How Romania wastes EU funds and Brussels shrugs

Romania received EU funds to close a substandard landfill and implement better waste standards. Since then, little has changed — and no one feels responsible.

Coca-Cola Christmas truck in flames in Romania

 

A Coca-Cola truck caught fire while driving down a busy road in Romania’s capital Bucharest.

It is unclear how the fire started. The driver managed to leave the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames. 

Firefighters later arrived to put out the blaze, and there were no reports of injuries. 

The soft drink company told local media it was taking measures to prevent further incidents.

Ukraine: Sheltering with monks in a Romanian monastery

 

Each of the almost four million refugees who have fled Ukraine so far has their own story, the threads of their past lives, their escape routes and their current places of shelter all interwoven.

The BBC's Nick Thorpe met a family who found shelter in a Carpathian monastery in north-east Romania – living amongst monks, until one day they can return home to Kharkiv in Ukraine.

Produced, filmed and edited by Sira Thierij.

Drone filming by Ion Holbein.

Wage dumping and Covid: Migrant workers in the meat-packing industry

 Thousands of Romanians are moving to Germany or France to work on farms or in the meat-packing industry. The work is hard -- and dangerous, because of the Covid pandemic. This mass emigration has created labor shortages back home.

Romania: Rape of the Forest

 

Amid allegations of corruption and violence, Romania’s ancient forests are being devastated by illegal logging.

It is getting dangerous in Romania’s vast ancient forests. The figures are stark: Six rangers killed (two in 2019 alone) and a further 650 attacked with axes, knives and guns.

The Carpathians, where 70 percent of Europe’s virgin forest is found, straddle Romania and Ukraine and are now the scene of a desperate battle between what has been dubbed the “Timber Mafia” and those risking their lives to protect this precious environment.

Westminster attack: The media's 'terror' template

The attack in Westminster saw British media revert to a familiar template. Plus, Romania's media challenges politicians.

Westminster Attack: The media's "terror" template

From breaking news to a familiar story: A deadly attack at the gates of the UK parliament has the news media reaching for well-worn templates and the government calling for greater powers of surveillance.

Contributors:
Maya Goodfellow, columnist, media diversified
Rachel Shabi, journalist and author
Thomas Hughes, executive director, Article 19
Tahir Abbas, senior research fellow, Royal United Services Institute

Why is Romania suddenly in turmoil?

Romania has seen the largest protests since 1989 after a government decree decriminalising corruption.

Around the world, tens of millions of people can only dream of an income of $48,000. 

But in Romania today that is how much money public officials can steal without fear of prosecution.

Strictly speaking, the newly issued government decree does not make theft legal - but it decriminalises government misconduct if less than $48,000 is involved.

The move has resulted in the largest protests the country has seen since the fall of the communist government in 1989. Hundreds of thousands of Romanians say the measure undermines a decade of anti-corruption reforms.

The government says the proposal will lower prison overcrowding.

Demonstrators are calling for the government to resign. But even after days of protests, the ruling party is refusing to withdraw the decree.