Fiscal relaxation measures in the new Fiscal Code
Romanian MPs on Wednesday adopted the new Fiscal and Fiscal Procedure Codes, which are to come into force on January 1, 2016. Among the provisions of the new codes is also the VAT cut from 24 to 19% as of next year, the elimination of the tax on special constructions as well as the excise duty on fuel. The IMF and the European Commission have warned on the risks associated with the introduction of these fiscal relaxation measures. The measures will also trigger a temporary budget deficit growth, although no higher than 3% of the GDP, Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has said. After sitting down with European experts in Bucharest, Minister Teodorovici said the authorities failed to reach an agreement with European Commission representatives on the new Fiscal Code.
Romania’s new election law
The deputies passed a new parliamentary election law which reintroduces the proportional representation system, maintains the 5% election threshold and establishes the rules for the allocation of seats depending on the number of voters. In 2016, Parliament will have 134 senators and 308 deputies as well as 18 representatives of ethnic minorities with the exception of the Hungarian minority and 6 MPs representing the Romanian communities abroad.
The National Defense Strategy
Romania’s Parliament on Tuesday adopted the National Defense Strategy for 2015-2019, previously introduced by president Klaus Iohannis. The president says the strategy is aimed at safeguarding the fundamental rights, liberties and safety of the citizens, in such fields as economy, education, health care or the environment. Also on Tuesday, parliament adopted the setup of two NATO structures in Bucharest – the NATO Force Integration Unit and the NATO Multinational Divisional Command.
Romania to host US heavy weaponry
Romania is on a list of Baltic and Central-European states where the United States will pre-position 250 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers and armored combat gear. The US State Department says the measure is aimed at supporting training exercises carried out by military units rotating on NATO’s eastern flank. Some 1,000 military from 25 NATO countries have taken part in an over-arching NATO collective defense exercise in Cincu Range in Brasov County.
The case of Prime Minister Victor Ponta
The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Thursday discussed the case of Romania’s Social Democrat prime minister Victor Ponta, following a Parliament vote in Bucharest to reject a request by the National Anticorruption Directorate to strip him of his parliamentary immunity. At the moment, the prime minister is recovering from a knee surgery, with deputy prime minister Gabriel Oprea acting as the temporary head of government.
President Klaus Iohannis attends the summer meeting of the European Council
After intense talks on urgent community matters, EU leaders agreed to relocate 40,000 immigrants from Greece and Italy to other EU countries over the next two years, with home affairs ministers expected to draw up a final scheme by the end of July. A further 20,000 people will be resettled. This is one of the decisions taken at the summer meeting of the European Council, where Romania was represented by its president Klaus Iohannis.
Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, set to return as head of Foreign Intelligence Service
Before flying to Brussels, he appointed Mihai Razvan Ungureanu as the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. Ungureanu chaired the service before, between 2007 and 2012, and also served as foreign minister between 2004 and 2007 and as a prime minister in the first half of 2012. His nomination needs the Parliament's approval.
See more on RRI.
Showing posts with label Klaus Iohannis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Klaus Iohannis. Show all posts
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Friday, June 26, 2015
"A competent entity" will propose how many migrats Romania can receive
President Klaus Iohannis has stated, on Friday, in Brussels, that EU member states have committed to participate in the relocation of migrants, showing that Romania will propose through its Interior Ministry (MAI) the number of migrants it can receive, local Agerpres reads.
"The Presidency of the Council of the European Union will request proposals from member-states. Each will propose through the competent entity — for us, it is the MAI — how many migrants it can receive. There will be checks to see if these proposals summed up will cover the necessary number between 20,000 and 40,000. If so, the matter is settled and we move on. If not, there will probably be a new discussion to reach the targeted number — we have not yet decided in what format", said Klaus Iohannis after the reunion of the European Summer Council.
According to Mr. Iohannis, the compromise concluded consists of intra-European relocation, showing the fact that all member states have committed to participate in the relocation of the 40,000 migrants in Italy and Greece.
"The process is to take place based on volunteering in regards to the number of persons that each member-state can take over. Everybody participates, only the number can be volunteered", said Iohannis.
He indicated that this mechanism is temporary, its duration being of two years, and is exceptional in nature.
In what regards extra-European relocation, President Iohannis showed that it was agreed to relocate, on the basis of volunteering, a number of 20,000 persons who need international protection.
He mentioned that the topic of migration was approached broadly in the European Council, being an important challenge for the EU.
Read more on Agerpres.
"The Presidency of the Council of the European Union will request proposals from member-states. Each will propose through the competent entity — for us, it is the MAI — how many migrants it can receive. There will be checks to see if these proposals summed up will cover the necessary number between 20,000 and 40,000. If so, the matter is settled and we move on. If not, there will probably be a new discussion to reach the targeted number — we have not yet decided in what format", said Klaus Iohannis after the reunion of the European Summer Council.
