Radio România Internațional

Tag: pension

  • The special pension reform continues

    The special pension reform continues

    The last week of the current parliamentary
    session was devoted to bills which target sensitive areas and which, precisely
    for this reason, had been long postponed. On Monday, in an almost unprecedented
    political effort, Romania’s Senators and Deputies scrapped the special pensions
    granted to MPs. The piece of legislation under which Romanian MPs give up what
    the media and the public have long regarded as an immoral right, has already
    been signed into law by President Iohannis.


    On Wednesday, 2 other overdue bills were
    endorsed. One of them no longer allows individuals to receive both public
    sector salaries and retirement benefits, and the other is aimed at reforming
    the special pension system, which relies only in part on contributions during
    the employment period, and which benefits magistrates, military personnel,
    diplomats, parliamentary and court staff as well as aeronautical personnel.


    In the first case, exemptions from the
    restriction concerning public sector salaries and pension benefits paid to the
    same individual at the same time triggered fiery criticism, primarily because
    these exemptions cover local elected officials and MPs, alongside other
    categories, such as teaching staff, healthcare professionals, specialist carers
    and employees of the Romanian Academy, the National Bank of Romania, the
    National Energy Regulatory Authority and the Communications Regulatory
    Authority.


    A final favourable vote was also cast on the special
    pension reform bill, but the draft submitted by the Government was
    significantly amended. In this final version, the implementation of the reform
    is basically postponed 5 years and extended until 2043. Until 2028, prosecutors,
    judges and military personnel may retire under the same conditions as before. The
    retirement age will be increased in several stages from 60 to 65, and minimum
    25-year relevant seniority will be a requirement for retiring magistrates.


    Pension benefits in excess of the national
    average net salary will be subject to taxation, but the rate will be 15%
    instead of the 30% originally suggested. All these provisions have been
    discussed with EU experts, the PM Marcel Ciolacu said.


    The reform of the special pension system is a
    milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. USR party in Opposition,
    which would have liked special pensions to be scrapped altogether, voted
    against the bill, arguing that it still leaves Romania with the same number of 210,000
    special pension beneficiaries as before.


    The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in
    Romania, no longer a partner in the ruling coalition since the government
    rotation, said a long time would pass until the system may rely exclusively on
    lifetime contributions to pension funds. Even this version of the law, which according
    to analysts saw its most radical provisions amputated, annoyed the Higher
    Council of Magistrates. They disapprove of the amendments and claim Parliament
    overlooked constitutional principles and endorsed measures that cause irreparable
    damages to the independence of the judiciary and of magistrates. (AMP)

  • Deputies review special pensions bill

    Deputies review special pensions bill


    The Chamber of Deputies is currently working on a draft law to reform the pension system used primarily for the magistrate corps and for army and interior ministry personnel, and which is not based on contributions to pension funds during the employment, but on other, special criteria.



    This reform is a benchmark in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. As long as the issue was not linked to financial considerations, Romanian politicians were reluctant to tackling this delicate topic, with the exception of Save Romania Union, in opposition, which has repeatedly lobbied for scrapping the special pensions.



    Before reaching the Chamber, the bill on the special pensions saw amendments from the ruling coalition parties-the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania.



    According to their authors, these amendments were designed to eliminate abuse and inequity, and the pension contribution principle will be, from now on, the primary factor in the entire public pension system. According to the new amendments, exemptions will be eliminated with respect to the standard retirement age, so that from now on diplomats and auxiliary staff in courts will also retire at the age of 65. The same principle will be applied gradually, until 2035, for military personnel as well.



    Also, until January 2034, the minimum relevant length of service requirement will be increased to 25 years for several categories of employees, including diplomats, Parliament clerks, and Court of Accounts staff.



    Under another amendment, certain categories of employees who previously had the same rights and obligations as magistrates or diplomatic staff will no longer benefit from special pensions.



    The calculation basis for special pensions is also being adjusted to the one used in the public system. Whereas so far special pension benefits were calculated based on the revenues during the last 12 months in office, from now on this period will be gradually raised to 300 months. No special pension will be higher than the salary received while in office.



    Also, a 30% tax rate will be levied on the special pension amount in excess of the current national gross average salary and in excess of the contribution principle.



    Another amendment cancels a mechanism used so far, under which magistrate pensions were raised proportionately with the increase of gross monthly allowances paid to active judges and prosecutors.



    “The retirement benefits paid to each citizen must reflect the importance of their lifes work and their contribution to the public system,” PM Nicolae Ciucă said. He also added that with the Pension Law and the Salary Law, Romania will have completed the reform package stipulated for this year in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, thus ensuring sustainability and equity in the public salary and pension sector.



