Sale Of Expired Or Counterfeit Medicines Punishable By Up To 15 Years In Prison

Social democrat deputy Iulian Iancu, head of the Chamber of Deputies’ Industries Committee, put forward a legislative proposition amending the Criminal Code.   The proposition aims to increase prison sentences for forging and counterfeiting products, medicines and brands.

Iancu proposed prison sentences of 5 to 15 years for selling expired or counterfeit medicines and food supplements which affect one’s health. (Romania Libera)

Labor Minister: Public Workers’ Bonuses To Include Vacation Vouchers   Labor Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu said the bonuses granted to state employees will include vacation vouchers.

The minister also said the measure would be applied after the enforcement of the unitary salary law, namely, this summer, after July 1.

A vacation voucher is granted once a year to public sector workers and its purpose is to encourage local tourism, on the one hand, and eliminate „black market practices.” (Evenimentul Zilei)

Bulk Of EU States’ Government Spending Targets Social Protection, Healthcare, Public Services   The bulk of government spending of European Union member states in 2015 targeted social protection, healthcare and general public services, as well as foreign affairs or public debt transactions.

In 2015, Romania earmarked nearly a third of the gross domestic product (35.7%) to government expenditure, and only Ireland (29.4%) and Lithuania (35.1%) allotted less.

At the opposite pole, the biggest amounts were earmarked by Finland and France (57%), Greece (55.4%), Denmark (54.8%) and Belgium (53.9%). In Romania, the social protection sector receives the most money, accounting for the bulk of government spending in 2015, representing 11.5% of GDP.

Also, Romania allots 4.2% of GDP for healthcare, one of the lowest allocations in the European Union, but fares better than Cyprus (2.6%) and Latvia (3.8%). By contrast, countries like Denmark, France, The Netherlands and Austria allocate over 8% of GDP. In 2015, Romania allotted 3.1% of GDP for education, ranking last in the EU. At the opposite pole, there are countries like Denmark (7%), Sweden (6.5%), Belgium (6.4%), Finland (6.2%), and Portugal and Latvia (6% each). (Adevarul)

ANRE: Romania To Raise Household Gas Prices By 5

Romania’s natural gas market will be fully liberalized as of April 1, which also implies an increase of 5-6% in natural gas prices for household consumers, Niculae Havrilet, the head of Romania’s energy watchdog ANRE, said on Thursday.

As per emergency ordinance no. 64 of 2016, which is under debate in Parliament, the complete liberalization procedure of Romania’s natural gas market will set off, targeting the household market. Thus, as of April 1, „there will no longer be regulated prices for the natural gas production and only the other elements of the final price will remain regulated: network and supply tariffs and the elements deemed natural monopoly,” Havrilet told a conference on energy issues organized by Energy-Center.ro.

Havrilet also said the measure would raise current household prices by 5% to 6% or, by RON3-4 per household. He pointed out, however, that people will still be protected against any major price fluctuations on the free market. (Evenimentul Zilei)

PSD Head Liviu Dragnea Speaks About Victor Ponta’s Resignation   Social democrat head Liviu Dragnea said he gave six years of his life to social democrat member and former prime minister Victor Ponta.

Dragnea thinks deputy Victor Ponta would not join other political parties.

Dragnea also said he wants Ponta to stay in the Social Democratic Party (PSD), where “there is room for everybody willing to get to work.”

Ponta announced, on Wednesday, at the Parliament, that he would send a blank resignation letter to Dragnea. (Romania Libera)

Subiecte #press review