According to Mr. Iohannis, the compromise concluded consists of intra-European relocation, showing the fact that all member states have committed to participate in the relocation of the 40,000 migrants in Italy and Greece.
"The process is to take place based on volunteering in regards to the number of persons that each member-state can take over. Everybody participates, only the number can be volunteered", said Iohannis.
He indicated that this mechanism is temporary, its duration being of two years, and is exceptional in nature.
In what regards extra-European relocation, President Iohannis showed that it was agreed to relocate, on the basis of volunteering, a number of 20,000 persons who need international protection.
He mentioned that the topic of migration was approached broadly in the European Council, being an important challenge for the EU.
Read more on Agerpres.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, Nominated the New Head of Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service
Former prime minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu is nominated again for the office of director of SIE - Romania's Foreign Intelligence Service, reads a release of the Presidential Administration.
The Presidential Administration points out that, according to the Constitution provisions, the head of state informed the chairs of the two Chambers of Parliament of this nomination and the Legislature is going to adopt a decision in this respect.
46 yo politician Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu held the same office between 2007 and 2012, under the office tenure of former President Traian Basescu.
Before that, M. R. Ungureanu has held several offices, among them foreign minister (December 2004 — March 2007).
Mr. Ungureanu was prime minister February-May 2012, in April the same year he shortly held the office of interim environment and forestry minister.
In the parliamentary election of December 9, 2012, he became senator on the lists of Right Romania Alliance (ARD) in Arad, western Romania.
After President Klaus Iohannis was elected, Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu became his personal adviser. In the National Liberal Party (PNL) he holds the first vice-president chair.
The Presidential Administration points out that, according to the Constitution provisions, the head of state informed the chairs of the two Chambers of Parliament of this nomination and the Legislature is going to adopt a decision in this respect.
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| Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu. Photo: anchetatorul.ro. |
Before that, M. R. Ungureanu has held several offices, among them foreign minister (December 2004 — March 2007).
Mr. Ungureanu was prime minister February-May 2012, in April the same year he shortly held the office of interim environment and forestry minister.
In the parliamentary election of December 9, 2012, he became senator on the lists of Right Romania Alliance (ARD) in Arad, western Romania.
After President Klaus Iohannis was elected, Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu became his personal adviser. In the National Liberal Party (PNL) he holds the first vice-president chair.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
PM Ponta Will Resume Its Activity "Within a Maximum of 28 Days"
Prime Minister Victor Ponta is going to resume his activity as head of the Government within maximum 28 days, informs a release of the Government on Sunday sent to Agerpres.
"The doctors decided that the Prime Minister Victor Ponta can be released from hospital today [i.e. Sunday], but he must still see a specialist daily, for the next seven days.
"The complicated recovery process, including treatments and physical therapy, will take at least 14 days, which means that within maximum 28 days the head of the Executive will be able to resume his normal activity at the Victoria Palace [the Government office].
"The Government activity, however, won't be affected until then, as the Prime Minister will transfer all his responsibilities for the needed time of his recovery to the Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea; he reassured the Romanian citizens that he will return to work in the shortest while possible", the Government announced.
The PM will also notify President Klaus Iohannis on Monday with respect to the appointment of Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea as interim PM for a maximum of 45 days, based on the article 107, paragraph (3) of the Romanian Constitution.
Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea has been in charge of Prime Minister's tasks over June 16-19.
The Prime Minister took this decision because of the "knee surgery he underwent in a hospital in Turkey early this week", it is said in the press release cited by Agerpres.
"The doctors decided that the Prime Minister Victor Ponta can be released from hospital today [i.e. Sunday], but he must still see a specialist daily, for the next seven days.
"The complicated recovery process, including treatments and physical therapy, will take at least 14 days, which means that within maximum 28 days the head of the Executive will be able to resume his normal activity at the Victoria Palace [the Government office].
"The Government activity, however, won't be affected until then, as the Prime Minister will transfer all his responsibilities for the needed time of his recovery to the Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea; he reassured the Romanian citizens that he will return to work in the shortest while possible", the Government announced.
The PM will also notify President Klaus Iohannis on Monday with respect to the appointment of Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea as interim PM for a maximum of 45 days, based on the article 107, paragraph (3) of the Romanian Constitution.
Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea has been in charge of Prime Minister's tasks over June 16-19.
The Prime Minister took this decision because of the "knee surgery he underwent in a hospital in Turkey early this week", it is said in the press release cited by Agerpres.
Monday, June 15, 2015
President, PM leave the country without talking to each other
On Monday, President Iohannis expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that Premier Victor Ponta left for Baku, Azerbaijan, on his own, but also with the fact that the Premier left for Turkey to undergo surgery, without informing the President prior to that, just like he did in April back when the Prime Minister paid a working visit to Arab states.
