Regional NATO summit to be held in Bucharest on November 4
Nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe will be represented at a regional NATO summit in Bucharest on November 4, hosted by Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis and attended by NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow. According to President Iohannis, the participants wish to launch a joint message regarding NATO’s need to adapt to the current security background. Alexander Vershbow has recently invoked risks being brought about by Russia’s operations performed in the close vicinity of NATO’s territory. The reunion had been announced at the beginning of March when Klaus Iohannis and his Polish counterpart at the time, Bronislaw Komorowski, agreed to schedule a new meeting of regional chiefs of state this autumn, ahead of the 2016 NATO Summit in Warsaw.
President Klaus Iohannis: Agriculture likely to become a source of welfare and economic growth in Romania
Romania’s most important event in agriculture, INDAGRA International Trade Fair, has started off today in Bucharest. 480 companies exhibiting equipment and products in agriculture, horticulture, viticulture and animal husbandry are hoping to seal new contracts. Romania is now registering trade deficit in the agrifood industry after two consecutive years when exports exceeded imports. Romanian agriculture’s value has increased exponentially in recent years, from 417 billion RON in 2007 to over 669 billion RON at the end of 2014, according to the Agriculture Minister speaking at the opening of the fair. The relevant minister has congratulated the food industry for the progress.
President Klaus Iohannis has also attended the opening ceremony speaking about Romania’s potential in this domain and saying that agriculture needs a longterm strategy. The head of state, who has promulgated today the Law on renewing Romania’ irrigation network, said this project needs to be continued by any government.
Klaus Iohannis: Agriculture is likely to become a source of welfare and economic growth in Romania but, in order to achieve this, new technology is needed, streamlining of rural, production, transport and outlet infrastructure, better connection of individual farmers with the market, their association and competition in all relevant market-economy forms.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta on first official visit to Mexico in 25 years
Prime Minister Victor Ponta is on a visit to Mexico, the first of this kind by a Romanian PM over the last 25 years. The invitation has been launched by President Enrique Pena Nieto amid celebrations of 80 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Mexico. Over the next two days, the Romanian Prime Minister will attend the international Open Government Summit and will have a series of meetings with Mexican authorities, according to a press release by the Cabinet.
Speaker of the Chamber to attend Parliamentary Intelligence – Security Forum in Washington
Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Valeriu Zgonea has started a visit to Washington to attend the Parliamentary Intelligence – Security Forum and before the event he had separate meetings with several congressmen. Following the forum, the Romanian official will have bilateral meetings with Congressman Mike Rogers, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces in the House of Representatives and with Senator Mark Kirk, member of the Committe on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, RADIO ROMANIA reported.
Amendments to the Fiscal Code to support small businesses and create new jobs
The Cabinet adopted several amendments to the Fiscal Code to be enforced starting next year which aim at supporting small businesses and creating new jobs. The VAT on drinking water and water used in irrigation will be cut down to 9%, the dividend tax is going to be reduced to 5% and the microenterprise turnover threshold will rise from a minimum 65.000 euros to 100.000 euros. Microenterprises will also benefit from a differentiated tax regime depending on the number of employees, according to PM Victor Ponta. TheVAT cut on water usage is going to help farmers, according to Agriculture minister Daniel Constantin who explained that this measure adds up to the recent law meant to renew the irrigation network, for better results on counteracting drought effects – RADIO ROMANIA reported.
Romanian MEP Monica Macovei leaves EPP Group and joins the Conservatives and Reformists
Romanian eurodeputy Monica Macovei has left the European People’s Party Group (EPP) and joined the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the European Parliament. The official stated that she chooses to join a political group that includes the party in Poland whose candidate was successful in last Sunday’s presidential elections and which also formed the new Polish government. The Romanian politician has also enlisted the party she formed, called M10, in the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR) which includes the UK Conservative Party led by PM David Cameron, RADIO ROMANIA reported.
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