28 November 2024) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) is carrying out 31 searches today in several locations in an investigation into possible fraud involving works in Zalău city’s ring road The searches are being conducted in Bucharest at the homes and headquarters of companies under investigation including at the National Highways and National Roads Company (Compania Națională de Autostrăzi și Drumuri Naționale SA – CNAIR) responsible for administering the network of highways express roads and roads of national interest in Romania At issue is a project to design and execute a ring road in Zalău financed by the European Regional Development and Cohesion Fund The beneficiary of the funds is CNAIR. The contract to execute the works was attributed to the Romanian branch of a Chinese company There are suspicions that the subcontractors colluded with the contractor in order to present false documents certifying that the works had been successfully completed the works did not respect the quality requirements There are also suspicions that representatives of the beneficiary (CNAIR) did not carry out adequate checks The investigation and searches counted on the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania – Cluj-Napoca EPPO Office (Structura de sprijin a procurorilor europeni delegați în România – Biroul Teritorial Cluj-Napoca); the Anticorruption Directorate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Directia Generala Anticoruptie - DGA); and the Directorate for Fighting Organised Crime (Directia de Combatere a Criminalitatii Organizate - DCCO).  in order to ascertain the extent of the suspected criminal activities and the overall financial damage caused to the EU budget All persons involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Romanian courts of law The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The most expensive road infrastructure contract in Romania has been awarded to the Turkish consortium Makyol Insaat Sanayi Turizm VE Ticaret AS – Ozaltin Insaat Ticaret VE Sanayi AS This concerns the section Poarta Sălajului – Zalău – Nuşfalău of the Transylvania Highway A3 which also includes the construction of the Meseş Tunnel the longest tunnel on a highway in Romania The contract is valued at 6.62 billion lei (excluding VAT) the most expensive road infrastructure contract in Romania was awarded With a value of 6.62 billion lei (excluding VAT) this contract also includes the construction of the Meseş tunnel (2.89 km) which will be the longest tunnel on a highway in Romania,” announced the Minister of Transport Astăzi a fost atribuit cel mai scump contract de infrastructură rutieră din România!Cu o valoare de 6,62 miliarde de… „The largest road infrastructure contract in the history of the National Company for Road Infrastructure Management CNAIR – the section Poarta Sălajului – Zalău – Nuşfalău of the Transylvania Highway A3 which includes the construction of the Meseş Tunnel being the Consortium MAKYOL INSAAT SANAYI TURIZM VE TICARET A.S – OZALTIN INSAAT TICARET VE SANAYI A.S (Turkey),” said Secretary of State Irinel Scrioşteanu The Turkish consortium that won the contract has 78 months at their disposal (18 months for design 60 months for execution) for the construction of the 41 km sections Poarta Sălajului-Zalău and Zalău-Nuşfalău (Transylvania Highway) can start within ten days if no appeals are lodged and after the legal deadline for their submission (10 days) the contract signing procedure can commence," said Scrioşteanu The contract involves designing and executing 41 km of highway as well as the longest road tunnel in the country - the Meseş Tunnel (2.89 km in length) which will be designed for a speed of 120 km/h and will ensure the crossing of the Meseş Mountains The tunnel will be located in the southwest area of Zalău Municipality in Sălaj County (Zalău and Românaşi) The estimated value of the contract is 6.62 billion lei and the funding source is provided by non-repayable European funds through the Transport Program 2021-2027 The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students Ionel Ciunt is former prefect of Sălaj county In June 2016 he received the confidence of the citizens of the Municipality of Zalău and was voted mayor He assumed the responsibility of transforming Zalău into a truly European city The main objectives of his mandate is to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Zalău municipality as well as the city's economic development infrastructure,  energy efficiency and education system as part of the strategy of urban development Zalău is as a perfect mix between old and new please describe the city in a few sentences.    