Romania May Get EUR1B Additional EU Funds For Infrastructure
The Romanian government should submit, by February 26, eligible infrastructure projects to get supplementary EU funds of up to EUR1.2 billion for railway, naval and road infrastructure.
The European Union assigns EUR11.9 billion for infrastructure projects via European Interconnection Mechanism. Thus, member states should submit their projects by February 26, in order to be evaluated by European Commission representatives. (Adevarul)
CRH Buys Lafarge-Holcim Assets, Including Romanian Operations, For EUR6.5B
Irish cement maker CRH will buy most of the cement assets that French group Lafarge and Swiss construction materials maker Holcim must sell ahead of their planned merger, including the Romanian operations, in a transaction valued at EUR6.5 billion.
In Romania, CRH will buy Lafarge’s assets, namely two cement plants, in Medgidia and Hoghiz, and one milling station, in Targu Jiu. CRH will buy operations mainly in Europe, Canada, Brazil and the Philippines.
Last April, Lafarge and Holcim announced they will merge and create the largest global cement maker with an annual turnover estimated at over $40 billion. To get antitrust clearance, the two companies have to sell several assets, including in Romania. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Oil Refinery RAFO Onesti To Be Sold As Scrap Metal
Vienna-based Petrochemical Holding, the majority shareholder of Romanian oil refinery RAFO Onesti (RAF.RO), has decided to dismantle the refinery, sell it for scrap metal and use the land as an industrial platform for other projects.
Due to the financial situation of RAFO, its general manager has been mandated to sell the company’s assets and equipment, the company said in a statement to the Bucharest Stock Exchange Tuesday. Petrochemical Holding owns 96.51% in RAFO. (Puterea)
Politicians Mull Amending Law On Funding Political Parties
At the beginning of the parliamentary session, politicians in all political parties talked about the necessity to amend the law regulating the financing of parties and electoral campaigns.
Nevertheless, the civil society does not agree with their solutions and has asked for clear measures such as the non-involvement of private or state-owned companies in electoral campaigns and restricting expenses. Several deputies and senators blamed the current law on financing political parties, which is considered too permissive. (Adevarul)
ANL To Get EUR55M From State Budget For Social Housing
Romanian Development Ministry estimates that National housing agency ANL will get approximately EUR55 million from the state budget for social housing construction for youths and Roma people, and will get EUR6 million from the sale of 500 apartments.
According to ANL draft budget for 2015, the agency will get RON246,285,000 from the state budget (EUR54.73 million), which will be used for the program on the construction of social housing for youths and Roma people. (Curierul National)