Romania's new governing plan: delay on shale gas, tax control every three years, energy authority under Parliament supervision

The new Government has already drafted its governing program and submitted it to the Parliament on Thursday evening (May 3 ), prior to the vote scheduled for next Monday (May 8 ). The 53-page document includes measures considered long-term and ideas that may well go beyond the short-term this Government might serve.

The new Romanian Government would like to schedule financial and tax controls to small and medium companies once every three years, a measure aiming to restore trust in the Romanian business system and increase competitiveness. In the delicate area of environmental issues, the Government wants to delay the shale gas contracts until European studies show the impact the use of shale gas has on the environment. The Rosia Montana gold mining project will be 'analyzed transparently and based on open and democratic dialogue', according to the new governing program. For employers, a single desk for payments and submitting papers is planned, while for state employees, the Government promises to return the 25 percent salary cut from 2010. Finalizing the new Health Law and a pilot project on differentiated salaries based on performance in the health system have also been included in the document. The new Government also wants a corporate governance law and professional management in state companies – in line with the process already started with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as moving the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) under the supervision of the country's Parliament, to ensure the agency's independence and ability to enforce European regulations. A new system of excises for oil, natural gas and electricity is being taken into account, as well as the development of the energy market – both previously stated by the country's former ruling party the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL). Improvements in the insolvency law, better access to public acquisitions for small and medium companies are also on the to do list for the new Government. The proposed Government would like to relaunch the real estate sector by introducing new instruments, such as bonds guaranteed by asset portfolios. It also wants to promote Romania's values more, and create more cultural institutions countrywide. It wants to make certain cultural features a priority: the Dacian citadels in Orastie mountains, the Calea Eroilor Brancusi sculpture ensemble in Targu Jiu and the Horezu ceramics. On the tourism side, the Government wants to promote green tourism and further develop spa tourism, along with improvements to infrastructure. Rural areas should have access to banking services though the local post offices, according to the plan. The full document here(in Romanian). editor@romania-insider.com