Latest News from Romania

SETE: Greek tourism arrivals up, revenue down (graphs)

The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) released its April data bulletin, according to which there was a divergence of tourism arrivals and revenues. The data, recorded by SETE Intelligence, revealed that the average daily spending by foreign tourists in Greece in 2016 stood at 67 euros, a drop in comparison to the 70-75 euros visitors had been steadily spending the previous years.

Romania's Pay Hikes Worry Financial Institutions

The Romanian centre-left government's plan to borrow heavily to finance tax cuts, wage hikes and pay off older public debts worry experts and international financial institutions.

Turkey Seizes Record Amount of Heroin at Border With Bulgaria

Police in Edime have reported that Turkish border police have seized 775kg of heroin at the Hemzabeyli border crossing on the border with Bulgaria, quoted by BNR.

The record quantity of drugs was found in a truck with an Iranian registration traveling from Iran through Turkey and Bulgaria to Romania.

Russian special teams arrive to salvage ship that sank off Istanbul

Russia has dispatched special teams and two salvage ships to Istanbul to raise the wreckage of a Russian vessel that sank off Turkey's Black Sea coast on April 27 after colliding with a vessel carrying livestock.

The Russian intelligence ship Liman sank 29 kilometers off of Kilyos in Istanbul on April 27, although all 78 personnel were rescued and returned to Russia.

Bulgarian's Voyages Abroad Up By ¼

The National Statistical Institute reports that the voyages of Bulgarian citizen abroad in March 2017 were 437,600 or 23.4% more than in March 2016, BNR reported.

The greatest growth was marked in travels towards Austria (41.3%), Greece (31.1%) and Romania (25.8%).

All Russian naval personnel rescued from sunken ship return to their country

All of the rescued Russian naval personnel on board of an intelligence ship that sank off Turkey's Black Sea coast on April 27 after colliding with a vessel carrying livestock, have returned to Russia by plane, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Moldova's President Bars Military from NATO Exercise

Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon has for a second time since the beginning of the year forbidden his country's military to participate in a NATO exercise in Romania, presidency sources quoted by Moldovan media said on Thursday.

Balkan States Suffer Decline in Media Freedom

Reporters Without Borders, which campaigns for media freedom and journalists' rights, said in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index, published on Wednesday, that there have been significant setbacks over the past year in Croatia and Serbia, although Macedonia still has the worst problems in the Balkan region.

Migrant Smuggling Network Dismantled Near Dunav Bridge Checkpoint

A network for smuggling of migrants from Bulgaria to Romania through Dunav Bridge border checkpoint with the participation of a Bulgarian Police Officer was dismantled in a successful operation of the Bulgarian competent authorities, BNR reported.

Officers of Romaina'a Anticorruption Directorate also took part at the operation.

'Critical topics in critical times' to be discussed at Atlantic Council summit in Istanbul

Global and regional business and policy leaders will come together at the eighth annual Atlantic Council Istanbul Summit on April 27-28 with the aim of developing ideas and action on the issues of energy, the economy and security.

Austria's OMV Sues Romania over Environmental Clean-Up

Energy group OMV has launched a case against Romania at the International Court of Arbitration, demanding the reimbursement of environmental clean-up expenses worth 34 million euros which the Austrian group says it is entitled to according to the contract with Bucharest.