Parliament Adopts Country’s Defense Strategy
Romanian lawmakers adopted the country’s national defense strategy Tuesday with 282 votes in favor,one abstention and one vote against.
The strategy vote barely made quorum, as several lawmakers of the ruling Social Democratic Party were absent from the plenary meeting. (Adevarul)
EU Warns Fiscal Deficit Will Slip If Romania Introduces New Tax Code
The introduction of the current form of the Tax Code in Romania starting next year will create a significant fiscal deficit, which could prove difficult to correct, according to the representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.
One of the main measures in the Tax Code, which is currently awaiting Parliament approval, is the reduction of the value added tax rate from the current 24% as of January 1, 2016. The government proposed a reduction to 20% but MPs are backing a larger cut, to 19%, and the proposition is expected to pass as it has attracted the opposition’s support as well.
The VAT rate cut proposal raises several question marks as it can hurt Romania’s fiscal sustainability, said Annika Breidthardt, Spokesperson for Jobs, Growth and Investment, at the European Commission. (Adevarul)
European Commission Adopts 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program
The European Commission has adopted the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program, Managed By The Romanian Ministry Of Regional Development And Public Administration.
Corina Cretu, EU commissioner for regional policy, and Sevil Shhaideh, Romania’s minister of regional development, attended the signing of the Commission’s decision on the program Tuesday, in Brussels.
“We adopted today one of the largest investment programs in the European Union that will benefit Romania by promoting urban mobility, improving regional connectivity and offering better access to social services,” said Cretu. (Curierul National)
Over 15,000 Jobless Romanians Took Training Courses This Year
Over 15,000 unemployed people benefited this year from professional training courses organized by the National Employment Agency.
Beneficiaries covered all age categories but the bulk of them were unemployed people aged 35 to 45.
In January-May 2015, the employment agency started 919 free professional training programs. (Adevarul)
Half Of Pharmacies In Romania Might Close Down In The Next Year
Half of pharmacies in Romania might be closed in the upcoming year if medicine prices fall too much without harmonization with the clawback tax, Robert Popescu, head of the Association of Pharmaceutical Distributors and Retailers in Romania (ADRFR), told the Mediafax Talks about Health Reform conference.
Popescu said that the setting up of the lowest European price for medicines in Romania, which is then impacted by the clawback tax, represents a mechanism which could not trigger economic health for the pharmaceutical operators, either international or local producers, distributors or pharmacies.
In his opinion, there will be an advantage for patients but, from the point of view of the costs for National Health Insurance Fund, there will be no direct savings, but indirect ones, as companies will pay a lower clawback tax. (Romania Libera)