heating aid

Officials of the International Monetary Fund have recommended Romania to adopt a simplified scheme for heating subsidies and eliminate bureaucracy for this type of aid, Labor Minister Sebastian Lazaroiu said Wednesday after talks with the IMF delegation.

Romania’s Government has committed in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to continue spending cut policies in 2012 to bring the budget deficit down to 3% and revise the heating aid system by end-July, so subsidies will be granted only to people on low income.

Romanian senators Tuesday decided unanimously to raise the ceiling for state subsidy for heating bills to an income of 615 lei (EUR=RON4.2897) per family member after the government had slashed it to RON425 and then pushed to raise it back.