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NEWS OF THE DAY

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AgriMin Daea to discuss with Ukrainian counte rpart about impact of Ukrainian grain
imports
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, will discuss on
Wednesday with his Ukrainian counterpart, Mikola Solski, about the impact of Ukrainian grain
imports and the measures that can be taken to manage this crisis.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, the discussion between the two
ministers will take place online.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) informed on Friday in a press
release that the situation created on the markets of six member states by the import of agri-food
products from Ukraine will be addressed in a unified manner, with a text that will be drafted by
experts to be sent to the European Commissioners for Agriculture, respectively for Trade, on the
occasion of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture to take place on April 25.
Regarding the discussions he will have with his Ukrainian counterpart, Petre Daea
said that they will only be in the interest of Romania and the farmers he represents.
He added that Romania is part of the European Union (EU) and carries out its activity
according to EU rules, "rules that we all respect, the European Commission and Romania." "We
respect the rules together, we act together, we decide together and we do the right thing together," said
the Minister of Agriculture. AGERPRES
ID: 7540707; Data: 2023-04-18 17:04:35; Redactori: cmi/cmi

More than 50 migrants, found at Arad border crossing point hidden among metal
profiles in truck
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - More than 50 migrants from several countries were caught
trying to leave the country hidden in a trailer truck loaded with metal profiles, checked at the western
Arad Border Crossing Point, Arad Border Police said on Tuesday.
The driver, a 38-year-old Turkish national, was driving a trailer truck registered in Turkey
and was transporting, according to the documents accompanying the cargo, metal profiles on the
Turkey-Germany route.
The 52 foreign nationals from Syria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt, India, Sudan, Bangladesh and
Pakistan found in the truck were taken to the border police headquarters for investigation. Some of the

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migrants had entered Romania legally on the basis of personal documents, others were asylum
seekers, the source said.
The driver is being investigated for migrant smuggling and the 52 foreigners hidden in the
truck are being investigated for fraudulently attempting to cross the state border.AGERPRES
ID: 7540043; Data: 2023-04-18 10:54:47; Redactori: isc/mav

Major General Ciprian Marin is the new Chief of Staff of the Land Forces
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The ceremony of handing over and receiving the command
and the Battle Flag of the General Staff of the Land Forces (SMFT), between Lieutenant General
Iulian Berdila and Major General Ciprian Marin, took place on Tuesday, at the headquarters of the
SMFT, in the presence of the Minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, and the Chief of the
Defense Staff, General Daniel Petrescu, shows an MApN press release.
General Daniel Petrescu declared that "the mandate of Lieutenant General Iulian Berdila was
full of challenges".
"Three years ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Land Forces were engaged in
supporting the public authorities to combat the effects of the pandemic. The outbreak of the war in
Ukraine followed, which brought a very busy period for the land troops, especially in terms of the
support of the host nation and the integration of the allied forces in the defense architecture on the
national territory. At the same time, the process of consolidating the units and large units was
accelerated and important endowment programs were started," detailed the Chief of the Defense Staff.
Lieutenant General Iulian Berdila was appointed deputy for operations and training at the
Defense General Staff.

Major General Ciprian Marin emphasized, in his message, that the priorities are the
strengthening of the fighting capacity, the optimization of the command-control system, the
continuation of the acquisition programs for the modernization of the Land Forces and the
optimization of the training and professional development system.
Major General Ciprian Marin participated in several international missions as a liaison officer
at the Italian Joint Command in Rome for the operation in Iraq ANCIENT BABYLONIA (2003),
staff officer in the Force Assessment Office at the NATO Land Component Command in Madrid
(2004-2007), Deputy Commander of the Combined Team Zabul, Afghanistan (2009-2010), Head of
the Development Section at the Southern Regional Command in Kandahar of the International
Security and Assistance Force - ISAF (2012-2013). AGERPRES
ID: 7540985; Data: 2023-04-18 21:00:45; Redactori: bog/bog

LabMin Budai: Increasingly more Ukrainian nationals are hire d in Ro mania

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The number of Ukrainian nationals hired in Romania after
the outbreak of the war in their country continues to increase from one day to the next, Romanian
Labour Minister Marius Budai told AGERPRES on Tuesday.
According to him, as of April 18, Romanian employers concluded 6,651 employment
contracts for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian attacks.
"As of this morning, 7,885 active contracts for Ukrainian nationals are registered, including
6,651 that have come into effect when the conflict began. So, the number of contracts that have
February 24 or later as their start date increased by 28 from Thursday," said Budai.
Most of the Ukrainian refugees -- 1,730 -- are working in the manufacturing industry, and
1,001 in construction. Most of them -- 2,713 -- have opted for Bucharest City, while in Bistrita-
Nasaud County there are 445, in Timis County 428, in Arad County 376, and in Maramures County
332. AGERPRES

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ID: 7540600; Data: 2023-04-18 16:04:21; Redactori: cor/cmi

Romanian farme rs asking for immediate restrictions on imports of agricultural produce

from Ukraine
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romanian farmers is asking Agriculture Minister Petre
Daea ahead of his meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Mikola Solski scheduled for Wednesday,
for immediate restrictions on imports of agricultural produce from Ukraine, at least until the
reintroduction of customs duties under bilateral partnerships with Ukraine.
According to an open letter released on Tuesday by the Forum of Romanian Professional
Farmers and Food Processors (APRR), the farmers are asking for separate flows of agricultural
produce by origin or separate flows by time intervals at Romanian customs, so that there are no
overlaps between the logistics flows of produce of Ukrainian and Romanian origin.
"Given the importance of the customs point, it is absolutely mandatory that this separation
becomes effective immediately in the port of Constanta," reads the letter signed by APPR Forum
Chairman Nicolae Sitaru.
The organisation is also demanding securing the traceability of imports through a strict
quality control and the avoidance of ambiguities related to the origin of agricultural produce by
applying in these instances some forms of monitoring already in use, such as the Ro E-Transport
system.
The farmers also say that the conversations between Deaea and Solski will take place on
Wednesday, as in the middle of 2022 customs duties were totally eliminated for all goods from
Ukraine, a measure that commercially exported the effects of the war to neighbouring countries
through an involuntary dumping effect, as it stimulated Ukrainian farmers to sell below cost while
forcing the pace of commodity flows.
"This approach has not helped the farmers in Ukraine resume their production cycle, given an
escalation of input expenses, but it has very much disrupted the Romanian market. The solutions
worked out by the European Union are insufficient and do not even remotely cover the effects on
Romanian farmers generated by the decision to liberalise imports." AGERPRES
ID: 7540842; Data: 2023-04-18 18:44:13; Redactori: cor/cmi

BNR: Uncertainties regarding economic activity outlook, generated by war, turbulence

in U.S., Swiss banking systems
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Significant uncertainties and risks regarding the outlook of
economic activity, implicitly the medium-term evolution of inflation, continue to be generated by the
war in Ukraine and the associated sanctions, show the Minutes of the monetary policy meeting of the
Board of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) from April 4, 2023.
According to the cited source, other uncertainties and risks arise from the turbulence in the
banking systems in the USA and Switzerland, which could exert adverse effects by affecting the
economies of developed states and the perception of risk in Central and Eastern Europe, with an
impact on financing costs. emphasized several times by the members of the Council.
In this context, the members of the Council insisted once again on the importance of
attracting European funds, especially those related to the Next Generation EU program, which is
conditioned by the fulfillment of strict targets and milestones in the implementation of the projects,
but is essential for the achievement of the necessary structural reforms, including the energy
transition, as well as for counterbalancing, at least partially, the contractionary impact of shocks on
the supply side, amplified by the war in Ukraine and the tightening of economic and financial
conditions on the international level.

