În numele Conferinței Episcopale din România, cu binecuvântarea Excelenței sale PSS Virgil Bercea, am participat ca membru al Comisiei de Afaceri Sociale din cadrul COMECE (Comisia Episcopilor Catolici din Uniunea Europeană) la o sesiune de conferințe pe durata a două zile (27.02-28.02), la Bruxelles. Întâlnirea a fost prezidată de Excelenta Sa Jean Claude Holerich, Cardinal Arhiepiscop de Dijon, în prezența Secretarului General al acestei comisii Pr. Manuel Barrios Prieto.

Inflația, cu impactul ei social, mesajul Bisericii și eventualitatea nominalizării unei persoane de contact ce participă activ pe linia și învățătura Bisericii catolice în demersul scăderii factorilor ce cauzează inflația a fost subiectul unei mese rotunde la care toți participanții au prezentat pe rând date statistice naționale și modul în care biserica se implicĂ în păstrarea demnității fiecărui cetățean. Atașez, mai jos, în limba engleză,  prezentarea făcută.

Sesiunea zilei a fost continuată în prezența unor experți invitați care au detaliat consecințele inflației, ce îi face pe cei săraci și mai săraci, încercând să dea un răspuns din perspectiva bisericii în ceea ce privește gestionarea resurselor și împlinirea misiunii ei ca Biserică a lui Cristos. Ziua s-a încheiat cu Sf. Liturghie celebrată de Msg. Antoine Heruard.

A doua zi a debutat cu vizita la Parlamentul European, unde, după un mic dejun au continuat expuneri pe teme economice-sociale  găzduite și întreținute de Prof. Patrizia Toia, membră în Parlamentul European. Un mic tur al Parlamentului însoțit de fotografii și o prezentare ne-au transformat pentru un foarte scurt timp în adevărați “parlamentari”.

Întorși la sediul conferinței, în prezența altor invitați am continuat să audiem și să interpelăm invitații ce ne-au prezentat situații din politica fiscală și a finanțelor publice, dar și modul în care se poate reduce datoria publică și deficitul statelor membre ale UE, în vederea creșterii stabilității lor, având ca moderator pe Excelența Sa Msg. Antoine Herouard, Arhiepiscop de Dijon și Președinte al Comisiei pentru Afaceri Sociale din cadrul COMECE. Astfel s-a încheiat o sesiune scurtă de doar două zile, dar cu un program intens. Următoarea reuniune va avea loc în perioada de toamnă, la o data ce va fi comunicată ulterior.

Arch. Leon Cosma

 

 

FOR THE MEETING OF THE COMECE SOCIAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION

27-28 February 2023

                                                                                          by Arch. Leon Cosma

INFLATION AND STATISTICS IN ROMANIA

Inflation is a rise in prices, which can be translated as the decline of purchasing power over time. The rate of which purchasing power drops can be reflected in the average price increase of a basket selected of goods and services over a period of time.

In the case of Romania, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) previously informed that the annual inflation rate dropped to 15.32% in October 2022 from 15.88% in September, as food prices increased by 20.58%, those of non-food goods were higher by 14.37% and services were more expensive by 8.31%.

According to the National Bank of Romania the forecast inflation values for the beginning of 2023 was 16.3% so, now we are here which 16.5% and decreases, while in September 2024 the projected level is estimated 4.2%, under the conditions of important basic effects associated with the evolution of energy prices.

Governments around the world, including Romania, have tried in recent years to implement more and more diverse measure to control inflation, but the global economic crisis and high prices, political and medical crisis have turned this fight into a much tougher one that in the past.

No measure proved to be perfect, but some of them were able to create fewer problems than others. One of the simplest solution was the granting of subsidies for poor families. In the short term, these subsidies protected consumers from the impact of immediate price increases.

In Romania there are mechanisms aimed at encouraging responsible behavior in terms of alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption and pollution. Alcohol and alcohol beverages, tobacco products, and most energy sources are taxed. Excise taxes contribute to the increase in prices of this product categories.  In other words, the state takes care of us by making some products that we like more expensive, but excise taxes and VAT do not represent the totality of the taxes that the common man bears through the purchases made. There are number of other taxes included in the price of the goods which are passed on the final consumer such as: income tax, property taxes, taxes of means of transport, fees for issuing certificates, approvals and authorizations, and  all kinds of special taxes or local taxes.  All this added taxed contributes to inflation and make the poor poorer.

A first recommendation would be to reduce excise duties to a level as close as possible to the mandatory minimum established by European directives and to take steps to determine the reduction of the minimum quotas imposed at the European level. The Romanian Government and the local authorities developing economic ans social programs including partnerships with different kind of ONG and Church.

CHURCH MESSAGE

Works of charity must lead us to the encounter with Christ, in Him we receive the gift of love that renews our Christian being. For this, the Catholic Church in Romania fights against poverty, becoming the messenger of God`s love, as Benedict XVI, so beautifully described the first encyclical Deus Caritas est.

Caritas Romania is the practical expression of the mission that the Catholic Church and the faithful assumed it in the Romanian society trough dedication, consistency and professionalism. Caritas helps the poor, comforts the sick, visits the excluded and marginalized, supports those without food, clothing or shelters, teaches and guides the undecided.

The Greek Catholic Diocese of Oradea and the personal activities and programs through by His Excellence Msgr. Virgil Bercea is a living expression of its mission for its neighbors through multiple social activities such as:

  • Maria Rosa Social Center – social canteen and social showers
  • Frent House – residential center for elderly
  • Menu of the day – free home delivery
  • The Grace Shelter – flats of social housing
  • The after-school center “Saint Martin” for the children of Ioanis
  • CEO student – accommodation for students, affordable price.

REFERENCE

The Caritas Romania Confederation works hard to implement solidarity, compassion and hope in preserving the dignity of all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation. It having over 115 000 beneficiaries, 1300 employees, 11000 volunteers and operates in 450 localities. Its headquarters activate in Bucharest with the President Gheorghe Dunca  easy to found in the media.

Since 2005 Caritas Romania Confederation organizes the national event “One million stars” that aims to sensitize the public opinion upon the problems that the most vulnerable social groups face: extreme poverty, social exclusion, discrimination. Each year the candles of solidarity burn in a least 30 big cities.