Government Approves New Multiannual State Aid Scheme For SMEs
Romania’s government approved on Thursday a memorandum whereby small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be backed to develop investments through a new multiannual state aid scheme.
The financial aid will be provided as grants for the reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred by initial investments, for the purpose of achieving some investment targets, according to the government.
The state aid scheme is designed as a multiannual program, until 2020, based on state budget financing, and the selection of beneficiaries of the state aid will be made through annual registration, within the budget allocated through the state budget law and while observing the conditions of eligibility. The scheme was drafted for the 2017-2020 period. (Puterea)
Social Democrats Ready New Bill To Combat Electoral Tourism
Social democrat lawmaker Florin Gheorghe put forward a bill banning people who change their domicile or residence less than three months before the date of elections from exerting their voting right in the new locality where they moved.
Gheorghe said that, unfortunately, the current legislative framework still maintains the possibilities to fraud the electoral process.
According to Gheorghe, some people change their domicile or residence only a few days before the date of elections in view of backing a certain candidate. (Adevarul)
PM Ciolos To Go Before Parliament To Present Romania’s Economic Situation
Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos will go before Parliament to present Romania’s economic situation, government spokesman Liviu Iolu said Thursday.
“The initiative of the Social Democratic Party is very good because it gives the possibility to Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to go before Parliament and show that this year’s economic data are very good. There is a 6% economic growth in the second quarter, there are over the target collections. (…) It is also a good opportunity to draw the attention in Parliament on the legislative initiatives which put pressure on the budget and, consequently, on the budget deficit set by the Parliament. The Prime Minister will go before Parliament as he has always done and is only expecting the date according to the Parliament procedures,” Iolu pointed out in a briefing at the Victoria Palace.
PSD head Liviu Dragnea on Thursday sent an open letter to Ciolos, asking him for an official position of the Government on measures “worrying the citizens,” among which capping the child-rearing allowances, the increase in the fees for those conducting freelance activities through the modification of the Tax Code. (Puterea)
New School Year Brings Major Changes To Education System
Romania’s Education Minister Mircea Dumitru said the ministry will organize in October a series of contests for the heads of all school units, from kindergarten to high school units.
Such contests have not been organized since 2008.
Currently, all school heads are appointed by school inspectorates and the last terms filled through contests expired in 2012.(Evenimentul Zilei)
United Romania Party Readies No-Confidence Motion Against Ciolos Cabinet
The United Romania Party (PRU) will start on Monday to raise signatures in Parliament for a no-confidence motion aimed at toppling the government run by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.
PRU, fully endorsed by former prime minister Victor Ponta, has collected 21 of the 128 necessary signatures.
PRU asked PSD and ALDE lawmakers „to stop miming the opposition” and help them topple the government. If the no-confidence motion passes in Parliament, PRU will back Ponta for prime minister, said PRU head Bogdan Diaconu. (Evenimentul Zilei)