Romania Had EUR500M In 2007-2013 For Social Inclusion
Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean said funds assigned to Romania for Roma integration are “fairy tales told in other countries” and countries that really got money for social integration should account for it.
Corlatean said Romania was allotted EUR500 million in 2007-2013 for social integration and the sums were never in the billion euros.
“Stories told in other countries about the billions and billions of euros Romania allegedly received for Roma social integration are false. In 2007 – 2013, for social integration, which doesn’t include just Roma, Romania had little over EUR500 million. But there are other European countries with major Roma integration issues that did have billions of euros at their disposal, we should ask them how they used that money,” said Corlatean. (Adevarul)
Antonie Solomon’s Senate Seat Still Not Declared Vacant
The senator seat held by democrat liberal Antonie Solomon, who has been in prison for nearly one month, has yet to be declared vacant.
The Senate has decided to resend the report on Solomon to the committee for legal matters, which has to take note of the termination of his lawmaker term and declare the seat vacant. (Gandul)
GFR Wants CFR Marfa Privatization To Continue
Gruia Stoica, owner of Grup Feroviar Roman (GFR), said he is looking into requesting a presidential decree allowing the privatization of state-owned railway freight carrier CFR Marfa to continue.
The sale process was not completed by the due date, as GFR did not pay the remainder of the price for a 51% stake in CFR Marfa and the deal has not yet been cleared by antitrust authorities.
Stoica declined to say whether he would file legal action against the Romanian state but said he was looking to recover the EUR30 million his company has already paid within the deal. (Gandul)
Liberals Propose Andrei Gerea For Economy Minister
Romanian liberals, part of the ruling coalition, have proposed Andrei Gerea, 45, for economy minister, following Varujan Vosganian’s resignation last week.
Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu said the proposition was approved by the party’s national political bureau unanimously and agreed by Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
Under the Constitution, the prime minister nominates members of the Cabinet but they are appointed by the head of state. (Adevarul)
Rosia Montana Commission To Start Debates On Bill Allowing Mine Opening
Members of the commission analyzing the Rosia Montana gold mining project will meet Wednesday to start debates by articles on the bill regulating gold mining works in the area.
The meeting will be held behind closed doors.
Talks on the bill were supposed to start Monday but were postponed after the commission interviewed minister Dan Sova for the third time.
Sova said he does not plan to attend the talks. (Curentul)