is located at the western base of the Meseş mountains in the hydrographic basin of the Zalău Valley at the contact area between the depression of the same name and the Meseş peak It is located near the border of the former Roman Empire more precisely at 8 km from the Roman Castrum Porolissum - the strongest defense fortification in the northwestern part of the Dacia Roman Province it represented the passage from the centre of Europe to the heart of Transylvania is on the axis Cluj - Satu-Mare - Petea Vama DN 1F - E 81 and is connected to a road network with access to western Europe with a history that we have endeavoured to preserve over time by engaging in projects that are meant to enhance a long-standing tradition for a while you decided on the goal of transforming Zalău into a truly European city Turning the Zalău into a truly European city means completing the ongoing projects as well as others included in the Integrated Urban Development Strategy The main concern of me and of the team that leads the local administration today is that the young people want to stay in the city and those who leave want to return home How has Romania's EU membership contributed to making Zalău a better city to live in Please tell us more about your most important EU-supported projects Romania's accession to the EU created the possibility of having access to European funds and the current administration is very active regarding their management according to the urban development strategy to finance projects to increase energy efficiency to rehabilitate public buildings or to acquisition electric buses or rehabilitation of green spaces thus reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time transforming it into a modern European and attractive city for future generations almost 100 million euros in non-reimbursable European funds in 3 years and this will undoubtedly be seen in what means to increase the quality of life in our city Zalău is one of the most competitive and dynamic cities in Romania How did you manage to attract new investments and strategic projects a de minimis aid scheme has been approved to stimulate investments and create new jobs regarding the training of the necessary skills for the personal and professional development of the young people in partnership with the local investors who promote the technical education adapted to the needs of the market of our city How do you evaluate the initiative of a unified platform for European municipalities and its goal to keep European citizens informed about what is taking place in their cities? How the portal can be useful to you and to the citizens of Zalău because it is a means by which citizens are properly informed with the latest news about what is happening in the European Union and those who are left can find out directly about the transformations through which the hometown goes can represent an exchange of good practices and also an inspiration for the local administrations of the cities registered on the www.themayor.eu platform How do I see the city of Zalău over 20 years Over 20 years I see a Zalău with the same warm and rejuvenated people I see a city transformed into a truly European one with modern and extended road infrastructure with quality services in the education system a city in which young people will want to live Find out more about Zalău here The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital the leading manufacturer of seamless steel pipes of small diameters in Romania hosted the Environment Awareness Day event The objectives of the event were to raise awareness among its strategic suppliers regarding the issue of decarbonization and the circular economy create an open space to share experiences and action plans also identify solutions that support sustainable development The event took place on February 15th, at TenarisUniversity in Zalău and brought together over 40 suppliers from 10 countries. TenarisSilcotub is implementing measures to decarbonize its operations and continues to develop low-carbon products and services Tenaris is a member of the worldsteel Sustainability Charter and for the past 4 years the company has been named a worldsteel Sustainability Champion for “leading the way in creating a truly sustainable industry and company We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used The consulting and engineering company Bilfinger Tebodin traditionally serves the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) Bilfinger Tebodin has carried out projects for over 150 automotive plants in Central and Eastern Europe the industry is booming with projects related to e-mobility developments such as new tire technologies and batteries production automotive players meet chemical industry specifics and shape a completely new market the revenue of the automotive industry has constantly been increasing over the last five years and was significantly influenced by the pandemic in 2020 with a revenue decrease major investors keep developing their projects Bilfinger Tebodin experts notice an increase in sustainable developments investors are implementing at their existing and future facilities as being a part of the European Green Deal Romania has its own renewables targets for 2030 Michelin decided to reduce CO2 emissions in all their factories to enable sustainable tire production Bilfinger Tebodin followed this challenge and