Press Review - March 16, 2018

03.16.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Estonia Joins Protest Against Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline

The speaker of the Estonian parliament, Eiki Nestor, has joined his Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts in signing an open letter urging other EU states to protest against Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, saying it is "intended to make EU states dependent on Russian energy,”  EUObserver reported.

"Estonia considers Nord Stream 2 a political project," Nestor said, urging the EU to update its gas directive as soon as possible.

The planned pipeline would transport natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, bypassing Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic countries.

Govt Pushes Memo Forcing State Companies to Bid in Public Procurement Tenders

Finance minister Eugen  Teodorovici said he had to buy higher priced flight tickets because state-run Tarom did not take part in tenders.

He said he put forth a memorandum forcing state companies to take part in public procurement tenders.

“Starting 2016, out of 497 procurement procedures held by the Finance Ministry, Tarom only bid twice,” said the minister.

He said his memorandum seeks to increase the competitiveness of state-run companies through public procurement tenders. He said he targets airline Tarom, postal operator Posta Romana and other state companies, and other state companies that could provide the services authorities need.

Government Approves Single Tax Form for Income Tax, Social Security

Romania's government on Thursday approved a new single tax form for income tax and social security contributions, merging seven tax forms into one.

The form may be submitted online by July 15 this year and by March 31 starting next year.

Doctors Refuse to Operate Over Bonus Row, Says Health Minister

Health minister Sorina Pintea said Thursday intensive care doctors at the University Hospital in Bucharest refused to go into operating rooms over new regulations regarding wage bonuses.

“I will go have a talk with them tomorrow. I think they were misinformed or they miscalculated,” the minister said on B1 TV.

The health minister said previously bonuses would remain capped at 30%, despite unions threatening a full-blown strike. She said the law was non-negotiable and net income had increased in the healthcare system but conceded raises may not have been distributed fairly.