Press Review - December 10, 2015

12.10.2015 By Gabriela Stan

President Klaus Iohannis Convenes Meeting Of The Country’s Highest Defense Body CSAT

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis convened a meeting of the country’s highest defense body CSAT for Thursday, 11:00 local time, with an agenda that includes a report on fighting terrorism, according to the Presidential Administration.

The agenda of the CSAT meeting includes the guide of national defense strategy for 2015 – 2019, the national plan of information priorities in 2016, the plan for the use of the Romanian armed forces to be sent to missions and operations abroad in 2016, the measures adopted by Romania for implementing the international sanction regimes, the intelligence strategy for 2015 – 2019 of the Romanian Intelligence Service, the report on the national system for preventing and fighting terrorism, the proposals for the budget of the institutions in charge with national security for 2016 and the program of activity of the highest defense body CSAT for 2016.

Romanian Cabinet Approves 2016 State Budget Plan

Romania's government on Wednesday approved the state budget plan for next year, which targets a budget deficit of 2.8% of gross domestic product and considers an economic growth projection of 4.1%.

The budget plan, which raises investment spending and sees 1.6% growth in revenue due to improved tax collections, now requires a vote in Parliament.

Romania's technocrat government, instated last month with a limited mandate until the country holds general elections in December 2016, has had to accommodate tax cuts, including a cut in value-added tax from 24% to 20%, and public sector wage hikes ranging from 10% to 25%. (Adevarul)

Central Bank Governor: Romania Could Join Euro Zone As Soon As Possible If Ready

Central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Wednesday that Romania could join euro zone as soon as possible, if it is properly prepared.

"Romania could join the euro zone as soon as possible, on the condition that it is properly prepared. (...) EU treaties talks about reaching a high level of convergence and about its sustainable character as a precondition to successfully adopt euro. At the same time, the convergence process should also be sustainable in time, namely to continue after adopting euro, to avoid the unpleasant experience of Mediterranean states which eased structural reform policies after entering euro zone, leading to divergences inside the euro zone," Isarescu said during the conference "Adopting euro in Romania: challenges and perspectives”.  (Puterea)

British PM: Romanians Make A Valuable Contribution To The United Kingdom

For the first time in 16 years, a British Prime Minister came to Bucharest. David Cameron met Wednesday with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.

Cameron also went to pay tribute to the victims of Colectiv nightclub fire, after he had a half-an-hour meeting with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, without press statements.

At the end of the meeting with President Klaus Iohannis at Cotroceni Palace, the British Prime Minister and the President had a joint press statement.

“Romanians, alongside other Europeans, make a valuable contribution to the United Kingdom in a wide range of fields, from finance to science and medicine,” Cameron stated.  (Evenimentul Zilei)

First Home Program Gets Additional Funding Of RON200M

The guarantee budget for the government-backed mortgage lending First Home program has been raised by an additional RON200 million, Government spokesperson Dan Suciu said Wednesday.

The government on Wednesday approved a draft decision raising the guarantee ceiling for the program by RON200 million this year, compared to the current RON2.6 billion.

Suciu said the changes to the program for 2016 will be discussed within the Government’s meeting next week. The decision also sets that guarantees can also be issued next year from the funds that were not allotted from this year’s ceiling, as well as from the funds left unspent until December 31, 2015 from the amounts allocated to banks. (Romania Libera)