August 21, 2015 UPDATE
For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.
Newsroom, 21.08.2015, 12:15
FISCAL CODE – The new fiscal code does not provide the necessary money to cover the pay rises promised by the government in Bucharest, claims economic analyst Daniel Apostol. The pundit said on Radio Romania the new code brings alone a simplification of the fiscal laws, to the benefit of both the tax payers and the state, which better regulates its relation with the tax payer. The parliamentary parties agreed on Thursday to reduce the VAT to 20% as of January 2016, and down to 19% as of early 2017, respectively. Next week, Parliament, convened in a special session, will revise the Fiscal Code, at the request of president Klaus Iohannis.
DANUBE – The European Commission has adopted the Cross-border Cooperation Programme for the Danube River Region and has allotted a 222-million-euro fund for projects in this area. Application possibilities include supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, protecting the areas natural and cultural resources, improving ties and supporting the switch to low-carbon economy. The programme includes Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as three non-EU states: Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro. Subsequently, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine might join the programme, via the European Neighbourhood Policy. Financing under the programme will cover up to 84% of projects.
GREECE – The European Commission is not concerned regarding the implementation of the new bailout package Greece has agreed upon with its international lenders, a Commission spokesperson said on Friday, one day after Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tendered his resignation, paving the way for snap elections. In Greece, New Democracy leader Evangelos Meimarakis is trying to form a new minority Government to avoid early elections. The Greek Constitution allows each of the three ruling parties to attempt the creation of a new Cabinet for three days. If these attempts fail, early elections will be held most likely on September 20. Aged 41, Tsipras, the leader of the radical left wing party Syriza, won the 2015 elections with an anti-austerity package, at a time when Greeces debt accounted for 175% of its GDP and unemployement stood at 25%. He is the first European leader elected for his outspoken rejection of difficult measures the EU has imposed its members after the crisis.
FOOTBALL – The Romanian football team Astra Giurgiu (in the south) on Thursday evening defeated the Dutch team AZ Alkmaar, 3-2, in a match played on home turf, counting for the first round of the Europa League play-offs. Although the guest team had a two-goal advantage after the first quarter of the hour, Astra managed to change the situation spectacularly and took the lead by the break. Also on Thursday evening, Romanias defending champion, Steaua Bucharest was defeated at home, 0-3, by the Norwegian team Rosenborg Trondheim. All goals were scored in the second half. Described by the press as disgraceful, the defeat comes after last month Steaua got eliminated in the third qualifying tour of the Champions League by the Serbian team Partizan Belgrade.
ISIS – The US President, Barack Obama and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan have signed a memorandum of understanding with a view to creating a demilitarized area between two Syrian towns occupied by ISIS. The area will allow the access of the Free Syrian Army members, of the Syrian moderate opposition. The Pentagon chief, Ashton Carter, has recently said that Turkey must do more to counteract the actions of ISIS, such as working on its border security and making its military jets available to the international alliance.
