Romania’s Ruling Social Liberal Union On The Verge Of Collapse
Romania’s ruling alliance is on the verge of collapse as liberals threaten to leave the Cabinet unless their minister nominees are accepted.
Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu said the party would meet Tuesday to decide to pull its ministers from the Cabinet unless Prime Minister Victor Ponta appoints their proposed ministers. (Puterea)
Romania Supports European Outlooks For Ukraine And Moldova
Romania supports a European outlook for neighboring Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Titus Corlatean said.
Romania seeks to avoid the spreading of internal tensions from Ukraine to the region, Colatean told SkyNews in an interview Sunday.
”Romania marks the eastern border of the Eu and NATO and Ukraine is its largest neighbor. We are closely following recent developments in Ukraine and welcome the agreement for peace and the ceasing of violence,” said Corlatean. (Jurnalul National)
Central Bank Calls On Commercial Banks To Ensure Transparency
The central bank’s letter ordering commercial lenders to take corrective action in response to customer complaints about time deposits that, upon maturity, hold less money than initially deposited, sought to make banks more transparent.
Nicolae Cinteza, head of the central bank’s supervision department, said banks raised fees while lowering interests to trick depositors.
“Some banks raised fees. With three-month deposits, by lowering interests, it was clear the principal would also be lowered. I personally think this was a trick the banks pulled, which is why we have called for transparency,” said Cinteza.
He added the central bank cannot ask lenders to change their commercial policies but can require more transparency and admit they no longer wish to attract short-term deposits. (Adevarul)
BCR Raises Ceiling For Government-Backed “First Home” Program By RON252M
Romania’s largest bank BCR raised its guarantee ceiling for the government-backed First Home mortgage lending program by RON252 million, estimated to be spent in about six months.
Bank officials said BCR expects it will require additional funding for the program at the end of the summer.
BCR so far granted around 32,000 loans under the program, totaling more than RON5.5 billion.
The lender is the biggest local bank, with assets exceeding EUR16 billion. (Evenimentul Zilei)
World Health Organization Looks Into Romanian Vaccine Production Line
Experts with the World Health Organization will be visiting Romania’s Cantacuzino Institute on February 24-28 to assist with the revision of technological processes in the production of vaccines.
Romania’s National Medicines Agency has found irregularities in the production of 400,000 doses of anti-flu vaccine.
Health minister Eugen Nicolaescu said a week ago WHO experts would be assisting Romanian specialists at the institute correct such irregularities and avoid production line issues in the future. (Jurnalul National)