March 1, 2017

Click here for a round-up of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 01.03.2017, 14:32

BUDGET DEFICIT — The difference between the estimates made by the European Commission and those made by the Romanian Government on the country’s budget deficit in 2017 is the result of applying different estimation methodologies, the Romanian Finance ministry writes in a communiqué. The line ministry has given assurances that the Romanian authorities have assumed responsibility for a governing program which will observe the 3% budget deficit target. The communiqué has been issued shortly after the European Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis and Pierre Moscovici sent a letter to the Romanian Finance Ministry, following the European Commission’s issuing country reports on the economic and social situation of the member states. According to the winter economic forecast made public in mid February, the public deficit in Romania might reach 3.6% of the GDP in 2017, as compared to 3.2%, the figure estimated in autumn, to go up to 3.9% of the GDP in 2018.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL — The Higher Council of Magistracy has decided not to start disciplinary investigation against Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar and not to check out in what conditions the National Anti-Corruption Directorate decided to investigate the way in which the controversial emergency decree no.13 was drafted. The emergency government decree amending the criminal law was later repealed by the government and rescinded by Parliament. According to Lazar, the decision by the Higher Council of Magistracy is tantamount to a vote of confidence in the Prosecutor General and comes as a proof that the judiciary is independent. He said the investigation on the way in which the government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats issued the emergency decree will continue even after the Constitutional Court’s issuing a ruling on the matter. On Monday, the Court noticed the existence of a legal conflict between the state powers generated by the fact that the National Anti-Corruption Directorate reportedly assumed prerogatives to check on the opportunity and legality of issuing the ordinance, prerogatives which belong only to Parliament and the Constitutional Court. The Court has said however that investigation into possible direct criminal acts is possible. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate, which sent the file to the General Prosecutor’s Office, has law infringement suspicions in this case, such as aiding the offender, destroying documentary evidence and the ill-intended presentation of imprecise data.

WASHINGTON — In his first speech before Congress, the US President Donald Trump said he supports NATO but he underlined that the partners should meet their financial obligations. Donald Trump said his mission is not to represent the world, but the United States of America, which will further defend the vital security interests that it shares with its allies around the world. Accordign to Radio Romania’s correspondent to Washington, Trump approached issues that he also mentioned last year, promising he will make America great again, will create millions of jobs and that American citizens will be protected from illegal migrants and Islamic terrorism.

THE FUTURE OF THE EU — The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, is today presenting the MEPs with his vision of the EU’s future after Brexit. The document, the so-called “white charter” is to include four or five options regarding the EU’s development. One of the ideas that have been taken into account is that some of the member states should develop together faster, without forcing the rest of the community bloc to follow the same pace. This idea has raised concern in the East, including Romania.

LABOUR — The Romanian Labour Ministry has today announced that the minimum guaranteed social pension has been increased, as of March 1, from some 90 Euros to 115 Euros. Over one million pensioners will benefit from this. The measure will have a budgetary impact of over 225 million Euros, data released by the Fiscal Council show. In exchange, a series of fiscal measures which should have been taken effect today, have been postponed. These include zero VAT for advertising and for selling dwellings whose market values is less than 100,000 Euros. A VAT cut for raw materials and services provided in agriculture is no longer enforced and healthcare employees will not receive a series of payment bonuses.

FUEL PRICE — The Competition Council in Romania has started a sectoral investigation on the fuel market, to see why their price has exceeded the EU average price. The president of the Competition Council, Bogdan Chiritoiu, says the evolution of prices is surprising and clarifications should be made to see whether there are legislation-related problems, if there are errors made by the Romanian state, or problems caused by the conduct of companies, which might lead to sanctions. Romania is among the few countries in Europe which extract oil, boasts big refining capacities and exports fuels to the neighbouring countries. In exchange, on the Romanian market, the price of gas and diesel exceeds the EU average, although the extra excise duty on fuel was eliminated at the start of the year, and the VAT has been cut.

FOOTBALL — The best known Romanian football teams, Steaua and Dinamo, both based in Bucharest, are today playing each other in the second round of the League Cup semi-finals, a competition destined exclusively for the teams playing in the first division. In the first round, Dinamo defeated Steaua 4-1 on home turf. On Tuesday, ACS Poli Timisoara (in the west, outperformed ASA Targu Mures ( in the centre), 3-1, in the second round of the other semi-final and secured qualification to the finals. Timisoara also won the first round match, 4-2.

SPRING CELEBRATION — The Romanians are today celebrating the “martisor”, a symbol of spring. Small amulets, tied to a white and red thread are offered to the beloved ones. The word “martisor” is of Latin origin and is the popular name given to the month of March. According to the old Roman calendar, March 1 was the first day of the year, when the God Mars was celebrated. Martisor is a tradition kept in Romania, the Republic of Moldova and the neighbouring regions inhabited by Romanians and Aromanians. Similar customs are also observed in Bulgaria, Albania and Macedonia. (translated by D. Vijeu)