Liberals Propose Bill To Keep Local Elect Found Incompatible In Office
Liberal Party president Crin Antonescu said the party will initiate a draft law next week for the amnesty of local officials whom the National Integrity Agency has declared incompatible with public office.
Antonescu said he is confident the Social Democratic Party will support the bill.
Antonescu said recently he supports amnesty measures for local officials in conflicts of interest for having been on the boards of companies under the authority of local city halls or county councils.
The Justice Ministry has rejected a similar bill submitted by social democrats. (Evenimentul Zilei)
2014 Excise Duty Rates Computed At RON4.4485/Euro
Romania’s excise duties will be computed next year using an exchange rate of the leu of 4.4485 per euro, 1.6% lower on the year, according to data from the European Central Bank.
Under Romania’s Tax Code, the level of the excise duties is set using the exchange rate announced by the ECB on the first working day of October of the previous year.
Romania levies excise duties on drinks and alcohol, processed tobacco, luxury items, coffee and various energy products.
In September, the government increased the level of alcohol excise duties and announced a series of new taxes on luxury items to counter the fiscal effects of a lower sales tax on bread. (Gandul)
Energy Minister Criticizes Foreign Power Distributors
The quality of power distribution services in Romania was not improved after the privatization of local profile companies and that is simply unacceptable, said minister-delegate for Energy Constantin Nita.
Nita said foreign utility giants like Enel (Italy), CEZ (Czech Republic) and E.ON (Germany), which bought power distribution companies in Romania, export the profits obtained locally and import used equipment.
“I am calling on foreign companies to revise their power distribution policy in Romania, as their actions must not hurt household or industrial consumers. Local authorities keep complaining that these companies can’t or won’t do anything to improve the power distribution networks. It is unacceptable,” Nita also said. (Curentul)
Romania Had Coldest Start Of October Of Past 80 Years
Tuesday was the coldest October 1 in Romania of the past 80 years, with just 5-6 degrees Celsius in the capital, very low for this time of year.
Meteorologists explained a similar situation occurred in 2002, when temperatures dropped to 11 degrees in Bucharest on October 1.
Although the weather will stay cold in the following days, temperatures are expected to rise gradually starting Sunday and reach normal values next week. (Adevarul)
Unemployment Rate Flat At 7.5% In August
Romania’s unemployment rate was stable at 7.5% in August compared with the previous month, but up from 6.9% in August 2012, seasonally adjusted data from the statistics institute INS showed.
The number of unemployed people was estimated at 744,000 in August, from 739,000 the month before. Male unemployment rate was 8.2%, while female unemployment reached 6.7%.
The figures are based on the definition recommended by the International Labor Organization (ILO). (Curentul)