* State companies will hand over to the public budget 90% of their profits, nearly double of what they are required to give right now

90% of the profits of companies could be transferred to the state budget, prime minister Emil Boc announced yesterday.

So far, companies in which the state was a majority or sole shareholder, were required to pay up to 50% of their profits to the state budget.

It is clear that state owned companies will be required to fork up nearly double what they are paying now.

PM Emil Boc also said that the 20% cuts in expenses for goods and services will also apply to state owned companies as well, and not just to public institutions. Purchases of cars and furniture will also be prohibited.

* The government"s plans for the remainder of 2010

Yesterday, at the end of the Government meeting, the Prime Minister announced the priorities of the Government for 2010.

According to the prime-minister, these include: reducing the number of employees in the public sector, supporting business activities and investments, fighting tax evasion and improving the level of absorption of European funds.

* Three steps to help the economic recovery

In order to support the business environment, Emil Boc mentioned three state aids that will be implemented in the near future.

One of these measures involves the allocation of 200 million Euros for state aids intended for private companies.

Boc said that these state aids are intended for companies that invest a minimum of 10 million Euros and create at least 100 jobs. Previously, only companies that invested 30 million Euros and created a minimum of 300 jobs would qualify for this aid. The prime minister expects this measure will help create 5,000 jobs.

Another measure announced by the Prime Minister involves increasing the capitalization of the Fund f