Romania

[RO] Government Obliges ANCOM to Pay out Surplus of 2012

IRIS 2013-7:1/24

Eugen Cojocariu

Radio Romania International

On 29 May 2013, the Romanian Government issued the Emergency Decree no. 53/2013 for the completion of Art. 14 of the Emergency Decree no. 22/2009 for the set up of the Autoritatea Naţională pentru Administrare şi Reglementare în Comunicaţii (National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications - ANCOM), the Romanian telecom watchdog (see IRIS 2009-5/31).

According to the document, which introduces a new paragraph (5) into the above-mentioned Art. 14, the ANCOM has to transfer within 15 days of the Emergency Decree entering into force, the sum of RON 100 million (approximately EUR 21.98 million) to the revenue account of the State budget. The sum comes from ANCOM’s financial surplus from previous years. According to the annual report of the institution, ANCOM registered a surplus of RON 107,930,600 (approximately EUR 23.72 million) in 2012.

According to Art. 14(4) of the Emergency Decree no. 229/2009, the annual surplus resulting from the implementation of the budget of income and expenditure of ANCOM was originally supposed to be carried forward to the following year. The new Art. 14(5) envisages the above-mentioned exception for 2013.

The money will be used by the Romanian Government in order to increase the necessary resources required for social protection and welfare measures promised by the Government. These measures are intended to increase the guaranteed minimum income in Romania, along with an increase of the State’s familiy support necessary to cover additional expenses arising from expected increases in electricity and gas prices.