“I found out that the Prime Minister went to Baku from sources as you put it, after he had left,” the President told journalists at the Otopeni Airport, before leaving the country for a two-day visit to Croatia.
Asked whether he has talked with Victor Ponta in the last two days, whether Ponta has even called to congratulate him on his birthday, considering that the President turned 56 on Saturday, Iohannis answered negatively: “He has called me neither for Baku, nor for “Happy Birthday,” nor for Turkey.”
Deputy Prime Minister Oprea will be in charge of Prime Minister’s tasks over June 16-19, according to a press release. The decision belongs to Victor Ponta and was published on Monday in the Official Journal.
Read more on Nine o'clock on line news portal.
“I found out that the Prime Minister went to Baku from sources as you put it, after he had left,” the President told journalists at the Otopeni Airport, before leaving the country for a two-day visit to Croatia.
Asked whether he has talked with Victor Ponta in the last two days, whether Ponta has even called to congratulate him on his birthday, considering that the President turned 56 on Saturday, Iohannis answered negatively: “He has called me neither for Baku, nor for “Happy Birthday,” nor for Turkey.”
Deputy Prime Minister Oprea will be in charge of Prime Minister’s tasks over June 16-19, according to a press release. The decision belongs to Victor Ponta and was published on Monday in the Official Journal.
Read more on Nine o'clock on line news portal.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
New Romanian Ambassadors
President Klaus Iohannis has signed on Friday ten accreditation decrees of several Romania's ambassadors, according to state-run news agency Agerpres.
A Presidential Administration press release writes that Mr. Iohannis has signed the decrees on the accreditation of Adrian Mihai Cioroianu as ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Romania to the UNESCO, Ion Jinga as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador, Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations Organization in New York, Emilian Horatiu Hurezeanu as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the Federal Republic of Germany, Bogdan Mazuru as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Austria.
Likewise, president Iohannis has signed the accreditation decrees of Adrian Gabriel Davidoiu as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of Norway, Iulian Buga as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of Sweden, Luminita Teodora Odobescu as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador, Chief of Romania's Permanent Representative to the European Union, Adrian Cosmin Vierita as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador, Chief of the Permanent Mission of Romania to the UN Office in Geneva and the International Organizations based in Switzerland, Cristian Tudor as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the State of Qatar and Liliana Carmen Podgorean as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the Argentine Republic.
A Presidential Administration press release writes that Mr. Iohannis has signed the decrees on the accreditation of Adrian Mihai Cioroianu as ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Romania to the UNESCO, Ion Jinga as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador, Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations Organization in New York, Emilian Horatiu Hurezeanu as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the Federal Republic of Germany, Bogdan Mazuru as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Austria.
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| Emil Hurezeanu is a well known romanian journalist turned ambassador. Photo Credit: recul.eu |
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
RRI Newsflash
President Klaus Iohannis Tuesday criticised the rejection by Parliament of the request filed by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate regarding the start of criminal proceedings against PM Victor Ponta, suspected of conflict of interests while in office.
The co-president of the National Liberal Party, Alina Gorghiu, said Victor Ponta proved his disregard for the law and for Romanians.
Both the President and the Opposition continue to believe that the solution to the current crisis is for Victor Ponta to step down.
Also on Tuesday the US Embassy to Bucharest said in a message that any accusations against government officials must be thoroughly investigated, without interference, and the law should be applied equally to everyone.
___________________________________
The Supreme Defence Council convened on Tuesday in Bucharest, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis.
The agenda included the new National Defence Strategy, which has been submitted to Parliament for approval.
The Supreme Defence Council approved a plan for the restructuring and modernisation of the Romanian Army, as well as the participation of Romanian military forces in foreign missions in 2016.
___________________________________
The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu will have consultations on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who will be on an official visit to Bucharest.
The agenda of talks will include, apart from bilateral aspects, the relationship between the EU and Turkey, the security and energy security issue, regional cooperation and developments in the eastern neighbourhood.
__________________________________
The leaders of the National Liberal Party, the main opposition party in Romania, had a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of several embassies to Bucharest.
The talks focused on the Liberals’ bill regarding the introduction of voting by mail and on the corresponding election laws in force abroad.
_________________________________
Romania’s women epee team Tuesday won the gold medal at the European Fencing Championship in Montreux, Switzerland. Ana Maria Brânză, Simona Pop, Simona Gherman and Loredana Dinu defeated Estonia in the final, 45-35.
Romania thus defended the title it had won last year in Strasbourg. Wednesday will see the men’s epee games, in which four Romanian athletes take part.
Read more on RRI.
The co-president of the National Liberal Party, Alina Gorghiu, said Victor Ponta proved his disregard for the law and for Romanians.
