● TUESDAY, January 2
Law on environmental pollution tax published in Official Gazette
The amended and supplemented law on the payment for environmental pollution and President Igor Dodon’s decree to promulgate this law were published in the December 30 issue of the Official Gazette. In order to stimulate the implementation of non-polluting technologies and take other measures to reduce the emissions of pollutants in the environment and to diminish production and packing waste, there were set new taxes for persons who produce and/or import packing made from plastic, polyethylene, aluminum and other materials, which depend on the pollution level.
Agricultural production will rise by 5% in 2018, IDIS expert
The agricultural production in 2018 will be by 5% higher compared with 2017. The prices in the first half of this year, especially of grains and fruit, will be unstable, but will be higher than those logged in the second half of 2017. The estimates were made by the programs director of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” Viorel Chivriga. In the program “15 minutes of economic realism” produced by “Viitorul” in partnership with Radio Free Europe, Viorel Chivriga said that extended risks will be witnessed in 2018 and 2019 as regards the implementation of the Association Agreement’s provisions on agriculture, regional development and environment, generated by the reorganization of the competent Ministry that will have extended duties following the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and subdivisions of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction.
List of jobs for which pensions are set in advantageous conditions to be updated
The list of jobs done in special conditions for which old-age pensions are provided in advantageous conditions will be updated based on a draft Government decision proposed by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection for public debates on particip.gov.md. Under the document, old-age pensions in advantageous conditions will be paid to all those who work under the ground and under water, produce cement, glass and glass articles, process metals and work with lead, make pharmaceutical products and work in the chemical, electro-technical and nuclear and radiological medicine industries, as welders and others.
Customs in 2017 collected higher incomes than a year before
The revenues collected by the Customs Service into the state budget in 2017 came to over 20.3 billion lei, up 17% on 2016. The incomes collected during December 29-31, 2017 were transferred to the 2018 budget and are by 3 billion lei higher than in 2016. A number of 69 attempts to violate the customs legislation were recorded during the last week of 2017. There were drawn up 37 reports and imposed fines totaling 87,500 lei.
● WEDNESDAY, January 3
State Tax Service brought higher revenues to 2017 public budget on a year before
In the course of 2017, the State Tax Service collected 32.7 billion lei in revenues, an increase of 5.2 billion lei on 2016. The amounts collected in 2017 were by 2.6 billion lei higher than projected. A sum of 14.3 billion lei was collected into the state budget. This is by 2.8 billion lei more than in 2016 (+23.9%). The revenues accumulated in the local budgets came to 3.4 billion lei, up 0.2 billion lei compared with 2016 (+4.8%).
Unified report on calculation of health insurance premium
As of January 1, 2018, the report on the calculation and transfer of mandatory health insurance premiums (form MED08) and the nominal roll of insured employed persons (form 2-03/l) will be unified. They will be both included in the report on the deduction of the income tax, mandatory health insurance premiums and mandatory state social insurance contributions (model form IPC 18). According to the National Health Insurance Company, the information about the modification of the labor relations and the sum of calculated and deducted premiums will be presented monthly to the State Tax Service, by the date of 25 of the month coming after the respective month.
Number portability service used by over 30,000 customers last year
The mobile phone users in 2017 continued to be the most active in using the number portability service. According to the national ICT regulator (ANRCETI), 28,800 mobile phone users made use of this service last year. This is 92% of the number of those who used the number portability service last year. Compared with 2016, the total number of ported phone numbers decreased by 5,600 (-15%). Such a situation is due to the steps taken by mobile phone carriers to balance offers, including charges, as the users have fewer reasons to change from one phone company to another.
Rules concerning construction of buildings on areas with useful minerals
The construction of buildings on areas with useful minerals will be allowed only in exceptional cases and only with the consent of the Agency for Geology and Mineral Resources. The provisions are contained in a draft decision concerning the approval of the regulations on the construction of buildings on areas with useful mineral resources that was proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment for public consultations. Under the draft decision, the construction of mains and high voltage power lines, railroads, highways of national importance and large industrial facilities or the extension of settlements in the absence of other areas will be authorized in coordination with the Agency for Geology and Mineral Resources. The works will be allowed on condition that the possibility of extracting useful minerals is ensured.
