CASH Romanian Prime Minister, Social-Democrat Marel Ciolacu, has
announced a government meeting next week, which is also going to be attended by
representatives of the SMEs and the main banks for talks on cash payments. The
issue has sparked off heated debates in the past days after some banks have
notified clients on their intention to raise the commissions for cash
withdrawal and deposits. Under the new fiscal-budgetary legislation, cash
payments between legal and natural persons have been limited to the equivalent
of one thousand euros per day, with the exception of wages. Cash payment
between two natural persons has been limited to two thousand euros per day,
while between legal persons it must not exceed 200 euros per day. These
thresholds are to be cut in half on January 1, 2025. Liberal leader Nicolae
Ciuca from the ruling PNL-PSD coalition has announced the decision might be
talked upon between the coalition members. The most affected are the small
traders, mainly in the country’s rural areas where people mostly rely on
cash.
TALKS Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, talked on the
phone with her Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen about the situation of the
Romanian citizens and their family members who requested support for being
evacuated from the Gaza Strip. On this occasion, the official in Bucharest has
reiterated the Foreign Ministry’s readiness to offer consular assistance to all
the Romanians who need to leave Gaza. The Israeli official has given assurances
the evacuation of the Romanian citizens is a major concern for the authorities
in Tel Aviv. On Friday, the Foreign Ministry announced that another two people
with double Israeli-Romanian citizenship are still being held hostage in Gaza.
The ministry has called for the release of all hostages, including the six
people with Israeli-Romanian citizenship.
RATING Moody’s rating agency has reconfirmed Romania’s credit
rating at Baa3 with stable outlook. The country’s Finance Minister Marcel Bolos
says this is a new confirmation of the fact that the incumbent government has taken
the right measures to combat the social-economic effects of the latest crises
and for ensuring sustainable public finances. The announcement contributes to
maintaining a favourable economic climate to cutting funding costs and the
promotion of investment in our country Bolos went on to say. He underlined that
the reforms and measures aimed at achieving fiscal-budgetary consolidation
remain the priorities of the Finance Ministry.
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