A Historic Venue: The Béhague Palace

The Béhague Palace, a magnificent heritage building and the headquarters of the Romanian Embassy in Paris has undergone extensive restoration to prepare for this grand event. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), in partnership with the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR), has invested significantly in rehabilitating the palace and its garden. This transformation has resulted in a splendid venue honouring Romanian athletes and the nation’s cultural heritage.

Celebrating Romanian Heritage and Olympism with a Rich Program of Events

The Romanian Ambassador to France highlighted the significance of this event, noting that it marks a historical moment for Romania. Precisely 100 years ago, Romania won its first Olympic medal in Paris with the rugby team. This centenary is being celebrated with a series of events that honour past achievements and inspire future generations of athletes and sports enthusiasts.

The House of Romania will host a diverse range of activities, including:

• Exhibitions: The inaugural event features a photo exhibition from the Agerpres archive, dedicated to the history of Romanian Olympism over the past century. This includes Romania’s first Olympic diploma and a silver coin issued by the National Bank of Romania to commemorate the centenary.
• Art and Culture: The Béhague Palace garden, now fully restored, will display a statuary ensemble and serve as a backdrop for various cultural exhibitions. One notable exhibition is “Olympic Games in the Imagination of Children,” awarded by the International Olympic Committee.
• Performances: The Romanian Olympic season starts with a concert by the Bucharest National Opera at Versailles, setting the tone for a series of cultural events.
• Film Screenings: The documentary film “Ivan – the Man with Roots in the Waters,” which celebrates the life of Romanian canoeist Ivan Patzaichin, will be shown as part of the cultural program.

Honoring Romanian Athletes

The Romanian champions will be honoured in a series of official ceremonies hosted at the House of Romania. This includes the establishment of an Olympic studio, which will provide a platform to celebrate the athletes’ achievements and share their stories with the world.

Open Doors and Guided Tours

In a gesture of inclusivity and hospitality, the House of Romania will open its doors to Romanians and foreigners. Visitors can register through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites or the Romanian Embassy in Paris to partake in guided tours of the palace and its garden. These tours offer a unique opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage and architectural splendour of the Béhague Palace.

The inauguration of the House of Romania at the Béhague Palace is more than a celebration of Romania’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It is a tribute to the enduring spirit of Romanian Olympism and a showcase of the country’s cultural and historical heritage.

Through a comprehensive program of events, exhibitions, and performances, the Romanian Embassy in France, supported by the MAE and COSR, has created a vibrant space honouring past achievements, celebrating present endeavours, and inspiring future generations.

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Here’s a glimpse into the diverse programs commemorating this special day:

• The National Museum of Romanian Literature is set to host a presentation spotlighting Romanian writers influenced by French culture alongside a debate on Alexandru Macedonski, exploring his ties to French symbolism.
• L’Ecole Française Internationale de Bucarest will engage its students in activities such as a guided tour, a clue hunt, and a creative writing workshop at the museum, and a conference on French cultural heritage.
• „Nottara” Theater will feature „Dialogues without a mask,” with Vasile Şirli, a Romanian celebrated in France, sharing his journey from Bucharest to becoming a notable figure at Disneyland Paris.
• Municipal Theater „L.S. Bulandra” plans to honour the day through social media, showcasing French-origin productions and an interview with playwright Georges Contamin.
• The House of Arts „Dinu Lipatti” integrates Francophonie Day into its „I Love Lipatti” Festival, with a memorable recital by French pianist Dimitri Malignan, celebrating Dinu Lipatti’s legacy.
• Teatrul Mic – Small Theater and The Constantin Tănase Theater are staging French classics, with performances of „Tartuffe de Moliere” and „Some Sensations…” by Georges Feydeau, respectively.

These festivities serve as a testament to the enduring bond between Romania and the Francophone community and offer a rich cultural experience through literature, theatre, and music, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of French influence on Romanian arts.

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Macron had told reporters at a news conference that while he and the other 21 European leaders present disagreed on deploying military personnel, the prospect was discussed openly. “Nothing should be ruled out,” he said. “We will do anything we can to prevent Russia from winning this war,” cited by CNN.

