October 13, 2015
Click here for a round-up of news from Romania.
Newsroom, 13.10.2015, 12:00
FINANCE – At the Romanian Finance Ministry, the relevant authorities are today starting talks with IMF representatives, whose technical mission will unfold until October 20th. According to the line minister, Eugen Teodorovici, the talks are focussed mainly on the 2016 budget, the continuation of structural reforms, the law on royalties as well as on the possibility of concluding a new agreement. Romanias latest agreement with the IMF, worth 2 billion Euros, expired last month, but the authorities didnt access the funds. The main aim of the stand-by precautionary agreement was to protect the Romanian economy from possible shocks on the financial markets. This was the third agreement required by Romania since the start of the economic crisis, in 2009.
ECONOMY– Romanias economy is expected to increase by 3.5% this year and by 3.7% in 2016, according to the latest data issued by Ernst & Young. The increase in real incomes, against the backdrop of a low inflation rate and of a gradual decrease in the unemployment rate, will boost domestic consumption, the aforementioned agency underlines. Data released by the National Institute for Statistics show that in the first eight months, the increase in the industrial output stood at some 3% on an annual basis. Consumption prices went up by 0.26%, on an average, in September, as compared to August, and the annual inflation rate stood at minus 1.7% last month.
US AMBASSADOR – Romania should break the political influence circle in economic decision-making, the new US ambassador to Romania, Hans Klemm, told a news conference held at Am Cham Romania. He called on Romanian leaders to put aside short-sighted political concerns and focus on the long term good of the country when enacting new or revising existing legislation or regulations. He called on them to stop meddling in the management of state owned enterprises for political gain and allow these enterprises to operate according to good business practices, so that all Romanians reap the benefits. According to Hans Klemm, for security, democracy and prosperity to thrive over the longer term run, the Romanian Government and Parliament must continue reforms focused on sustainable development and a full adherence to the rule of law.
ANTI-MISSILE SHIELD – The accusations made by an official with the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mihail Ulianov, according to whom Romania would allegedly infringe the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, by placing elements of the anti-missile shield in Deveselu (in the south) are ungrounded, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced. The line ministry reiterates that this European component of the United States anti-missile defence system in Deveselu has an entirely defensive role and is not aimed at the Russian Federation, but at countering ballistic missile threats coming from outside the Euro-Atlantic area. Developing NATOs defence capability against ballistic missiles is a way of consolidating collective defence at the level of the alliance, of increasing regional and international security and stability, Bucharest sources underline. Yesterday, Russia called on the US and Romanian governments to give up installing Mk-41 missile launchers, as part of the anti-missile defence system in Deveselu. According to Mihail Ulianov, an official with the Russian Foreign Ministry, the installation of these launchers is a challenge to international security, which will be considered by Russia as a glaring infringement of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, concluded in 1987 by the US and the former Soviet Union.
VISIT – The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population), Valeriu Streletz, is today paying a short visit to neighbouring Romania, on the occasion of the ratification by the Romanian Parliament of the Law on the 150 million Euro reimbursable financial aid granted to Chishinau last week. Valeriu Streletz is to deliver a speech before the Romanian MPs on capitalising on the Bilateral Strategic Partnership for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova, boosting bilateral relations through intense political dialogue and enhancing economic cooperation. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova will also approach the prospective development of bilateral projects in the energy field. Valeriu Streletz will be received in audience by President Klaus Iohannis and will meet with Prime Minister Victor Ponta. On Monday in Brussels, Prime Minister Streletz said during a meeting with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, that European integration continues to be Chishinaus strategic objective. He and added that his cabinet will go ahead with the reform of the judiciary, and will make efforts to crack down on corruption and to cleanse the financial-banking system.
