Romanian government meeting
Romania’s government meeting on Wednesday was expected to establish two state aid schemes for farmers and agricultural companies affected by drought this year, Radio Romania reported. The government was to discuss two drafts designed to establish state aid schemes for farmers and producers affected by drought while also supportig the manufacturing industry of mill products, oils, fats and dairy products affected by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. An order is also expected to complete documents concerning European funds. Another order is aimed at completing some documents concerning Romania’s EUfunds. Other deciisons on Wednesday include an approval of economic terms for a new student home of Bucharest University as well as a restructuring plan for Romania’s Institute for Research on National Minorities eluding possible layoffs.
Romania is not expected to face recession, Romanian PM says
„In the contexct of crisis, Romania’s government managed to ensure measures designed to strengthen the economy”, Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said after a statistic report on Wednesday. “Romania was not in danger of facing an economic recession” Mr Ciucă said while pointing out that figures so far showed a growth by 5 percent by the end of the year. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Romania expanded 1.30 percent in the third quarter of 2022. Romania is an upper-middle income economy and has been part of the European Union since 2007. Household consumption is the main component of the GDP and accounts for 63 percent of its total use..Romania has achieved impressive growth over the past two decades. However, shocks induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have exposed structural vulnerabilities in the economy such as disparities in economic opportunities, weaknesses in fiscal policy and significant institutional constraints hindering an efficient use of resources. Romania’s economy recovered at 5.9 percent in 2021 and performed better in the first half of 2022, growing at 5.8 percent, despite an increased uncertainty due to the war in Ukraine..
Romanian President signs into law three controversial drafts
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed into law on Tuesday three controversial drafts already approved by the governing coalition of the left wing Social Democrat Party (PSD), right wing National Liberal Party (PNL), and the ethnic group of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). President Iohannis ignored a request of the opposition and other non-governmental bodies insisting the move should need an opinion from the Commission in Venice (an advisory body of the Council of Europe). The opposition claims Romania could be subject to a further monitoring of the EU’s CVM (Co-operation and Verification Machanism) and still remain out of the Schengen free movement area as the drafts violate magistrates’ independence also in disregard with previous opinions of the Venice Commission. The draft law was fast-tracked through parliament by Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu.
Alexandru Danga
