March 15, 2017
EC concerned over Romania's biggest budget deficit growth in the Union/ Romanian women victims of slavery in southern Italian farms/ IMF assessment mission to Bucharest
Newsroom, 15.03.2017, 13:39
BUDGET DEFICIT — The European Commission is concerned that this year Romania might have the biggest budget deficit growth within the EU, said Wednesday the head of the EC Representation in Romania, Angela Cristea. Upon the presentation of the “2017 Economic report for Romania” she said that, despite the assurances the EU received from the Romanian government that it has no reason for concern, the budget deficit might reach 3.6% in 2017 and 3.9% next year. Mrs. Cristea explained that the 2017 budget adopted by the leftist government includes several tax cuts and measures to increase budget expenditure for salaries in the public sector and for pensions. Also Romania’s economic growth is estimated at 4.4% in 2017 as compared to 3.7% in 2018. The report was drafted as part of the European Semester, a mechanism through which community states adapt their budget and economic policies to the targets and norms agreed at EU level.
SLAVERY — A Romanian government delegation headed by the minister for the Romanians abroad, Andreea Păstârnac, is paying, as of Wednesday, a working visit to Italy in the context of disclosures indicating cases of exploitation of Romanian citizens who are working in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. The Romanian officials with meet with the Italian local authorities, with representatives of the organizations of Romanian citizens working in Italy as well as with members of the associations involved in defending the rights of foreign workers and protecting them from abuse. Also, the Romanian Ombudsman has announced he will contact the Italian authorities while the Romanian MPs intends to send a delegation to Italy to discuss with their counterparts the situation of exploited Romanian women. As many as 7,500 women, mostly Romanian, are the victims of slavery in farms in southern Italy, according to estimates made by the Italian police. The women are victims of abuse, including threats and sexual assault, which is perpetrated with almost total impunity, shows an investigation published on Sunday by the British weekly The Observer.
DUTCH ELECTIONS — As many as 13 million Dutch citizens are expected to vote on Wednesday in the country’s legislative elections which are considered crucial for the future of the country and of Europe as well. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent to the Hague, the main topics that dominated the election campaign were the future of Europe, the refugee crisis, radical Islam and the recent diplomatic conflict between the Netherlands and Turkey. Opinion surveys show that the main favorites are the Liberals of PM Mark Rutte and the anti-immigration party led by Geert Wilders, who promised to take the Netherlands out of the EU, to close down all mosques and to forbid the Koran. Running high chances are also the Christian Democrats and the ecologists. Analysts say that, irrespective of the score Wilders’ party will get, they will not be able to govern because nobody seems willing to collaborate with them. We recall that the Netherlands is one of the most influential western opponents to Romania’s joining the Schengen area. Their arguments are the unconvincing results of the Romanian authorities in the fight against corruption.
IMF ASSESSMENT MISSION — The head of the IMF mission to Romania, Reza Baqir, who is on an assessment mission to Bucharest, is meeting today with the deputy prime minister Sevil Shhaideh to discuss Romania’s economic policies. On Tuesday the IMF official talked with the members of the parliamentary budget and finance committees and announced that Friday, at the end of his visit to Romania, he would present the conclusions of the talks held with the Romanian authorities. The IMF has asked for this assessment meeting as part of the annual consultations conducted with all IMF member countries.
EU – ROMANIA — The future of Europe and the absorption of European funds are the main themes to be discussed by the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu, with the Romanian authorities. As of today, she is on a visit to Romania until Friday. On Wednesday the European Commissioner is meeting with the representatives of the joint European affairs committees in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, while Thursday she will hold talks with PM Grindeanu, the deputy PM and minister of regional development, Sevil Shhaideh, as well as with other Romanian dignitaries. (translation by L. Simion)
