Romanians’ 2014 Winter Holiday Spending The Same As Last Year, Survey Shows
Romanians plan to spend nearly RON1,500 on winter holidays this year, the same as in 2013, according to the latest survey by MEDNET Marketing Research Center.
Last year’s winter holiday spending was higher by nearly RON300 compared to December 2012. However, statistically speaking, this year there are no significant differences pointing to an increase in consumption.
According to the survey, 35.4% of urban respondents plan to spend below RON1,000 on Christmas and New Year’s Party this year, while 26.4% of them plan to spend an average RON1,500. (Curierul National)
Romania, Greece And Bulgaria To Build Regional Gas Infrastructure
Romania, Greece and Bulgaria on Tuesday signed an agreement targeting the joint development of a regional natural gas infrastructure.
In February 2011, the European Council decided that each member state of the European Union should have at least two natural gas and electricity sources by 2014, to offset any potential halts in Russian deliveries.
Romania and Bulgaria do not yet have a natural gas interconnector, despite the two countries working for several years on a project for the construction of a pipeline between Giurgiu and Ruse. The planned pipeline, which will engulf nearly EUR24 million, is due to be completed by 2016. (Romania Libera)
Romania To Raise Minimum Wage To RON975, Pensions By 5% As Of January 2015
Romania’s Labor Minister Rovana Plumb on Tuesday said the minimum wage will be increased to RON975 and pensions will be raised by 5% as of January 2015.
“Like I said before, all measures taken by the government are sustained through the 2015 state budget,” said Plumb, adding the minimum wage will be raised in two stages in 2015, to RON975 in January and to RON1,050 in July, from the current RON900.
The minister also said pensions will increase by 5% and the minimum pension will reach RON400. (Puterea)
Romania Agrees With IMF, EU On 2015 Budget Deficit Of 1.8% of GDP
Romania’s government reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission on next year’s budget, which includes a potential increase of the estimated deficit to 1.83% of the gross domestic product, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Tuesday.
Previous agreements included a deficit target of 1.4% of GDP for next year, and the new draft specifies the extra allotted funds will only be used for cofinancing of EU-funded projects.
Ponta said government will approve the budget draft in its Friday meeting and then send it for the Parliament vote. He also said the budget does not include tax raises and keeps many of the measures announced earlier this year, such as a cut of the social security tax and pension and wage increases.
A joint mission will return to Bucharest in January for a full review of the two-year precautionary loan agreement signed in September 2013. (Adevarul)
Lower House Rejects Bill On Correspondence Voting
Romania’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday rejected a bill introducing correspondence voting for Romanians abroad.
The bill was rejected with 203 pros, eight cons and 84 abstentions. The Chamber was decider on the matter.
The Parliament’s committees for administrative and legal matters decided this voting system presents significant vulnerabilities regarding the safety of the voting process.
The bill was put forward by four lawmakers of the right-wing People’s Movement Party (PMP), namely, Eugen Tomac, Mihaela Stoica, Valerian Vreme and Clement Negrut. (Evenimentul Zilei)