Romania sends extra military force abroad

The Supreme Council of National defense decided that in 2011 the Romanian Army forces deployed in theaters of operations are to grow by 183 soldiers, being able to participate in missions outside the state with an effective maximum of 3427 troops.

‘An important topic on the agenda of the SCND session was the continuation of the armed forces of Romania's participation in collective defense missions, peace support operations, coalition and individual type, outside the Romanian territory, under NATO, EU and UN.

‘In this context, SCND has reviewed and approved the plan to use the military forces of Romania in missions outside Romania in 2011’, SCND said in a statement.

According to the plan to use the Romanian Armed Forces outside Romanian missions, from 2010, 2011, the Romanian Armed Forces deployed in theaters of operations will increase overall, with 183 soldiers.

‘In 2011, the Romanian Army will be able take part in missions outside the country, with an effective maximum of 3.427 troops, including deployed forces - 2,525 troops and deployable force - 902 soldiers, ‘it says in the SCND handout.

Furthermore, SCND has approved adding Romania’s participation in the European Union mission from EULEX Kosovo with five policemen.

‘At the end of the hearing, the Board approved the work program of the SCND for 2011, a document required to achieve the constitutional objective of the Council, that of organization and unit coordination of activities relating to national security, ‘it was weitten in the SCND document.

Nearly 19 million packs of cigarettes confiscated in 2010

In a report on fighting tax evasion, that was discussed in the SCND, states that nearly 19 million packs of cigarettes were confiscated in 2010 which is about 56 percent more than the in previous year.

‘In 2010, 46 million euros in fines were given and the ministry's public finances received fines of around 15 million euros.

‘The specialized structures of Public Finance Ministry ordered 4,251 suspensions of activity and established additional tax liability of around 1,5 billion euros’, states the SCND document.

According to the report prepared by the Interinstitutional Working Group to prevent and combat tax evasion, activities of tax evasion of tobacco products, food products, wood materials, building materials and alcohol have been identified.

Translated by: Iris Butnariu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University