    Quite predictably, the Higher Council of Magistrates has criticised the draft law on special pensions, warning that a sudden increase of the retirement age for judges and prosecutors might force over 1,500 magistrates out of the system. (AMP)


  • Changes in the public pension system

    Changes in the public pension system

    Marred by anomalies and inequities, as even the politicians who manage it admit, the public pension system in Romania must be fundamentally reformed. Legislative ideas and initiatives are not lacking, but their implementation is proving difficult. On Tuesday, the law on purchasing seniority in work was promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. The normative act establishes the legal framework for completing, by the persons who do not have the quality of pensioner yet, the contribution period in the public pension system, necessary for granting an old-age pension, an early retirement pension or a partial early retirement pension.

    Those interested can buy a maximum of six years of seniority prior to reaching the standard retirement age. The payment of this social security contribution can be made in a single instalment or monthly, until August 31, 2023. Among the potential beneficiaries are the millions of Romanian expatriates, looking for a better life, usually in Western Europe, and who have incomplete contributions to the Romanian pension fund. There are also people in the country with incomplete work seniority either because, at some point, they remained unemployed or because they chose to free-lance, found various undeclared jobs and no longer paid contributions to the pension system.

    Experts do not yet dare to anticipate the effects of the new law. However, they have long warned that the entire system risks becoming unsustainable when the mass retirement of people born in the late 1960s and early 1970s takes place. Back them, following a decree by the former communist regime, abortions were banned, and Romania experienced a demographic boom.Subsequently, the birth rate has gradually decreased, and demographers and sociologists have long said that there is a risk that there will be no one to pay for the pensions of those born in the 60s and 70s.

    In addition to these demographic developments, there are situations that policymakers themselves call absolutely abnormal. This is the term used by the Minister of Justice, Stelian Ion, with reference to the fact that the former head of DIICOT (the anti-mafia prosecutor’s office), Giorgiana Hosu, is retiring at the age of 49. Retirement at a young age is a privilege for magistrates, the military, police, intelligence officers, politicians, diplomats and other beneficiaries of so-called special pensions, who do not observe the principle of contribution.

    Many of these special pensions are in the thousands of euros, while the pensions of ordinary contributors reach, on average, the equivalent in lei of only 300 euros. A law that provided for the taxation by 85% of special pensions exceeding 7,000 lei (1,400 euros) was invalidated by the Constitutional Court, whose members are themselves special pensioners. (MI)

  • Retirement upon request at 70

    Retirement upon request at 70

    After reaching the age of 61 for women and 65 for men, the employees of the Romanian public system will be able, if they wish, to remain active until the age of 70, but they will not be allowed to receive both a pension and a salary. The government of the center-right coalition in Bucharest has approved a bill in this regard, which is to be debated as a matter of urgency in Parliament. After the adoption of the bill in a government meeting, the Minister of Labor, Raluca Turcan explained:

    After reaching the age of 70, a person can request the recalculation of the pension in the public system, the advantage consisting in the increase of the monthly and annual points. It also determines institutions to re-establish their human resources policy. Retirement from a state job and the return to the public system, possibly on specially created positions, has never been and cannot become a modern, European-type human resources policy.

    Employees who have chosen to continue working may renounce this commitment at any time. On the other hand, the amounts unduly collected will be recovered from retirees. There are, however, exceptions to the provisions of the bill: dignitaries, teaching staff paid by the hour, personal and maternal assistants or members of the Romanian Academy will be able to receive a pension and a salary at the same time.

    From the opposition, the Social Democratic vice-president, Sorin Grindeanu, announces that the Social Democrats are looking forward for the document to reach Parliament, in order to challenge it at the Constitutional Court, considering that it includes provisions that violate the Fundamental Law:

    In recent weeks, we have seen a particular concern of the Government, of the governing coalition, for pensions, saying that the retirement age will grow, that pensions will be frozen, that there are commitments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) with regard to reforms, etc. What we know about this bill is that it includes provisions that are not constitutional so we won’t hesitate to challenge it.

    More than 100,000 people over the age of 65 currently have an employment contract, Minister Raluca Turcan has said, explaining that the bill that prohibits the cumulation of the pension with the salary pursues several objectives, including capitalizing on the experience of employees that are reaching the threshold of retirement and equity for the staff in the public sector. In addition, the authorities say, in the medium and long run, against the background of an imbalance between the number of employees and retirees, the current public pension system will accumulate debts and, in a few years, will not be able to cope with payments.

