Romania, Among NATO Member States That Assigned 2% Of GDP For Defense
Senate chairman, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, met with the U.S. ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm, on Wednesday.
“The talks involved the stage and perspectives of bilateral relations, in the context of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the U.S., and the new administration from Washington, as well as the NATO collaboration on a regional level and in terms of joint theaters of operation. In this respect, Mr. Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, has emphasized that Romania is among the NATO member states that assigned 2% of the GDP for defense budget, as well as the importance of the presence of Romanian troops in the theaters of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Hans Klemm has expressed his appreciation towards Romania for these decisions,” the Senate said in a statement.
After the government adopted the decree decriminalizing certain graft offences (OUG 13), Hans Klemm had meetings with PM Sorin Grindeanu and PSD president, Liviu Dragnea. (mediafax.ro)
Romania Deepens Defense Ties With Germany And The Czech Republic
Romania will deepen defense ties with Germany and the Czech Republic, according to an agreement signed by the defense ministers of the three countries on Wednesday, NATO said in a statement.
“As part of this, the Czech Republic’s 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade and Romania’s 81st Mechanized Brigade will work closely with Germany’s 10 Armoured Division and Rapid Response Forces Division,” according to NATO.
Smaller armies can integrate their capabilities into an organizational structure provided by a larger ‘framework’ nation, according to NATO’s Framework Nation Concept.
The three allies will begin their cooperation through joint training and exercises starting this year. (mediafax.ro)
PSD Vice-President: Coalition Has Not Decided On New Justice Minister Yet
PSD vice-president, senator Paul Stanescu, said Wednesday that the governing coalition has not decided yet on the new justice minister, adding that Victor Ponta is not a solution.
Stanescu said that Ponta could have any other position in Grindeanu government, except for the position of justice minister.
Labor Minister, Lia Vasilescu, had previously said that Ponta could join Grindeanu government as justice minister.(mediafax.ro)
Oltchim Posts EUR168M Turnover, EUR2.5M Loss In 2016
Romanian chemical plant Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea (OLT.RO) reported a turnover of EUR168 million in 2016, similar with 2015, and losses of EUR2.5 million, according to preliminary data.
“Although production sold increased significantly in quantitative terms, the turnover achieved in 2016, amounting to EUR168 million, is roughly at the same level as in 2015 because of lower selling prices of finished products driven by the evolution of international prices,” the company said in a statement to Bucharest Stock Exchange.
The company capitalizes more than 73% of turnover at export and intra-community market and estimated for 2016 a positive net external balance of EUR96 million.
Oltchim has been under insolvency since January 2013 and its judicial reorganization plan was extended for another one-year period in 2016.
The chemical plant is 54.8% owned by the Economy Ministry, 32.34% by PCC SE, while other shareholders own the remaining stake of 12.85%. (mediafax.ro)
Vacations Paid With Vacation Vouchers Could Reach EUR380M In 2017
The vacations in Romania paid with vacation vouchers totaled EUR10 million last year, almost fourfold higher compared with 2015 and six-fold higher compared with 2014, said Alin Burcea, head of the National Association of Tour Operators (ANAT).
For this year, ANAT estimates a 38-fold increase of the sum if every public employee gets a vacation voucher worth RON1,450.
Last year, public employees got 1.1 million vacation vouchers, according to Finance Ministry data, which was 3.5-higher than in 2015 and 5.5-higher compared with 207,000 vouchers in 2014.
The EUR10 million spent last year on vacations paid with vacation vouchers had a significant contribution to the growth of the local tourism. According to ANAT, sales of tour operators rose 15%. (mediafax.ro)