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According to the BNR, in the current conditions, a balanced mix of macroeconomic policies
and the implementation of structural reforms, including through the use of European funds, which
stimulate long-term growth potential are essential for maintaining macroeconomic stability and
strengthening the capacity of the Romanian economy to face some adverse developments.
Under these conditions, the BNR Board unanimously decided to maintain the monetary policy
interest rate at the level of 7%. At the same time, it decided to maintain the interest rate for the credit
facility (Lombard) at 8% and the interest rate related to the deposit facility at 6%. Also, the Board of
the BNR unanimously decided to keep the current levels of the mandatory minimum reserve ratios for
the liabilities in RON and in foreign currency of the credit institutions. AGERPRES
ID: 7540834; Data: 2023-04-18 18:36:22; Redactori: bog/cmi

Border police catches Turkish citizen while attempting to enter the country illegally
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The Giurgiu border police caught a 21-year-old Turkish
citizen while attempting to enter the country with fake Italian identity documents.
"The 21-year-old man presented himself at the Giurgiu Border Crossing Point for the border
control, as he was hoping to enter the country on board of a bus belonging to a passenger transport
company, while presenting a fake passport and a fake identity card, both with the insignia of the
Italian authorities. While studying the documents, the border police found that they did not meet the
substantive and formal requirements of authentic documents, being fake. After thorough checks, no
other documents were found, but the further investigations carried out by the border police established
the fact that the man is a Turkish citizen," according to a press release issued on Tuesday by the
Giurgiu Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police.
The transport company received a fine, according to the legal provisions, and the person in
question and the documents were handed over to the Bulgarian Border Police in order to continue the
investigations. AGERPRES
ID: 7540496; Data: 2023-04-18 15:08:55; Redactori: cmi/cmi

Over 30 tonnes of plastic waste stopped upon border check

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Over 30 tonnes of plastic waste from Greece bound for
Romanian commercial companies were stopped at the Giurgiu border-check point because the
shipments were not accompanied by cross-border transfer documents.
"At the Giurgiu Border Crossing Point, on the way into Romania, two road vehicles
consisting of a tractor unit and a semi-trailer, driven by a Romanian citizen, aged 46, and a Turkish
citizen aged 53, showed up for customs clearing. The drivers were shipping plastic waste from Greece
bound for a commercial company in Romania. There being suspicions about the legality of these
shipments, the border police requested authorised support from the commissioners of the Giurgiu
County National Environmental Guard. Checks revealed a total amount of 35,830 kilograms of plastic
waste in the two vehicles," according to the Giurgiu border crossing authorities.
The checks also revealed that under the cross-border transfer documents presented the
shipments failed to meet the conditions for entering Romania, which is why their access to Romania
was denied. AGERPRES
ID: 7540498; Data: 2023-04-18 15:09:41; Redactori: cor/cmi

Tourist resorts on Prahova Valley, 75% occupancy rate on Easter (association)

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The tourist resorts on the Prahova Valley were 75%
occupied on the occasion of the Easter holiday, some tourist units being at maximum capacity (90-

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100%), and others at half capacity (50-60%), the Association for Tourism Promotion and
Development (APDT) Prahova announced.
"The most visited tourist attractions were the Peles Castle in Sinaia and the Cantacuzino
Palace in Busteni. Tourists lingered on the terraces, and others spent time in nature on mountain trails.
The Peles Castle, a corner of history that will always remain an attraction for the traveler, due to its
mystery and exoticism, was visited during the Easter weekend by hundreds of people," the release
states.
According to the association, all the slopes in the alpine gap were prepared and opened:
Varianta, Valcel, Valea Dorului 2, Floare de colt, Panoramic, Valea Soarelui 1, Valea Soarelui 2,
Laptici 1, Laptici 2, although the snow layer was affected by rain, the press release also reads.
At the same time, Campina and Breaza were 95% occupied during the Easter
weekend.AGERPRES
ID: 7539952; Data: 2023-04-18 10:04:09; Redactori: tdy/mav

Romania's Szocs advances to WTT Champions Macao R16 after defeating world
number 5
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romanian table tennis player Bernadette Szocs on Tuesday
defeated Chinese Xingtong Chen, world number five, 3-1 (6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3) in the first round of
the women's singles event at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions Macao 2023 tournament.
Szocs, world number 27, will play France's Jia Nan Yuan, world no. 17.
Also on Tuesday, compatriot Elizabeta Samara lost in the first round to Japanese Mima Ito,
world number 7, 3-1 (7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6).
This March, Samara defeated Chinese Meng Chen, the reigning Olympic champion, 3-2 (6-
11, 11-6, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8), in the round of 16 of the Singapore Smash 2023 tournament. AGERPRES
ID: 7540405; Data: 2023-04-18 14:21:13; Redactori: cor/cmi

Scheduled events for April 18

PRESIDENCY:
- President Klaus Iohannis kicks off official visit to Brazil (18-19 April)
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES:
- Debate on simple motion dubbed "From the breadbasket of Europe to the shame of Europe.
Minister Daea destroys with good knowledge the Romanian agriculture", initiated by the Save
Romania Union and the Force of the Right parties
ECONOMY:
- Central bank releases Minute of BNR Board reunion on monetary policy topics of 4 April
2023
AGERPRES
Email: [email protected]
www.agerpres. AGERPRES
ID: 7539924; Data: 2023-04-18 09:44:08; Redactori: mav/mav

Record number of visitors to 'Victor Brauner: Inventions and Magic' exhibition in

European Cultural Capital TM 2023
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - More than 12 thousand visitors from Romania and abroad
crossed the threshold of the Timisoara National Art Museum (MNArT), to admire the first
retrospective dedicated to the Romanian artist Victor Brauner, since the day of the official opening of
the European Cultural Capital TM 2023, in February, the figure representing a record for the museum.