Immediately, the EU leaders reacted. The first reaction came from the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

What was agreed upon among us and with each other from the very beginning also applies to the future, namely that there will be no ground troops or soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there by European countries or NATO states.

Olaf Scholz on the possibility of NATO deploying ground troops to Ukraine

Many other countries, including the UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, reacted similarly and denied any possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine.

Not only that but responding to Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg denied that NATO countries were considering the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion: “No plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine,” he said.

The US replied to Macron’s statements as well. “President Joe Biden has been clear that the US will not send troops to fight in Ukraine,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. Also, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller asked whether the United States could send troops for other purposes, such as training, and said the Biden administration opposed any deployment to Ukraine.

Yet, Macron’s statements still did something: they tested Russia’s reaction to such a scenario, and it was quick. They also tested NATO’s allies’ support for such a scenario, showing no consensus.

In conclusion to the events, NATO showed its limits – it’s mainly a political and only afterwards a military alliance. Politics has no single voice, and each member state can voice its opinions, precisely like in NATO.

And disregarding what some might expect from NATO, it will remain a democratic alliance where member states utter their opinion, vote and decide in the most democratic way possible.

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As part of the company’s modernization and digitalization processes, Auchan has remodelled store checkout lines and built a 100% self-checkout path for customers. Thanks to the new checkout system, customers benefit from a reduced waiting time at checkouts, all permanently open. In addition, all employees in the checkout area are moving to a new job, that of adviser, their new role being to provide advice and support to customers.

Auchan Romania on the decision to replace cashiers with self-check-out

So far, the decision has managed to do a few things. The first is to bring chaos to the self-pay areas, as people are unfamiliar with using the systems. Indeed, at least one Auchan employee is there to help people learn how to be a cashier, but it takes time, and customers show they lose patience. It’s not digitalization if you make me scan the products myself and insert the bills or the credit card to pay for them.

The second “accomplishment” is that former cashiers will lose their jobs. All the cashiers are learning how to help clients pick up and scan their products – this is one of the lamest examples of justifying a purely economic decision. Auchan is now cutting positions and finally jobs – even if they are currently keeping the cashiers in other positions, not all cashiers will adapt and not all the jobs will be kept after the former cashiers will leave the company. As simple as that.

So, Auchan made customers put in the additional effort by making them self-scan and pay for the products, pretending this was progress, digitalization, modernization and technological development. If this is progress, we expect restaurants where you will have to go to the kitchen and fry your spicy chicken and prepare your French fries after washing and chopping the potatoes yourself.

The real reason for replacing employees with technology: employment taxation in Romania is enormous

The reality here is that employment taxation in Romania is enormous. On average, employers pay 73% in additional taxes for salaries, which is unsustainable in the long term. For each EUR 500 monthly salary paid to each cashier, Auchan pays an additional EUR 365 to the state budget. That means millions of Euros in the long run, which are now saved by introducing self-check-out and forcing customers to scan their products. Auchan cuts thousands of positions, makes customers learn how to be a cashier and saves millions.

So, it’s not only about the money each employee cashed in at the end of each month; it’s also about saving the money the state cashed in taxes. Specialists estimate that the actual cost of employment in Romania for each employee is at least double the net salary if we include all the spending an employee means to employers.

Boycotting foreign companies seems to be the most recent of all forms of protest in Romania. After Austria blocked the country’s access to Schengen, Romanians called for boycotting the Austrian products, a move which is still ongoing. France could be the next target if this “modernization” continues in Auchan or other French or foreign retailers.

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Approximately 600 French soldiers and 200 military vehicles from the Battle Group deployed in Romania (ROU BG – FRAN FN), with France as the framework nation and the French national support element, carry out, between January 23 and 27, the firing exercise combat vehicle “EAGLE MEDA 23”, at the Secondary Combat Training Center of the Romanian Land Forces, in the town of Smârdan, Galați county.

The primary purpose of the exercise is to train the forces of the Battle Group on the rapid deployment capability and execution of a combat mission, in a fictitious scenario, within a NATO – Collective Defense operation, under Article 5, conducted on the southern flank – east of the Alliance. During the exercise, combat firing is also performed with the Group’s primary striking means, the Leclerc tanks.

