June 18, 2020 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 18.06.2020, 19:58
CONFERENCE Romanian
president Klaus Iohannis on Thursday attended a high-level videoconference on
the Eastern Partnership. The Romanian official reiterated Romania’s commitment
to supporting the European prospects of the most committed eastern partners in
accordance with their own progress. He also voiced Bucharest’s support for a
more ambitious EU approach to security cooperation in order to respond to the
legitimate interests of the EU and the partner states in the region. Also high
on the agenda was the management of the common challenges caused by
misinformation and the stepped up hybrid actions. Iohannis highlighted the
consistent support Romania offered to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in
their efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The event was attended by heads of state and government from the EU27
in addition to the six partner states in the region: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. On Friday the Romanian
president is expected to attend the European Council meeting, also held in
videoconference format. The agenda will include the Economic Recovery Plan and
the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework recently proposed by the European
Commission, the negotiation process for the future relations between the
European Union and Great Britain, as well as foreign policy topics.
DRAFT Parliament in Bucharest on Thursday approved a draft law on taxing
the so-called special pensions, endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies on
Wednesday. A vote from the Legislature was needed as the law is also referring
to the pensions of the MPs and senators. Romanian deputies decided to
levy a tax on the difference between the special pension and the regular
contribution-based pension. Therefore a 10% tax will be levied on pensions ranging
between €400 and €1.450, while any pension above this mark will be subject to an
85% tax. The Ombudsman has already challenged the law at the Constitutional
Court and the High Court of Cassation and Justice is expected to follow suit.
TROOPS 2669 servicemen from Romania
will be involved this year in various peacekeeping missions and operations
outside its territory. These troops are getting ready and deployable upon NATO
and EU orders. 791 officers and NCs are also ready for missions and operations outside
Romania and over one thousand more could be made available, Romanian president
Klaus Iohannis has told Parliament in a briefing. According to the document presented
by the president, Romanian troops are carrying out missions assumed as part of the
country’s obligations as a security provider. Troops from Romania are involved
in peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations under NATO, the EU, the UN
and the OSCE approval.
COVID-19 – The
number of confirmed Covid-19 infections continues to rise in Romania. Another
320 cases have been reported since the last update, taking the total number of
infected to 23.080. Over 16.300 people have recovered and 1.473 have died. 178
patients are now in intensive care. According to Health Minister Nelu Tataru,
the rise in the number of cases is the result of several measures aimed at
easing lockdown restrictions. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban
said theatres and restaurants in Romania will be reopened whenever the
epidemiological context allows it. Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said that, for
the time being, the authorities don’t know how the situation will evolve, and
has called on everyone to remain vigilant and strictly observe the regulations.
(translated by bill)
