run and are worn out. Minister Rafila also said that this financial effort would be in addition to important investments made by local authorities. On the other hand, union leaders also want to discuss staff regulations, the finalisation of the draft law on the unitary pay of budget employees and, last but not least, pay rises. Gheorghe Chiș is calling for a 20% pay rise for health workers, which would practically correct the pay for inflation in Romania, as he said.
George Enescu Philharmonic celebrates Constantin Brancusi
The „George Enescu” Philharmonic is organising a series of events on Monday to mark the 148th anniversary of the birth of the Romanian artist Constantin Brâncuși, who has been dubbed the „patriarch of modern sculpture”. The programme also includes a concert by the Violoncelissimo ensemble, said cellist Marin Cazacu, general director of the George Enescu Philharmonic. „We want very much to link the most important days of Romanian personalities, such as this Brâncuși Day, to the Romanian Athenaeum building, to the George Enescu Philharmonic, to music above all”, said Marin Cazacu and added that the Violoncelissimo ensemble’s concert has a special connotation, because the sculptor Constantin Brâncuși also listened to music, loved music and played music.
Magda Baciu