The context of this military exercise is rather interesting: Ukraine has just been promised allied tanks, especially German Leopard and American Abrams. Supposedly, these tanks will be deployed in 2-3 months. Meanwhile, tanks maneuver in Romania and the French militaries prepare for various scenarios.

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The full range with the brand-new identity will make a world premiere alongside the recently revealed MANIFESTO concept car. A collector edition Duster will take centre stage for the first time, and Dacia’s first HYBRID 140 engine will also debut. Eco-designed branded merchandise will also be on display, adding to a truly immersive experience on a stand that powerfully explores the brand’s new direction.

DACIA takes on the new brand identity

Dacia has recently started a new chapter as it adopts a new brand identity. To date, this has included a new logo, rolled out simultaneously across its entire range (Spring, Sandero, Logan, Duster, and Jogger), new dealerships, new design and new colours. The Mondial de l’Auto is the chosen venue where Dacia will introduce these exciting developments to the general public for the very first time. On display will be the entire vehicle range, now bearing the new emblem – the Dacia Link – where the sleek lines of a ‘D’ and ‘C’ join together like the links of a chain, symbolizing robustness and simplicity. Through its logo, Dacia underscores its values: an essential brand that is cool, robust, outdoor and eco-smart (economic and ecological).

MANIFESTO concept car

The Dacia MANIFESTO concept car will make its world premiere on the Dacia stand.

While the MANIFESTO does not prefigure a future production model, it embodies Dacia’s vision of essential, excellent, robust, affordable, and environmentally friendly vehicles. It is a testing ground for the latest innovative features, some of which will end up on production models. The MANIFESTO is a very compact, lightweight car, more agile than fast, designed for the wilderness and great outdoors. It is a free expression of Dacia’s vision that serves as a tangible representation of its values and brand markers.

MANIFESTO is ESSENTIAL and COOLER than ever with its extractible single headlight, Media Control system, and YouClip accessory interface that will debut on the upcoming generation of Duster.

MANIFESTO is ROBUST, able to tackle any terrain with its airless tyres. It is waterproof and can be easily hosed down both inside and out.

MANIFESTO is ECO-SMART, using Starkle®, a unique material made using 20% recycled plastic with a speckled appearance. It will also make its debut on the next-generation Duster.

“MAT EDITION” DUSTER – collector car

Duster has sold more than 2 million units since its launch in 2010 and has become an iconic Dacia model.

In light of demands from car enthusiasts, Duster will be given pride-of-place on the Dacia stand with the car collector’s “Mat Edition”, a showcase of the model’s personality.

The exclusive edition will feature a unique setup, harnessing the powerful and efficient TCe 150 engine with an EDC gearbox, the best Dacia equipment, and exclusive body colour. Duster’s distinctive “Mat Edition” design will again boost the brand’s appeal, with orders opening at the end of 2022.

JOGGER to have 140 HP engine

The HYBRID 140 engine will be showcased on the Dacia stand with a dedicated demonstrator. The Jogger will become Dacia’s first hybrid next year. An expanding range of ECO-SMART solutions now includes, for the first time, a 140HP hybrid engine. The technology, already mastered within the Renault Group, is yet another opportunity for Dacia to leverage tried and tested components and proven technology.

Orders will begin in early 2023, with the start of sales in spring 2023.

Eco-designed range of merchandising

The Dacia range of merchandising includes backpacks, water bottles, caps, and raincoats. Only the essentials to help reconnect with nature and champion the brand’s values: simplicity, robustness, and authenticity. True to the new brand identity, the range uses recycled materials (raincoats and backpacks made of recycled polyester, caps made of recycled poly-cotton) and sustainable materials (aluminum water bottles).

The entire merchandising range is environmentally friendly, from product design to distribution channels. The collection will be available in a recycled and recyclable cardboard display that already features other merchandising. Once again, Dacia’s hunt to get rid of everything superfluous applies to its entire value chain.

Wanna place orders?