    One of the opponents’ counterarguments is, however, that, in Romania, life expectancy is declining and is among the lowest in the European Union, so that, at the age of 70, many people may not be able to enjoy a pension after having contributed to the public system for decades. (MI)

  • Mesures en préparation pour le marché du travail

    Mesures en préparation pour le marché du travail

    Promu par le gouvernement de coalition de Bucarest, le projet de loi qui, à certaines exceptions près, interdit le cumul de la retraite avec le salaire dans le secteur public est déjà en débat public. Après l’adoption du document, 35 000 personnes qui bénéficient actuellement des deux formes de revenus devront choisir une seule d’entre elles. Ces dispositions législatives permettent la poursuite de l’activité après l’âge de la retraite, jusqu’à 70 ans, tant dans le secteur public que dans le privé. Les personnels du secteur public devront toutefois choisir entre la retraite et le salaire. La ministre libérale du Travail, Raluca Turcan, a souligné que travailler jusqu’à 70 ans était un droit et non une obligation. Raluca Turcan :



    « C’est une option pour la personne de continuer à travailler, même si elle a atteint l’âge légal de la retraite, et qui apporte des avantages : en plus de rester active sur le marché du travail, la personne a la possibilité de toucher le même niveau de salaire qu’elle avait au moment d’atteindre l’âge de la retraite. »



    La ministre Turcan a souligné que rien n’empêchera les retraités de travailler dans le secteur privé s’ils le souhaitent, et de continuer à percevoir leur pension. Certains types de revenus seront exemptés de cette interdiction, tels que le paiement à l’heure ou les droits d’auteur. En outre, selon le projet de loi, les enseignants, les membres de l’Académie roumaine et les parlementaires élus ou encore les membres de l’administration locale en fonction au moment de l’adoption de la loi pourront continuer à cumuler la retraite et le salaire. Les sociaux-démocrates, d’opposition, critiquent avec véhémence ce document. L’ancien ministre PSD du Travail, Marius Budai, fait valoir que cette loi est une tentative de majorer l’âge de départ à la retraite. Marius Budai :



    « Faire choisir par quelqu’un qui a entre 65 et 70 ans soit la pension de retraite, soit le salaire est inconstitutionnel, et cette option est en fait une obligation de renoncer à la pension ou au salaire. »



    Les propositions, suggestions et opinions à l’égard de cette disposition législative peuvent être soumises au ministère du Travail d’ici le 20 mars. Les commentateurs s’attendent à ce que suite aux débats des députés, le projet de loi soit sérieusement modifié et bon nombre de ses dispositions – nuancées. Ils notent des différences fondamentales entre un médecin de plus de 65 ans qui reprend ses activités à son cabinet ou dans son hôpital en prenant les risques liés à la pandémie et un ancien policier qui a pris sa retraite à 45 ans et a été réembauché, avec un salaire de plusieurs milliers d’euros, dans une position confortable au ministère de l’Intérieur. À moyen et à long terme, selon la presse, les effets de la nouvelle loi seront particulièrement bénéfiques dans les institutions où différents personnages ont pérennisé leurs postes depuis des lustres et continuent d’être chefs même après la retraite, bloquant toute chance de renouveau et perpétuant des pratiques managériales héritées du communisme.


    (Trad. : Ligia)

  • Constitutional Court slams bill taxing special pensions

    Constitutional Court slams bill taxing special pensions

    As the name suggests, Romanias special pensions are set under special laws. They were originally granted to magistrates and force structures. Later on, lawmakers decided that there are more eligible recipients, including MPs themselves, diplomats and aviation staff.



    Unlike regular pension benefits, special pensions are not—or not only—based on lifetime contributions to pension funds. They are funded both from the social security budget, and from the state budget.




    This, as well as their often inflated amounts, in the thousands of euros, make special pensions, or rather their beneficiaries, the target of criticism from regular citizens, whose pensions are based on active lifetime contributions and average at around 300 euros per month.




    Politicians listened to the people and this summer drafted a bill levying 85% taxes on the special pensions in excess of 1,400 euros, including those received by magistrates, the military and the police.




    The bill did not eliminate the concept of special pensions, but rather reduced the benefits paid as such. But the Constitutional Court dismissed the law, ruling that it was unconstitutional as a whole.




    The bill adopted by Parliament in June had been challenged by the Ombudsman and the by the countrys highest court, according to which the draft legislation came against the principle of fiscal equity. The High Court and the Ombudsman claimed the special pensions set by special laws are subject to double taxation, which comes against the principle of non-discrimination and fair tax burdens, while also breaching the independence of magistrates and the principle of legislative predictability.




    The Constitutional Court, which had deferred a ruling on the case several times, is yet to make public its reasons for dismissing the bill.




    A number of Constitutional Court rulings of late have fueled speculations that, in its current configuration, the Court is politically biased, ruling in favour of the Left. With the special pensions bill, the Court has an additional moral dilemma, noticed by everyone: constitutional judges are themselves receiving such pension benefits.




