April 13, 2017

5.1 billion euros in EU funds available to Romania for transport investments

Newsroom, 13.04.2017, 13:54

EU FUNDS – Romania currently has available for investments in the transport sector over 6.8 billion euro, of which 5.1 billion from EU funds, said the European Commissioner for regional policy Corina Cretu. According to a news release issued by the Representation of Romania to the EU, Creţu discussed in Brussels yesterday with the Romanian Transport Minister Răzvan Cuc, and emphasised the need to spend up the funds provided by the EU. Corina Creţu also mentioned the benefits entailed by the programmes in this sector, which allowed for the transport network in Romania to be extended and improved. In turn, Minister Răzvan Cuc presented the commitment of Romanian authorities to finalising the current investments and start new projects.

EXPORTS – Romanian exports to Syria were 80% lower in 2016 than in 2011, when civil war broke out in that country. In 5 years, Romania has lost at least 500 million euros in exports, the daily Ziarul Financiar reports. Syria mostly imported livestock from Romania, sheep and goats, as well as dairy, eggs and fish. The daily also mentions that Romania has stayed uninvolved in the conflict in Syria, and in 2012 the then President Traian Băsescu would not close the Romanian diplomatic mission in Damascus, arguing that the country hosted a large Romanian community. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, 10,000-12,000 Romanians live in Syria, mostly women married to Syrian citizens. The Embassy of Romania also provides consular assistance to citizens from other countries, like Canada, France and Australia.

BORDER SECURITY – Romanian check points are getting crowded, because of a new European regulation tightening border checks, which took effect last week, and because of increased traffic ahead of the Easter holidays, the General Border Police Inspectorate reports. Waiting times for the trucks entering Romania at the Siret checkpoint in the north-east reach 10 hours. Problems are also reported at Giurgiu in the south and Petea in the north-west, where waiting times are around 90 and 60 minutes, respectively, while in Albiţa, in the north-east and Ostrov, in the south-east, those who want to cross the border have to wait for at least 30 minutes. The longest automobile queues are reported in Giurgiu and Petea. Border police say they are trying to strike a balance between citizen security and smooth traffic.

DECENTRALISATION – The Government of Romania endorsed yesterday a Decentralisation Strategy, aimed at bringing all public services closer to the citizens. The sectors targeted by the process are agriculture, education, healthcare, culture, environment, youth, sports and tourism. Until November, the relevant ministries will conduct impact analyses and will draw up sector-specific regulations for each field subject to decentralisation.

FINANCE – The Parliament of Romania will initiate the procedures to dismiss the management of the Financial Oversight Authority. The announcement, made by Liviu Dragnea, the president of the ruling Social Democratic Party, comes following a scandal involving the alleged nationalisation of private pension funds. Liviu Dragnea claims the head of the Financial Oversight Authority Mişu Negriţoiu started the rumours regarding the nationalisation, and denies that such a scenario is being considered. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is working on changes in the Fiscal Code to the effect of introducing a tax on household incomes. Suggestions include the introduction of the concept of household as an entity for tax purposes, a 10% flat tax rate as of January 2018 and tax deductions. At present, the income tax in Romania is calculated on an individual basis and the flat tax rate is 16% per month.

HOLY THURSDAY – Christians around the world, including in mostly Orthodox Romania, commemorate Holy Thursday today, when the Last Supper was followed by the arrest and trial of Christ. Tonight, Orthodox Christians attend the Matins of the 12 Gospels, when they listen to 12 biblical texts about the last moments in the life of Jesus. On Saturday night Christians will celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of Christ. This year, the Orthodox and Catholic Christians celebrate Easter on the same day.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)