Prime Minister Victor Ponta Criticizes Interior Minister Over Traffic Code
Prime Minister Victor Ponta called for the new Traffic Code to be publicly debated and adopted as soon as possible and criticized Interior Minister Radu Stroe for using the bill to try to reconcile opposite views.
Stroe said at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting parliamentary groups have already started debates on the Traffic Code and talks with members of civil society and professional associations are set for the following days.
“Following today’s debates, we’ve already found a way but it needs to be clear we can’t please everyone,” said Stroe, to which Ponta replied “You sure tried”. (Evenimentul zilei)
Klaus Iohannis Calls For Legislation Change After Winning Case Against Integrity Agency
Sibiu mayor and Liberal Party vice-president Klaus Iohannis is calling for a change in Romanian legislation and aligning it to EU legislation, after winning suit against the integrity agency which had found him incompatible with public office.
The Alba Iulia Court of Appeals sustained Iohannis’ claims against an integrity agency ruling that stated he had been incompatible with public office in 2009. the court decision is not yet final and may be appealed.
Iohannis is currently serving his fourth mandate as mayor of the central Romanian city of Sibiu. (Jurnalul National)
Romanians Can Sue Banks Over Abusive Clauses As Of October 1
Romanian consumers will be able to denounce in court potentially abusive clauses introduced by service providers, including banks, as of October 1, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Wednesday.
The Romanian authorities have postponed twice the introduction of a new stipulation to the Code of Civil Procedure that would allow consumers and the consumer protection authority to file class actions against service providers, including banks, over abusive clauses.
According to a central bank survey, Romanian lenders are likely to incur aggregate losses of some 5 billion lei (over EUR1.1 billion) following the implementation of the new measure. (Adevarul)
European Union To Relax Moldovan Wine Trade Barriers
The European Commission has said it plans to drop trade barriers to Moldovan wine, in a riposte to Russia’s ban on imports imposed on September 10.
The Commission plans to fast-track a deal that would fully open the EU market to Moldovan wines before a recently-agreed free trade agreement is implemented.
Moldova and the EU are set to sign an association agreement, which includes the free trade deal, in November this year. A current trade deal between the EU and Moldova restricts Moldovan wine imports to 24 million liters per year. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania’s Constitutional Court Clears Stray Dog Bill
Romania’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled the recently adopted bill allowing authorities to euthanize stray dogs is constitutional.
The bill, contested last week by a group pf 30 lawmakers, states stray dogs may be humanely euthanized if they are not adopted in 14 days after being sent to shelters.
The final vote on the bill, which had been stalled in Parliament for years, was prompted by the death of a four-year-old child, who was mauled by stray dogs in a park in Bucharest.
President Traian Basescu said mid-September he would sign the bill into law, as voted by Parliament, as soon as the Constitutional Court rules on its legality. (Evenimentul Zilei)