    And the saga of this law includes another relevant episode: in the last plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, before the elections, all MPs from the Save Romania Union resigned in order to not be eligible for special pensions. So did 6 Social Democrats, including the party president Marcel Ciolacu. While the decision of Save Romania Union is credible, as the party had constantly lobbied against special pensions, the Social Democrats are the champions of legislation that favours MPs, giving their opponents reason to claim the move was populist and driven by electoral goals. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • Women’s economic empowerment

    Women’s economic empowerment

    The latest EU statistics indicate that gender gaps still exist in the economy. And perhaps the most painful aspects are the ones related to womens access to jobs and incomes. In 2017, in the EU, mens incomes were 16% higher than womens, whereas in terms of pensions the figure goes up to 37%. The statistics indicate that women are still in a more vulnerable economic position than men. The situation has barely improved in the 25 years since the UN adopted the Beijing Platform for Action, seeking to promote and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all women.




    For centuries, women have provided unpaid work, consisting in household and family responsibilities. The problem, obviously, is not that these activities should be remunerated, but that they should be shared, in a fair manner, by the two partners in a household, rather than being a burden for the women alone. But again, EU statistics clearly indicate an imbalance in this respect as well




    According to the most recent report made public by the European Institute for Gender Equality this month, the Gender Equality Index for the labour market stands at 72 points out of 100. In Romania, this indicator is below the European average, standing at 68 points. More specifically, the employment rate among women is 61%, as against 79% for men. On the other hand, Romania has the smallest salary gap, with men earning on average only 3% more than women.



    Not the same is true however when it comes to pensions. In 2017, mens pensions were 63% higher in the 65-79 age bracket. In fact, the economic situation of the elderly, irrespective of gender, was the topic of an analysis run by the Social Monitor, a project initiated by Friedrich Ebert Romania based on data provided by Eurostat. Victoria Stoiciu with the Ebert Romania Foundation told us more:



    Victoria Stoiciu: “According to Eurostat figures, in 2018 in Romania 36.7% of the citizens over 65 years were subject to poverty risks. And women were the most affected. As many as 43% of the Romanian women were in this situation in 2018, as compared to 19% of the men. In fact, this is the highest poverty level among the elderly since 2009, when the economic crisis was fully felt. And this is very alarming. Although many have criticised the pension increases of the past few years, arguing that the national economy is unable to sustain them, data show that all these increases still fail to keep up with the needs of the elderly, and that poverty in this category is on the rise.



    What could be the reasons for the gender pension gap in Romania? According to Victoria Stoiciu, they are not different from the ones at work in the EU as a whole:



    Victoria Stoiciu: “This situation is caused by the gender differences in the labour market in Romania, which in turn are the result of structural disadvantages that Romanian women face and which reflect in their incomes after retirement. What are these structural disadvantages? First of all, women are less likely to participate in the labour market. The ratio of women who are employed has been systematically lower than the number of employed men. This is in part rooted in the traditionalist view that women should stay at home and take care of the family. But even when they have jobs, women work for shorter periods, and their salaries are constantly lower. And this obviously leads to discrepancies in terms of pension levels, because benefits are based on the amount contributed during the employment years. On the other hand, this also affects womens capacity to save money during their active years. And all these factors add to each other and womens systematic discrimination in the economy is the most evident after retirement.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The New Pension Law Promulgated

    The New Pension Law Promulgated

    A new pension law, along with the unitary salary system in the public sector, has always been a major bet for the leftist coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, who claim that their main goal is to do away with the inequities existing in the system. Pensions will be increased in stages, because the new law provides for an increase in the pension point as of September 1st, this year, until 2022.



    The document also reads that all salary rights for which contributions have been paid are to be capitalized on, such as bonuses, the 13th salary, overtime, prizes and other incentives. Under the new law, the women who have paid their contributions to the pension fund for 15 years and have given birth to three children, will have their retiring age reduced by 6 years. The survivorship pension has been maintained, and the surviving spouse will get 25% of the pension of the deceased. The standard retiring age is 65 for men and 63 for women. The minimum contribution period is 15 years, and the complete stage is 35 years.



    The former labour minister Olguta Vasilescu, the initiator of the bill, has stated that the delays encountered in adopting the law, which had to be endorsed by the the Constitutional Court, will not affect the recalculation of pensions. Lia Olguta Vasilescu:



    “I hope there will be no delays. The pressure is, indeed huge, also on the National Pensions House and this will entail lots of reorganization for them. Its not easy to organize everything in just one and a half year, instead of two, including a tender for software equipment, and to recalculate more than 5 million pensions. It all depends on how well they will manage to organize themselves and how the Ministry of Labour and Social Justice will design this new architecture of the Pensions House.”