implemented future-proof HVAC technical solutions for Michelin trucks tires factory in Zalau is dedicated to improving the mobility of goods and people by manufacturing and marketing tires and services for every type of vehicle Michelin is present in more than 170 countries has 111,200 employees and operates 67 production plants in 17 different countries The company’s ambition is to get all-sustainable by 2050 which is why they asked Bilfinger Tebodin to propose a technology that will help to achieve this goal Bilfinger Tebodin’s solution is based on using electrical energy instead of gas in order to eliminate CO2 emissions This will be achieved by installing heat pumps instead of gas boilers for all HVAC systems at the client’s facility We are Michelin’s EPCM partner to deliver a basic design study organize and manage procurement for an EPC contractor and prepare permitting documentation to obtain a building permit Bilfinger Tebodin will provide PMC services to monitor detailed design Automotive market leader in Central & Eastern Europe an international venture team of twenty Bilfinger Tebodin’s engineers and architects from Romania and Ukraine is engaged This enabled them to develop the basic design studies and to evaluate various technical options within the strict schedule Timing is especially important for Michelin as they plan to have the tire facilities modernized until 2023 The new buildings were designed fully in BIM which also made engineering faster and enhanced the quality of construction The result was the evaluation of the entire existent factory and a significant upgrade of production processes is a solution that grants us sustainable future with CO2 neutral mobility According to the International Energy Agency electric vehicles will have a market share of around 30% by 2030 This transition has started already with industrial players creating our future right now and Bilfinger Tebodin is supporting this move the company has been awarded 10 contracts for over 7.2 million euro for projects related to e-mobility Those include all types of products to serve electric vehicles – from raw materials to final battery assemblies the expected demand for produced EV batteries is 200 GWh annually by 2023 90% of European EV batteries have been produced in Asia and now we are glad to support new investors aiming to create a self-sufficient local supply chain,” Magda Zemanova Automotive market leader in CEE at Bilfinger Tebodin The EV battery business is not only about the final batteries’ assembly but also about raw materials processing and more demanding chemical production of battery components such as cathodes Thanks to new EV battery plants springing in Europe the EU expects to have a 16% share of the 2,550 GWh global battery market by 2029 compared to just under 6% of today’s 450 GWh “We expect impressive announcements for other countries like Serbia or other Eastern countries which would be nice production location for the European market and East-European OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) we see a bid interest in the Czech Republic as a hub for R&D centres,” says Magda Having over 60 years of experience in automotive business and a long-term track of chemical projects Bilfinger Tebodin is now running four projects for automotive and chemical producers involved in the EV battery supply chain All projects are innovative in terms of investors’ know-how flexibility is required to implement them in the best possible way Bilfinger Tebodin’s multidisciplinary teams provide both technology and civil parts of a plant’s design including project planning and cost control Battery component producers are under a huge pressure to start up production With dedicated cost experts and professional project managers Bilfinger Tebodin identifies ways to meet or speed up the crucial time frame www.tebodin.bilfinger.com • info.tebodin.bv@bilfinger.com Contact in Romania: George Cursaru • Mobile +40 722 686 331 • george.cursaru@bilfinger.com reconfirmed its interest for Romania through a new investment of EUR 13 million into a training center for its 1,700 employees and local and county authorities attended the event Tenaris area manager Michele Della Briotta mentioned the training center’s role as a “bridge” to the local community “We will organized here festivities we wish to share with the local community entertainment and cultural events,” he said is Romania’s most important producer of seamless small-diameter steel pipes Staff Michelin group will invest EUR 60 million in the metallic cord plant Michelin Zalau Cord in Zalau town creating 140 jobs and increasing production capacity by 50 percent to 60,000 tons of metallic cord per year by 2019 Michelin Zalau Cord manufactures metallic cord for Michelin tires and employs 350 people “Michelin Zalau Cord plant is a strategic unit for the group through its production of metallic cord. With more than 90 percent of the metallic cord production intended for export, Michelin Zalau Cord plant contributes to the tire production