Some 5,000 Unionists Protest Tuesday Over Labor Legislation
Some 5,000 Romanian unionists affiliated to union confederation Cartel Alfa are protesting Tuesday at the Government headquarters, in Bucharest’s Piata Victoriei Square, calling for amendments to labor and social dialog laws.
Cartel Alfa head, Bogdan Hossu, said everybody displeased with the labor legislation is expected to join the protests. (Adevarul)
PM: Romania To Continue Listings With Hidroelectrica, Aeroporturi Bucuresti, Constanta Harbor
The Romanian government will continue the listing of state-owned companies such as power producer Hidroelectrica, Bucharest airport company Aeroporturi Bucuresti, energy holding CE Oltenia and Constanta Harbor, Prime Minister Victor Ponta stated.
Speaking at the opening of the Bucharest bourse’s Monday session, Ponta said he hopes 2015 would be the right year for such listings.
“As 2013 and 2014 were good years for the development of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, I really want this to continue in 2015 and 2016, and the government’s involvement, either at legislative level or at decisional level by listing the companies still in its portfolio, should back the development of the capital market,” Ponta concluded. (Puterea)
Romania Tax Revenues Slightly Above Plan After 9 Months
The Romanian tax authority ANAF collected revenues of 135.98 billion lei (EUR30.8 billion) in the first nine months of 2014, 0.5% above the planned amount, the institution said in a news release.
The value of tax revenues is 5.7% higher than the RON128.63 billion collected in January-September 2013.
According to ANAF, the state budget revenues increased 5.1% on the year to RON91.9 billion, which is 0.1% above the plan.
Collections from the value added tax, which is the biggest contributor to the budget as it accounts for more than a third of the state budget revenue, rose just 0.8% to almost RON38 billion. Excise duties, however, increased 11.2% to RON17.1 billion, mainly due to a higher exchange rate used to calculate the tax, but also to improved collection. The corporate profit tax added RON9.97 billion to the budget, 13.1% more than in the first nine months of 2013. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romanian Government Launches Car Loan Program In November
Romania’s government wants to launch the “First Car” program in November, a state-guaranteed lending program for the purchase of new cars.
The government estimates 20,000 cars a year will be bought under the program.
Economy Minister Constantin Nita told a news conference Monday the program targets to support young people to purchase new cars, to encourage the purchase of safer and less pollutant cars and to support the local car industry.
The program mainly targets people aged 18 to 35, but other age groups are not excluded. State guarantees on car loans will cover maximum 50% of the loan and the purchased car will represent the rest of the collateral.
Loans will be capped at RON50,000 plus VAT and the cost of the voluntary car insurance policy for the first year. Prospective buyers will have to make a down-payment of 5% to 10% of the loan. The maximum loan period is 84 months. (Adevarul)
Romania Foreign Ministry: Death Toll In Greece Highway Crash Reaches Five
The death toll from the multi-car pile-up that took place on the Egnatia highway on Sunday climbed to five by the evening, after one man died during surgery, while the count for those injured rose to 30, said Romania’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The 39 year-old Romanian truck driver responsible for the accident is charged with involuntarily serial manslaughter and is expected to be sent to a magistrate to give his testimony. In statements after his arrest, the 39-year-old foreign truck driver that ploughed into at least 30 cars told police that his brakes had failed. (Curierul National)
EU Lawmakers Reject Hungarian Culture Nominee
The European Parliament committee on culture and education voted on Monday to reject the nomination of Hungarian Tibor Navracsics as education and culture commissioner, though it accepted that he could be a part of the EU executive in another role, according to lawmakers.
The vote in the culture and education committee went 14-12 against the Hungarian taking the post he was offered. The move may disrupt the line-up of the executive team proposed by incoming European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. (Jurnalul National)