Florists protest in downtown Bucharest after local authorities stop issuing operating permits

A few hundred florists protested in downtown Bucharest on Tuesday against the local authorities’ decision to stop issuing operating permits. The florists claim that this situation was triggered by the Bucharest City Hall’s decision to stop the issuance of any kind of permit, as it is currently working on a regulation for flower trade in the Romanian capital, reports local News.ro. The protest started at 10:00 and ended after a few hours. The florists said that they wanted to work, but the local authorities were keeping them from doing that as they no longer issued operating permits. According to them, the lack of permits has led to the situation in which many florists have lost their jobs and have been forced to consider leaving the country. “The European Union and the Romanian state have to promote conditions to create jobs for Roma people’s integration in society. Contrary to these principles, willingly or unwillingly, hundreds of families are threatened right now. In this situation, we and our children are forced to consider leaving the country and, of course, become the beneficiaries of Europe’s welfare,” said Adrian Dinca, president of the Florists and Traditional Crafts Association. The florists want the City Hall to restart issuing operating permits, and also take into account their views when deciding the regulation of flower trade in Bucharest. Romanian police levy EUR 1 million fines for illegal flower trade Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com