Cabinet earmarks financial means for people affected by collapse of apartment block in north Moldova, approves other important drafts

Chisinau, 26 July /MOLDPRES/ - The cabinet of ministers, at a today’s meeting, approved the allocation of financial means from the government’s reserve fund for the compensation of the damages of the people who had remained without dwellings in the Otaci settlement, northern Ocnita district. Thus, the Finance Ministry will allocate 8, 823, 179.3 lei to the Otaci local council, as follows: 6, 765, 587 lei for compensating the value of the destroyed dwellings of the people who suffered in the wake of the collapse of the apartment block No 2 from the Otaci town, as well as 2, 057, 592.3 lei for the material damage caused by loss of the material assets, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.      

The cabinet gave a positive note to a draft law on the amendment of normative acts on the entrepreneur’s licence. Under the draft, economic agents are allowed to work based on the entrepreneur’s licence till 31 December 2022 for the licence holders who on 31 December 2019 will have licences for the concerned activities. At the same time, the government is set to make amendments due to contribute to the simplification of the fiscal regime of private persons who carry out independent activities in the retail trade sector (except for the goods on which excise duties are to be paid), thus diminishing the administrative burden. “On the one hand, there are low-income people willing to continue this activity. On the other hand, there are certain actors saying that this is a way of fiscal evasion and we must find a fit solution. We should undertake the measures you have spoken about, Mr. Minister, so that we make sure that nobody takes advantage of this mechanism from those who must pay taxes and that no abuses are committed,” Prime Minster Maia Sandu said.    

At the same time, the cabinet of ministers approved the nominal composition of the Moldovan side in the commission for the stable use and protection of the Dniester river basin. Thus, Ilia Trombitki was appointed executive director of the Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of Dniester River Keepers. “His professional competences are recognized both nationally and internationally. The work of the Commission of the Moldovan side on the sustainable use and protection of the Dniester river is prompted by the need to ensure the ecological security of the Dniester river basin and not allow negative influence on the environment, as well as the sustainable and fair use of these water resources,” Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Minister Georgeta Mincu said.  

At the today’s meeting, the cabinet approved the signing of an Addendum (changing the contract) to the agreement on financing between the Moldovan government and the European Union on the facilitation of technical cooperation 2016. The amendments come following a request by the European Commission to extend the operational period of implementation from 21 July 2022 to 21 July 2025. The request for extension comes from the fact that the technical assistance projects were contracted by the European Union Delegation with delay.   

Also at the today’s meeting, the government approved an amendment to the draft law on the state enterprise and municipal enterprise. The amendment is aimed at removing gaps from the law on the state enterprise and municipal enterprise, which deal with transparency, access to information, procurements and limiting the conflicts of interests. The draft includes the following provisions: 1. Compulsoriness of the external audit for all state enterprises and municipal enterprises is needed. 2. The state and municipal enterprises must carry out procurements through the public procurements system. 3. More drastic approaching of conflicts of interests. 4. Additional requirements of reporting the salary payment policy are necessary.