Competitiveness Strategy: Romania Should Reach Top Ten European Economies By 2020
Agriculture, food industry, energy, tourism, auto, IT, textiles, creative industries, wood processing and pharmaceutical industry are the ten sectors that Romania plans to develop by 2020, according to the country’s Competitiveness Strategy.
The government plans to turn Romania into one of the top ten economies at European level in the next six years, with “a significant contribution at global level”, by developing the aforementioned sectors. (Romania Libera)
PM: Special Construction Tax Might Be Lowered To 1%
Romania’s tax on special constructions, introduced earlier this year, might be lowered from 1.5% to 1% of the construction value, Prime Minister Victor Ponta stated.
The PM said that he also had talks with finance minister Ioana Petrescu on lowering the special construction tax, and added that the revenues coming from the tax will be placed at the disposal of local authorities instead of being added to the state budget. (Adevarul)
Presidency, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Publish NATO Summit Declaration
The Romanian Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published Saturday the official text of the NATO Wales Summit Declaration, presenting the North Atlantic Alliance plan following Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine.
The declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Wales reaffirms that “the greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territories and our populations against attack, as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty”. (Curierul National)
UNICEF: 17% Of Children In 58 Countries Are Subject To Severe Physical Punishment
Approximately 17% of the children in 58 countries are subject to severe corporal punishment such as hitting, slapping, boxing ears, according to UNICEF report “Hidden in Plain Sight“, released in September.
In Romania, one of 100,000 children between 0 and 19 years commits suicide as a result of violence, according to the report. In 2011, approximately 11,000 cases of violence against children have been reported in Romania, including their neglecting, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. (Adevarul)
National Health Card To Be Distributed As Of September 20
Romanian authorities signed Friday the distribution contract for the national health card with postal operator Posta Romana, starting September 20.
Thus, the national health card will be distributed by the postal operator’s employees or will be taken from the health insurance house.
Therefore, one of the most important projects of the heath system reform – the discounting of medical services based on the national health card – will be available as of September 20. (Evenimentul Zilei)