Romanian Lawmakers Adopt Draft 2010 State Budget With Amendments

The commissions met Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and debates on the articles, appendixes and amendments to the state budget lasted until Sunday at 3 a.m.

The commissions also voted on the draft social security budget for 2010, ultimately approving it with 32 votes „for”.

The MPs rejected the Constitutional Court’s budget, criticizing the significant increases in staff expenses, social assistance and current expenses compared to 2009.

The commissions made changes to the draft budgets of some institutions and approved extra funds for the budget of certain ministries.

Lawmakers agreed on increasing the Agriculture Ministry’s budget by 2.1 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.1679), from the initially proposed RON9.3 billion.

The Justice Ministry will receive RON2.78 million to provide uniforms, equipment and meals for the employees of the National Prison Administration, according to an amendment approved by the commissions.

The Romanian Cultural Institute’s budget will be the same as in 2009, as the MPs rejected a Government proposal to increase it by 42.92%.

Lawmakers also adopted the budgets of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, both in the forms approved by the two Chambers.

The commissions’ report on the draft state budget for 2010 will be debated Monday in plenum by the Parliament.