December 16, 2023

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Newsroom, 16.12.2023, 13:55

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
meeting, with a final vote expected on Wednesday. On Thursday night the
government passed the two bills, which rely on better spending of EU funds and
on improving tax collection by means of a more efficient operation of the
national tax agency and on curbing tax evasion. PM Marcel Ciolacu, the leader
of the Social Democratic Party, spoke about an increase of budget revenues from
27% to 30% of GDP. According to him, the 2024 budget earmarks the largest
funding in Romania’s history for education and investments. The Opposition, on
the other hand, says the budget is based on unrealistic figures and that
payment of public pensions will be a major problem next year.

EU President Klaus Iohannis says the EU winter summit, which came to an
end in Brussels on Friday, will be remembered for the historic decision to initiate
accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian
official encouraged the government of Moldova to step up the reforms required
for EU integration. As for Ukraine, the president of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen, says the
decision was a promise kept and an investment in stability and security. EU
leaders also discussed the Israel-Hamas war, and condemned the continuing
hostilities with growing numbers of victims among Palestinian civilians in Gaza
and the West Bank. They argued that peace will only be achieved through a
two-state solution. A revision of the 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Financial
Framework, support for Ukraine, securitaty and defence, migration and the
future EU Strategic Agenda were also discussed at the European Council meeting
on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

COMMEMORATION Romania marks today 34 years since the start of the 1989 Revolution
in Timişoara (west) which eventually led to the fall of dictator Nicolae
Ceauşescu’s communist regime. In this context, the Revolution Memorial was
opened to the public in Timişoara on Saturday. The organisers prepared a
complex programme, providing information on the events of 1989, with a special
section for the visually impaired.

ISRAEL Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Friday night,
following an announcement that 3 Gaza hostages had been accidentally killed by
Israeli troops. The protesters demanded that the government immediately signed
a deal to free the remaining hostages. Over 100 people are still captive in
Gaza, after being kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7th attacks on Israel.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid will reach Gaza via an Israeli checkpoint, for the
first time since the start of the war, after Israel authorised access through
the Kerem Shalom checkpoint. So far humanitarian aid could only go through the Rafah
checkpoint from Egypt. After more than 2 months of armed conflict and the siege
imposed by Israel since October 9th, living standards in Gaza Strip
are described by the UN and NGOs for Palestinian civilians as a nightmare. According
to the UN, some 1.9 million people, accounting for 85% of the region’s
population, have been relocated. (AMP)