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"Probably no exhibition in the history of the museum has attracted such a large number of
visitors as the 'Victor Brauner: Inventions and Magic' exhibition did, in just two months (...) Until
now, only with the Victor Brauner exhibition, the National Art Museum in Timisoara has exceeded
the total number of visitors from last year. We intend for this type of success to remain a milestone
that we will constantly reach in the future," the director of the museum, Filip Petcu said on Tuesday.
The "Victor Brauner: Inventions and Magic" exhibition is an event financed by the Timis
County Council, organized by the Timisoara National Art Museum, co-organized by the Pompidou
Center Paris, together with the Art Encounters Foundation and the French Institute in Romania.
About 100 works (paintings, drawings, sculptures, engravings and documents) make up the
retrospective exhibition dedicated to the Romanian surrealist artist. Of these, 40 works are offered as a
special loan from the Center Pompidou in Paris, together with works from the collections of the Saint-
Etienne Metropole, Musee Cantini Marseilles and other museums in Romania or from private and
foreign collections. AGERPRES
ID: 7540860; Data: 2023-04-18 18:58:46; Redactori: bog/cmi

Environmental activists from Declic open first trial regarding climate in Romania
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The first trial regarding the climate in Romania, opened by
the Declic Association, started in central-western Cluj-Napoca, being supported by other
environmental organizations, a press release of the 2Celsius Association reads.
The Cluj Court of Appeal decided, on April 10, 2023, to reject the exceptions of the ministries
that would have blocked the process and thus ordered the start of the trial on the merits. Thus, the
court rejected the exception of the lack of quality of interest of Declic and the exception of the
prematurity of the institution's request for a fine. These exceptions had been raised by the institutions
called to court, respectively the Ministry of the Environment, Waters and Forests and the Ministry of
Energy.
"Furthermore, the Urgenda Foundation, which won the first trial in Europe regarding climate
change, intervenes in the case in Romania opened by the Declic Association. The Climate Litigation
Network (CLN), part of Urgenda Foundation, sent a letter to the Cluj Court of Appeal, through which
it supports the Declic process and brings to the attention of the magistrates the jurisprudence of the
courts of several European countries. The Urgenda Foundation won the first historical case in Europe
regarding climate change, against the Dutch State. Moreover, the first climate process opened in
Romania by the Declic Association is supported by several environmental organizations, which
intervened as parties in the process. It is about Bankwatch Romania and 2Celsius," notes the source.
The next term of the process opened by the Declic Association will be on May 22, 2023.
The chairman of the 2Celsius association, Raul Cazan, believes that, in recent decades,
Romania has become the graveyard of second-hand vehicles whose imports were totally encouraged
by fiscal policies and government programs.
"As a result, Romania's emissions from transport are increasing, unlike other sectors of the
economy. This representative action in court is the last resort of civil society, proof that our advocacy
for climate action has hit the wall of an irresponsible policy," Cazan declared.
The Declic community asks the judges to compel the Government to take concrete actions to
combat climate change. Furthermore, the Declic representatives request in court for the fine of prime
minister Nicolae Ciuca, the minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, and the minister of the Environment,
Tanczos Barna, for each day they postpone the measures.
On this subject, Declic invoked, in the action at the Cluj Court of Appeal, the fact that the
Government's inactivity affects "the right to life and the right to private life, the right to property, the
right to a decent living, the right to a healthy and sustainable environment, as well as the right to a
dignified future of the generations to come".

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"The state has the obligation to take measures to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for
all citizens," the action submitted to the Cluj Court of Appeal reads.AGERPRES
ID: 7540083; Data: 2023-04-18 11:23:54; Redactori: tdy/mav

New stage of the dialogue with EC on payment of second tranche of the PNRR,
completed
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania has completed a new stage of the dialogue with
the European Commission regarding the second tranche of payment from the PNRR, with a total net
value of 2.81 billion EUR, which covers 51 milestones and targets, the Ministry of European
Investments and Projects (MIPE) informs on Tuesday.
In this way, along with pre-financing and the first tranche of PNRR, Romania will benefit
cumulatively from payments of almost ten billion EUR from this important European financing
resource.
Since the beginning of the implementation of the plan, more than 8,500 contracts have
already been signed with PNRR beneficiaries, worth 11 billion EUR, MIPE states.
In accordance with the provisions of European Regulation 241/2021, the payment of the
second installment can be made for the amount of 2.67 billion EUR, with the difference of 143
million EUR to be made after the completion of the procedure for clarifying the terms of fulfillment
of the conditions specific to milestones 129 and 133, within a maximum period of 6 months.
AGERPRES
ID: 7540924; Data: 2023-04-18 19:47:36; Redactori: bog/cmi

Daea: Romania shouldn't have received a penny from the European Commission under
calculation algorithm
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania was not supposed to get a single cent from the
European Commission based on the calculation algorithm to support its farmers affected by grain
imports from Ukraine, Agriculture Minister Petre Daea told Parliament on Tuesday, adding that the
amount received of EUR 10 million was incorrect.
"Learning that the amount allocated from the reserves, EUR 56.3 million, is distributed to
only three member states, and Romania is allocated the amount of EUR 10 million, I acted through all
channels, requested and had meetings with the commissioner on March 17, when he unveiled to me
the calculation method and the distributed amount, and based on the calculation algorithm, Romania
was not supposed to get a single cent. Since I considered the amount and the calculation method to be
incorrect, I asked the commissioner for an analysis with Romanian experts. That happened, and the
next day the President of Romania addressed the European Council. Knowing the technical
procedures regarding the drawing up of legislation at the level of the European Union institutions, I
knew that the amount would be validated by a decision, which happened, and currently another
amount is being considered in additional support," Daea told a meeting that discussed a parliamentary
motion tabled against him.
Daea added that it informed the Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union
about the country's position regarding the amendment of Regulation (EU) 2022/870 on temporary
trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products.
"We are in direct contact with the European bodies and with the Ministry of Entrepreneurship
and Tourism, which is an authority of the Romanian state responsible for commercial policy," Daea
told the lawmakers.
He also mentioned his video conferences with the agriculture ministers of Poland, Bulgaria,
Slovakia, Hungary and a senior official of the Czech Republic on the grain crisis in Ukraine, saying
that they are in line with finding a common solution that is operational from a legal point of view in

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order to give Romanian farmers the opportunity to free storage spaces, to prepare them for the storage
of the new harvest.
The minister said that an association agreement was concluded between the European Union
and Ukraine that entered into force on September 1, 2017 after being ratified by the parliaments of all
the EU member states, including Romania.
The agreement mainly provides for gradual economic integration, the progressive
establishment of a free trade zone between the parties in accordance with the 1994 general agreement
on tariffs and trade.
The Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday discussed a simple motion tabled by the Save Romania
Union (USR) and the Right Force against Daea, and a vote on it was scheduled for the next day.
AGERPRES
ID: 7540931; Data: 2023-04-18 19:51:30; Redactori: cor/cmi

