December 4, 2013 UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news.
Leyla Cheamil, 04.12.2013, 19:49
BUDGET-The Romanian Parliament on Wednesday adopted the 2014 state budget and social insurance budget, respectively. The opposition, which voted against the two drafts, is discontent about failing to bring forward its amendments which would have led, in its opinion, to the re-launch of the economy. Prime Minister Victor Ponta has said some of the measures stipulated in the 2014 budget include a rise in pensions, the minimum salary and the minimum guaranteed income as well as a reduction of health insurance contributions, as of July. In other move, President Traian Basescu has reiterated its intention to send the 2014 budget law back to Parliament, if the decision to levy an additional excise duty on fuel is maintained, because, in his opinion, this will be a fiscal burden for the citizens.
VISIT– Visiting US Secretary of State, John Kerry, hailed on Wednesday in Chishinau Moldova’s initialling of the EU Association Agreement, at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. He said that Moldova’s coming closer to the European community will attract larger investments and boost the confidence of financial institutions. The American official, who met with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said so far the United States had offered Moldova 1.1 billion US dollar worth of financial assistance, and it would further provide it. In turn, Iurie Leanca gave assurances that the Republic of Moldova would continue to come closer to the EU and would go ahead with its process of democratisation. John Kerry is the second US high official to visit Moldova, after Vice-President Joe Biden, in March 2011.
CHISHINAU-The Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Crin Antonescu, gave assurances in Chishinaw on Wednesday that Romania will be the first country to lift the visa regime for Moldovan citizens, once the EU makes such a decision. Fresh from a meeting with the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Corman, Crin Antonescu has reiterated that Romania will make everything in its power for the Republic of Moldova to join the EU as soon as possible. The Romanian official is also due to meet President Nicolae Timofti and PM Iurie Leanca. Crin Antonescu will also visit Radio Chishinaw, a special project of Radio Romania, which celebrated two years of existence on December the 1st. The visit paid by the Romanian official is part of the efforts made by Romania to support Moldova on its European path.
UKRAINE-The EU maintains its open door policy towards Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in Kiev on Wednesday, fresh from talks with leaders of the Ukrainian opposition. Wide-scale pro-European rallies continue in Kiev, triggered by the decision made last week by the Ukrainian authorities to suspend their country’s European integration process. The protesters call on President Viktor Yanukovici and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to tender their resignations, for refusing to sign, at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, the EU Association and Free Trade Agreements, respectively. Hundreds of people have been injured over the past few days in Kiev and other big cities across Ukraine, following the forceful intervention of the riot police.
BRUSSELS- The NATO foreign ministers have made public their decision to participate in the OSCE meeting, due in Kiev on Wednesday, to send a consensual message, in the context in which Ukraine is currently holding the rotating presidency of the OSCE. The statement has been made by Romanian Foreign Minister, Titus Corlatean, who attended the North-Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting, held in Brussels on Wednesday. In another move, Corlatean has said Romania reiterates its firm commitment to materialize and underline the principles of an open door policy and to further support the four countries clamouring NATO accession: Georgia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia-Hertzegovina.
NEW AMBASSADOR– Romania’s new ambassador to the US, Iulian Buga, has presented his credentials to President Barack Obama, during a ceremony at the White House. As regards its mandate, Buga has insisted on the need to expand and boost two way trade exchanges and bilateral economic relations. Iulian Buga has also underlined the Romanians‘ expectations regarding their access to the US and of Romania’s being included in the Visa Waiver Program, as soon as possible.
ENVIRONMENT– Romanian Environment Minister, Rovana Plumb, and British Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey, signed in London on Wednesday a British-Romanian joint declaration on the so-called “green growth”. Thus, Romania and Great Britain commit themselves to launching a dialogue, in an effort to have economies with low carbon emissions. The two countries reiterate their commitment to limit the increase in the average global temperature, by considerably reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
