Open to debate: CCIR asks from companies EUR 22 mln in exchange for promotion

The Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIR), a non-government organisation with a history of 157 years, would get over EUR 22 mln from companies and freelancers if a bill providing for an individual contribution mandatory for all the legal persons in its favour is endorsed by the lawmakers, Ziarul Financiar reported.

Large companies would pay EUR 100 per year, microenterprises' contribution would be EUR 20 per year, while freelancers would be required to contribute only EUR 10 per year.

The money will be used to "redesign the role of the Chamber and to give it the strength to carry out activities of economic diplomacy and representation of the business environment", "as it happens in other countries," the initiators of the bill claim.

The public reaction was mainly negative, particularly as CCIR is the supposed beneficiary of another controversial bill that would give it full ownership rights over some 46 ha of land, worth at least EUR 300 mln, in Bucharest CBD.

The National Council of Private Small and Medium Enterprises in Romania (CNIPMMR) announced that it rejects the bill, according to News.ro. CNIPMMR suspects that the bill is aimed to provide CCIR with a public role that would justify the transfer of the land free of any charge.

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