EnviMin Tanczos: Romania is one of the EU membe r states with a rich biological
dive rsity
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania is one of the EU member states with a rich
biological diversity, not only in terms of species, but also in terms of natural habitats and ecosystems,
Romania's Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forestry Barna Tanczos told an informal
European environmental meeting in Stockholm on Tuesday.
"To Romania, biodiversity is of particular relevance, given that approximately 23% of the
country's surface is covered by protected natural areas that are part of the Natura 2000 network. From
the point of view of natural capital, Romania is one of the member states with a rich biological
diversity not only in terms of species, but also in terms of natural habitats and ecosystems.
Biodiversity fundamentally underpins the benefits that business derives from natural capital and
supports key ecosystem functions that ensure business operations and productivity. Companies should
recognise the fact that incorporating environmental and social concerns into business plans and
processes is essential for long-term commercial success," the Romanian official pointed out.
In an official press statement released on Tuesday, Tanczos is quoted as also mentioning the
green transition and recalling the relevant projects carried out by Romania.
"Co-operation between public and private entities and ensuring strong partnerships between
different actors is one of the main components that will contribute to the development of the business
sectors to achieve the transition towards a green, competitive and sustainable economy. The
involvement of the private sector is crucial (...) For example, Romania has designed a state aid
scheme to financially support investment in recycling facilities. We believed that such consistent
financial contribution -- up to 8 million euros in each initial investment -- would trigger better
collection and sorting. Also, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania has invested
in over 600 public voluntary collection centres for all other types of recyclable/reusable waste that are
not collected in the 'door to door' system."
Romania, headed by Tanczos, participated in the informal meeting of environmental ministers
in Stockholm, Sweden, April 18-19, organised by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Attending the meeting were environmental ministers from the EU, European Free Trade
Agreement (EFTA) -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland-- as well as European
Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius, alongside bus iness
leaders.
Discussed at the meeting were investments for the green transition; metrics and policies for
competitive sustainability, as well as innovation and public private collaboration to drive the green
transition. AGERPRES
ID: 7540773; Data: 2023-04-18 17:52:24; Redactori: cor/cmi

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Senate President Gorghiu: PNL will vote against simple motion on agriculture
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The acting President of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, on
Tuesday stated that the Liberals will vote against the simple motion of censure submitted by USR
(Save Romania Union) Deputies and Forta Dreptei party, entitled "From the Granary of Europe to the
Shame of Europe. Minister Daea Knowingly Destroys Romanian agriculture."
However, Gorghiu emphasized that she would like to see "much more articulated solutions"
from the Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea.
"We need much more articulated solutions from the Minister of Agriculture. The conclusion,
related to the motion, is that PNL (National Liberal Party) will vote against it tomorrow, for the
motion doesn't solve anything, it just helps the colleagues in opposition to add something more to
their parliamentary activity," Gorghiu stated, on Tuesday, at the Senate.
She specified that a meeting between the Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, and his
Ukrainian counterpart is scheduled for Wednesday.
"I really want to see that the Minister of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture will no
longer look as confused as in the past couple of days and they will find solutions to help the
Romanian farmers. Related to the fact that they provided such data that led to an insignificant
compensation of the losses suffered by the Romanian farmers, well, we saw that President Klaus
Iohannis already discussed with the President of the European Commission, which resulted in the
European Commission now discussing the second type of aid that Romanian farmers should receive,"
added Gorghiu.
In addition, the interim President of the Senate mentioned the request of the PSD (Social
Democratic Party) for a facilitation of a dialogue with the Ukrainians on the topic of the transit of
agricultural products by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, "was also solved."
"The dialogue has been facilitated, the meeting will take place tomorrow. However, we
believe that the Ministry of Agriculture must position itself much more clearly to come up with
solutions. (...) I wish that in tomorrow's meeting some solutions will be identified and, on April 25,
when the Council of Ministers of Agriculture takes place, a unified position will be established on this
topic of the grains transit from Ukraine to the rest of the world, through Romania and beyond," said
Gorghiu.
The Chamber of Deputies is debating, on Tuesday, the simple motion against the Minister of
Agriculture, Petre Daea, submitted by USR and Forta Dreptei parties, and the vote will be given on
Wednesday. AGERPRES
ID: 7540560; Data: 2023-04-18 15:45:58; Redactori: cmi/cmi

OECD invites Romania to join Working Group on Bribery

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - On Tuesday, Romania received an invitation from the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to join the Working Group on
Bribery and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
"The invitation, in the form of a letter from OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann to
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, acknowledges the efforts made by Romania, and in particular by the
Ministry of Justice, to join this effort, while also being a solid commitment of Romania to drawing up
and implementing effective policies for the fight against corruption," the Romanian government
reported in a press statement released on Tuesday.
For more than three decades, the Working Group on Bribery has been promoting the fight
against the corruption of foreign public officials in international business transactions. Thus, Romania
will be able to take part in the development and implementation of effective policies and practices in
combatting corruption, including by raising awareness among business operators over the risks and

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consequences of bribery. At the same time, joining the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention will
contribute to strengthening anti-corruption policies and practices.
"Romania's accession to the Anti-Bribery Convention will increase the reputation of
Romanian companies, contributing to their inclusion in global supply chains, facilitating winning of
public procurement contracts abroad. The consolidation of the trust enjoyed by Romania at the
international level will thus become a reality also by attracting new responsible foreign investors, as
accession to the convention sends a very strong signal at the international level regarding Romania's
compliance with anti-corruption standards and good practices. The government will continue at a
sustained pace the process of Romania joining OECD, the most powerful global economic
organisation that brings together countries from which 90 percent of foreign direct investments
come."
The Romanian government mentions that the invitation received on Tuesday confirms the
confidence of the OECD in Romania's ability to contribute to joint efforts to promote the
organisation's values. AGERPRES
ID: 7540685; Data: 2023-04-18 16:52:40; Redactori: cor/cmi

Three baby mouflon and a Dexter calf, ne w residents of the Sibiu Zoo
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Three baby mouflon and a Dexter calf have become new
residents of the central Sibiu Zoo, after being born here a week ago, Sibiu City Hall announced on
Tuesday on its Facebook page.
"We invite you for a walk in the Sibiu Zoo. If you come here these days, you will have the
opportunity to be among the first visitors to meet the new residents of Sibiu Zoo: three baby mouflon
and a Dexter calf, all born here a week ago," says the announcement published by the Sibiu City Hall.
According to the source, "The Animal Farm remains a great attraction for the little ones
because they can interact with the domestic animals here: geese, pheasants, geese, ducks, goats,
sheep, mini cows and ponies."AGERPRES
ID: 7539900; Data: 2023-04-18 09:24:00; Redactori: isc/mav

Romania's rate of disabled persons at 3.99 pct as of end-December 2022

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - There were 875,594 persons with disabilities registered in
Romania as of end-December 2022, accounting for a rate of 3.99 percent of the total population; of
these, 98.12 percent (859,176) were in family care and/or lived independently (not institutionalized),
while 1.88 percent (16,418) lived in dedicated residential social assistance public institutions
(institutionalized) managed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity, through the National
Authority for the Protection of the Rights of Disabled Persons.
According to Law No. 448/2006 on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with
disabilities, republished, the acknowledged types of disability are: physical, visual or hearing
impairment, deafblindness, somatic, mental or psychological impairment, HIV/AIDS, associated
disabilities, rare diseases.
At the end of 2022, women represented 53.42 percent of the total number of persons with
disabilities. People aged over 50 represented 67.41 percent of the total number of adults with
disabilities. According to centralized data, 46.94 percent were aged between 18 - 64 (411,022 people),
and 44.46 percent were over 65 (389,304).
According to Law No. 448/2006 on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with
disabilities, republished, the degrees of disability are severe, marked, moderate and mild.
People with severe disabilities represented 42.21 percent of the total (compared to 40.47
percent as of December 31, 2021), those with marked disabilities accounted for 46.67 percent

