Eurostat: Romania February Industrial Output Falls At 3rd Fastest Pace In EU
Romania’s industrial production fell 1.3% on the month in February, the third largest decrease in the European Union, official data showed Monday.
The EU’s average output inched up 0.4% on the month, the statistics office Eurostat said. The biggest increases were registered in Malta (+5.4%), Ireland (+5%) and Lithuania (+2.5%), and the highest decreases in Croatia (-2.8%), Estonia (-2.2%) and Romania.
On the other hand, Romania posted the second-highest annual increase in industrial production among the EU members, the data showed. Adjusted industrial production rose 8.9% year-on-year in March, just shy of a 9% growth registered in Slovakia. (Curierul National)
Nearly 85% Of Romanians To Spend Easter At Home
Nearly 85% of Romanians in urban areas will spend Easter at home with family and friends. They will spend an average RON359 on Easter shopping, according to a survey by MEDNET Marketing Research Center.
Compared to 2013, the average budget for Easter has not increased significantly. The average Easter shopping in 2013 was RON358.
As in 2013, over 50% will receive no Easter benefits from work. According to the survey, 15.2% of respondents will receive Easter bonuses in cash, 11.2% will receive gift vouchers and 4.9% will receive gifts. (Curentul)
Iasi-Ungheni Gas Pipeline Completed On Romanian Territory
The works on the natural gas pipeline Iasi-Ungheni on Romania’s territory are completed, but there are still several works to be completed on the segment in neighboring Republic of Moldova, in order to become operational, so that the first quantities of Romanian natural gas will reach Moldova in June.
At the end of February, PM Victor Ponta stated, during a visit to Kishinev, that the new deadline for the completion of the works is April 15, then, he said that April 15 was the deadline for the works related to the sub-crossing of Prut River; nevertheless, the works on the segment are not completed yet. (Adevarul)
Victor Ciorbea Gets Green Light For Ombudsman Position
The members of the Legal Committees in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies approved Monday the candidacy of Victor Ciorbea for the position of Ombudsman, Mediafax reports.
Ciorbea was proposed as Ombudsman by the parliamentary groups of PSD in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. If voted by the plenum as well, Ciorbea will have a five-year mandate. (Romania Libera)
Half Of Highway Kilometers Promised By 2020, Financially Covered
The amounts assigned by the European Union or the state budget between 2014 and 2020 will not be enough to cover the construction of the 1,800 kilometers of highway promised by Transports Minister Dan Sova.
Sova has recently stated that Romania will have a highway network of 2,440 kilometers by 2020, almost four-fold higher compared with the current number of kilometers. (Romania Libera)