Klaus Iohannis, Angela Merkel Held Talks Over Romania’s Accession To Schegen Area
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin and held talks over Romania’s accession to the Schegen area, among others.
Iohannis stated that Romania counts on Germany’s support in identifying a solution to move forward towards achieving its goal to join the Schengen area, while Merkel offered a positive-evasive response to the Schengen issue.
Two weeks ago, Iohannis met French counterpart Francois Hollande, who gave assurance of his support on joining the Schengen area. Thus, Iohannis was expecting a similar support from German Chancellor, who avoided to offer a clear answer. (Adevarul)
PSD National Council To Name New President On March 20-21
PSD National Council was called for March 20-12 for electing a new president of the council, allegedly between Rovana Plumb, Gheorghe Nichita, Valeriu Zgonea, Constantin Nita and Marian Oprisan, and for talks over the changes in the party statute.
Rovana Plumb, PSD vice-president and president of PSD women organization, was the only one who clearly announced her intentions so far. Other options would be Gheorghe Nichita, the mayor of Iasi city and PSD vice-president, Valeriu Zgonea, Chamber of Deputies speaker, Constantin Nita and Marian Oprisan, also PSD vice-presidents. (Romania Libera)
Corruption, Fraud In Public Procurement Remain A Challenge For Romania: EC Country Report
Romanian local authorities are particularly affected by the lack of transparency in the allocation of public funds and the high risks of corruption in awarding public contracts at local level, according to European Commission’s Country Report Romania 2015.
The difficulties of the public procurement system in Romania are triggered by several factors, such as the lack of stability and the fragmentation of the legal framework, deficient checks and balances in the institutional system, the quality of competition in public procurement, and the administrative capacity of public purchasers, including the capacity and the degree of expertise of staff dealing with public procurement procedures at both national and local level, the report reads.
The adoption of a Public Procurement Strategy aiming at reforming the current public procurement framework is expected to be adopted within this year. (Adevarul)
Romania Minimum Wage Remains Second Lowest In EU – Eurostat
Romania continues to have the second lowest monthly minimum wage in the European Union, after Bulgaria, although it posted the fastest growth in EU, of 95%, between 2008 and 2015, Eurostat data show.
Minimum wage per month in national currency rose 95% , from RON500 to RON975 in the last seven years. Romania is followed by Bulgaria, with a 64% increase, and Slovakia and Latvia, with 58% and 57%, respectively.
Minimum wage per month in euros in Romania rose 57% from EUR139 to EUR218, the third fastest growth in EU. Bulgaria ranks first, with a 64% increase, from EUR112 to EUR184, followed by Slovakia, with a 58% salary hike in the last seven years, from EUR241 to EUR380.
Compared with 2008, minimum wages in 2015, expressed in national currency, increased in every member state, except for Greece where they dropped by 14% and in Ireland, where it remained unchanged. (Puterea)
Romanian Children Get EUR10 As Child Benefit, Compared With EUR100 In EU States
Romanian children get EUR10 (RON40) per month as child benefit, compared with the EUR100-150 average in other European Union countries.
Nevertheless, senators rejected the legislative initiative filed by several members of the National Liberal Party (PNL), stipulating the increase of monthly child benefit from RON40 to RON200, for all children, irrespective of their age. Children currently receive child benefit worth RON200 until they are 2 years old.
The legislative draft was rejected due to the supplementary costs of RON500,000 million, given that there are nearly 3 million beneficiaries who would get an extra RON140 each month. (Evenimentul Zilei)