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(compared to 47.37 percent as of December 31, 2021) and those with moderate and mild disabilities
accounted for 11.12 percent (compared to 12.16 percent as of December 31, 2021).
There were 555 public social assistance institutions for adults with disabilities as of December
31, 2022 (compared to 525 as of end-2021), of which 496 residential facilities (compared to 469 on
December 31, 2021) and 59 non-residential - day care facilities (compared to 56 on December 31,
2021).
Over three quarters (86.69 percent) of the public residential institutions for adults with
disabilities are care and assistance centers (37.70 percent) with 7,580 beneficiaries, sheltered homes
(31.45 percent) with 1,079 beneficiaries, and ability and rehabilitation centers (17.54 percent) with
3,114 beneficiaries. The people served by such facilities account for 71.71 percent of the total number
of 16,418 disabled persons living in residential institutions. The existing 29 neuropsychiatric
rehabilitation centers also serve a significant number of 3,140 people (19.13 percent).
Of the 496 public residential social assistance institutions for adults with disabilities, 59 are
centers with over 50 beneficiaries (6,068). AGERPRES
ID: 7540090; Data: 2023-04-18 11:28:20; Redactori: sko/sko

President Iohannis, received by his counterpart from Brazil

Brasilia, April 18 - AGERPRES special correspondent Florentina Peia reports: President
Klaus Iohannis, who is on an official visit to Brazil, the first at the head of state level in the last 23
years, was received on Tuesday by his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The head of state was received at the Itamaraty Palace. President Klaus Iohannis is
accompanied by his wife, Carmen Iohannis. The president of Brazil is accompanied by his wife,
Rosangela da Silva.
The delegation of President Klaus Iohannis includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan
Aurescu, presidential advisors Luminita Odobescu, Cosmin Marinescu, Daniela Barsan, Delia Dinu,
state advisors Sandra Pralong, Alexandra Bocse.
The two heads of state will have official talks, followed by joint press statements. (RO -
editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Bogdan Gabaroi, editor: Cristina Zaharia)
ID: 7540952; Data: 2023-04-18 20:07:52; Redactori: bog/cmi

Tennis: Double victories for Irina Bara, Andreea Mitu at the ITF tourname nt in Koper
(Slovenia)
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romanian tennis players Irina Bara and Andreea Mitu each
scored two victories, on Tuesday, at the ITF tournament in Koper (Slovenia), with total prizes of
60,000 US dollars.
Bara (28 years old, 280th in the WTA ranking) defeated Serbian Lala Radivojevic (18 years
old, 271st in the WTA). in the first round. 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, after two hours and 36 minutes of playing.
The Romanian had previously been defeated by Radivojevic in March in the round of 16 in
Ricany (Czech Republic), 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5).
In the second round, Bara will face Russian Polina Kudermetova (19 years old, 141st in the
WTA ranking).
Mitu (31 years old, 789th in the WTA ranking) defeated Thai Peangtarn Plipuech (30 years
old, 316th in the WTA ranking), 6-3, 7-5, after two hours and four minutes of playing.
Andreea Mitu passed the qualifications, where she defeated Italian Giulia Gatto-Monticone,
6-4, 6-0, and Slovakian Sofia Milatova, 6-1, 6-2.
In the second round, Mitu will meet the North Macedonian Lina Gjorcheska (28 years old,
214th in the WTA ranking), whom she defeated in their only previous direct match, in 2014, in the
quarterfinals of the Sofia tournament, 6-0, 6-2 .

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In doubles, Bara and Mitu easily passed Pia Lovric (Slovenia)/Angelina Wirges (Germany),
in the first round, 6-3, 6-1, after exactly one hour of playing.
In the quarterfinals, the Romanians will face Russians Amina Anshba/Polina Kudermetova,
3rd seeded.
In doubles, Jaqueline Cristan and Alexandra Cadantu-Ignatik will play in the first round
against the couple Nuria Brancaccio (Italy)/Adrienn Nagy (Hungary). AGERPRES
ID: 7540956; Data: 2023-04-18 20:14:27; Redactori: cmi/cmi

The Tea House, last building restored at Savarsin Royal Estate, opens to the public
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The Tea House, a 19th century building located at the
entrance to the Royal Estate of Savarsin, western Arad County, the last of the complex to be restored
by the Royal Family, is opening to the public and will become a cultural and educational space that
will host exhibitions, open lectures, meetings and public events.
The Royal Family announced on its Facebook page on Tuesday that the building, which has
been restored since last year and is the largest in the Royal Village complex, measuring 300 square
metres, will add to the hospitality offered to the visitors of the estate, with coffee, tea, refreshments,
snacks and cakes to be provided to them.
Restoration work on the Tea House began on 5 July 2021 and was completed on 1 May 2022,
when the building was inaugurated by Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown
and His Royal Highness Prince Radu.
The restoration project was led by architect Tudor Emilian Cordos, from Alba Iulia, and
supported by the Royal Collection Trust, to which Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the
Romanian Crown has entrusted the building for use.
"Part of the building is devoted to a large room for the tea room and some spaces for staff.
The restoration work was carried out by a local company of master builders, based in the village of
Ilteu, near Savarsin, led by master builder Catalin Dascalu. All the original materials that could be
recovered were reused: old oak beams, tiles manufactured in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ceramic
and stone floors, bricks," reads the Facebook page of the Royal Family.
In the second half of last year, the Royal Collection Trust and the Old Casino Arad concluded
a partnership aimed at equipping, opening to the public, managing and operating the Tea House on a
daily basis, "so as to complete the hospitality offered to visitors who will cross the threshold of the
estate in the spring, summer and autumn months".
"The interior decoration of the Tea House was created by Alexandra Avram and completed in
mid-April 2023. With the opening to the public of the Royal Village and the park on 29 April, the Tea
House will be open to the public every week on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. From the point of
view of tourism in the area, the operation of the Tea House is important. Everyone who crosses the
threshold of the estate will want to have a snack, a cake, a coffee or a tea. Moreover, the snacks
offered in the tea house will be produced by local laboratories and bakeries and all will follow
traditional recipes and use organic ingredients," the Royal Family also announced.
The Royal Village consists of the Automobile Museum, located in the restored building of the
Royal Garage, King Mihai's Car Workshop, located in the same building that also hosted in the 1940s
the Laundry House, the Guest House, the Tea House, the Intendant's House (the same as in the
1940s), the Technical House and the Souvenir Shop.
The Savarsin Royal Estate also has a park with a hidden garden, a pavilion, a lake with an
island, a 1945 tennis court, a rose garden and wisteria arch.
The most important building of the Royal Estate of Savarsin is the castle built between 1650
and 1680. The castle became the property of King Mihai in 1943, by purchase, but was confiscated by
the communist regime in 1948, having been returned to the Royal House in 2001. The restoration