in numerous Michelin plants on 3 continents, Europe, America and Asia,” said the company. Michelin has been operating in Romania since 2001 and has three factories comprising in the upgrade of the plants and staff training a manufacturer of industrial fittings and safety valves has invested USD 500.000 this year for optimizing productions fluxes and reducing resources consumption as well as improving environmental safety “The total value of investments made between 2006-2010 totals approximately USD 3.5 million while another USD 540.000 will be allocated for environmental investments” The company allocated USD 900.0000, between 2006-2010, for environmental projects, one of them consisting of the closing of the industrial waste deposit in Criseni, Salaj County. Rominserv Valves Iaifo Zalau has registered a net turnover of USD 6 million at end-August which is a 20 percent increase compared to the similar period of 2010 The company estimates a turnover of USD 10 million at end-2011 the operational result increased by 27 percent to USD 120.771 versus the similar period of 2010 ‘May brings much to celebrate about the past and the present’ Two nurses from the North of England visited Zalau Emergency Hospital in May 2010 to share their knowledge of patient safety and infection prevention and control The nurses visited Zalau Emergency Hospital in May 2010 as part of an on-going commitment to Medical Support in Romania (MSR) The hospital is a district general hospital serving a population of 240,000 and has around 800 beds It has 26 clinical departments and 15 specialist units including a separate Infectious Diseases Unit Tuberculosis Unit and a Rehabilitation Unit MSR was established in 1990 with its main aim to improve healthcare by working locally in Zalau providing aid but nationally with regard to training mostly from the UK have made almost 400 visits to Romania a veteran of 4 visits to the hospital and Kath Higgins on her 2nd visit to Zalau used their experience of supporting and training nurses and other healthcare professionals across many NHS Trusts in the United Kingdom in patient safety and infection prevention and control With their combined experience both from their respective UK roles and their previous visits to Zalau Carole and Kath were clear that SMART (specific realistic and time specific) objectives would be the best way to effect improvements to patient care within the hospital These objectives were set up prior to the visit by negotiations with the Hospital Management and the Infection Prevention and Control Team to assess the opportunity to implement some of the best practice (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 2008) guidelines to prevent surgical site infections and to participate in WHO (World Health Organisation) International Hand Hygiene Day The timing of Carole and Kath’s visit coincided with a national concern in Romania with the outbreak of Staphylococcus aureus amongst gynaecology patients in Bucharest; hence there was a keen interest in reducing risk of infection in surgical patients Carole and Kath provided the Romanian staff with copies of the ‘Saving Lives’ (Department of Health 2007) High Impact Intervention tool With the Infection Prevention and Control nurses for the hospital this High Impact Intervention was reviewed and a post operative care bundle was developed using essential elements from the best practice (NICE) guidelines The modified tool was translated with the assistance of other key staff at the hospital and a spreadsheet to collect the data was created The essential elements for post operative care included: The next step was to train the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses and a Senior Nurse from Surgery on how to use the modified audit tool; Kath facilitated this through on-site instruction that incorporated testing the tool for ease of use and suitability with surgical patients in the hospital The staff picked up the use of the tool very quickly and with their suggestion of a few minor amendments is now being used in helping to standardise best practice throughout the hospital This achieved a number of the objectives agreed for the visit to Zalau Hospital Another of the objectives was to register Zalau Hospital on the WHO website to participate in the International ‘Save Lives- Clean your Hands’ Campaign This was accomplished on 5th May prior to the visit; Carole had made sure that the hospital Director was in full support of this beforehand This turned out to be a major achievement as Zalau Emergency Hospital was one of only three hospitals in Romania to participate in the campaign To ensure there was full exposure of ‘Save Lives – Clean your Hands’ the campaign was introduced to ward sisters and other nurses during the training session led by Carole for 60 nurses from the hospital and the World Health Organisation (WHO 2009) multimodal approach was followed: As part of the ongoing commitment to raise awareness at Management level and provide evidence of where improvements could be made