Romania’s Flag May Feature Coat of Arms
The Romanian Parliament’s committee for the revision of the Constitution on Tuesday adopted an amendment proposed by social democrat MP Gheorghe Emacu whereby the national flag of Romanian will bear the country’s coat of arms.
Several amendments, including declaring May 10 Romania’s national day and changing the country’s anthem, were rejected.
The committee also approved the introduction in the Constitution of a provision stating Romania is a member of the European Union. (Romania Libera)
Brasov Prosecutors Detain Twelve People In Three Drug Dealing Cases
Organized crime prosecutors in Brasov have cracked down on three drug dealing groups and twelve people have been placed under preventive arrest, while several others are investigated at large.
Prosecutors are investigating 50 people, aged 21 to 31, in three different criminal cases, according to prosecutors Catalin Borcoman. (Puterea)
Steaua Owner Becali Sentenced To Three Years In Prison In Bribery Case
George Becali, owner of football team Steaua Bucharest, has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to bribe the players of a team whose win would have secured Steaua’s championship title in 2008.
A panel of five judges with the High Court of Justice issued a definitive ruling Tuesday, sentencing Becali to three years in prison. Other defendants in the case got suspended sentences for aiding Becali.
Becali had offered U Cluj players EUR1.7 million to defeat CFR Cluj, Steaua’s rival in the championship final and later claimed he had intended to use the money to pay for a plot of land. He admitted recently, in the trial’s last hearing, that he had forged a sale contract and had in fact planned to pay off U Cluj players.
The court also ordered the EUR1,7 million be confiscated.
Becali has been in prison since May 20, where he is serving another three years for fraud in a land swap deal. (Puterea)
Romania To Simplify Expropriation Procedures
Romania’s Government will simplify expropriation procedures in view of public utility works, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Tuesday, adding expropriation issues have prevented authorities from finishing the construction of a gas pipeline connecting Romania to the Republic of Moldova.
The Cabinet’s agenda for Tuesday includes a bill simplifying expropriation procedures for public utility works of local or national interest.
Ponta said the bill needs to be approved to allow works to continue on the gas pipeline linking Romania to Moldova. He said the project is stalled because 40 property owners out of 350 are refusing expropriations and asking for more money for their property.
Ponta said two weeks ago authorities want to connect Romania and Moldova’s natural gas pipelines by the end of this year. (Puterea)
Romania Temporarily Cuts Renewable Energy Aid
The Romanian Government has decided to put off, starting July 1, the granting of a part of green certificates to investors in micro-hydro units, wind power plants and photovoltaic power stations.
The measure will be valid until March 2017 for hydropower units and photovoltaic power stations, and until 2018 for wind farms. It will be implemented through an emergency ordinance adopted by the Government in its Tuesday meeting.
Romania will temporarily reduce the number of green certificates granted to renewable energy producers to rein in electricity price increases.
Wind power producers will receive one green certificate for each megawatt of energy they produce, instead of two certificates currently. Hydropower producers with installed capacity not exceeding 10 MW will receive one certificate instead of three, while solar power producers will get four green certificates instead of six. (Evenimentul Zilei)