October 1, 2014
A roundup of domestic and international news.
România Internațional, 01.10.2014, 12:00
A 5% cut in social security contributions paid by employers came into effect in Romania, on October 1st. The business community welcomes the measure but investors fear it may lead to further increases in taxes and fees next year, or the introduction of new taxes. Prime Minister Victor Ponta has repeatedly given assurances that the state budget is able to support this measure and that it is likely to create jobs and stimulate the business environment. Also on October 1st, the law on the fiscal amnesty of pensioners, mothers and state employees who received unjustified sums of money following miscalculations by civil servants, has come into effect. The new law will benefit almost 20 thousand mothers, 50 thousand pensioners and 25 thousand state employees.
Almost half of million Romanian students have started the new academic year today, October 1st. Students are unhappy with the higher taxes, a smaller number of faculties, slashed student transit subsidies and an insufficient number of halls. Education Ministry representatives have announced that the additional funds received under the recent budget rectification will cover the students’ internship scholarships, transit costs and some of their research programs. The new academic year brings along some new legal provisions, such as the reintroduction of part-time PhD programs and the possibility, for universities, to offer postgraduate courses.
Mr. Jens Stoltenberg took up his post as NATO Secretary General on Wednesday, October 1st 2014. He will chair his first meeting of the North Atlantic Council later today. The former Norwegian Prime Minister was appointed by the 28 Allies in March to succeed Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Secretary General. Fogh Rasmussen’s term expired on Tuesday, after 5 years and 2 months at the helm of the Alliance. Jens Stoltenberg was previously Prime Minister of Norway from 2000-2001 and from 2005-2013. He is a strong supporter of enhanced transatlantic cooperation, including better burden sharing across the Atlantic. He sees NATO and the EU as complementary organisations in terms of securing peace and development in Europe and beyond. According to analysts, his vast political experience and his good relations with Russia might help him manage the tense situation created by this country in Ukraine.
Romania’s candidate in the new European Commission, Social Democrat MEP Corina Cretu, was interviewed today by the European Parliament. Nominated by the European Commission president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker for the Regional Policies portfolio, if validated, Corina Cretu will manage a budget of 350 billion euros over the 2014-2020 period. It is a portfolio focused on investment, creation of jobs, competitiveness, economic growth, improved living standards and sustainable development.
The wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is closing his defence today saying he takes “moral responsibility” for crimes committed by Bosnian Serbs but denying he ordered killings. He is accused in The Hague of genocide and other crimes, with one charge relating to the Srebrenica massacre. Prosecutors have called for him to be given a life sentence if convicted. The 69-year-old political leader of the Bosnian Serbs in the 1990s was handed over to the tribunal when he was arrested in 2008 after 13 years on the run. Karadzic, who conducts his own defence, faces 11 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Court’s ruling will be delivered no later than 2015. The war in Bosnia made 100.000 victims and over 2 million refugees.
Turkeys parliament will decide today if Ankara sends troops into Syria and Iraq and if it allows foreign soldiers to use its bases for cross-border incursions against Islamic State militants, France Press reports. The advance by Islamic State fighters to within clear sight of Turkish military positions on the Syrian border has piled pressure on Ankara to take a more robust role in the U.S.-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the insurgents. The Americans and the coalition made up of over 60 countries and international organisations have failed to stop the offensive of the Islamic militants, who are now close to the Iraqi capital.
Romania’s football champion, Steaua Bucharest will be up against Dinamo Kiev on Thursday in Ukraine’s capital city. This is the Romanian side’s second match in Group J of Europa League. Two weeks ago Steaua defeated the Denmark’s Aalborg, 6-nil. In the competition’s Group D, Romania’s vice champions, Astra Giurgiu, will meet the Austrian side, Red Bull Salzburg, on home turf. Astra lost the away match with Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb, 1-5.