a tool was developed to audit hand hygiene facilities in each clinical area The tool covered an account of the number of beds how many dispensers/containers are available Following the approval of Director of Nursing the audit was circulated to all ward and department areas with instructions for them to be returned within 48 hours The return rate for these was surprisingly high with a 70% response rate training was provided to the ward sisters on hand hygiene the session covered correct technique and the ‘5 moments for hand hygiene’ (before patient care after direct contact with the patient and after contact with the patient’s immediate environment some staff who had already finished their shifts stayed late in order to participate two clinical areas were chosen to undertake observations of care This gave Carole and Kath the opportunity to provide general hand hygiene awareness in a fun and participative way that involved doctors and nurses in the clinical areas The enthusiasm that was being generated because of this campaign inspired one of the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses to audit hand hygiene compliance using the WHO hand hygiene observation tool following some training in its use by Kath and Carole With the ownership now taken by the Infection Prevention and Control team feedback for occasions when hand hygiene opportunities were missed was given at the time of observation from staff within their own hospital rather than visitors through a translator As part of the drive to increase awareness Adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) swabs were used to measure protein levels on hands thus raising awareness of importance of a good hand hygiene practice and the infection risk of wearing stoned rings and wrist watches To maintain the level of awareness that had been promoted during the week an application was made on-line to the WHO to apply for permission to translate the posters for the ‘5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’ The initiative to translate and promote in clinical areas was taken up by the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses who agreed to translate the poster for use in the clinical area Hand hygiene was one of the key agenda items discussed at the inaugural Infection Control Committee This was a very positive visit with engagement with both the WHO multimodal approach to hand hygiene and participation in Saving Lives (Department of Health 2007) audits What Carole and Kath sensed and experienced was there is a real sense of wanting to make improvements despite the limited resources Improvements have continued with the Infection Control Nurses in Zalau having other Saving Lives Care Bundles translated with plans to implement the High Impact Intervention for preventing ventilator associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit Permission has been granted from the WHO for the Romanian staff to translate the ‘5 moments for hand hygiene’ posters to use in the hospital the experience was one of a real sense of achievement and mutual respect for their Romanian colleagues the hospitality and receptiveness they received throughout their stay stretched beyond the realms of professional courtesy staff were always willing to take time to talk with them and participate in the training or audit and every evening they were invited into the homes of staff and their families and were made to feel so welcome An invite to attend the International Nurse’s Day celebrated on Thursday 6th May was a special occasion The celebrations started with around 200 nurses attending the Town Hall where nurses shared innovative practice and chronic disease management dancing and pălincă at a Restaurant nearby The reward professionally and personally means that this is by no means the last time Carole and Kath hope to visit Zalau and once again share experience knowledge and camaraderie with their Romanian contemporaries Further information on Medical Support in Romania can be found at www.msr.org.uk Assistant Director of Infection Prevention and Control Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Department of Health (2007) Saving Lives: reducing infection, delivering clean and safe care www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2008) Surgical Site Infection. Prevention and treatment of surgical site infections. www.nice.org.uk World Health Organisation (2009) Guide to implementation of the WHO multimodal hand hygiene improvement strategy. www.who.int/gpsc/5may/tools/en/index.html As we announce the winner of the Nursing Times Christmas Competition for 2017 Nursing Times invited readers to nominate a nurse who makes a real… Student affairs editor Anthony Johnson ponders the issues around attracting nurses into… More Sponsor focus Home Improvement Report Retail Worldwide 2024The statistics report for the international DIY industry in collaboration with EDRA /ghin und HIMA location figures and floor space turnover of more than 600 distribution lines worldwide Increase in turnover