Orders can be placed via a dedicated e-commerce site starting with the opening of the Mondial de l’Auto on October 17^th by clicking here. What’s more, the Dacia brand is again demonstrating its eco-responsible approach through the fact that the online platform is hosted by Infomaniak, a service provider with a 360° approach to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the tool’s life cycle.

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According to Visit Bucharest, on August 28, the capital of Romania, known as Little Paris, will play host to one of the most well-known bicycle tours in the world. Romania is the 20th nation to sign up for the Tour de France’s L’Étape, and it has one of the race’s most challenging stages, The Race, with a total length of 85 km.

The L’Étape by Tour de France concept is a brand of the Tour de France that aims to give pros and amateurs worldwide a taste of the world’s premier cycling tour by hosting competitions featuring Tour de France experts.

L’Étape Romania by Tour de France is the best experience any amateur cyclist can enjoy on his bike, without a doubt. You will enjoy a unique experience in an amazing route, a great Race Village atmosphere (start/finish area), in the heart of Bucharest, with relaxation zones and activities to be enjoyed after the race. As we want L’Étape to be accessible to every amateur cyclist, we offer routes for all abilities, starting from 14 km. The min. age required to participate is 10 years old (born before Aug 28, 2007) for the City Adventure competition and 15 years old (born before Aug 28, 2012) for the Ride and Race competitions.

L’Étape by Tour

The races will take place in Bucharest. Constitution Square will serve as the race’s starting point, passing by famous sites such as the Arc de Triomphe, Bucharest City Hall, the Palace of the Parliament, the Army House, the Romanian Athenaeum, and the C.E.C. Palace.

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Following the French government’s request for air and ground aid to fight the fires, Romania responded by sending reinforcements to help French firefighters fight the blaze.

Romania will send 77 firefighters and 17 means of intervention to assist the French firefighters battling the fire. Two Spartan C-17 aircraft departing from Timisoara and Bucharest will assist in transporting them by air to France.

After the analysis, we decided to use planes from the strategic transport base that belongs to the NATO forces, and Romania has allocated flight hours to it. Two C17s are due to arrive today, huge transport aircraft. One plane will land in Bucharest and one in Timisoara.

Raed Arafat, State secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania

France is dealing with a significant wildfire in the Gironde region in the southwest of the nation, where 15,000 hectares have burned. Smaller wildfires are reportedly occurring all over France, specifically in Maine-et-Loire, Aveyron, Drôme, Isère, or the Pyrénées-Orientales, according to the French media. Until at least the end of the week, according to forecasters, temperatures will stay in the 40s.

Romania also faces a major rise in wildfires in 2022, a significant problem in many other countries due to climate change.

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Here are some spectacular images from the military training:

Romanian soldiers performed the first joint parachute jump from the 317th ISR “Vladeasa” Regiment, and French soldiers from the NATO Battle Group Forward Presence (BGFP) deployed in Romania.

Approximately 150 Romanian and French soldiers completed, between July 20-29, a theoretical and practical training module on the ground with specialized instructors from the 317th ISR Regiment “Vladeasa”, later performing standard parachute jumps for modernized personnel (PSP-M1) from aircraft belonging to the General Staff of the Air Force.

The images are truly spectacular, reflecting the excellent cooperation between the Romanian and French armies under NATO command on the territory of Romania.

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According to the French Ministry of Defence, the letter of intent was signed on June 15, 2022, during French President Emmanuel Macron‘s official visit. The head of state was paying a visit to French troops sent to Romania as part of NATO’s reinforcements after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The new French minister of the armed force, Sébastien Lecornu, alongside the Romanian minister, Vasile Dincu signed the letter of intent to increase the naval cooperation between France and Romania. The two officials also discussed the regional security situation, expressing constant support for Ukraine.

This letter of intent marks the desire of our two countries to cooperate in the naval field. In the current strategic context, Romania wishes to develop its naval capabilities by relying on French industrial know-how and the operational credibility of our Navy.

French officials statement

The Romanian government announced the selection of Naval Group and its partner regional shipyard Santierul Naval Constanta (SNC) for the project to construct four new corvettes in 2019. The agreement also calls for the modernization of the T22 frigates already in operation and construction of a maintenance and training facility. The deal has not yet taken effect.

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