• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

08. 03. 10. - 15:00

• more General News news...
• RSS Feed General News

08. 03. 10. - 15:00

Micro-loans offer hope to unemployed

Romanian Times

Unemployed Romanians are being encouraged to go into business using the micro-loans programme announced today (Mon) by the European Commission.

Loans of up to 25,000 Euros are given to people who have lost their jobs in order to start a new business.

European Union employment and social affairs ministers on Monday agreed on a new facility to provide 45,000 such micro-loans.

The micro-credit means loans of no more than 25,000 Euros and targets micro-enterprises employing fewer than 10 people (91 per cent of all European businesses) and unemployed or economically inactive people who want to become self-employed but do not have access to traditional banking services.

The initiative is part of the EU's response to the economic crisis and is especially targeted at people who cannot obtain loans because of the economic crisis and the current lack of credit.

The European Microfinance Facility will have a starting budget of 100 million Euros, which could reach more than 500 million Euros in cooperation with international financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, the European Commission said.

According to the European Commission, 99 per cent of start-ups in Europe are micro or small enterprises and one-third of these are launched by people who are unemployed.

Health minister considers taxing fast food and beer
The new Health Minister Vasile Cepoi said today (Thurs) that the next Health Care Law might include a new tax on fast food and beer, local press informs.

Romania wont ratify ACTA
Romania will not ratify the highly controversial (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)ACTA until the agreement won't be altered as to comply with demands recently formulated by the European Court of Justice, the minister of Communication Dan Nica told a press conference today (Thurs).

Romania wont ratify ACTA
Romania will not ratify the highly controversial (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)ACTA until the agreement won't be altered as to comply with demands recently formulated by the European Court of Justice, the minister of Communication Dan Nica told a press conference today (Thurs).

Government to introduce ‘Robin Hood’ tax on oil companies
Minister of Economy Daniel Chitoiu announced today (Weds) that the government is working on a piece of legislation on introducing a supplementary tax on the exceptional incomes of the oil companies that should be passed by the year end and implemented as of 2013.

Education Minister stepps down amid plagiarism accusations
Ioan Mang, the education minister appointed only two weeks ago together with the new cabinet of Social Liberal Union (USL) leader Victor Ponta, resigned Tuesday (yesterday) night.

Brancusi’s son doesn’t want his father remains to be moved to Romania
John Moore, the only child of sculpture Constantin Brancusi, reacted to Romania’s intention to repatriate the remains of his father, saying his last will was to be buried in Paris at Montparnasse, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Weds).

Romania back in recession, growth to resume in H2
Romania officially entered recession today, following the figures published by the National Statistics Institute (NSI) that show a decrease of the GDP for two consecutive quarters (Q).

Police head sacked over underground boss runaway row
The head of the Romanian Police Liviu Popa (picture) was sacked today (Tues) by Home Affairs Minister Ioan Rus, the ministry informs.

UK Ambassador Harris says new Cabinet took right decisions so far
The UK Ambassaodr in Romania, Martin Harris says Victor Ponta’s new government got off on the right foot by making clear that its economic policy will continue to be framed within the programme agreed between Romania and the EU, World Bank, and IMF.

Carmen Sylvas x-rayed hand to be auctioned
A x-ray of the left hand of Romanian Queen Elisabeta will be auctioned in Bucharest by Artmark auction house, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Tue).