Basescu Says Romania’s Next Major Project Should Be Union With Moldova
Romanian President Traian Basescu considers the country’s next project, after NATO and EU integration, should be uniting with the Republic of Moldova.
“So far, Romania has had no bigger supporter than Romania. We will continue to unreservedly support Moldova. All my actions regarding the Republic of Moldova have been somewhat motivated by the thought that maybe someday our countries will be one again. I know now is not the right time, but with our without Moldova’s EU entry, sooner or later, it will happen. Look at Germany. How long was it separated? Up to a point,” said Basescu. (Adevarul)
Parliament Commission Reintroduces First Labor Group
The Chamber of Deputies’ labor committee has endorsed a bill that reintroduces the first labor group, Agerpres reported.
According to committee president, social democrat Florin Iordache, people who worked in hard conditions will be able to retire earlier.
The bill could benefit over 60,000 people who worked in the first labor group category. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Lawmakers In Talks Over New Mining Bill
After the scandal surrounding the government’s bill on Rosia Montana, lawmakers are debating a new bill on mining that has some of the same provisions as the one in favor of gold mining in Rosia Montana.
Although it was on the daily agenda Wednesday, the bill, which defines projects of special public interest and public utility, was returned to parliamentary committees at the request of the Ministry of Economy.
The ministry said some of the bill’s amendments need to be discussed with the ministries of Development, Transport, Culture, and Environment. (Gandul)
Government To Assess Projects With China In Special Cabinet Meeting In January
The evolution of projects undertaken alongside China will be analyzed in a Cabinet meeting in January, Prime Minister Victor Ponta told Cabinet members Wednesday.
“What happens next is very important. We have signed documents, started important projects. In January, at some point, I want to have a special Cabinet meeting to see how the projects we’ve signed are being implemented, to see which is going well, which is blocked,” Ponta said during the first Cabinet meeting following the China-CEE summit and bilateral meetings with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang. (Curentul)
Overdue Payments On Private Lending Hit EUR7.5B End-October
Overdue payments on private loans reached EUR7.59 billion at the end of October, more than 17% higher than at the beginning of the year, according to central bank data.
Salaj, Suceava, and Valcea are the counties where overdue loans account for the largest share of total private lending. (Adevarul)
Romania Should Encourage Savings To Pare Down Deleveraging – Central Banker
The lending resources of Romanian banks can be increased by implementing policies to reduce the budget deficit and encourage savings, a central bank official said Wednesday.
Central bank deputy governor Bogdan Olteanu said the deleveraging process–through which foreign banks reduce their exposure to the local economy–can be balanced with public policies that allow banks to increase their lending capacity.
“Savings levels have increased significantly since 2008, but the growth came after two decades of very low levels of savings in Romania. We should explore a public policy to stimulate savings,” Olteanu said. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Pensions To Be Paid A Few Days Early In December
Pensions will be paid a few days early in December, between December 11 and 23 instead of December 14-28, Labor Minister Mariana Campeanu said Wednesday.
She said the government decided to pay pensions in advance so beneficiaries would have money for the holidays.
The government made a similar decision and paid pensions in advance before Easter. (Adevarul)