BUDGET The 2024 state budget and social security budget bills will be reviewed by Parliament’s specialist committees as of Monday. On Tuesday the draft laws will be discussed in a joint plenary
\nmeeting, with a final vote expected on Wednesday. On Thursday night the
\ngovernment passed the two bills, which rely on better spending of EU funds and
\non improving tax collection by means of a more efficient operation of the
\nnational tax agency and on curbing tax evasion. PM Marcel Ciolacu, the leader
\nof the Social Democratic Party, spoke about an increase of budget revenues from
\n27% to 30% of GDP. According to him, the 2024 budget earmarks the largest
\nfunding in Romania’s history for education and investments. The Opposition, on
\nthe other hand, says the budget is based on unrealistic figures and that
\npayment of public pensions will be a major problem next year.<\/p>\n
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EU President Klaus Iohannis says the EU winter summit, which came to an
\nend in Brussels on Friday, will be remembered for the historic decision to initiate
\naccession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian
\nofficial encouraged the government of Moldova to step up the reforms required
\nfor EU integration. As for Ukraine, the president of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen, says the
\ndecision was a promise kept and an investment in stability and security. EU
\nleaders also discussed the Israel-Hamas war, and condemned the continuing
\nhostilities with growing numbers of victims among Palestinian civilians in Gaza
\nand the West Bank. They argued that peace will only be achieved through a
\ntwo-state solution. A revision of the 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Financial
\nFramework, support for Ukraine, securitaty and defence, migration and the
\nfuture EU Strategic Agenda were also discussed at the European Council meeting
\non Thursday and Friday in Brussels.<\/p>\n
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COMMEMORATION Romania marks today 34 years since the start of the 1989 Revolution
\nin Timi\u015foara (west) which eventually led to the fall of dictator Nicolae
\nCeau\u015fescu’s communist regime. In this context, the Revolution Memorial was
\nopened to the public in Timi\u015foara on Saturday. The organisers prepared a
\ncomplex programme, providing information on the events of 1989, with a special
\nsection for the visually impaired. <\/p>\n
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ISRAEL Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Friday night,
\nfollowing an announcement that 3 Gaza hostages had been accidentally killed by
\nIsraeli troops. The protesters demanded that the government immediately signed
\na deal to free the remaining hostages. Over 100 people are still captive in
\nGaza, after being kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7th attacks on Israel.
\nMeanwhile, humanitarian aid will reach Gaza via an Israeli checkpoint, for the
\nfirst time since the start of the war, after Israel authorised access through
\nthe Kerem Shalom checkpoint. So far humanitarian aid could only go through the Rafah
\ncheckpoint from Egypt. After more than 2 months of armed conflict and the siege
\nimposed by Israel since October 9th, living standards in Gaza Strip
\nare described by the UN and NGOs for Palestinian civilians as a nightmare. According
\nto the UN, some 1.9 million people, accounting for 85% of the region’s
\npopulation, have been relocated. (AMP)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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