Romania’s government new emergency order
Romania’s government adopted a new emergency order on Wednesday expected to further relax public procurement procedures after one of the provisions in a previous draft law was rejected as unconstitutional by the country’s Constitutional Court. The new version of the order simplifies procedures allowing an easier acces to EU funds, according to Ionel Dancă, head of Romanian Prime Minister’s Office, who made a statement at the end of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Romania’s relations with Russia as seen by Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu
Romania is not interested in worsening its relations with Rusia, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said in a statement on Wedenesday, though Russia was seen as a threat in the country’s National Defence Strategy adopted recently. Romania’s position complies with views at NATO levels so there are no substantial news on the matter, the Romanian minister pointed out. According to Romania’s Strategy of National Defence, Russia is seen as a threat to the country’s national security. The Romanian National Defence Strategy, signed by President Klaus Iohannis earlier in June and sent to parliament to be voted on, noted Russia’s aggresion and its violantions of international law as security concernes. On June 11, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zacharova told reporters that Romania’s national defense strategy would be used to increase NATO and the US presence in the Black Sea. Thus, according to her statement, Bucharest „brings a contribution to the further increase of tensions and mistrust in the region.” As the Russian diplomat pointed out, mentioning Russia as a „source of global problems” was not new as the West often used this method „to erase its own flaws, mistakes and problems.”
Romania’s natural gas market liberalised
Romania’s natural gas market is fully liberalised since July 1. Tariffs are no longer regulated by the Romanian state as they are established by the country’s stock exchange. Current stock market prices are half of those performed by the state, according to experts. Citizens are advised to carefully examine the contracts signed with companies in order to make sure they are not subject to aledged losses. Romanian natural gas suppliers started negotiations with households from rather high prices earlier in June as the wholesale price of gas has dropped recently, and the retail market was expected to liberalise in July.
Alexandru Danga