    The right-wing opposition have voiced concern over the source of the money that is to be used to increase pensions, saying they do not believe in the optimistic economic forecasts presented by the Government. Irrespective, however, of the government that will lead the country, now the law forces it to ensure the necessary financial resources to pay the pensions, says the leader of the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban:



    “What we want is for this growth to be operated annualy, as it was the case with the old pension law, which we supported, and also on the basis of clear and realistic economic data. This means that any increase must be in line with the increase in inflation and also with the economic growth, which is reflected in the average gross salary, which therefore means that pensions should raise in keeping with the increase in the average gross salary.”



    The Labour Minister Marius Budai has given assurances that there will be a surplus in the pension budget by the end of the year.


  • May 22, 2018

    May 22, 2018

    PENSION FUNDS – President Klaus Iohannis asked the Government to clarify its plans with respect to the privately-managed pension funds known as the “Pension Pillar II. The head of state voiced concerns regarding the situation and said people might begin to question the governments capacity to design and manage the pension system. PM Viorica Dăncilă promised that Pillar II will not be dismantled, but did not rule out possible changes in the laws regulating its operation. Dancila explained there was a draft in this respect put together by the National Strategy and Prognosis Commission but not approved by the Government, and that an analysis will be made on the topic.




    REVOLUTION TRIAL – Romanias former leftist president Ion Iliescu was heard today at the Prosecutor Generals Office, in the case concerning the 1989 anti-communist revolution, in which he is accused of crimes against humanity. Last month the head of state Klaus Iohannis approved the prosecutors request to prosecute Iliescu, the ex-PM Petre Roman and the former deputy PM Gelu Voican Voiculescu. They allegedly plotted a military diversion designed to give them legitimacy as the new leaders after the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled the capital city. The diversion resulted in 1,166 deaths, of which more than 800 after Ceausescu was ousted, as well as in losses, damages and injuries.




    EU COMMISSIONER – The European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu carries on her visit to Bacau County, in eastern Romania. Jointly with the Minister for European Funds Rovana Plumb she is taking part today in a dialogue with the citizens, hosted by the Vasile Alecsandri University. On Monday, Corina Creţu and PM Viorica Dăncilă had talks with the mayors of county capitals regarding urban investments financed by European funds. The EU Commissioner once again called on the Romanian authorities to make sustained efforts to reduce the risk of losing European money, and mentioned that procedures should be simplified and project assessment processes should be sped up.




    JUDICIARY – The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest may pass a ruling today in a case in which Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, the Senate Speaker and president of the Alliance for Liberals and Democrats, in the ruling coalition in Romania, is charged with perjury and encouraging an offender. In the last hearing of the case, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate requested a 3-year prison sentence for the Liberal Democrat leader. According to prosecutors, during investigations into the unlawful return of landed estates near Bucharest, Tăriceanu gave untrue statements while under oath.




    AmCham – Romania had a fairly high investment rate compared to other EU member states in 2001-2016, but the effects of these investments were late in appearing, Anda Todor, head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania said in a press conference. In turn, AmCham treasurer Ciprian Lăduncă said Romania should have a national investment plan, a long-term business plan approved by all stakeholders in the Romanian society. Another very important measure for the Romanian economy is to encourage long-term saving, whether through life insurance, private pensions or investment funds, Ciprian Lăduncă added.




    EU TRADE – The trade ministers of EU member countries have today authorised the European Commission to initiate negotiations on free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. The announcement was made at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council for trade, held in Brussels. Romania is represented by line minister Ştefan Radu Oprea.




    FACEBOOK – The European Parliament holds a meeting today in Brussels with the Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. He will answer questions concerning the illegal use of the personal data of over 87 million users of the social network by the British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, specialising in political strategy. The hearing comes ahead of the implementation in the EU, on May 25, of a new regulation on the protection of personal data. The document comprises some of the strictest rules in the world in this respect. In April, Zuckerberg was heard on the same topic in the US Senate.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • A la Une de la presse roumaine 04.08.2017

    A la Une de la presse roumaine 04.08.2017

    Les retraites spéciales, encore et encore ! La presse ne tarit pas à leur sujet… Toutefois, en plein débat sur les retraites de luxe, un autre sujet détourne lattention du public – le lancement, en première, du manuel de… sport dans les écoles, à partir de la rentrée. Qui dit mieux ?





