July 5, 2022 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 05.07.2022, 20:00

PRESIDENCY Romania is a very involved actor in the European policy
and security policy, president Klaus Iohannis told a press conference on
Tuesday. He emphasised that the recent decisions at the European Council and
the NATO summit made Romania safer and more visible. Romanians are better
protected, Romania is better protected, the head of state pointed out.

TAXES Amendments to Romania’s Fiscal Code are subject to the
decision transparency procedure until Friday, and scheduled for endorsement by
the government next week. The changes agreed by the ruling coalition made up of
the Social Democrats, the Liberals and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians
in Romania in order to improve collection to the state budget include increases
of the tobacco and alcohol excises, of the VAT for the hospitality industry and
of property owner’s taxes. Gambling revenues up to roughly EUR 600 will be
taxed by 10%, those between EUR 600 and 2,000 by 20% and those over EUR 2,000
by 40%. Government sources say another measure introduces a 5% VAT rate for
purchased houses of up to 120 square meters. Other amendments may increase
house owner’s taxes by 60%. Taxes in the hospitality industry may also change
so they may not be under 1% of the turnover starting next year.

NATO
Romania’s foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu hailed Tuesday’s
signing of Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO accession protocols in Brussels by the
standing representatives of the 2 countries and of the Allied states, including
Romania. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, in
the current security context marked by Russia’s illegal war of aggression
against Ukraine, the 2 countries’ move proves their commitment to the
democratic values and spirit that NATO safeguards and promotes. Romania, the
ministry also says in a news release, has been one of the main supporters of
the Open Door policy as central to NATO’s strategic approach in relation to its
partner states. The decision to join the organization, Bucharest adds, is an
option any state is free to take, based on meeting the criteria defined for the
process and on the consensus of the Allies. No third party may affect NATO’s
enlargement policy. Bucharest is also confident that Finland’s and Sweden’s
accession will contribute to strengthening NATO security. After the
representatives of the 2 countries signed the accession protocol, each NATO
country’s parliament must ratify the decision, which may take up to one year.
Turkey is the only NATO member to make ratification conditional on commitments
regarding terrorism on the part of the 2 Nordic countries.

CABINET Seven months into their term in office, all the ministers
in the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă’s Cabinet have been reconfirmed in office. The PM
talked to president Klaus Iohannis about the assessment of his cabinet members
and according to political sources they agreed reshuffling is not necessary. Ciucă
informed his ministers however that last-minute submissions of key projects
under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan funded by the EU would not be
acceptable. Following a 10-criteria assessment that took into account the
expectations of Romanian citizens and society, PM Ciucă also presented a report
on the work of his government, which included overcoming the health crisis,
stabilisation of the energy crisis and the management of the effects of the war
in neighbouring Ukraine. The report also mentions the largest investment budget
of the last 32 years, the new Offshore Act and strengthening security within NATO
and the EU.

AUTOMOTIVE The city of Craiova, in southern Romania, Tuesday hosted
a ceremony occasioned by the acquisition of the local Ford plant by Ford Otosan,
the largest producer of commercial vehicles in Europe. The US-Turkish company
announced investments of nearly EUR 500 million in the next 3 years, to
increase production. The plant will make the new generation of a freight and
passenger transport model, with a fully electric version as of 2024. Ford Puma,
the best-selling Ford automobile in Europe, will also have an electric version
as of 2024, to be produced in Craiova as well. Attending the event, PM Nicolae
Ciuca highlighted the commitment of the company’s American and Turkish
officials to strengthen and improve economic relations and strategic
partnership with Romania. He also added that Romania’s National Recovery and
Resilience Plan includes a commitment to have 18,000 EV charging stations ready
in Romania by the end of 2026.

SPORTS 494
swimmers from 42 countries are competing in the European Junior Swimming
Championships underway in Bucharest until July 10. The host country, Romania,
is represented by 26 athletes, 14 boys and 12 girls, including the world
champion in the 100m and 200m freestyle race, David Popovici. The 17 year old
champion has already qualified for the semifinals of the 200m freestyle race. In
turn, Cristian Lapadat qualified for the 200m butterfly semi-final. Aissia
Claudia Prisecariu and Rebecca-Aimee Diaconescu have qualified for the women’s
50m backstroke semi-finals, while Ana Maria Sibiseanu takes part in the
semifinals of the women’s 200m freestyle race. Romania’s men and women teams will
also compete in the 4×100 freestyle final.

TENNIS US
tennis player Amanda Anisimova will be playing Romanian Simona Halep in the
quarter finals of the Grand Slam tennis tournament in Wimbledon. In the round
of 16, Halep secured a 6-1, 6-2 win against Paola Badosa of Spain, while
Anisimova defeated Harmony Tan of France 6-2, 6-3. A former world leader, Halep
won the 2019 of Wimbledon and a year earlier the one in Roland Garros. (AMP)