3.9 Earthquake in Buzau County, Eastern Romania
An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale occurred Sunday afternoon in Buzau county, in Romania’s south-eastern Vrancea seismic area, the Earth Physics Institute said.
The tremble, which originated at a depth of 150 kilometers, is the strongest registered in Romania, in 2018.
In January 2018, Romania was shaken by 26 quakes, with 2 to 3.5-degrees magnitudes on the Richter scale, most of which occurring in Vrancea. (puterea.ro)
Romanians Have Low Wages Despite Working More Than Other EU Citizens
Despite the fact that Romanians work many hours per week, the efficiency is low and salaries are among the lowest in Europe. The citizens of EU rich countries, however, work less, but have high productivity and more money.
Romania places tenth in a ranking of working hours per week of full-time employees in EU member states, with 40.7 hours spent at work, little above the European average of 40.3 hours, according to a study by Eurostat. Despite working more than the French, Romanians earn four times less.
However, while a Romanian makes an average monthly salary of EUR520, a French employee makes an average EUR2,200, more than four times as much. (cotidianul.ro)
Government Readies New Tax For Romanians
Although Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said no new tax will be introduced under her ruling, the Environment Ministry plans to introduce a new tax.
The ministry plans to introduce a tax of 1% of the value of any investment to assess the impact of public and private projects on the environment.
The bill does not clearly specify which projects are targeted by the new tax. For the infrastructure, the tax of 1% of the value of a project is huge, higher than the costs with the feasibility study, a more complex analysis any large project relies on (for example: the Sibiu – Pitesti highway would entail a tax of nearly EUR30 million). (puterea.ro)
PM Dancila Says Ministers Will Be Assessed On A Monthly Basis
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said the activity of each minister in her Cabinet will be assessed on a monthly basis, together with the leaders of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) – the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) coalition, Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu, respectively.
“Each month, together with the two chairmen, Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu, we shall have an assessment of the activity of each minister. (…) We’ll make analyses for each ministry. (…) We’ll make these assessments taking into account the deadlines, the implementing of the governing program. Therefore, the analyses will also be made inside the ruling coalition, as it is natural,” Dancila said Sunday at a private television broadcaster.
According to Dancila, the collaboration between the Government and the ruling coalition will be a “natural one.” (puterea.ro)