Fewer Christmas Crimes This Year
The number of violent crimes on Christmas Eve saw a decrease of 24% this year compared with 2015, in the context in which over 10,300 police officers were deployed to maintain public order in public places and on national roads, the Romanian General Police Inspectorate said in a statement.
The number of violent crimes fell below last year’s average (a decline of 24%). Also, police officers were deployed on main public roads and highways, ascertaining a slight decrease in the number of bad car accidents, compared with the previous years (a decline of 14%). (Evenimentul Zilei)
Cold Cuts Producers Say Shelf Prices Will Rise In Upcoming Period
Cold cuts producers said shelf prices would go up in the upcoming period following an increase in raw material prices.
Cold cuts prices might go up by at least 3-5% in the upcoming period due to an increase in raw material prices for Romanians producers of meat products, according to several manufacturers of meat products.
“In the last quarter of 2016, however, the increase in raw material prices -of maximum 5% -prompted many producers to boost prices which are expected to see an increase of at least 3-5% in the upcoming period,” said a representative of Agricola Bacau.
The Romanian meat products market exceeds EUR1.2 billion and is dominated by the following players: Transavia, Caroli, CrisTim, Elit, Unicarm, Agricola Bacau, Angst, Fox and Aldis. (Adevarul)
Romania To Impose New Tax As Of January 1
All Romanians will pay a new tax starting January 1, 2017, although the new tax had been scheduled a long time ago.
The tax for storing waste at landfill sites, which amounts to RON80 per ton, will be enforced as of January 1, 2017, according to Environment Minister Cristiana Pasca Palmer. The tax should have been introduced five years ago, and 2017 is the last year by which the EU allows the extension of deadline, the minister also said. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Low-Cost Airlines Dethrone Motorbuses
Companies carrying passengers to Italy and Spain – countries with the largest communities of Romanians – lost the battle with low-cost airlines, according to Dragos Anastasiu, founder of Eurolines Romania Group.
Anastasiu also said the companies he runs sell transportation tickets for several companies in Romania.
„The market of passenger transport by motorbuses saw a decline this year, of nearly 3-5% compared with last year, considering that 2016 saw an avalanche of low cost flights, and not only from Bucharest, but also from Bacau, Iasi, Timisoara, Cluj, Targu Mures and Constanta. November was the first month to see an increase, but, overall, it was registered a decline of 3-5%,” said Anastasiu.
Eurolines Romania Group is a holding which includes 21 companies, among which Nova Travel, Touring Europabus Romania and Touring Rent Auto. (Puterea)
President Klaus Iohannis Sends Christmas Message To All Romanians
President Klaus Iohannis told Romanians, for Christmas, that despite this year’s challenges, reasons of optimism, as well as the strength to build a better society, could be found.
“May the celebration of Christianity and the birth of the Lord bring us closer to each other. May Christmas bring you joy and peace in your soul and in your family. May our thought make its way to the lonely, to the homeless and even to the hopeless. A good deed and a price of attention on our behalf bring comfort to these people. Despite hindrances and challenges of this year, I’m certain we could find reasons of optimism and the power to put together our efforts to erect a better society. I wish you Merry Christmas wherever you are,” said Iohannis in a video message posted on Saturday evening on his Facebook page. (Puterea)