November 1, 2023
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 01.11.2023, 13:55
Measures – Part of the new fiscal measures aimed at reducing the budget deficit in Romania have come into force today. According to the law for which the Government has assumed responsibility in Parliament, those working in the IT field will pay the income tax for amounts exceeding 10,000 lei (the equivalent of 2,000 euros). Local public institutions and authorities cannot finance from budget funds the organization of community events, such as festivals, concerts, local competitions or other themed celebrations. Other fiscal measures, such as the introduction of new taxes for SMEs or the payment of the health insurance contribution for the value of meal vouchers, will take effect on January 1, 2024. The measures run counter to many business people’s interests. At a conference on this topic, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, the participants argued that to limit the budget deficit, the priority measures should include combating tax evasion, improving revenue collection and improving the work of the Tax Office. The President of the Chamber, Mihai Daraban, said that the governors now have more options available before attacking the business environment.
Donation – The first F16 fighter jets that the Netherlands will donate to Ukraine will arrive, in two weeks, at the training center created in Romania –the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced. He emphasized that the current situation in the Middle East should not and will not be able to distract the Netherlands from the fight of the Ukrainians against the Russian aggression. For their part, Denmark, Norway and Belgium have announced that they will supply Ukraine with F16 aircraft.
Conflict – The ambassadors from the group of Arab states and of some member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation had a meeting with the members of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Romanian Senate. The ambassador of Lebanon in Bucharest, Rana Mokaddem, thanked Romania for the humanitarian aid given to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip and warned that the conflict in the Middle East risks expanding. “We are here as if we represented Palestine in this situation, calling for a peaceful solution, but one that respects the dignity of the Palestinians. Palestine is a victim, from our point of view” – she said. Previously, the members of the Senate Foreign Policy Committee received Ella Haimi, the wife of the Romanian-Israeli citizen held hostage in the Gaza Strip. She also met with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and asked for help both for her husband and for the other hostages taken by Hamas terrorists. The Romanian Foreign Ministry informs that two other people with dual citizenship, Israeli and Romanian, residing in Israel, who are hostages in the Gaza Strip, have been identified.
Anniversary – Today, Radio Romania celebrates 95 years of uninterrupted broadcasting. In recognition of the determining role that Radio Romania has in Romanias history, Parliament decided, in December 2019, to establish November 1 as the National Radio Day. Over three million people listen to Radio Romania every day. Tonight, the Radio Romania Gala will take place at the Radio Hall, which will honor the moment of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation’s first transmission. In Timişoara, this years European Capital of Culture, the Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair will take place until November 5. Friday, November 3, the anniversary concert of the National Radio Orchestra is scheduled. Between November 22-26, a new edition of the Gaudeamus Radio Romania Fair, the longest-running project of its kind in the country, will be organized at the Romexpo Compound in Bucharest.
Football – The match between the national football teams of Israel and Romania, from the EURO 2024 Qualifying Group I will take place in Hungary, the Romanian football federation announced on its official website. The game will be played on November 18, in Felcsut, approximately 50 kilometers from Budapest. UEFA stated that “the presence of spectators will be allowed”. Previously, the continental forum decided to suspend all scheduled matches in Israel, due to the armed conflict there. Apart from the match against Israel, Romania is to meet Switzerland, on November 21, in Bucharest. After eight games, Romania is undefeated and occupies first place in the group, with 16 points. Switzerland (15 points) and Israel (11 points) have one match and two matches respectively to play. The two top-ranking teams go to the final tournament in Germany. Romania has not reached a European football championship since 2016, and a World Cup since 1998. (LS)