  • Changement radical pour les retraites et les indemnités

    Changement radical pour les retraites et les indemnités

    Après s’être penché, six mois durant, sur la rémunération des employés du secteur public, la coalition au pouvoir en Roumanie, formée par le Parti social-démocrate et par l’Alliance des libéraux et des démocrates, passe au peigne fin les retraites spéciales que touchent les anciens diplomates, aviateurs, magistrats, employés des ministères de l’Intérieur et de la Défense ou des Services de renseignement.



    Une telle pension s’élève en moyenne à un peu plus de 8 mille lei, soit près de 2 mille euros. « C’est indécent! », s’exclament certains Roumains, vu que la grande majorité des quelque 5,3 millions de retraités touchent, toujours en moyenne, des sommes dix fois moindres. Ceci étant, le cabinet de Bucarest envisage de modifier la loi servant de base au calcul des pensions spéciales. Celles qui existent déjà ne seraient pas diminuées, mais celles accordées désormais ne devraient plus dépasser le salaire net que les personnes respectives touchaient lorsqu’elles étaient actives. En outre, ces retraites spéciales ne seront plus mises à jour en fonction des hausses salariales des employés actifs, mais selon le taux d’inflation.



    Le président du Parti social-démocrate, Liviu Dragnea, a expliqué les raisons d’une telle décision: « Le risque est très grand en ce sens qu’à défaut d’une intervention, l’impact budgétaire de ces pensions spéciales, qui se monte actuellement à 6 milliards de lei, pourrait atteindre, d’ici deux ans, 10 milliards, voire 11 à 15 milliards de lei. A ce rythme –là, dans les quatre ou cinq ans à venir, on arrivera à des sommes énormes, qui risquent de bloquer la capacité de l’Etat à accroître la valeur du point d’indice de la pension pour les autres millions de retraités de Roumanie ».



    Le Parti national libéral, d’opposition, est mécontent de cette décision, comme l’explique son premier vice-président, Ilie Bolojan: « Pendant sa campagne électorale, le Parti social-démocrate n’a jamais parlé d’une éventuelle intervention sur les retraites spéciales, qu’il s’agisse du plafonnement ou de leur diminution. Quant à l’intervention par le biais d’un décret d’urgence, nous rejetons cette solution. L’expérience a déjà démontré, dans le cas de la loi sur la grille des salaires unique, qu’un texte élaboré à la va-vite et qui ne prend pas en compte l’ensemble des effets risque d’entraîner des retombées négatives dans d’autres domaines ».



    S’il existe, en Roumanie, des retraités privilégiés, il en va de même pour certaines catégories d’enfants. En effet, certains parents touchent des allocations substantielles pour élever leur enfant, parce que calculées suivant leurs rétributions respectives. Or, la coalition au pouvoir a donné son aval pour plafonnner cette indemnité, la ministre de l’Emploi Olguţa Vasilescu proposant la somme mensuelle de 1800 euros.



    A noter également qu’à compter du 1er août, les employeurs seront tenus de verser des contributions pour la retraite et la santé calculées au niveau du salaire minimum brut pour les employés à temps partiel, même si leurs revenus sont inférieurs à 1.450 lei (soit l’équivalent de 322 euros). Le but consiste à diminuer le nombre des cas où l’on conclut des contrats de travail à temps partiel uniquement pour éviter de payer l’impôt. (trad. : Mariana Tudose)

  • Invitation au tourisme rural

    Invitation au tourisme rural

    Puisque l’automne est déjà là, mais l’envie de prendre des vacances ne nous a pas quittée tout à fait, un séjour dans une pension touristique conviendrait peut-être le mieux. Aujourd’hui, nous vous ferons donc quelques suggestions pour des séjours dans les zones rurales de Roumanie et nous profiterons des offres proposées par les pensions membres de l’Association nationale de tourisme rural, écologique et culturel (ANTREC).



    Lors de la dernière édition de la Foire de tourisme de Roumanie, Mişu Chiruc, président exécutif de l’Association, soulignait l’intention de celle-ci de concentrer le tourisme rural autour d’événements spécifiques: “Nous avons, par exemple, le Festival des « sarmale » (feuilles de chou ou de choucroute farcies – n.n.) de Praid, qui est peut-être le plus connu, et puis le Festival de la truite, le Festival des fruits des bois, le Festival des hors-d’œuvre etc. Ce sont surtout des offres gastronomiques, car il faut dire que le tourisme rural est différent du tourisme classique. Cela ne se limite pas à l’hébergement et aux repas. Nous souhaitons que les vacanciers connaissent les Roumains chez eux et échangent avec ceux qui les accueillent. Passer prendre les clés, sans plus, ne peut pas s’appeler tourisme rural”. Il faut que le propriétaire soit là, avec son âme, et faire sentir sa présence”.