● THURSDAY, January 4
Joint Moldovan-Romanian border controls to be launched in 2018
Joint Moldovan-Romanian controls at three border crossing points will be launched this year. The border crossing points are: Cahul-Oancea, Costesti-Stanca and Lipcani-Radauti. Customs Service director general Vitalie Vrabie told a news conference that the interstate agreement between Romania and Moldova on joint border controls was drafted and is to be endorsed by the Romanian side. According to Vitalie Vrabie, the joint border controls will enable to optimize maintenance investments and to fluidize traffic. The director general of the Customs Service said the works to modernize and extend the customs posts Leuseni, Sculeni and Giurgiulesti will begin in 2018.
Agriculture consulting center created in Sucleia with EU support
Farmers, including small ones, from the left side of the Nistru River can benefit from professional consultancy at an organic agriculture consulting center. This was created on the initiative of four specialized associations from the right and left sides of the Nistru within the UNDP-implemented Support to Confidence Building Measures Program. The specialists of the center based in Sucleia village promote the reduction and minimization of the use of fertilizers and pesticides, crop rotation, implementation of modern technologies in agriculture, etc. Also, the farmers can find here information about the possibilities of accessing grants and funds for developing organic agriculture businesses.
Number of smuggled cigarettes seized last year higher than a year before
As many as 5.6 million cigarettes were seized at customs posts in 2017, as opposed to 4.4 million in 2016. The data were presented by the director general of the Customs Service Vitalie Vrabie in a news conference on January 4. According to Vitalie Vrabie, the number of customs frauds, cases of smuggling and non-authentic declaring was significantly reduced last year. The goods seized in contravention and criminal cases were assessed at over 70 million lei, up 60% on 2016.
Moldova included in Open Budget Index rankings
Moldova was officially include in the Open Budget Index rankings that measure the central government budget transparency and public access to budget information. The rankings cover 115 countries and the result is determined by the obtained score. The independent think tank Expert-Grup assessed this index in the past based on similar mechanisms and ascertained that this hadn’t advanced during the last few years, mainly owing to political factors. In 2015, Moldova had a transparency score of 59 out of 100, the same as in 2012. This shows the authorities offer the public limited budget information.
● FRIDAY, January 5
Energy market liberalization scheme is detailed in Association Agreement, expert
The whole scheme to liberalize and open up Moldova’s energy market is described in detail in the Association Agreement with the European Union. The Agreement contains the list of documents that should be approved and defines the way in which the market should be later opened up to investors, expert Dorin Dusceac stated in the talk show “People’s Council” on 10TV channel. “If we fulfill the assumed commitments, the liberalization of the market and modernization of infrastructure will become a reality, not only a thing wanted and declared by politicians,” said Dorin Dusceac, who is a researcher at the Paris-based Atomic Energy Commission and the deputy chairman of the National Unity Party.
Livestock in Moldova down one third during last few years
The livestock in Moldova totals almost 2 million animals. According to the Agricultural Information Center, which provided a response to an inquiry made by IPN news Agency, the State Register of Animals on December 31, 2017 included over 800,000 sheep, more than 550,000 pigs, almost 300,000 cows and nearly 250,000 goats, as well as almost 45,000 horses and over 2,000 donkeys. During the last few years, the livestock diminished by almost one third – from over 5.5 million animals in 2015 to slightly over 2 million at the end of 2016 and under 2 million in 2017.
List of flights operated by Air Moldova extended in 2017
In the course of 2017, Air Moldova extended the list of flights by three new destinations, namely Krasnodar, Dubai and Geneva. The company’s fleet last May was joined by an Airbus A319 aircraft with a seating capacity of 150. In 2017, Air Moldova reported a growth of over 20% in passenger traffic compared with 2016. More than 1.1 million passengers last year used the services of Air Moldova, which is the best result in the company’s 25-year history. The seven most popular destinations last year were: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Istanbul, Rome, Verona, London and Frankfurt.
1,552 persons paid property tax for 2017
As many as 1,552 persons of 2,287 subjects paid property tax for 2017. The collected amount came to almost 29,000 lei or 65.8% of the total sum calculated for 2017. The deadline for paying the property tax was December 25, IPN reports, with reference to the State Tax Service. The private individuals who own real estate, except for land, with an area of 120 square meters and more and shares valued at 1.5 lei and more are subjects that must pay property tax.
Average official salary projected for 2018-2020
The average official salary in Moldova, in accordance with the macro-economic indicators coordinated with the International Monetary Fund, is expected to grow to 6,150 lei in 2018, 6,675 lei in 2019 and 7,250 lei in 2020. The Cabinet hasn’t yet approved the size of the average official monthly salary for 2018. Sources in the Ministry of Finance said the draft decision will be discussed in one of the next meetings of the Cabinet.