expectedLeroy Merlin has remodelled first Romanian storeLeroy Merlin has reopened its first Romanian market after a remodelling In BrașovFirst new Dedeman opening this yearRomanian market leader Dedeman completed its first new opening this year on Friday In ConstantaHornbach opens ninth store in RomaniaGerman DIY chain Hornbach opened its ninth store in Romania today DIY sets up in South AfricaThe Malaysian retail chain is preparing its market entry on the African continent Brico in BelgiumBrand times fiveThe Belgian DIY market leader Brico uses five size concepts from city stores to DIY project stores… high regulatory density: the Belgian market is considered … All FieldsNow a Benelux playerBelgian service provider All Fields works for manufacturers and retailers in the DIY sector  IPM EssenPlant Power at IPM ExpressThis year IPM Essen will be offering new formats on the subject of plants owner and chef at Dani's Daytime Diner in Fort Myers She lives in Fort Myers with her boyfriend and daughter We recently chatted with Daniella about homemade chicken noodle soup Inspirations: My momFavorite cuisine to eat: Indian and ThaiFavorite dish from your childhood: Homemade chicken noodle soupWhat was the first dish you mastered Stuffed cabbageCelebrity (living or dead) you’d love to have dinner with: Robert DeniroIf I weren’t in this business I’d be…: Stay at home momThings you can't get through the day without: My daughterFavorite quick meal: Breakfast (eggs)Cooking gods: My momIf you had your own cooking show DDDGuilty food pleasure: BreadFood aversion you can't get over: Creamy stuffFavorite dish on your menu (and why?): Schnitzel because I can eat that hot or cold and it's really tasty however you eat it.What was your biggest cooking disaster Added cinnamon to my chili (it was not that bad either).Favorite SWFL restaurant other than your own: Royal India Restaurant in Fort LauderdaleWhat would be your last meal SteakOddest/most interesting thing in your home fridge right now: Fish soupWhat are your plans for dinner tonight Fish and polenta with garlic sauceDream vacation: AlaskaOddest thing you’ve eaten (and did you enjoy it?): Tripe soup (delicious) made with a lot of garlic and sour cream Age: 36Birthplace: Zalau, RomaniaCulinary training: Completed in high school.Former gigs: I started in restaurants as a dishwasher, cook, server and now I'm an owner and chef. Current gig: Owner of Dani's Daytime Diner, 3228 Fowler St., Fort Myers; 931-3303; danisdaytimediner.com Distributie Energie Electrica Romania (DEER) will receive a loan worth RON equivalent of up to EUR 40 million from European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) The loan will finance part of the company’s capital expenditures programme for 2021-2023 Starting with January 1st the three electricity distribution companies within the Electrica Group merged to become Distributie Energie Electrica Romania SA (DEER) DEER operates 198,988 km of power lines in 18 counties in three geographical areas of the country representing 40.7% of Romania and serves over 3.8 million users DEER is responsible for the distribution of electricity in the following counties: Cluj RON equivalent of up to EUR 40 million loan in favour of Distributie Energie Electrica Romania SA (DEER) in charge with the electricity distribution in three regions of Romania The loan will finance part of the company’s capital expenditures programme for 2021-2023 aimed at the modernisation and the upgrade of the distribution network operated by DEER The project will focus on the upgrade of the network and improving the quality of the service and safety of operations Investment programme’s priorities also include digitalisation of the processes for improving users’ experience investments in the smart grid and a mass roll-out of smart meters in the system Transition Impact derives from ‘Resilient’ and ‘Green’ qualities The project will assist the client to move towards international best practice which other DSOs in the country can also benchmark as best practice The project will also improve network efficiency and reduce losses through technological modernisation including a planned mass rollout of the smart meters to its customers The implementation of this CAPEX programme will also result in the estimated CO2 emission reductions of 67,100 tonnes per year through the reduction of network losses Electrica Group has certified integrated management systems within its companies (ISO9001 including the DSOs (Distribution Companies) The new entity Distributie Energie Electrica Romania created early 2021 through the merger of the DSOs will integrate the existing management systems and seek certification as a single Company Electrica have introduced contractual terms regarding EHS matters for contractors; in addition Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs) will be developed by contractors before they begin works Approximately 98% of the Group’s employees are union members and the general working conditions are regulated by Collective Labour