Romania Ranks Sixth In WHO/Europe Region By Number Of TB Cases
Romania ranks sixth in the WHO/Europe (Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization) region by the number of TB (tuberculosis) cases.
In 2014 alone, more than 15,300 people got treatment for TB, of whom more than 500 new cases of multidrug resistant TB.
According to Doctor Gilda Popescu, coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Control Program, Romania, Europe’s 12th-largest country, ranks sixth in the WHO/Europe region regarding the global incidence of tuberculosis since its accession to the European Union in 2007 until present. (Adevarul)
Financial Analysts See Romania’s 2014 Economic Growth Between 2.5% And 3%
Financial analysts forecast Romania’s economic growth rate between 2.5% and 3% in 2014, which would be lower than the 2013 GDP growth of 3.5%.
According to Raiffeisen Bank analysts, the country’s GDP grew 2.5% in 2014. In the last few months of 2014, consumption and the labor market had a positive evolution. Also, according to the quoted analysts, Romania’s unemployment rate saw a decline. Moreover, Romanians are more optimistic about the performance of the country’s economy, which has and will continue to boost consumption.
Banca Transilvania analysts expect a better performance for 2014 and a GDP growth of 3% on the year in 2014. They also expect new public and private investments to speed up the economic growth in 2015. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Competition Council Extends Investigation Into Dairy Market
Romania’s Competition Council has extended its investigation into alleged rigged bids at auctions targeting to award contracts for the supply of dairy products to preschool- and school-aged pupils within the “Roll and Milk” Program.
Investigations target the auctions organized by the Ialomita and Dolj County Councils, in 2010 and 2011, respectively, in view of awarding contracts “for the supply of dairy products to preschool- and school-aged pupils.” The suspected companies are Dorna, Albalact, Simultan, Lacta and Deltalact, which are liable to fines of up to 10% of their turnover. (Puterea)
Anti-Russia Sanctions Shore Up Gazprom Positions
Anti-Russia sanctions have shored up Gazprom positions, James Henderson, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, said recently at the International Petroleum Week (IP Week) in London.
“Gazprom’s financial positions are stable, while its gas can be extremely competitive,” he said. “The company has low net debt and adequate cash flows,” Henderson added.
Gazprom export monopoly was “pressured by independent companies, particularly in the area of liquefied natural gas (LNG),” the analyst said, adding that anti-Russia sanctions “strengthened Gazprom’s local positions when its political value rose.” (Adevarul)
President Iohannis Meets EU Leaders At His First European Council Meeting
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis met with EU leaders at his first European Council meeting held Thursday, in Brussels.
The agenda of the meeting included important topics such as the fight against terrorism, the conflict in Ukraine and the crisis in Greece.
Iohannis met, among others, with German chancellor Angela Merkel, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Iohannis will leave for Kiev in the upcoming days. (Adevarul)