Romanian MPs To Visit Rosia Montana For Talks With Local Authorities, NGOs
The Romanian Parliament’s special committee for the Rosia Montana gold mining project will arrive in Rosia Montana next week to discuss the project with local authorities, nongovernmental organizations and citizens.
The committee includes 21 lawmakers (ten senators and 11 deputies).
Thousands of people in Bucharest and other cities across the country have been rallying for weeks against the government-backed bill allowing the start of a gold mining project in Rosia Montana, western Romania.
On the other hand, miners in Rosia Montana barricaded themselves underground calling on authorities to push ahead with the project and create new jobs.
After being rejected by the legislature’s committees for legal matters and environment protection, the bill is now pending a vote in Parliament. (Gandul)
Romania Uncollected VAT At EUR10.3B In 2011, Or 7.86% Of GDP
Romania lost EUR10.3 billion in 2011 in uncollected value added tax and is ranked first in the European Union regarding the share of uncollected VAT in the gross domestic product, according to a European Commission document obtained by French daily Le Monde.
Romania, Greece and Latvia register the highest loss from uncollected VAT as a share of their GDP, according to Le Monde. Greece lost EUR9.8 billion in 2011 and Latvia lost Letonia EUR1 billion.
In Romania, uncollected VAT in 2011 stood at 7.86% of the country’s GDP of EUR131.3 billion.
In EU, uncollected VAT amounted to approximately EUR193 billion in 2011, or 1.5% of the Union’s GDP of EUR12,669 billion. (Gandul)
Public Transport Employees Protest In Bucharest Over Small Wages
About 4,000 public transport employees protested in Bucharest Wednesday demanding higher wages.
Protesters picketed the headquarters of the Government and then marched to the headquarters of the ministries of Finance and Labor.
They call on authorities to amend labor legislation so that may negotiate higher wages. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romanian Prosecutors To Start Criminal Investigation Against Former Labor Camp Commander
Romania’s institute investigating crimes committed during the communist regime has asked prosecutors to start criminal investigation against Ion Ficior, a former commander of a forced labor camp in Periprava (Tulcea county).
The institute accuses Ficior, now aged 85, of genocide. He was in charge of the Periprava labor camp between 1958 and 1963 when he allegedly starved and beat to death several political detainees.
In August, Romanian prosecutors started hearings in a case investigating Alexandru Visinescu, who ran the Ramnicu Sarat prison, where pre-communist politicians and intellectuals were incarcerated, tortured and murdered. The former prison commander is accused of aggravated murder. (Curentul)