Romania Approved State Aid For EUR3B Investments Between 2007 And 2013
The Romanian Finance Ministry approved aid for 52 projects totaling investments of EUR3.08 billion between 2007 and 2013, out of which EUR727.19 million represented state support.
The government already paid EUR319.33 million of the total aids approved for the investments, a ministry news release reads. Only 16 of the projects were completed between 2007 and 2013, out of which eight in 2013, generating a total of 20,000 jobs.
In 2013, the ministry approved 23 projects of the 52, totaling investments of EUR680.87 million, out of which EUR215.47 million were approved state aids and EUR107.35 million were already paid. The investments are estimated to create around 8,000 new jobs. (Gandul)
Romanian Interior Minister Resigns Amid Plane Crash Scandal
Radu Stroe announced Thursday that he resigned from the position of Interior minister, following a scandal involving delayed rescue actions after a plane crash earlier this week.
Stroe said he decided to resign as a token of appreciation for the firefighters of the General Institute for Emergency Situations (IGSU) who, he added, were unjustly criticized over the past three days.
“I have decided to resign as a token of appreciation for firefighters because they are the true heroes as they will always save lives. They must not pay for the actions of policymakers,” Stroe told a press conference held Thursday afternoon at the Interior Ministry headquarters. (Gandul)
Gas Price To Grow By 150% In Five Years- Romanian Energy Expert
Gas price in Romania could grow by 150% until 2019, when the market is completely liberalized, while population might suffer a price-related shock unless authorities take efficiency and saving steps, said Aureliu Leca, energy expert and ARPEE head.
‘Romania has to liberalize energy prices, but the biggest shock will be related to natural gas, as the prices will grow by 150% over the next five years, when the liberalization is to be completed, compared with the prices registered at the beginning of the process (i.e. 2012),” stated Leca, who attended a conference at the launching of the White Book of Energy Efficiency by the Romanian Association for Promoting Energy Efficiency (ARPEE) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (Curentul)
President Criticizes Government’s Economic Policy In Front Of IMF Delegation
During the meeting with the International Monetary Fund delegation Thursday, Romanian President Traian Basescu criticized the government’s economic policy, adding he would not support such a policy.
“Looking back at the latest IMF mission in our country, I see that we returned to old habits. As soon as we have a slight growth, we start spending more and more, and this is preparing Romania for a new crisis,” Basescu stated. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Fuel Price Rose By RON0.12 Per Liter In 3 Months
In the last three months only, fuel price rose by RON0.12 per liter in Romania, while the new excise duty of 7 eurocents would trigger another RON0.40 price hike.
In November, both Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Minister-delegate for Budget Liviu Voinea, gave assurance that fuel price would not increase anymore, despite the excise duty hike announced by the government.
They both took into account an alleged fall in crude oil barrel price, which would have compensated the price increase resulted from the excise duty. Nevertheless, the oil price trend in the last months contradicted the officials so that fuel price will rise again as of April 1. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania Ranks Sixth In Europe By Beer Consumption
Romania ranks sixth in Europe in terms of beer consumption, with 90 liters per year per capita, but the profile market is on downward trend, according to the Romanian Brewers Association.
Beer consumption in Romania reached 90 liters per capita in 2012, according to an Ernst&Young survey based on the latest available data, which places Romanian sixth in Europe, above the European average of 70 liters. (Adevarul)