PRESIDENCY Romania is a very involved actor in the European policy
\nand security policy, president Klaus Iohannis told a press conference on
\nTuesday. He emphasised that the recent decisions at the European Council and
\nthe NATO summit made Romania safer and more visible. Romanians are better
\nprotected, Romania is better protected, the head of state pointed out.<\/p>\n
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TAXES Amendments to Romania’s Fiscal Code are subject to the
\ndecision transparency procedure until Friday, and scheduled for endorsement by
\nthe government next week. The changes agreed by the ruling coalition made up of
\nthe Social Democrats, the Liberals and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians
\nin Romania in order to improve collection to the state budget include increases
\nof the tobacco and alcohol excises, of the VAT for the hospitality industry and
\nof property owner’s taxes. Gambling revenues up to roughly EUR 600 will be
\ntaxed by 10%, those between EUR 600 and 2,000 by 20% and those over EUR 2,000
\nby 40%. Government sources say another measure introduces a 5% VAT rate for
\npurchased houses of up to 120 square meters. Other amendments may increase
\nhouse owner’s taxes by 60%. Taxes in the hospitality industry may also change
\nso they may not be under 1% of the turnover starting next year. <\/p>\n
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NATO
\nRomania’s foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu hailed Tuesday’s
\nsigning of Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO accession protocols in Brussels by the
\nstanding representatives of the 2 countries and of the Allied states, including
\nRomania. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, in
\nthe current security context marked by Russia’s illegal war of aggression
\nagainst Ukraine, the 2 countries’ move proves their commitment to the
\ndemocratic values and spirit that NATO safeguards and promotes. Romania, the
\nministry also says in a news release, has been one of the main supporters of
\nthe Open Door policy as central to NATO’s strategic approach in relation to its
\npartner states. The decision to join the organization, Bucharest adds, is an
\noption any state is free to take, based on meeting the criteria defined for the
\nprocess and on the consensus of the Allies. No third party may affect NATO’s
\nenlargement policy. Bucharest is also confident that Finland’s and Sweden’s
\naccession will contribute to strengthening NATO security. After the
\nrepresentatives of the 2 countries signed the accession protocol, each NATO
\ncountry’s parliament must ratify the decision, which may take up to one year.
\nTurkey is the only NATO member to make ratification conditional on commitments
\nregarding terrorism on the part of the 2 Nordic countries. <\/p>\n
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CABINET Seven months into their term in office, all the ministers
\nin the Liberal Nicolae Ciuc\u0103’s Cabinet have been reconfirmed in office. The PM
\ntalked to president Klaus Iohannis about the assessment of his cabinet members
\nand according to political sources they agreed reshuffling is not necessary. Ciuc\u0103
\ninformed his ministers however that last-minute submissions of key projects
\nunder the National Recovery and Resilience Plan funded by the EU would not be
\nacceptable. Following a 10-criteria assessment that took into account the
\nexpectations of Romanian citizens and society, PM Ciuc\u0103 also presented a report
\non the work of his government, which included overcoming the health crisis,
\nstabilisation of the energy crisis and the management of the effects of the war
\nin neighbouring Ukraine. The report also mentions the largest investment budget
\nof the last 32 years, the new Offshore Act and strengthening security within NATO
\nand the EU.<\/p>\n
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AUTOMOTIVE The city of Craiova, in southern Romania, Tuesday hosted
\na ceremony occasioned by the acquisition of the local Ford plant by Ford Otosan,
\nthe largest producer of commercial vehicles in Europe. The US-Turkish company
\nannounced investments of nearly EUR 500 million in the next 3 years, to
\nincrease production. The plant will make the new generation of a freight and
\npassenger transport model, with a fully electric version as of 2024. Ford Puma,
\nthe best-selling Ford automobile in Europe, will also have an electric version
\nas of 2024, to be produced in Craiova as well. Attending the event, PM Nicolae
\nCiuca highlighted the commitment of the company’s American and Turkish
\nofficials to strengthen and improve economic relations and strategic
\npartnership with Romania. He also added that Romania’s National Recovery and
\nResilience Plan includes a commitment to have 18,000 EV charging stations ready
\nin Romania by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
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SPORTS 494
\nswimmers from 42 countries are competing in the European Junior Swimming
\nChampionships underway in Bucharest until July 10. The host country, Romania,
\nis represented by 26 athletes, 14 boys and 12 girls, including the world
\nchampion in the 100m and 200m freestyle race, David Popovici. The 17 year old
\nchampion has already qualified for the semifinals of the 200m freestyle race. In
\nturn, Cristian Lapadat qualified for the 200m butterfly semi-final. Aissia
\nClaudia Prisecariu and Rebecca-Aimee Diaconescu have qualified for the women’s
\n50m backstroke semi-finals, while Ana Maria Sibiseanu takes part in the
\nsemifinals of the women’s 200m freestyle race. Romania’s men and women teams will
\nalso compete in the 4×100 freestyle final.<\/p>\n
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TENNIS US
\ntennis player Amanda Anisimova will be playing Romanian Simona Halep in the
\nquarter finals of the Grand Slam tennis tournament in Wimbledon. In the round
\nof 16, Halep secured a 6-1, 6-2 win against Paola Badosa of Spain, while
\nAnisimova defeated Harmony Tan of France 6-2, 6-3. A former world leader, Halep
\nwon the 2019 of Wimbledon and a year earlier the one in Roland Garros. (AMP)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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