July 17, 2017

Governing coalition in Bucharest discusses fiscal measures/ Anti-measles campaign/ Foreign Affairs Council Meeting in Brussels

Newsroom, 17.07.2017, 12:59

Fiscal measures — The governing coalition in Bucharest is today discussing fiscal measures such as the introduction of the solidarity tax or the tax on turnover. The president of the main governing party, Liviu Dragnea, has recently said that the Finance Ministry was making simulations on the effects of applying these measures, stipulated in the governing program. In another development, the biggest opposition party, the National Liberal Party, has drawn attention that the fiscal measures which the government intends to introduce and the artificial rise in the minimum wages can affect private companies in Romania as well as the country’s economic development.

Vaccination campaign — The Romanian Healthcare Ministry has started a campaign presenting the risks of not vaccinating children, in the context in which the measles epidemic that broke out in Romania at the end of last year has so far killed 31 children. According to the National Center for Monitoring and Controlling Communicable Diseases, the number of cases of measles confirmed in Romania has exceeded 8 thousand, most of the cases being reported in counties in western and southwestern Romania. Three quarters of the total number of cases were reported in children under 10, the most affected age category being the one between 1-4 years old. More than 3,100 cases of measles have been reported in this category. Radio Romania has also started a public information campaign, which reviews the risks non-vaccinated children run as well as secondary effects, the reasons why some parents do not want to have their children vaccinated and the need to adopt new legislation on vaccination.

Foreign Affairs Council — The Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, is today participating in Brussels, alongside his counterparts from the EU states, in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The highlights on the agenda of talks are the measures on migration with focus on the central Mediterranean route, the EU Global Strategy on Foreign Policy and Security, the developments in Libya and the North Korean case.

Brexit — The EU and Great Britain are today starting in Brussels the second round of negotiations on Brexit, a round that will last 4 days and that will tackle issues such as the rights of citizens, and the financial and border agreement with Northern Ireland. The EU negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier will talk with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis. The most controversial issue at present is the financial agreement. According to calculations, London allegedly owes the EU an amount ranging from 60 to 100 billion Euros following Brexit. This new round of negotiations is exclusively dedicated to establishing the terms of Great Britain’s exiting the EU. The first round, that took place on June 19, was held to establish the timetable and working methods regarding negotiations, which will take place on a monthly basis, for one whole week, in Brussels.

Infrastructure projects — Several infrastructure projects with American funding are today being inaugurated at the air base in Mihail Kogălniceanu, in the southeastern county of Constanta. The new constructions include facilities for aircraft maintenance, storehouses for equipment, garages and classrooms. The ten projects, some finalized and some under way of completion, amount to more than 4 and a half million dollars. Funding was provided thought the European Reassurance Initiative, which supports the Atlantic Resolve Operation, a distinct element of the Romanian – American Strategic Partnership. According to the Romanian Defense Ministry, developing this partnership is a major objective assumed at national level, both by the political and military authorities. In this context, the rotating presence of American forces on Romania’s territory and in the Black Sea region as well as the support provided by the US for the modernization of national defense capabilities have an essential role on the region’s current security context. (news translated by L. Simion)