Romania aids Ukraine with analgesics, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, and disinfectants
On Monday, February 21, 2022, the National Committee for Emergency Situations has issued Decision no. 8 of February 21, 2022, on delivering international emergency civil protection assistance to Ukraine.
Following a request from the Government of Ukraine for emergency assistance due to the threat of further escalation in the context of the current armed conflict, the European Commission is coordinating the delivery of essential supplies to support the civilian population via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. As part of this procedure, Romania has offered, as an initial assistance, 5,000 packs of analgesics, 5,000 packs of anti-inflammatory, 5,000 packs of antibiotics, and 840 liters of disinfectants for hand treatment.
As a consequence to the activation of the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, The EU and its Member States have already become the largest humanitarian donors in response to the crisis in Eastern Ukraine, providing assistance to vulnerable civilians living on both sides of the line of contact.
Ukraine sues Russia over independence of Donetsk and Lugansk
On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Irina Venediktova, the current prosecutor general of Ukraine, has stated that she will proceed to sue the Russian Federation over the “independence” of the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.
Irina Venediktova’s announcement comes as a reaction to the Russian Presidential Decree issued on February 21, 2022, recognizing the independence of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” and the “Luhansk People’s Republic”, as well as the “Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance” granting the Russian Armed Force the right to build and use military bases and others on the aforementioned territories.
Irina Venediktova: “I do not have the right to react emotionally: I cannot joke, speak in any language except the legal one, send curses to foreigners – the law doesn’t allow me to do any of these. But it is the law that forces us to respond to the crime committed and be responsible for the processual perspective of this matter.”
First methane-reducing feed additive in the EU
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, the member states have approved the marketing of of an innovative feed additive in the EU, 3-nitrooxypropanol, which will help reduce emissions of methane.
Restrictive measures in the EU after Ukraine crisis
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, five regulations and four decisions have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, no. L-42I, regarding the EU’s response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Council Regulation (EU) 2022/259 of 23 February 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/260 of 23 February 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/261 of 23 February 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Council Regulation (EU) 2022/262 of 23 February 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, Council Regulation (EU) 2022/263 of 23 February 2022 concerning restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and the ordering of Russian armed forces into those areas, Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/264 of 23 February 2022 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/265 of 23 February 2022 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/266 of 23 February 2022 concerning restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and the ordering of Russian armed forces into those areas, and Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/267 of 23 February 2022 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, compile the pack measures that the EU is currently implementing as a response to Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as to the further military actions of Russian troops sent on Ukrainian territory.
The measures in question contain, among others, sanctions against all 351 members of the Russian State Duma – which have voted on February 15, 2022, in favor of the recognition of independence of the two abovementioned regions, sanctions against other 27 persons and entities which have contributed to the destabilisation or the threat against the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, restrictions on international economic relations with areas outside government control of the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, and restrictions regarding the capacity of the state and government of the Russian Federation to access the capital markets, the internal markets, and the financial services of the EU.
Romania donates over a million COVID-19 vaccine doses
On Thursday, February 24, 2022, the Government Resolution no. 273/2022 on offering free humanitarian aid from the Reserve of the Ministry of Public Health, for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Algeria and Libya in accordance with article no. 41, p. no. (4), of Law no. 95/2006 on the reform of public health, was published in the Official Journal of Romania, Part I, no. 186.
Thus, Romania will donate 1.100.000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Algeria and Libya.
The Romanian President firmly condemns Russia’s actions against Ukraine
On Thursday, February 24, 2022, the Romanian Presidential Administration has issued a statement regarding the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine.
Klaus Iohannis, the Romanian president, has called for the “immediate, full, and unconditioned end to Russian military aggression, withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and an end to pressures on Ukraine,” while issuing an appeal to responsibility to avoid loss of lives or endangering civilians’ safety.
Romania is ready to offer humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, while the country warned against hostile actions targeting the members of the Romanian community in Ukraine.
The presidential statement assures “all Romanian citizens on Ukrainian territory that Romania is ready to offer them the necessary consular assistance, including through the means of its diplomatic and consular missions”, further stating that “the citizens of Romania, as a member state of NATO, are benefitting from the amplest security guarantees in Romanian history”.
New Romanian working group created to aid Ukrainian refugees
On Friday, February 25, 2022, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Emergency Situations Department, and the Prime Minister’s Office have decided on the creation of a working group meant to aid Ukrainian refugees by providing the necessary humanitarian assistance – such as food or other products, as well as support services for Ukrainian refugees on Romanian territory, calling on the civil society for support of this action.