Both the President and the Opposition continue to believe that the solution to the current crisis is for Victor Ponta to step down.
Also on Tuesday the US Embassy to Bucharest said in a message that any accusations against government officials must be thoroughly investigated, without interference, and the law should be applied equally to everyone.
___________________________________
The Supreme Defence Council convened on Tuesday in Bucharest, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis.
The agenda included the new National Defence Strategy, which has been submitted to Parliament for approval.
The Supreme Defence Council approved a plan for the restructuring and modernisation of the Romanian Army, as well as the participation of Romanian military forces in foreign missions in 2016.
___________________________________
The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu will have consultations on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who will be on an official visit to Bucharest.
The agenda of talks will include, apart from bilateral aspects, the relationship between the EU and Turkey, the security and energy security issue, regional cooperation and developments in the eastern neighbourhood.
__________________________________
The leaders of the National Liberal Party, the main opposition party in Romania, had a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of several embassies to Bucharest.
The talks focused on the Liberals’ bill regarding the introduction of voting by mail and on the corresponding election laws in force abroad.
_________________________________
Romania’s women epee team Tuesday won the gold medal at the European Fencing Championship in Montreux, Switzerland. Ana Maria Brânză, Simona Pop, Simona Gherman and Loredana Dinu defeated Estonia in the final, 45-35.
Romania thus defended the title it had won last year in Strasbourg. Wednesday will see the men’s epee games, in which four Romanian athletes take part.
Read more on RRI.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
President Iohannis Says He Is Dissapointed by "This Majority in Parliament"
President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that the Parliament "continues to obstruct the justice".
In a post on his Facebook account, he said "it is harder and harder to work with this Parliament".
The reaction comes after the Parliament opposed to the request by the anti-corruption prosecutors who asked for the arrest of the coalition member senator and former minister Dan Sova.
This is the second time the Senate rejects the same request concernig SDP senator Sova. This time the request has been approved by 66 senators, but rejected by 72 senators.
Senator Dan Sova is under prosecution for abuse of office. But he cannot be arrested without the Senate's approval.
The conservative opposition condemned the vote in Parliament.
Before the vote in the Senate, the prime minister Victor Ponta said "it is not about the justice, but a political battle".
The former president Traian Basescu has said that SDP-dominated Parliament's vote was not fair.
"If we are talking about someone who knows certain things about the SDP president Victor Ponta, then we get this kind of result", Basescu has said.
In a post on his Facebook account, he said "it is harder and harder to work with this Parliament".
The reaction comes after the Parliament opposed to the request by the anti-corruption prosecutors who asked for the arrest of the coalition member senator and former minister Dan Sova.
This is the second time the Senate rejects the same request concernig SDP senator Sova. This time the request has been approved by 66 senators, but rejected by 72 senators.
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| SDP Senator Dan Sova. |
The conservative opposition condemned the vote in Parliament.
Before the vote in the Senate, the prime minister Victor Ponta said "it is not about the justice, but a political battle".
The former president Traian Basescu has said that SDP-dominated Parliament's vote was not fair.
"If we are talking about someone who knows certain things about the SDP president Victor Ponta, then we get this kind of result", Basescu has said.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Rise In Child Benefit "Starting From July"
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| Child Benefit in Romania will rise up to 20 euros per month. |
The President Klaus Iohannis promulgated a new child benefit law which states the allowance's rise from 42 lei to 84 lei per month (19 euros).
The new payments could be in place from 1st of July, a government representative has told to the Bucharest-based newspaper Evenimentul Zilei.
One of the initiators of the law, Salvati Copiii NGO, said that the rise is "utterly needed" in a country where "the child poverty is 48 per cent, one of the highest in the EU".
The law has been promoted in Parliament by the conservative opposition and it has been initially accepted by the socialist-lead government coalition "by mistake".
"We cannot oppose to the child allowance's rise", the prime minister Victor Ponta stated shortly after the opposition's proposal has been adopted. But he said that the initiators did not indicate the source the money will come from.
The socialists said they instead favour an allowance payment according to the parents's income.
3,850,310 children have been entitled to get the allowance in 2012, according to the welfare ministry.
3,850,310 children have been entitled to get the allowance in 2012, according to the welfare ministry.
Child benefit in Europe
According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, in 2013 in Germany the child benefit pay was 215 euros per month, one of the highest in the EU, where Romania is a member state.
In Belgium, the child benefit was 160 euros per month. In Ireland was 153 euros per month, Sweden 140 euros, Slovenia 135 euros, Austria 123 euros, Finland 122 euros, Poland 75 euros, Hungary 56 euros, Czech Republic 32 euros, Slovakia 26 euros, Estonia 22 euros and in Latvia - 12 euros per month.
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