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work on the castle, which began in 2007, was completed in 2015, with the investment being made by
the Royal Family.
In May 2021, the Savarsin Royal Estate was opened to tourists for the first time after the
return of the Royal Family to the country. The site can be visited throughout the warm
season.AGERPRES
ID: 7540354; Data: 2023-04-18 13:53:02; Redactori: isc/mav

Cluj Hungarian State Theatre to stage two shows at Budapest Theatre Olympics
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The Cluj Hungarian State Theatre will stage two shows in
this year's edition of the Theatre Olympics, April 19-22, in Budapest.
"In April, the Cluj Hungarian State Theatre is invited to stage two shows in the 10th edition of
the Theatre Olympics. Thus, between April 19-22, the show 'Tinerii barbari' (Young Barbarians)
directed by Attila Vidnyanszky Jr will be performed four times at the Gobbi Hilda Hall of the
Budapest National Theatre House. The production is also part of the playbill of the 9th edition of the
Madach Imre International Theatre Festival (MITEM). Also on Thursday, April 27, at the Vigszinhaz
in Budapest, the show 'Macbett' by Eugene Ionesco, directed by Silviu Purcarete, will be performed,"
according to a press statement released by the theatre house on Tuesday.
It is the second time that the Cluj Hungarian State Theatre participates in this prestigious
event, after the show "Rosmersholm" directed by Andriy Zholdak participated in the 2019 Theatre
Olympics in Saint Petersburg.
"After the performances of April, the Miskolc-based National Theatre House will host the
performances 'Macbett' and 'Animal Farm.' The participation in the Theatre Olympics will end with
the co-production 'Prometheus 22,' which will be performed first in Budapest, at the Thalia Theatre
House, and then at the Citadel of Gyula, in June. The Theatre Olympics is a drama festival designed
in the spirit of tradition and modernity of the ancient Olympic Games. It was established in Greece in
1995, being initiated by renowned stage directors and playwrights from Greece, Japan, the US , Spain,
the UK, Russia, Germany and Brazil."
In the last two decades, the travelling festival has been organised in Delphi (Greece),
Shizuoka (Japan), Moscow (Russia), Istanbul (Turkey), Seoul (South Korea), Beijing (China),
Wroclaw (Poland), New Delhi (India) Saint Petersburg (Russia), and the 10th edition will take place
in Hungary.
As part of the Theatre Olympics, the "Macbett" show is performed in Hungarian, with English
subtitles.
In Cluj, all the performances of the Cluj Hungarian State Theatre House have Romanian and
English surtitles. AGERPRES
ID: 7540492; Data: 2023-04-18 15:05:46; Redactori: cor/cmi

Bucharest Stock Exchange opens Tuesday's trading session higher

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) opened Tuesday's
trading session higher on most indices, with transactions of 2,258 million RON (456,925 euros),
carried out in the first 30 minutes of trading.
The main BET index, which shows the evolution of the 20 most liquid companies, went up by
0.20%, while the BET-Plus index which shows the evolution of the top liquid 37 shares gained,
opened up by 0.19%.

Also, the extended blue-chip index BET-XT of the top-liquid 25 issuers advanced by 0.24%,
while the return benchmark index for stock investment funds BET-BK, increased by 0.30%.

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The BET-FI index of the five financial investment companies rose by 0.62%, and the sectoral
energy and related utilities index BET-NG increased by 0.13%.
The BET AeRO index of the 20 representative companies on the AeRO market, went down
by 0.01%.
According to BVB information, the biggest increases in the value of shares were recorded by
Altur (+6%), Societatea de Constructii Napoca (+4.29%) and Oil Terminal (+1.89%).

Conversely, the issuers on a significant downward trend were Teraplast (-0.99%),

Transelectrica (-0.40%) and Transport Trade Services (-0.37%).AGERPRES
ID: 7540066; Data: 2023-04-18 11:11:10; Redactori: isc/mav

AgriMin Daea: Gov't to initiated programme to help restore trade balance

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The government has initiated certain programmes that are
meant to reduce the deficit of agri-food products and restore the trade balance," the Minister of
Agriculture, Petre Daea, stated at the debate of the simple motion submitted against him, on Tuesday.
"Yes, there is a trade deficit (...). The government I belong to is aware of it and works to
reduce this deficit of agri-food products, which is why the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a series
of programmes considering six objectives: 1. Covering the various deficit with products made in our
country (see the Tomato programme, Vegetables in protected areas, Garlic, Potatoes and others); 2.
Stimulating the export of added value products; 3. Stimulating the consumption of Romanian
products; 4. Conducting some investment objectives provided in the PNS for storage, processing,
industrialization of primary products, with 375.3 million euros; 5. Investing in pigs and poultry
farming (71 agreements worth 1.5 billion euros)," explained Petre Daea.
He underscored that the increase in the deficit is also justified by blocking the export of
grains, Romania being the most important exporter of grains in the Black Sea basin.
"Through the structure, objectives and amounts provided in the PNS, through the programmes
we have started and which we will develop, Romania will be able to restore its trade balance and
maintain leading positions in the export of grains and living stock, with particular emphasis o n the
export of value-added products," pointed out the Minister of Agriculture.
The Chamber of Deputies is debating, on Tuesday, the simple motion against the Minister of
Agriculture, Petre Daea, submitted by USR (Save Romania Union) and Forta Dreptei, with the vote
will be given in Wednesday's meeting.
AGERPRES
ID: 7540950; Data: 2023-04-18 20:05:58; Redactori: cmi/cmi

Dacian Ciolos: Instead of sending letters, Ciolacu would better look for ne w minister
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Social Democratic Party (PSD) President, Marcel Ciolacu,
"is in opposition with himself," appreciates MEP Dacian Ciolos, former European Commissioner for
Agriculture, who reaffirmed that Minister Petre Daea should be dismissed.
"PSD President Ciolacu sends a letter to Co-Prime Minister Ciolacu from the governing
coalition, asking the Government to take urgent measures to help the farmers whom Ciolacu's minister
of agriculture left behind. Unfortunately for Romanian farmers and citizens, this it is the hypocritical
way in which the head of the PSD deals with Romania's serious problems, just so as not to lose
electoral capital.
According to him, the grain crisis is a complex problem, for whose solution a minister of
agriculture should work with Romanian farmers, talk to traders, have contacts at the European and
international level and an understanding of EU mechanisms, explain to the Ukrainians what are the
limits of transit on the national territory and to be able to propose and support solutions.

