Romanian Patients May Benefit From Pancreas Transplants As Of 2015
Romanian patients are likely to benefit from pancreas transplants starting 2015, said Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu, adding that transplant surgeries could also be performed in capital Bucharest, at “Saint Mary” hospital, not only in Cluj Napoca.
Banicioiu said doctors at “Saint Mary” hospital also performed liver transplants throughout 2014. (Adevarul)
Tax Receipts Lottery Likely To Kick Off In A Few Months’ Time
The tax receipts lottery, which will offer prizes of RON1,200 monthly, is likely to start in a few months’ time.
Any Romanian citizen can participate using the tax receipts received at the purchases made the previous month.
In order to help reduce tax evasion, the Romanian Government proposed organizing a lottery based on tax receipts Romanians receive when shopping. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania’s Energy Sector Needs EUR100B Investments By 2035 – Draft Strategy
Romania’s energy sector requires investments of nearly EUR100 billion between 2015 and 2035, according to the country’s new draft strategy drawn up by the Energy Department.
The energy strategy targets the security of supply, keeping affordable prices for end-users and the environment protection.
“In order to attract new investments in the energy sector, Romania must ensure a stable, predictable and transparent market, through public strategies and policies, and eliminate any potential obstacles in attracting investors.”
The draft presents the current situation of the national energy system, the targets set for the 2015-2035 period, and the commitments undertaken by Romania to the European Commission. (Puterea)
Romanian State Favored OMV Petrom Many Times So Far
Romania’s leading oil&gas company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO), owned by OMV Austria, has enjoyed tax exemptions and facilities many times so far, but the Romanian state also had something to gain because Petrom became the largest contributor to the state budget.
Over the last ten years, the Romanian state has granted aid worth hundreds of millions of euro to Petrom, the main beneficiary of the system of low oil and natural gas royalties. The company was exempted from the payment of certain debts to the state budget and allowed to use only natural gas from the local production which is way cheaper than the gas imported from Russia. (Adevarul)
Adriana Saftoiu Likely To Be Appointed Presidential Spokesperson
Adriana Saftoiu may be put in charge of the communications department at the presidential Cotroceni Palace and is likely to be appointed presidential spokesperson, according to sources of the former Democratic Liberal Party (PDL).
Saftoiu had also filled this position during the first term of current President Traian Basescu. However, liberals say President-elect Klaus Iohannis did not consider anybody for the position until his departure for the U.S.A. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Ponta Ready To Step Down As PM If Criminally Investigated in Expat Vote Case
Victor Ponta said he would resign as Romania’s prime minister if anticorruption prosecutors start a criminal investigation against him in the case regarding the incidents related to the expatriate vote.
Thousands of expats were unable to cast their votes in Romania’s first and second-round of presidential elections held on November 2 and 16, respectively.
Ponta said he had also considered stepping down as prime minister after losing the Nov. 16 presidential run-off to ethnic German-Transylvanian mayor of the city of Sibiu, Klaus Iohannis. He added, however, that he did not make such a decision because he thought about the votes he had got from more than five million people. (Puterea)