The Romanian Government Cuts Red Tape

The Romanian Government has recently taken measures to reduce bureaucracy and to enhance social protection.

Valentin Țigău, 29.06.2016, 13:43

The bureaucratic legacy of the communist period has often been the
target of criticism from both within the country and from abroad. The process
of cutting red tape continues to be extremely slow, in spite of repeated
efforts. However, a technocratic government such as the present one was
expected to tackle the issue as a major concern for Romanian society as a
whole.

On Tuesday, the government issued an executive order meant to take steps
in that direction. It introduces the possibility of paying a number of taxes by
bank card, which might reduce crowding and long lines at offices where taxes
are paid. Old fashioned stamp taxes were removed for obtaining documents such
as identity cards, copies of which can now be sent by e-mail. Copies of
identity card are no longer required to be notarized. Criminal records will now
be communicated between institutions, so that people no longer have to queue up
at government offices to obtain them.

The measures were introduced in a press
conference by the minister in charge of public debate, Violeta Alexandru. In
turn, the Finance Minister Anca Dragu specified that a tax exemption would be
applied for the recently issued debt discharge bill, but just for one single
loan. Minister of Energy Victor Grigorescu announced that the government had
set a ceiling for natural gas prices for public consumption until March 31,
2017. As part of the same set of measures of protection, low income families
with children will no longer have to provide proof of payment of their local
taxes in order to get the child rearing allocation. At the same time, birth
certificates can be issued within 30 days instead of 15 from the date of birth.
Town halls can now issue birth certificates for children with no official
identity at the time of application, while institutionalized children will be
able to set their official residence at the institution housing them.

At the same time, the government has taken two additional measures.
Starting on August 1, an income tax exemption will apply to researchers, as a
result of a drastic drop in the number of researchers from the business
environment. At the same time, farmland and housing terrain outside cities can
be registered free of charge. This government decision is necessary for farmers
to access European funds.