IMF Urges Ukraine To Free Up Gas Prices
The International Monetary Fund told Reuters on Friday Ukraine should allow the market to determine gas prices as promised under a $17.5 billion loan program, after the government extended a below-market level pricing system for households.
In 2016, Ukraine agreed to adjust gas prices to be in line with external market rates, but the government’s failure to implement the decision means the IMF held back disbursing further loans since it approved a tranche last April.
The IMF representative to Ukraine, Goesta Ljungman, said in emailed comments that low prices for households amounted to subsidies that were regressive and helped the largest users the most.
The Ukrainian central bank has repeatedly warned that Ukraine’s economic recovery could be jeopardized if it does not receive further financing under the program. Ukraine has received $8.4 billion so far from the Fund, helping it recover from a two-year recession following the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia and the outbreak of a Russian-backed insurgency in its industrial east. (jurnalul.ro)
Elena Udrea: Former Intelligence Service Head George Maior Wanted To Run For Romania President
Elena Udrea, a former minister and former adviser of Romania’s former president Traian Basescu, said the former director of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) George Cristian Maior wanted to run at the presidential elections in 2014.
Udrea also said Maior did not have the courage to tell then-president Basescu about his intention to run for president.
Udrea added that Basescu would have not agreed for a man running the intelligence service to run for Romania president because the respective person would hold information about all the actors involved. (romanialibera.ro)
Code Yellow Alert For Strong Wind
Meteorologists issued a new code yellow warning for strong wind in most of the regions of Muntenia and Dobrogea and on Monday (April 2), locally in Oltenia and Transylvania.
According to meteorologists, locally in Banat, Crisana, Transylvania, Oltenia and Maramures, the wind will blow hard, with gusts expected to reach 45 – 55 km/hour and temporarily, 60 – 65 km/hour. In the mountains, wind gusts will exceed 80 – 100 km/hour.
Between April 1, 3 p.m., and April 2, 9 p.m., in most of the regions of Muntenia and Dobrogea, and locally in the regions of Oltenia and Transylvania, wind gusts will exceed 45 – 55 km/hour. (puterea.ro)
Beneficiaries Of Pilon II and Pilon III Private Pensions Can Spread Out Cash-ins
The Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) has recently approved a set of norms introducing spaced out payments for mandatory (Pillar II) and voluntary (Pillar III) private pensions, as of April 1, 2018. So far, the amount collected from contributions has been paid only once, as a whole, at retirement.
Beneficiaries of Pilon II and III private pensions will be able to opt for a single payment or in tranches (so far, it was possible only the single payment).
For tranches, the amount can be paid in equal instalments, of at least RON500 per month, over a period of five years tops, except the last instalment, which is residual. (cotidianul.ro)