Romania Doesn’t Endorse Autonomy On Ethnic Criteria – President

"We do not embrace the theory of autonomy on ethnic criteria. Instead, as you may know if you have watched Romania, we have started a general process to increase local autonomy," said Basescu.

The head of state said communities currently have local police, hospitals have been transferred to local authorities and it is also local authorities that manage theaters and local cultural objectives.

"The new education law obliges us to transfer schools to local authorities as well. Also, local authorities may levy local taxes adding to a significant share of taxes collected at a central level that go to local budgets. I would say this is the type of autonomy we encourage for a simple reason: it is not just ethnic minorities that need autonomy. Why would communities of Romanians have less autonomy in deciding the future of their community?" Said Basescu, adding the decentralization process will continue.

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