March 30, 2015
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Valentin Țigău, 30.03.2015, 12:00
Boosting the strategic partnership with the USA represents a key priority in Romania’s security and foreign policy and the privileged relation between the two countries is a solid guarantee for the stability of the entire region, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said during the meeting he held today in Bucharest with Michael Turner, chairman of the Romanian caucus in US Congress. President Iohannis said that Romania would continue to be the same staunch partner of the US in international missions, including those unfolding under NATO aegis. At the same time Romania firmly supports the completion of talks on the Transatlantic partnership for trade and investment, the president went on to say. He said that Romania wants the USA to be among the top ten investors in Romania. A delegation of the State Department and Congress has arrived in Bucharest for high-level talks in the field of bilateral relations. Bilateral talks have intensified against the unstable situation in Ukraine.
As of today Parliament in Bucharest is hosting debates on the new Fiscal and Fiscal Procedure Codes. The new provisions, which are about to come into effect next January, include significant cuts into the VAT, healthcare contributions and flat tax. The measures are aimed at boosting economic growth, but the Liberal opposition has already criticized possible hikes in local taxes. According to the head of the IMF mission in Romania, Andrea Schaechter, the executive in Bucharest should reconsider the moment of adopting tax cuts as well as their dimension, as more time is needed for achieving progress in the tax collection process.
‘Toto and his sisters’, a film by Romanian director Alexander Nanau, has been awarded the grand prize of the 7th International Documentary Film Festival in Brussels. The film, which is a Romanian-Hungarian-German co-production, has so far reaped several international awards. ‘Toto and his sisters’ is an observational documentary shot in a Bucharest slum, which tells the story of three brothers who are to do without their mother and mature faster. In a message to organizers, director Nanau explained he wanted to present these problems to European decision makers so that they may solve them.
The new Public Finances and European Funds Ministers have been sworn in today. Social-Democrat Eugen Teodorovici, 44, who so far held the European Funds seat will become Finance Minister, following the resignation of Darius Valcov, presently facing corruption charges. Former secretary general of the Labour Ministry, Marius Nica, 35, will take over the seat of the European Funds Ministry.
The world’s number three tennis player Romanian Simona Halep will be taking on number 15 favorite Italian Flavia Pennetta in the eighth finals of the WTA Miami tournament, with 5.4 million dollar prize money at stake. Pennetta secured a two-set win against Viktoria Azarenka of Belarus. Halep won her match against the world’s number 30 tennis player Italy’s Camila Giorgi, also in two sets. 33-year old Pennetta, who is ten years older that the Romanian has won all the three games she has played so far.
Romania’s national football side on Sunday secured a one-nil home win against the Faeroe Island to top the table of preliminary group F for the 2015 European championships. The Romanians put on a lackluster show much to the disappointment of their fans. In the same group, Northern Ireland has outperformed Finland two-one in Belfast, while the game between Hungary and Greece ended in a goaless draw in Budapest.
