Press Review - October 24, 2018

10.24.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Social Democrat Leaders Decide Wednesday Whether to Attend Talks with President

The leaders of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) will decide in a meeting of the party’s National Standing Bureau on Wednesday if they will attend talks summoned by President Klaus Iohannis on the judicial reform, party sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis sent an official letter to the chairmen of parliamentary parties, inviting them to talks on the subjects of the ongoing judicial overhaul pushed by the country’s ruling coalition.

Main opposition party PNL has confirmed that it will attend the talks, while PSD coalition partners ALDE will also send a delegation, according to deputy chairman Varujan Vosganian.

Iohannis called for talks after the Council of Europe’s advisory body, the Venice Commission, published a damning review of the country's judicial reform process, stating that the bills in their current form affect the fight against corruption and organized crime and endanger judicial independence.

Offshore Bill Gets Committee Approval, Lower Chamber Vote Scheduled Wednesday

The joint parliamentary committee on industry, budget and public administration on Tuesday gave a positive review to the bill regulating offshore gas exploitation in the Black Sea, with a number of amendments.

The amendments passed on Tuesday did not change provisions regarding taxation or royalties, keeping the model through which additional income made by investors, as defined by the bill, would be progressively taxed according to the applicable revenue brackets.

One of the amendments passed by the Lower Chamber states holders of offshore oil agreements ongoing at the time of enactment would be subjected to the tax regime and production quotas enforced at that point in time, not those set by the new bill, for the entire duration of the exploitation.

The amendment led to disagreements between ruling coalition lawmakers after ALDE deputy chairman Varujan Vosganian said the current provision does not offer sufficient tax guarantees for investors. Social-democrat MP group leader Daniel Suciu replied that his parting did not agree with reverting the provision to a previous form.

Another change brought to the bill lowered the protection area that agreement holders must instate in case of archaeological discoveries from 200 meters to 50 meters.

The bill will be put to a final vote in the Lower Chamber on Wednesday.

Bucharest Expects 70 km/h Winds Wednesday

Bucharest will face strong winds on October 23-25, with gusts of up to 70 km/hour, and light rain showers, data from Romania's weather administration showed.

Maximum temperatures will reach 17 degrees Celsius during this period, while the lowest temperatures will be at 2-5 degrees Celsius. The real feel will be colder due to the wind.

On Thursday, the wind will pick up speed temporarily, gusting at 40-50 km/hour and maximum temperatures will be around 13 degrees Celsius.