October 25, 2013 UPDATE
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Corina Cristea, 25.10.2013, 19:50
The IMF, World Bank and European Commission experts who are in Romania for an assessment of the stand-by agreement signed in September discussed on Friday with the Romanian authorities about this year’s budget execution, fiscal measures and next year’s budget. PM Victor Ponta announced that the last budget amendment this year would be negative and would be approved in Wednesday’s government meeting. He explained that revenues to the state budget are smaller than estimated, but that the ruling Social Liberal Union is not considering an increase of the flat tax rate.
European Union heads of state and government agreed, in the two-day summit that concluded on Friday in Brussels, for a single digital market to be operational in the Union by the end of 2015. The EU leaders also discussed issues such as migration and the surveillance of the Union’s external borders. Previously, they adopted a joint declaration, in support of a French-German initiative regarding talks with the US. The declaration, calling for mutual respect, comes after information surfaced on US spying on its European allies. Romania was represented in the EU summit by president Traian Basescu. The Romanian president said, in Brussels, that Bucharest hoped the neighbouring Republic of Moldova would sign the Free Trade Agreement and the EU Association Agreement during the Eastern Partnership Summit due to take place in Vilnius at the end of next month. He added that Ukraine signing the two agreements would be a most important moment for the EU.