Agreements Electrica currently implement a unitary Waste Management Procedural Framework (covering construction and operational waste) which is reported against and is suitable for the upcoming CAPEX Plan The DSOs are currently in the process of eliminating PCBs from electrical installations in operation in order to meet the 2028 national deadline Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) is likely be present at the proposed substations; the ESAP requires Distributie Energie Electrica Romania to conduct an ACM survey and develop an Asbestos Management Plan Impacts from electromagnetic fields from transformer stations and transmission lines are measured for each new project in commissioning procedure Electrica have now included Covid-19 protection measures within their H&S sections of contracts with contractors Site security was seen to be maintained during the site visit however in 2019 there were still 11 incidents involving unauthorised access to electrical installations by third parties A community guide for H&S around power lines will be developed as soon as possible and distributed as part of the CAPEX Plan implementation as confirmed in the ESAP (Program Manager for Electricity Safety Program) Whilst no physical resettlement is expected to be caused by the project some people could be affected economically as demonstrated with the ongoing litigation cases The ESAP therefore requires Electrica to develop a Land Acquisition Framework to set out the compensation principles and responsibilities Currently Electrica has some measures in place to minimise impact on birds (installing electrical insulating sheaths restricting the number of lines with conductors and replacing them with twisted insulated conductors building nests on the pillars of the low and medium voltage overhead lines); this should be complemented by developing a bird mortality monitoring system according to the relevant EU legislation Although the complete location list of the CAPEX Plan is not yet available it is expected that no new structures or lines from the CAPEX Plan will be erected in forested areas (primarily urban/brownfield sites) the CAPEX Plan will not involve improvements in Emerald sites and protected areas; should this happen Electrica will inform EBRD and obtain an agreement from the natural protected area administrator Members of the public can register complaints and recommendations to Electrica through several channels DEER should also develop a brief Stakeholder Engagement Plan for the 2021-2023 CAPEX Plan in line with the Stakeholder Engagement Policy Electrica publishes yearly Sustainability Report since 2016 The Bank will monitor implementation of the ESAP through review of Annual Environmental and Social Reports (AESR) and communications with the company About Distributie Energie Electrica Romania The borrower is a subsidiary of Societatea Energetica Electrica SA the leading distributor and supplier of electricity in Romania The borrower’s core business segments are distribution of electricity to residential and industrial consumers in the geographical area of Northern Muntenia Northern Transylvania and Southern Transylvania in Romania Electrica was majority privatised via an IPO on the Bucharest and London Stock Exchanges in 2014 with the Romanian State retaining 49.8% of the shares The EBRD is also a 5% shareholder in Electrica run under the partnership between the Vodafone Romania Foundation and React Association will finance the modernization of 24 blood centres in 2017 The blood centers are located all over the country (Ploiesti and the others will be endowed with modern specialized medical equipment ”A Chance for Life” program has been financed by the Vodafone Romania Foundation with approximately EUR 1 million over the last nine years “We have thus fulfilled our promise made three years ago when we started the program. The renovation and endowment of the transfusion centers is one of the investment priorities set by the foundation in the healthcare field. This is one of the four strategic areas of our activity, besides education, social services and volunteering,” said Angela Galeta, director of Fundatia Vodafone Romania. More than 620,000 blood donors and patients benefited from the program up to now of whom more than 414,000 patients received the blood they needed for transfusions “A Chance for Life” started with a series of annual information and education activities on the importance of voluntary and periodical donation and continued with several mobile campaigns of blood donation organized in public spaces university campuses and company headquarters ”A Chance for Life” program will include in 2017 more than 20 mobile blood donation campaigns to be organised during this summer throughout the country Such campaigns will also run for the Vodafone Romania employees Since the ”A Chance for Life” program has been launched, Romanian blood donation centres registered in 2016 a decrease in the average donors’ age at the national level, for the first time after 1989.