The Week in Review 19-25 May

A roundup of the week's main stories.

România Internațional, 24.05.2014, 14:10

US Vice-President Joe Biden travels to Bucharest

Three months ago, before Russia’s annexation of Crimea, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s visit to Bucharest, soon to be followed by that of the US Vice-President Joe Biden, might have been regarded as a mere coincidence. But now, against the backdrop of the events in the neighbouring Ukraine, the two officials’ coming to Bucharest, within such a short period of time, is clear evidence of the military support that Romania enjoys from its Western allies, against a troubled regional background. This week, the US Vice-President has reasserted the statement made by the NATO official late last week: Romania does not stand alone in the face of the danger posed by Russia, whose illegitimate territorial claims risk destabilising the region. Also, Biden has hailed Romania’s decision to increase its defence budget to reach 2% of the GDP in 2017.

However, the US official has not talked about security alone. The fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law and the opportunities in the energy field were also addressed by the second most important man at the White House. In turn, Romanian President Traian Basescu hailed the US’s response to Crimea’s annexation, which came fast and clear. Upsizing the US air, sea and ground forces in the Black Sea area, including on Romanian soil, is nothing but a natural reaction to the moves that unpredictable Russia is now making on the regions’ map, said president Basescu. At the meeting with Biden, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta stressed the need for a visa waiver program for the Romanian citizens who wish to travel to the US.

The end of the campaign for the European Parliament elections

This week has been the last of the campaign for the European Parliament elections due on Sunday, May 25th. Analysts have voiced their disappointment with what they have termed as a “dull” campaign, dominated by trivialities instead of relevant topics. On Sunday, Romania’s over 18 million eligible voters will have to choose from among the representatives of 15 parties and alliances and 8 independent candidates, who will be fighting for the 32 seats Romania is entitled to in the European Parliament. As polls have shown this week, voter turnout will not exceed 30%, which is rather low, but does reflect a common trend across the European Union. All in all, the future European Parliament, whose decision-making power within the EU is growing, will number 751 members.

Romania’s Parliament debates motion of censure

A motion of censure tabled by the Liberals in opposition has been read in the Parliament of Romania. The motion, forwarded last week, criticises the government made up of the Social Democratic Party, the National Union for the Progress of Romania, the Conservative Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, for postponing a number of fiscal relaxation measures. These include the tax exemption for reinvested profits and a 5% reduction in social security contributions. In response, the minister delegate for budget Liviu Voinea announced the social security payments would be slashed starting July the 1st. Parliament will vote on the motion on Monday.

New cases investigated by the National Anticorruption Directorate

The National Anticorruption Directorate seems determined to make up for the time wasted over the past 25 years in the fight against this scourge affecting the Romanian administration. Businessman Dan Adamescu, the second-richest Romanian according to the latest standings, is prosecuted for bribe-giving. Adamescu allegedly offered money to magistrates with the Bucharest Tribunal in exchange for some of his businesses being declared insolvent. Also this week, three physicians, two chemists and four company officials have been arrested for their involvement in cases of fraud involving forged prescriptions for cancer drugs.

Tax exemptions

Twenty-seven charges and para-fiscal tariffs have been scrapped or merged by the government of Romania, while another 65 will be regulated under a ministry order. According to the government, eliminating these 92 charges will not have a major impact on the state budget, given that last year they only brought around 2 million euros to the budget. However, Prime Minister Victor Ponta stressed, the measure helps reduce bureaucracy. “I am certain that we can further streamline this terrible fiscal system,” the Prime Minister added.