June 25, 2015 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.

Newsroom, 25.06.2015, 12:15

CORRUPTION – The European Parliaments Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Thursday discussed the situation of Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who recently eluded a request by the Anti-Corruption Directorate to lift his parliamentary immunity. Anti-corruption prosecutors had requested Parliament to green-light the criminal investigation of the Prime Minister for a possible conflict of interest. The head of government, who is currently recovering after a knee surgery, is being investigated for forgery of deeds under private signature, accessory to recurrent tax evasion and money laundering during his years as a lawyer. In Bucharest, a close associate of his, Sebastian Ghita, is also being investigated for corruption. Ghita was forbidden to carry out responsibilities as MP, after prosecutors on Thursday came up with new charges against him. Ghita is being investigated, alongside other politicians and businessmen, including the Prime Ministers brother-in-law, Iulian Hertanu, in a case involving a contract co-funded from European money. On Wednesday, the prosecutors announced Sebastian Ghita was to be prosecuted for other acts of corruption as well, namely influence peddling, tax evasion, money laundering, accessory to detouring the destination of EU money and corrupting voters at the 2012 parliamentary elections and at the 2014 presidential elections. Sebastian Ghita claims he is innocent, and that his case was built for political reasons. He says hes been constantly pressured and threatened, the real target being the resignation of Prime Minister Ponta.

SUMMIT – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis is representing Romania at the European Council summer summit in Brussels. The agenda includes topics such as migration, European security and defence, economic growth, competitiveness and employment, the president has said. EU leaders are also tackling economic topics, such as the crisis in Greece and British-EU relations. Other topics on the agenda are the strategy for a European single digital market recently put forth by the Commission, and the report on the European economic and monetary union, a document recently drafted by the Commission in cooperation with the European Council, the European Central Bank, the Eurogroup and the European Parliament.

MILITARY – The United States, in cooperation with its allies, will deploy some 250 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers to Baltic States and Central Europe. The US Defence Department said the measure was aimed at supporting training and exercises carried out by military units deployed on a rotation basis in Europe. Heavy weaponry and combat vehicles will go to seven countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, reads a US Embassy press release. After Russias annexation of Crimea, US and NATO military have been deployed on countries on NATOs eastern flank. This presence is aimed at reassuring NATO allies in the face of a resurgent Russia.

FISCAL CODE – The European Commission and Romanian authorities have failed to reach an agreement on the Fiscal Code, but it would make a decision at the upcoming meeting of the EUs Finance Ministers of July 14, regarding the status of the financial agreement with Romania. Additionally, the IMF will cancel its assessment mission to Romania for next month, given that the Commission will already have presented its conclusions, Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici announced on Thursday. According to the Romanian official, the European Commission is concerned regarding the impact of the new fiscal code on the budget as of next year. The new Fiscal and Fiscal Procedure Codes are to come into effect on January 1, 2016. Among the main provisions is the VAT cut from 24 to 19%, slashing the tax on special constructions as well as the excise duty on fuel. Additionally the authorities want to eliminate the 16% tax on dividends. Minister Teodorovici said that Romania stands by its financial commitments, especially regarding structural reforms.