Romanian PM goes to Italy. Govt. sets state aid for Romanians affected by earthquake

Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and Labor Minister Dragos Pislaru went to Italy on Tuesday, August 30, as a sign of support for the Romanians affected by last week’s earthquake. While in Italy, they will meet the four Romanian citizens injured by the quake and the families who live in the camp installed in the Amatrice area. Moreover, in the evening, Dacian Ciolos and Dragos Pislaru will attend the state funerals organized in memory of the victims. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will also attend the funerals. Meanwhile, the Romanian Government has set the state aid for the Romanians who have been affected or injured by the earthquake in Italy. These measures aim to support the families of those who lost their lives after the tragedy in Italy, their children, the wounded, those whose homes were destroyed, those who do not have a home of their own and don’t have where to live after the earthquake, and the Romanians who want to return to Romania. Thus the Government has approved the granting of EUR 6,000 for the children who lost their parents in the earthquake (to the relatives who will take care of them), EUR 1,000 for each deceased person (to one surviving family member), and EUR 10,000 for those whose homes were more than 50% destroyed by the quake, and they want to remain in Italy. However, the aid granted by the Romanian and Italian states shouldn’t exceed the home’s value. The Romanians who want to return to Romania would also benefit from a state aid of EUR 10,000. Also, those who don’t have a home of their own and have no place to live will receive EUR 3,000 from the Romanian Government, regardless if they choose to remain in Italy or return to their home country. The Government also adopted a state aid of EUR 1,000 for relatives (up to grade 2) who go to Italy to support surviving members of families affected by the earthquake, and of EUR 3,000 for Romanians who can work and want to return to Romania. The latter will be granted in tranches over a period of six months. The Government will also cover the hospitalization and recovery expenses of those who are not included in the insurance system and whose costs are not covered by the Italian state. All the state aids will be granted upon request, the Government announced in a statement. The 6.2-magnitude quake that hit Italy last week killed 11 Romanians. Two funeral transports that carry the bodies of seven Romanian citizens left for Romania on Monday morning, and should arrive in the country on August 30. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com