    Nous avons demandé à notre interlocuteur quelles zones de Roumanie se sont fait remarquer en tourisme rural ces 20 dernières années. Mişu Chiruc: “Evidemment, surtout celles où la nature a été plus généreuse et qui disposent également de richesses culturelles et ethnographiques. Le tourisme s’est beaucoup développé tout d’abord en Bucovine, dans le nord du pays, ensuite dans la zone de Bran-Moeciu, dans les Carpates Méridionales, dans la zone de Vrancea, située à la courbure des Carpates, et dans la zone de Neamţ, avec ses monastères et ses loisirs. Ensuite, nous essayons de promouvoir certains événements pour attirer les touristes, qui auront besoin d’hébergement. Si l’intérêt pour la zone augmente, l’offre des pensions augmente aussi”.



    Dans les villages roumains vous trouverez des pensions de 2, 3, 4 ou 5 marguerites — correspondant roumain des épis en France. Quel que soit votre choix, vous pourrez y goûter le calme de la vie patriarcale et les produits traditionnels de la région : poisson en écorce de sapin, notamment la truite, fumée et conservée dans des rameaux de sapin, ce qui lui donne une saveur tout à fait spéciale. Ensuite le fromage et le petit lait, apportés, tous frais, des bergeries et puis encore le pastrami de mouton.



    Les visiteurs peuvent participer à des activités traditionnelles de la région, visiter une bergerie pour assister à la fabrication du fromage ou encore aider les femmes à préparer les conserves : légumes saumurés, confitures, et autres zakouski soigneusement préparés pour donner plus de saveur à la saison froide. Ou bien, ils peuvent tout simplement goûter la vie paisible des campagnes, au milieu de la nature et des animaux de la ferme. Les pensions rurales ne sont pas destinées uniquement aux familles. Nombre d’entre elles offrent des conditions pour accueillir des conférences et des séjours de team-building.



    L’Association nationale de tourisme rural, écologique et culturel se propose de réaliser une spécialisation plus nuancées des pensions. Mişu Chiruc explique: “Nous avons déjà une collaboration avec le ministère du tourisme et avec d’autres institutions du domaine. Notre intention est de classer les pensions par domaines d’activité. Il y a des pensions indiquées plutôt pour la pêche, situées à proximité d’un lac et où vous pouvez trouver de l’assistance technique pour la pêche. Nous avons des pensions pour les chasseurs. Et nous sommes en train de mettre sur pied un réseau de maisons d’hôtes dotées de facilités pour les enfants — c’est-à-dire des aires de jeu et de l’assistance médicale et psychologique”.



    Où que vous ayez choisi de passer des vacances rustiques cet automne — en Transylvanie, au Maramureş, en Bucovine ou en Munténie — vous pouvez acheter des produits roumains réalisés en petite quantité selon des recettes traditionnelles, allant des saucisses fumées aux produits artisanaux, en passant par les légumes saumurés, le miel, les confitures– dont la fameuse confiture de prunes de Topoloveni, le seul produit roumain certifié dans l’UE, les vins, le pain et une multitude de fromages du terroir. (trad.: Dominique)

  • Fêter Pâques en Roumanie

    Fêter Pâques en Roumanie

    Chers amis, cette semaine nous vous invitons à découvrir les destinations les plus attrayantes pour passer Pâques en Roumanie. A cet effet, nous avons étudié les offres présentées à l’édition de printemps de la Foire de tourisme de la Roumanie. Cette semaine, les maisons des Roumains ont été nettoyées et ornées pour la fête, et les ménagères ont préparé les délices culinaires traditionnels. Le rôti d’agneau, la terrine d’agneau, la galette de Pâques et les œufs colorés sont les vedettes de cette fête. Sans oublier les cozonaci, les sarmale ou d’autres spécialités, selon la région.



    Au printemps, la nature se réveille à la vie et les oiseaux migrateurs sont de retour. Nous vous invitons pour commencer au delta du Danube pour y passer Pâques. Le delta du Danube, inclus au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO dès 1991, est l’unique delta du monde déclaré entièrement Réserve de la biosphère. Iliuţă Goian, de l’Agence de tourisme « Descoperă Delta Dunării » (Découvrez le delta du Danube), nous dira si cet endroit vaut la peine d’être visité pour Pâques : « C’est un très bon moment, surtout que le temps commence à se réchauffer ; maintenant, toute la nature a reverdi, et les oiseaux reviennent. Les Russes lipovènes de la région ont de très belles traditions de Pâques, qui méritent d’être découvertes — ce sont surtout des traditions d’ordre culinaire. Presque tout ce que nous préparons avec de la viande d’agneau, ils le préparent avec du poisson. Sauf le rôti, bien entendu. »



