“I have decided, to eliminate the president from trade union disputes, to sign the ordinance into law even though it lacks approval from the European Commission, as required in the accession treaty. There may be consequences once that notice arrives but I presume the Government has undertaken the responsibility of dealing with potential consequences,” Basescu said.
Producers of renewable energy in Romania benefit from government support via a green certificates scheme, which allows them to recover part of the production costs.
In June last year, the government issued an emergency ordinance temporarily reducing the number of certificates granted under the scheme, in a bid to lower electricity prices.
The bill became a subject of dispute between Basescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who said the head of state was blocking the act. Basescu, in turn, said Romania risks an infringement procedure because the Government did not notify the European Commission about its planned amendments to green energy legislation.
Hundreds of industry workers have been protesting in Bucharest over the last two days, requesting a swift resolve of the issue and that the authorities stop over-taxation of electricity prices.