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Dacian Ciolos, representative of REPER in the European Parliament, met, on Tuesday, with
the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, with whom he discussed how all the
institutional and legal levers that the EU has at its disposal can be used to support European a nd
Ukrainian farmers.
"It is important that, at the highest level, the European Parliament asks the European
Commission to implement, in the short and medium term, measures that go beyond financial
compensations, too little and that came too late. Solutions exist, whether we are talking of ways to
ensure that the grains exported by Ukraine are only unloaded where they leave for extra-EU export or
in the member states where they are really needed, avoiding the EU states on the border with Ukraine
where the markets are disrupted, whether we are talking about quality certificates. The European
Commission's lack of action pushes some member states towards unilateral actions to ban grain
imports from Ukraine and, even worse, feeds the populist and anti-European speeches of those who
sing Russia's score," Dacian Ciolos pointed out. AGERPRES
ID: 7540717; Data: 2023-04-18 17:10:54; Redactori: bog/cmi

Political police collaborators stripped of special state pension (Senate)

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - On Tuesday, the Senate tacitly adopted a legislative
proposal amending and supplementing Government Emergency Ordinance 24/2008 regarding access
to one's own dossier and the unveiling of the Securitate political police and Law no. 223/2015 on
special state pensions for the military.
The note of tacit adoption of the legislative proposal, for which the deadline for debate and
vote expired on April 12, was read out at a plenary session by acting Senate Chair Alina Gorghiu,
who presided over Tuesday's plenary session.
Under the proposal, the National Council for Studying the Securitate Archives (CNSAS)
initiates, ex officio and immediately, actions to ascertain the quality of Securitatea worker of persons
who, as officer, non-commissioned officer or civilian employee of the Securitate or the Ministry of
the Interior, including undercover, during the period March 6, 1945 - December 22, 1989, carried out
activities aimed at suppressing or curtailing fundamental human rights and freedoms.
The proposed changes eliminate what is called a discriminatory and random nature of the
verification of former political police and communist police officers.
Thus the officers, non-commissioned officers or civilian employees of the Securitate political
police or the Ministry of the Interior, including undercover, who during the period March 6, 1945 -
December 22, 1989 carried out activities aimed at suppressing or curtailing fundamental human
rights and freedoms and whose capacity was ascertained by a final and irrevocable court decision
shall not qualify for the special state pension for the military.
The Chamber of Deputies will take up the legislative proposal as the decision-making body.
AGERPRES
ID: 7540746; Data: 2023-04-18 17:32:47; Redactori: cor/cmi

High risk of avalanche in Bucegi Mts. at altitudes above 1,800 m

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Forecasters warn that there is a high risk of avalanche in the
Bucegi Mts. at altitudes above 1,800 meters, while below this altitude the avalanche danger is listed as
moderate.
On a scale from one to five, high risk means a level 4 amount of danger, while a moderate
risk is equivalent to level 2.
In most of Romania's alpine areas, specifically in the Fagaras, Tarcu, Godeanu, Parang,
Sureanu, Rodnei, Calimani, Bistritei and Ceahlau mountains, there is a level 3 risk of avalanche.

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The highest snow depth measured at a mountain weather station, at over 2.5 meters, is
recorded at Balea Lake and Omu Peak. AGERPRES
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PSD to request in ruling coalition suspension of agri-food products' imports from

Ukraine
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The Social Democratic Party announced on Tuesday in a
press release sent to Agerpres that it would request the ruling coalition to temporarily suspend imports
of agri-food products from Ukraine.
"PSD will request in the governing coalition the adoption of a political decision ordering the
Romanian Government to issue as a matter of urgency a piece of legislation for the temporary
suspension of imports of agri-food products from Ukraine, just as it happened in the other states that
have a common border with this country. Such a measure is necessary to protect Romanian farmers,
in the context in which the compensations received from the European Commission cannot cover the
total amount of damages suffered by them," the source said.
According to the PSD, the Eastern European states that have been affected should have "a
joint negotiation with the representatives of the European Commission and the Ukrainian side", so
that the support measures for Ukraine's agriculture do not affect the interests of farmers from
neighbouring countries.
"At the same time, PSD considers that Romania must continue to support Ukraine by
facilitating the transit of agri-food products from this country to other states in the European Union or
to the trade routes on the Black Sea," the release adds.AGERPRES
ID: 7540288; Data: 2023-04-18 13:24:05; Redactori: mav/mav

Two Egyptian sprint canoe athletes arrive in Romania under ICF pilot programme
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Chairman of the Romanian Canoe-Kayak Federation
(FRKC) Ion Birladeanu has told AGERPRES that two Egyptian canoeists arrived on Friday at the
Nicolae Navasart base at Snagov under a development programme funded by the International Canoe
Federation (ICF).
Sohail Ahmed and Mahmoud Ahmed are two Egyptian rowers with the potential to qualify
for the Olympic Games who will train with the Romanian national team under a pilot programme that
could be extended to include more national federations in the future.
"The two athletes of Egypt arrived on Friday and have already started up, but next week seven
others will join -- five athletes and two coaches --at the expense of their federation. The ICF allocated
us some places for the training of promising foreign athletes. The internship will last a month, and
Nichita Sergan, the coach of the youth team, will take care of them. ICF will pay for housing, meals,
recuperation and what else is needed,'' said Birladeanu.
ICF Deputy Chir Cecilia Farias says on the ICF website that this training camp "will be a
wonderful opportunity for these athletes to learn from world-leading coaches in a very professional
environment."
"The growth of canoeing in Africa has been very exciting, and there are lots of reasons to be
optimistic about the future. Identifying exciting athletes from across Africa, and then including them
in our development program, will give the sport an important leg-up. By the time the two athletes hit
the start line at our world championships they will have received almost two months of intensive
training. We can't wait to see their progress against the best young athletes on the planet," Farias says
The two Egyptians are training for the 2023 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World
Championships at Auronzo di Cadore, Italy, July 5-9. This will be their first participation in a world
competition, as so far they have competed only in national and Arab championships. AGERPRES

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ID: 7540553; Data: 2023-04-18 15:44:03; Redactori: cor/cmi

New car registrations rise 27.7 pct in Q1, almost 35 pct jump for green cars
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania's new car registrations in Q1 2023 were 27.7
percent up from the same period of the previous year, while green cars jumped 34.8 percent to a
market share of 20.2 percent, shows data released on Tuesday by the Association of Automobile
Manufacturers and Importers (APIA).
The passenger car segment represents approximately 85 percent of the overall market,
standing at 12,120 units in March 2023, 11.2 percent up year-over-year.
Gas engines picked up 1.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching
a share of 67.1 percent, while diesel-powered cars dipped 2.6 percent from the year-ago period, to a
share of 12.8 percent of the total.
On the other hand, electrified cars, specifically fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, as
well as full hybrid cars (which are also equipped with electric propulsion and don't need to be plugged
in to charge) reached a market share of 20.2 percent at the end of March this year, topping by 7.4
percent the share of diesel engines. The market share of fully electric cars was 8.6 percent in Q1 2023,
up from 7.3 percent a year ago.
Purchases of environmentally friendly cars increased by 34.8 percent in Q1 this year
compared to the similar period of 2022, with fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles seeing a
significant growth of 48.8 percent and 32 percent, respectively.
The majority of car purchases made in Q1 2023 were by legal entities (58 percent of the
total), while individuals represent the difference of 42 percent.

