The Week in Review 7 – 13 July

A roundup of the week's main stories

România Internațional, 12.07.2014, 12:04

The summer session of the Romanian Baccalaureate comes to an end

Some 60% of 12th-grade high-school undergrads in Romania have passed the summer session of the Romanian Baccalaureate exam, which is by 3% more than the figure of last year. This year as well the exam was marred by certain irregularities. A school inspector in Arad was accused for taking bribe to help certain students pass the exam, and was subsequently placed on temporary 30-day house arrest. Certain students caught cheating were eliminated and handed out a ban for taking the exam for another two sessions. Although the Government claims education has been reporting important progress, president Traian Basescu disagrees. The President has called on the Ombudsman to call on the Constitutional Court to investigate the emergency ordinance providing for new measures in the field of education and scientific research. The head of state claims that law had a series of changes with a negative impact on both secondary and higher education.

Businessman Dan Voiculescu to be investigated under judicial control in a blackmail case

The founding president of the Conservative Party in the ruling coalition, businessman Dan Voiculescu, will remain in judicial arrest. The Bucharest Court of Law ruled against the appeal filed by Voiculescu who contested the decision of anti-corruption prosecutors in a case where he has been presented with charges of blackmail. Voiculescu allegedly threatened three businesspeople for launching an aggressive smear campaign against them unless they signed contracts with his influential media trust. Voiculescu has denied all charges, claiming he does not know any of the plaintiffs. Voiculescu has also been investigated since 2008 for the illegal privatization of the Institute for Food Research in Bucharest, which caused the state a prejudice of 60 million euros.

Romania’s president Traian Basescu signed the laws on the ratification of Association Agreements with the EU signed by the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia

Romania’s president Traian Basescu has signed the laws to ratify the Association Agreements with the European Union signed by the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia in June in Brussels. President Basescu says the singing of the agreements shows that no one can stop the evolution of a nation. The move will also benefit Moscow, Basescu argues, recalling that based on the Association Agreements with the EU the competitiveness and quality of products and services from the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia will be brought in line with European standards. Last week, the Romanian Parliament completed the process of adopting the laws for the ratification of the Association Agreements, Romania thus becoming the first EU Member State to ratify them.

Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean attends the Croatia Forum Conference in Dubrovnik

Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean attended the Croatia Forum international conference in Dubrovnik, this year focusing on the European integration of states in the Western Balkans. Organized by the Government on Croatia, the event was structured alongside three discussion panels, focusing on the following topics: “The European Integration of the Western Balkans: Similarities and DisparitiesThe Future of the EU EnlargementPresent-day challenges to European values.” According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, Titus Corlăţean had a keynote address dealing with the future of the European Union’s Enlargement policy. Attending the current edition will be European high-ranking officials, Foreign Ministers of EU Member States and countries subject to the EU’s Enlargement policy, alongside other guests from China, Japan, the United States and New Zealand.

The social security contribution law breeds a new conflict between the President and the Prime Minister

President Traian Basescu has announced we will not sign the law recently adopted by Parliament providing for a 5% decrease in social security contributions as of October 1. The president said this measure was taken at a time when budget revenues are below expectations, and that it may risk to affect the stability of an already deficient pension fund. In addition, the increase may also impact macroeconomic indicators agreed upon with the IMF. The president wants to have consultations with the Government on this issues, but Prime Minister Victor Ponta says the time for talking is over, since the law already passed Parliament. Hailed by the business environment, the reduction of social security contributions for employers received a negative recommendation from the Fiscal Council, which plays a consultative role in elaborating policies in this field.

Romania’s population to drop in the coming years

Romania’s population will continue to drop in the following years, down to an estimated 12 million in 2060, read the latest demographic data made public by the National Institute of Statistics on World Population Day, an event marked every year on July 11. In 2013, the number of young people below 14 years dropped by 50,000, while the number of people aged above 65 increased by 40,000. Data also show that nearly 54% of the overall population lived in urban areas at the beginning of the year. Women currently account for 51% of Romania’s population. The average lifespan for women stands at 78 years, higher than the estimated life expectancy rate at birth, standing at 74 and a half years.