President Considers Sending 2017 Budget Bill Back to Parliament
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said Tuesday, after talks with the prime minister and finance minister, he is concerned about the state budget and is considering sending the bill back to Parliament.
Iohannis said the budget is problematic and risky. He said he believes estimated revenues are overrated and there is a real risk of running a deficit higher than the EU limit of 3%.
He added he will decide in the following days whether to sign the budget bill into law or send it back to Parliament for revisions.
Romania’s social democrat Cabinet drafted the budget on a projected economic growth of 5.2% and a deficit below 3% of GDP. (mediafax.ro)
PM Sorin Grindeanu Denies “Breakup” With Liviu Dragnea
Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu on Tuesday denied any problems between him and PSD president, Liviu Dragnea, adding that his job at the moment is to implement a very ambitious governing program.
”I met with Mr. Dragnea today, I also met with Mr. Tariceanu,” Sorin Grindeanu told Antena 3 TV station.
”I have a lot of work to do at the government, I have to implement, together with the team and the coalition, a very ambitious governing program which was voted by the majority of Romanians. That is my main concern,’ Sorin Grindeanu stated. (mediafax.ro)
Romania Durable Goods Market Up 9% In 2016
The Romanian durable goods market rose over 9% to EUR2.55 billion in 2016, according to a GfK TEMAX report.
Electronics sector rose by 20.2%, generating sales of EUR463 million, supported by the sales of flat screen TVs.
Large household appliances sector registered a growth of 20.8% to EUR577 million while small appliances sales rose 20.2%, generating sales of EUR178 million.
The photo segment registered a 14.6% fall to EUR25 million, while the IT sector registered the highest fall, of 15.1%, to EUR419 million, as the sales of desktops, portable computers and tablets continued the downward trend.
The telecom sector reported a 12% growth to EUR824 million due to higher sales on the phablet segment, although the growth rate of smartphone sales slowed down in the last three months of 2016. (mediafax.ro)
Private Medical Service Providers Ask For Change Of Framework Agreement
The employers’ organization of private medical service providers wants the amending of the framework agreement by introducing the term “personal contribution” and the increase of the disbursed tariff for the medical services provided.
According to the representatives of private medical service providers , the wage hike in the public sector, which is not found in the calculations related to the costs of medical services provided by public units but can be found in the private sector, requires the increase of the price paid by the National Health Insurance House, especially for surgeries, by approximately 20%. (mediafax.ro)
Russian Jets Came Dangerously Close To U.S. Navy Destroyer In Black Sea
Russian military airships came close to a U.S. Navy destroyer which was in the Black Sea for a military exercise coordinated by Romania, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, cited by Reuters.
Captain Danny Hernandez, spokesman for U.S. European Command, cited three separate incidents occurred on February 10; one involved two Russian Su-24 jets, another a separate Su-24, and the third a larger IL-38. The incidents are considered “unsafe and unprofessional”.
Between February 1-10, nearly 2,800 militaries in seven NATO states – Romania, Bulgaria, U.S., Greece, Turkey, Canada and Spain – as well as Ukraine, participated in the military exercise “Sea Shield 2017”, developed in the Black Sea. (mediafax.ro)