April 18, 2023 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 18.04.2023, 20:12
VISIT Romanian president
Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday began an official visit to Brazil as part of a Latin
American tour that will also take him to Chile and Argentina. The aim of the
trip is to relaunch high-level dialogue with these states and to present
Romania’s position, as a member of the European Union and NATO, on the war
begun by Russia in the neighbouring Ukraine. The visit to Brazil is the first
at this level in the last 23 years. Iohannis held talks with his counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about the stage
and prospects of bilateral relations and topical issues on the regional and
international agenda. The main purpose of the visit is to instill more dynamism
into the relationship with Brazil, Romania’s biggest trading partner in Latin
America.
DEBATES The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest debated
the simple motion tabled by the opposition MPs against Agriculture Minister
Petre Daea. They are blaming the minister for the insufficient European funds
received for supporting the Romanian famers affected by the cheap grain imports
from Ukraine. The motion’s signatories are also blaming Daea for the price
hikes in the basic foodstuffs and the mismanagement of the crises caused by the
swine and bird flues. The minister says though that all the allegations aren’t
based on real figures and has given assurances that the Romanian farmers aren’t
running the risk of not getting their subsidies this year.
CUTS The Romanian government is this week analysing the proposals
of ministries to cut budget expenses, at the request of Prime Minister Nicolae
Ciucă as a result of the budget deficit exceeding the forecast level. Cuts are
expected on goods and services, travel and acquisitions, with the prime
minister emphasizing there will be no cuts in salaries and investments.
According to finance minister Adrian Câciu, the finance ministry is also
working on a package of measures that may include a ban on receiving both a
state pension and salary at the same time or on freezing salaries and new
employment in the public sector. He said the collection of budget revenues
should also be improved.
PLAN The European Parliament on Tuesday endorsed, with a large majority, the essential elements of the Union’s ambitious climate plan. Among them: the reform of the trading system of emissions certificates, including for the air and maritime sectors, a new instrument for the border adjustment of carbon dioxide emissions and a fund to mitigate the social impact of climate actions. Thus, the free certificates for companies will be gradually eliminated and a new scheme will be created for fuels from road transport and for buildings. For imports of iron, steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, electricity and hydrogen, the difference between the price of carbon paid in the country of production and that of carbon emission certificates must be paid. The measures must be formally approved by the European Council.
(bill&CM)