    Pour ceux d’entre vous qui préfèrent des fêtes avec beaucoup de coutumes traditionnelles, c’est la Moldavie qui est la destination la plus appropriée. Cosmina Robu, conseillère au Conseil départemental de Iaşi, nous dit pourquoi choisir cette destination pour Pâques : « Je vous la recommande parce que l’Archevêché de Moldavie et de Bucovine siège là. En même temps, il y a aussi un Evêché catholique et des processions importantes sont organisées à l’occasion. »



    C’est toujours là que vous allez essayer les plats traditionnels de Pâques, soigneusement préparés par les ménagères de l’endroit d’après des recettes anciennes, transmises d’une génération à l’autre. Nous restons dans la même région, en Moldavie, et ajoutons une invitation à Târgu Neamţ. Nous avons demandé à Ionela Lungu, artisane moldave, si le déplacement dans sa contrée valait la peine. Voici sa réponse : « Non seulement ça vaut la peine, mais vous repartirez et vous ferez venir tous vos amis et vos voisins avec toute leur famille et les amis de leurs amis ! Venez-y, vous aimerez, surtout qu’à Pâques tout le monde veut être tranquille, en vacances, venez dans nos pensions. Chaque pension a son guide, elle propose des itinéraires touristiques, et nous vous indiquerons ce que vous pouvez faire dans la zone de Târgu Neamţ ».



    Faisons maintenant une halte en Bucovine, dans le nord-est de la Roumanie, un des plus importants centres de traditions roumaines. Aurelia Badale, est la présidente de l’association touristique de la localité de Vama, département de Suceava, située à mi-chemin entre les villes de Gura Humorului et de Câmpulung Moldovenesc. Elle nous invite à y passer des fêtes pascales pleines de spiritualité: « A l’occasion des fêtes importantes comme Pâques, nous organisons, avec l’aide des maîtres-artisans, des démonstrations de techniques traditionnelles de peinture, tissage, couture, très appréciées par les touristes étrangers. Dans cette région nous pouvons réellement ressentir cet esprit de l’eucharistie, cette vertu qui nous aide vraiment à participer à la messe pascale dans un monastère. Nous pouvons également essayer les plats bénits le matin de Pâques, après 40 jours de Grand Carême. Ici les femmes mettent dans un panier toute sorte de spécialités locales et de produits qui se retrouvent sur la table du repas festif de Pâques : jambon fumé, saucisses, œufs peints, pain de campagne, agnelet rôti, et toute sorte d’autres produits, sans oublier notamment les brioches traditionnelles que l’on appelle ici « babe », «vieilles femmes ». Le panier de Pâques n’est pas complet sans un œuf peint, joliment décoré de motifs traditionnels, censé montrer le talent de la femme qui a préparé toutes ces merveilles. Le dimanche de Pâques est une excellente occasion pour les jeunes femmes d’étaler leurs costumes traditionnels. Les vieux portent également avec fierté leurs magnifiques vêtements traditionnels afin d’inciter les jeunes à continuer les traditions locales. »



    Sachez que pour un paquet touristique de quatre jours, pension complète et repas festif dans un petit quatre étoiles de la région de Vama, vous devez débourser en moyenne 350 lei soit 78 euros la nuitée par personne.



    Passons maintenant à une région plutôt isolée, mais qui possède des paysages uniques. Si vous souhaitez découvrir la technique de la peinture sur les œufs et fêter Pâques dans un endroit en hauteur, nous vous suggérons d’aller à Straja, comté de Hunedoara, dans le centre-ouest de la Roumanie. Mihai Dumitrescu, le propriétaire d’un gîte de la région explique : « Nous proposons des paquets qui mettent en avant le Parc national Retezat, la route de montagne appelée Transalpina, le tourisme culturel et religieux dans les comtés de Gorj et de Hunedoara. C’est toute une série d’offres touristiques, mais nous sommes spécialisés surtout dans le tourisme traditionnel, où le client est reçu comme un ami et gâté avec des délices culinaires traditionnels. Un paquet de trois nuitées en demi-pension et repas festif de Pâques coûte environ 350 lei par personne. La nuit de Pâques, quand les touristes rentrent de l’église, on les attend avec des cozonaci — brioches traditionnelles roumaines — et du vin rouge. Ici nous célébrons la résurrection en compagnie de nos touristes comme si on était une grande famille. », affirme Mihai Dumitrescu, le propriétaire d’un gîte à Straja, comté de Hunedoara.



    Et c’est tout pour cette édition de Radio Tour consacrée aux meilleurs endroits pour fêter Pâques en Roumanie. Restez fidèles à RRI ! (trad.: Ligia Mihaiescu)