There was a 26.4 percent increase in the category of light vehicles, an upward evolution
similar to that of car registrations (+27.7 percent). AGERPRES
ID: 7540316; Data: 2023-04-18 13:37:24; Redactori: sko/sko

Romanian investors remain skeptical about country's economy (survey)

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Individual investors in Romania expect a profitable 2023,
but their confidence in the local economy remains low, according to the latest eToro Retail Investor
Beat survey.
According to the research, investors are more concerned about inflation and the geopolitical
situation, while politicians discuss at length the budget deficit and the growing sovereign debt of
Romania.
"The confidence of Romanian investors in the local economy improved slightly in 2023, but it
is still low. If currently 62% of the surveyed investors are not confident in the way the Romanian
economy is evolving this year, in March 2022 this percentage was 69%," the survey says.
When asked about the real estate market, the majority of investors (52%) mentioned that they
do not trust its positive evolution, but it is a slight improvement compared to a year ago when it was
57%.
Despite the negative feeling about Romania's economy, the vast majority of investors are
confident about jobs (78%) and about incomes and living standard (76%).
"This is natural if we consider that the labor market in Romania is resilient, with the latest
data showing that seasonally adjusted unemployment fell slightly to 5.5% in February 2023, from
5.6% in the previous month, reaching the lowest level since last September," the survey also shows.
Asked about the risks that concern them this year, Romanian investors indicated that they are
most worried about the increase in inflation, international conflicts and a potential recession of the
global economy.

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Overall, the survey reveals a very positive attitude regarding investors' expectations on the
return of investment portfolios in 2023, with 90% of them saying it will be a profitable year, while
only 6% say they expect losses.
"Women and men, equally, believe that this will be a profitable year. Although the results of
the survey are close in all geographical regions of Romania, there are still some slight differences.
Most pessimists regarding the anticipated results for 2023 come from northwest, while the opt imists
are in the southeast of Romania," according to the study.

Founded in 2007, eToro is a trading and investment platform.AGERPRES

ID: 7540312; Data: 2023-04-18 13:34:47; Redactori: tdy/mav

Deepening, dive rsifying, boosting relations with Brazil o n agenda of President Iohannis'
visit to Latin America
Brasilia, April 18 - AGERPRES special correspondent Florentina Peia reports: President
Klaus Iohannis begins a tour of Latin America on Tuesday until 26 April, including Brazil, Chile and
Argentina.
The central objective of president Iohannis' visit to Brazil on Tuesday and Wednesday, the
first state visit in the last 23 years, is to deepen, diversify and boost bilateral relations with Brazil,
Romania's main trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean.
On Tuesday, President Klaus Iohannis will visit the memorial museum dedicated to President
Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, founder of the city of Brasilia.
Afterwards, the head of state will be received by his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva, with whom he will hold official talks. President Iohannis will also attend an official lunch.
According to the Presidential Administration, the two presidents will discuss the stage and
prospects for bilateral relations, as well as topical issues on the regional and international agendas.
The source indicates that the central objective of this visit is to deepen, diversify and boost
bilateral relations with Brazil, Romania's main trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean,
which will also be reflected in the adoption by the two presidents of a Joint Declaration. The
document contains the commitment of the two sides to increase the level of bilateral relations through
intensified political dialogue and more dynamic sectoral cooperation in areas of common interest such
as trade, investment, industry, scientific research and innovation, cyber security, digitalisation, climate
change, sustainable agriculture, education and culture.
Given the level of trade, which is below the potential offered by the two markets, the visit will
also seek to promote Romania as an attractive economic partner, with a focus on cooperation and
investment opportunities in industry, energy, agriculture, IT and other sectors.
On Wednesday, President Iohannis will meet local authorities in Rio de Janeiro. He will meet
with Rio de Janeiro Deputy Governor Thiago Pampolha Goncalves at the Guanabara Palace and with
Rio de Janeiro Deputy Mayor Nilton Caldeira at the city hall. On the same day, President Klaus
Iohannis will lay a wreath at the National Monument to the fallen heroes of World War II.
After the official visit to Brazil, the next stages of the President's South American tour are
state visits to the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Argentina, the first at this level in the last ten
and 30 years, respectively.
According to the Presidential Administration, these visits are aimed at relaunching high-level
dialogue with Latin American countries and reviving bilateral interactions at the political-diplomatic
and sectoral levels, respectively, and are intended to open up new opportunities for collaboration in
areas of increased interest, including those relating to joint responses to a number of global
challenges.
In 2000, from 23-27 July, the then president of Romania, Emil Constantinescu, paid an
official visit to Brazil. In Chile, former president Traian Basescu attended the 2013 EU (European

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Union) - CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit in Santiago de Chile
on 25-28 January. Former president Ion Iliescu made his last state visit to Argentina in 1993, on 27-29
July.AGERPRES
ID: 7539806; Data: 2023-04-18 08:31:48; Redactori: isc/mav

Gas imports, down by almost 65% in the first two months of 2023
Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania imported, in the first two months of 2023, a
quantity of usable natural gas of 175,300 tons of oil equivalent (toe), 64.9% (-324,500 toe) less than in
the same period last year, according to the data centralized by the National Institute of Statistics
(INS).
The domestic production of natural gas was, in the mentioned period, of 1.258 million toe,
with 7.2% (84,000 toe) over that of the period January-February 2022.
The National Strategy and Forecasting Commission estimated for 2023, in the last published
forecast of the energy balance, a gas production of 7.61 million toe and imports of 2.185 million toe,
increasing by 2.1%, respectively decreasing by 6, 2%, from year to year.AGERPRES
ID: 7539805; Data: 2023-04-18 08:30:49; Redactori: tdy/mav

Euro trades at 4.9372 RON

Bucharest, April 18 /Agerpres/ - The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting
from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market
is as follows:
CURRENCY SYMBOL RON
1 Euro EUR 4.9372
1 US dollar USD 4.4994
1 Swiss franc CHF 5.0172
1 British pound GBP 5.5946
100 Japanese yen JPY 3.3536
1 Moldovan leu MDL 0.2487
1 Russian rouble RUB 0.0552
1 new Turkish lira TRY 0.2319
1 Chinese renminbi CNY 0.6540
1 gram of gold XAU 289.3661
1 SDR XDR 6.0692
The exchange rates of the currencies included in the list are based on the quotations of the
banking companies authorized to carry out operations on the currency market. This list does not make
it compulsory to use the exchange rates of currencies and gold in actual transactions of currency
exchange and book entries. AGERPRES
ID: 7540300; Data: 2023-04-18 13:30:01; Redactori: tdy/tdy

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