Romanian President Basescu Supports Special Senate Session On VAT Hike

Basescu said he was mainly concerned with legislation demanded by the European Union, such as the bill on the National Integrity Agency and the „small justice reform” bill. In the president’s opinion, a special Parliament session should be limited in scope, but Basescu said he was glad the MPs want extra work. He added that the bills proposed by the opposition are part of the loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

The Senate’s Standing Bureau decided Tuesday to call for a special session of the chamber’s committees between August 16 and 23, and a plenary session on August 24.

The special session’s agenda includes three bills requested by Traian Basescu, three emergency ordinances requested by the opposition parties, two laws related to the EU acquis, requested by the Government, and a re-examination of the bill on public-private partnership, also on the president’s request.

President Basescu asked the Senate debate the bill on the running of the Constitutional Court and amending the legal procedure Codes, the bill on the organization of the National Integrity Agency and the bill on „small justice reform,” which aims to speed up trial resolution.

The opposition parties (Social Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party) called for debates on three Government Emergency Ordinances, one amending the Fiscal Code (and increasing VAT), one on the decentralization of the public healthcares system and one on local public finances.

On the Government’s request, the Senate will debate and vote on the bill concerning the attorney profession and the bill regarding natural gas.

The special session’s agenda also includes the bill on the public-private partnership, which president Basescu said is at odds with certain European directives.