Romania needs more workers from outside the European Union. According to a draft governmental ordinance, 140,000 employees outside the EU could be hired in Romania in 2024.

This number is 40% higher than the existing limit of 100,000, which means that Romania needs even more workers from Asian countries.

There are specific procedures to be fulfilled before the workers actually come and work in Romania, and it also takes time. The recruiting companies tell about a time frame of 6 months from the moment the candidate is interviewed and accepted by the Romanian employer until he arrives in the country. That means that in January, candidates will be recruited to work in the summer in hospitality, during the peak season on the Romanian seashore, or in agriculture, to harvest the fields.

This also means there is no or less workforce availability if an employer needs it immediately, creating blockages in production and services in Romania.

Bucharest residents got used to being catered for by Asian personnel, and if you enter restaurants, you immediately spot the Asian personnel hired to replace the local workforce.

Why don’t Romanians want to work in hospitality, services, production and agriculture? Many youngsters dream of becoming influencers or getting money from social media or TikTok lives. Others consider salaries under their dignity and do lousier jobs abroad but for more money.

Either way, the Government’s decision seems correct under the current circumstances. Many employers can hire new personnel, even though they won’t speak Romanian initially. The economy is still alive as long as entrepreneurs maintain it that way, and the 140,000 licences for temporary working in Romania could boost the local entrepreneurs and the economy.

Romania stands with Israel – this is the message the Romanian authorities sent to Israel and the international community after the surprise attacks of Hamas on Israel.

Solidarity messages were sent from the Presidency and Government. Also, as mentioned by Israel’s ambassador to Bucharest during an interview for the local media, Romanian authorities from all levels were in permanent contact with their counterparts in Israel.

Romania’s President Klaus Johannis posted this message on X, the former Twitter:

Romania strongly condemns this morning’s rocket attacks against Israel. We stand in full solidarity with Israel in these terrible moments. Our thoughts are with the families of victims and with those who are under fire.

Klaus Johannis on Hamas attacks on Israel

Also, Romania’s PM Marcel Ciolacu condemned the attacks on Israel:

Terrible news coming from Israel this morning. We stand in full solidarity with Israel and condemn the rocket attacks against Israel. We send our condolences to the families and ask for these attacks to immediately stop.

Romania’s PM Marcel Ciolacu on the war in Israel

Images on social media, with hundreds of Israelis and other nationalities among the victims, horrified the viewers and strengthened their support for the state of Israel. Meanwhile, Romania doubled the flights to Israel at night to bring home a few hundred nationals on pilgrimage or vacation, as reported by Valahia News.

Brussels wants to impose drastic regulations for complete transparency in the EU regarding foreign influence. The clampdown will affect Lobby groups and NGOs, which has already led to protests against the intention.

The intention is not new. The idea came after the Quatargate scandal when high officials and former members of the European Parliament were implied in acts in favour of foreign governments. The money received by the European officials was meant to improve the image and the relationships between the EU and the paying countries. The accusation also proved some connections to high officials in the EU and the paying countries, but the criminal process is still ongoing.

So, the EU officials wanted complete transparency regarding lobbying groups paid by foreign entities, whether countries, governments or companies. Transparency means that such contracts will be shown publicly to anybody interested to know if a particular NGO or company lobbies for a certain foreign entity.

When Financial Times asked Věra Jourová, the European Commission’s vice-president for transparency, she defended the proposed law, telling the journalists, „It is democratic.”

The whole democratic world has some rules which enable them to understand who does what for foreign money. I have been asked how big the problem is in Europe. I have no exact answer to that because it’s so hard to collect the data.

Věra Jourová, the European Commission’s vice-president for transparency

Lobbying groups say this will stigmatize the entities conducting lobby in favour of non-EU governments or companies. Brussels says the law is only intended to bring more transparency, not to stigmatize any particular lobbying groups within the EU.

Also, Brussels’ official implies that not all the contracts will be made public, but only those which exceed 4 million EUR. But, in this case, financial operations can hide the sums the non-EU entity pays to have its interests promoted in the Union.

We all know how European companies dealing with Chinese or Russian entities are looked upon now. While identifying and making them public, the EU did nothing else but open the doors to stigmatization. Yes, we have to admit that while clamping down on foreign influence, the risk of stigmatizing the companies dealing with foreign entities is quite possible, and this is a scenario nobody would like in Brussels or whatever other capital.

More than that, such a measure is challenging for each member state to implement at the European level. Some countries don’t even have lobbying legislation, and Romania is the best example in this case, while others can hardly wait for such a measure to be implemented to start the witch hunt.

While we constantly support transparency in lobbying practices, we also understand the risk of stigmatization if such a measure is implemented. Therefore, in our humble opinion, such measures should be implemented only after consultations with lobbying groups, professional associations and law firms practicing lobby in the EU at the European or national levels.

A recent incident involving the Romanian Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Dragos Tigau, has led to his recall by the Romanian government. The decision followed a racially insensitive comment made by the ambassador at an international event in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, back in April.

According to a report from the South Sudanese embassy in Kenya, the incident transpired during a meeting inside the United Nations building in Nairobi. A monkey appeared at the conference room window, prompting Tigau to quip inappropriately, „The African group has joined us.”

At that time, no African groups were present in the room, leading witnesses to understand the comment as a reference to the animal at the window rather than any diplomatic delegation.

This incident has been widely condemned as a serious diplomatic error and a profound insult to all the African peoples in the region. The action taken by the Romanian government to recall their ambassador demonstrates a commitment to maintaining respect and dignity in international relations.

This unfortunate event is a stark reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity, particularly in diplomacy. It underscores the need for representatives of nations to conduct themselves with the utmost decorum and respect for all peoples and cultures they interact with.

While the recall of Ambassador Tigau is a corrective measure, it is also an opportunity for all involved in international relations to reflect on their conduct and the impact of their words. As representatives of their nations, diplomats are responsible for fostering positive and respectful relations among diverse cultures and people. This incident, therefore, should serve as a lesson for diplomats worldwide on the significance of their words and the potential harm they can cause when used thoughtlessly.

In the wake of this incident, steps must be taken to prevent such occurrences. Continuous training in cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity should be mandatory for all those in diplomatic roles. Such measures can help to ensure that all representatives understand and appreciate the diversity and richness of the cultures they interact with.

In conclusion, this incident has been a diplomatic misstep but is also a learning opportunity. It is a stark reminder of the gravity of words and the need for diplomacy to be practiced with respect and understanding. The swift action taken by the Romanian government is a clear signal that such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any circumstances. This should serve as a lesson for all countries to ensure their representatives act in a manner that respects and honours the diversity and dignity of all people.