December 2nd
A look at the stories making headlines in Romania today.
România Internațional, 02.12.2013, 12:00
2014 budget The budget and the social security bills for next year are being debated by the Parliament in Bucharest following their approval by the budget and finance committees last week. The Liberal Democrats in opposition are dissatisfied with their failure to bring amendments to the bill, which they say would have led to economic recovery. President Traian Basescu has warned that he will not sign the budget bill into law unless the cabinet led by the Social Democrat Victor Ponta eliminates the 7-eurocent increase in the excise duty on fuel. The 2014 budget bill is based on a 2.2% economic growth rate and 2.2% budget deficit.
Romania-Moldova The Romanian defence minister Mircea Duşa and his Moldovan counterpart Vitalie Marinuţa have today in Bucharest signed an agreement on the protection of classified military information and a cooperation protocol in the field of military education. On this occasion, Mircea Duşa said in 2013 Romanian and Moldovan military took part in a number of joint exercises held in the Republic of Moldova and Romania. The two officials also tackled Moldova’s efforts towards joining the European Union and the preparation by the Moldovan defence ministry of the start of talks with NATO.
EU borders The European Border Surveillance System known as EUROSUR has become operational today. This is a communication network aimed at improving the tracking, prevention and combating of illegal migration and cross-border crime. EUROSUR entails a number of stages and is implemented in the 18 member states on the EU’s southern and eastern borders, including Romania, as well as in Norway, which is not a member of the EU but forms part of the Schengen free movement area.
No-confidence motion The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest is today debating a simple motion submitted by the opposition over the descentralisation bill proposed by the Social Liberal government. The initiators of the motion say the descentralisation bill consolidates the position of county council presidents instead of bringing decision making closer to citizens. The Liberal Democrats in opposition also referred the matter to the Constitutional Court, saying the government’s calling for on a vote of confidence on the bill is unconstitutional. Prime minister Victor Ponta, however, says the bill will simplify the administrative system and make it more efficient. On the 19th of November, the government called for a vote of confidence in Parliament on the descentralisation bill.
Shale gas extraction Around 200 gendarmes intervened on Monday morning against activists and inhabitants of Pungesti village in north-eastern Romania who were protesting against plans by the American company Chevron to start shale gas extraction in the area. Several tens of people blocked a local road, trying to prevent the access of the company’s drilling equipment. Protesters are opposed to the use of hydraulic fracturing in shale drilling, which, environmentalists say, may lead to the pollution of groundwater and cause earthquakes. Chevron suspended explorations in the area in October, but today announced the resumption of drilling.
Film festival CineMAiubit Student Film Festival gets under way in Bucharest today. For four days, spectators will be treated to a wide range of titles from different parts of the world, including Britain, Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Egypt, the US, Israel, Poland and, of course, Romania. The festival’s international jury brings together a number of important figures from the world of Romanian and world cinema. CineMAiubit has three main sections: fiction, documentary, and animation and experiment, and is the biggest international film festival for students in Romania.
