November 27, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 27.11.2013, 13:00
The President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, had a meeting today in Bucharest with the Prime Minister of China, Li Keqiang. The Romanian president emphasised that the Central and Eastern Europe — China summit held in Bucharest was “a step forward” and expressed his confidence that the Romanian — Chinese relations would develop within the EU legislative framework. Li Keqiang is on an official visit to Romania until Thursday. He is accompanied by a sizeable governmental and business delegation. Romania signed 13 cooperation agreements with China, particularly in the energy field. Prime Minister Li also took part in the meeting of the prime ministers of Central and Eastern European countries and China, as well as in an economic forum.
In Romania, unionists in public healthcare hold new negotiations today with Minister Eugen Nicolăescu. Sanitas Federation previously announced that, if their demands were accepted, it might postpone the strike originally planned for Thursday. Unionists demand the earmarking of 6% of the GDP to the healthcare sector, higher salaries, more jobs in the system and the signing of a collective bargaining agreement. In his turn, the Ministr said a memorandum was sent to the Finance Ministry, requesting an additional 1,200-1,400 jobs in public healthcare. As for the salary increases, he said they would be operated next year, in two stages, but did not mention by how much wages would be raised.
Romania was the 12th largest beneficiary of European funds in 2012, with nearly 4 billion euros received for projects, while its contribution to the EU budget was 1.32 billion euro, according to the Financial Report for 2012 released by the European Commission. Poland was the top destination for EU funds, with 15.7 billion euros, followed by Spain and France. Last year, the EU budget earmarked additional funds for fields that contribute to economic growth, creating new jobs and investments in research and education. According to the document, 94% of the EU budget last year was allotted to beneficiaries from across Europe — researchers, students, small and medium-sized enterprises, cities, regions and NGOs.
The British PM David Cameron has announced tighter conditions for granting immigrant benefits, arguing that people are “deeply concerned” with the high level of migration from Bulgaria and Romania. Eligibility criteria for unemployment aid will be tougher, and access to social housing will be limited, Cameron has explained. Since 2007, when Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU, workers from these countries have been subject to employment restrictions in Britain, which will end at the end of this year. Eliminating these restrictions is the topic of large-scale debate in the UK.
The PM of the Republic of Moldova, Iurie Leanca, has reiterated his country’s wish to be admitted into the EU. Moldova’s European progress will only be irreversible when the country becomes an accession candidate, Leanca said on the eve of the European summit in Vilnius, where Chisinau is to sign the free trade and association agreements with the EU. The Moldovan prime minister also said these agreements would benefit the businesses and citizens in the pro-Russian region of Transdniester, on condition that the separatists leaders gave up the isolation policy. He once again thanked neighbouring Romania for its constant support given to the Republic of Moldova’s European aspirations.
Germany’s Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel has reached a coalition agreement with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), two months after winning the parliamentary elections, but falling short of absolute majority. The deal, which will be presented today, must be approved in early December by the SPD activists, in a referendum whose outcome is still uncertain. If ratified, the agreement would enable Angela Merkel to lead a “grand coalition” government, in a third 4-year term in office.
