Legislative Initiative Bans Smoking In Closed Public Areas
Romanian lawmakers are currently working on a legislative initiative aimed at restricting smoking in closed public areas.
The initiative actually keeps smokers away from closed public areas, especially the places where food is served. European countries such as Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Spain ban smoking in this type of locations and provide smoking areas mostly outdoors.
About 42,000 people in Romania die due to smoking.
Statistical data released in 2012 by Global Adult Tobacco Survey reveal that some 4.85 million Romanians smoke daily or occasionally. According to the survey, nearly a quarter of adult Romanians are avid smokers. (Puterea)
Fitch Affirms Romania At ‘BBB-‘, Sees GDP Growing Close To Potential In Next 2 Years
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Romania’s long-term foreign and local currency ratings at ‘BBB-‘and ‘BBB’, respectively, with stable outlooks, outlining the country’s relatively positive economic outlook and expecting its GDP to grow close to potential over the next two years.
The affirmation and stable outlook reflect that real GDP growth has performed better than Fitch’s expectations and that high frequency indicators on retail trade and industrial production continue to support a resilient recovery in domestic demand, offsetting lower growth in net exports.
“For 2015 and 2016, Fitch forecasts Romania to grow close to potential, at real growth rates of 2.7% and 2.8%, respectively,” Fitch said in a press release. (Romania Libera)
Romania Posts Budget Surplus Of RON4B In January
Romania’s consolidated budget registered a surplus of 3.95 billion lei (EUR889 million), or 0.56% of the gross domestic product, supported by higher revenue from income and property taxes, and the value added tax.
In January 2014, the consolidated budget posted a surplus of RON1.5 billion, according to Finance Ministry data.
Budget revenue amounted to RON18.33 billion (2.6% of GDP) in January, up 4.1% on the year, while budget expenditure fell 10.7% to RON14.38 billion.
For the whole of 2015, the government forecasts a deficit of 1.83% of the GDP, which is estimated at RON705 billion this year, from RON670.5 billion in 2014. (Puterea)
Romania To Repay EUR3.2M To World Bank Of Stand-By Loan Contracted In 2009
Romania will repay EUR3.2 million to the World Bank, in March, of the stand-by loan it had contracted in 2009, according to Finance Ministry data.
The amount includes interest rates and fees.
Since the beginning of the year, Romania has paid back over EUR1.729 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Union (EU) and the World Bank (WB). The bulk of the amount, namely, over EUR1.546 billion, was paid on January 1 to the EU, of which EUR1.5 billion represented capital repayments and RON46.2 million interest rates and fees.
On February 1, Romania paid RON18.3 million to the World Bank (interest rates and fees) and on February 5, it paid EUR3 million to the IMF (interest rates and fees). Also, on February 23, Romania paid EUR162 million (capital repayments) to the IMF, which was this year’s last installment toward the international financial institution.
Romania must pay nearly EUR1.860 billion to the IMF, EU and the WB in 2015. (Adevarul)
Liberals Run By Catalin Predoiu Unveil Draft Governing Program
The liberal team run by Catalin Predoiu, the premier proposed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), unveiled the draft program “Romania’s liberal governing.”
Predoiu said the draft governing program proposes fiscal relaxation measures aimed at attracting investments and supporting economic growth, and not “a return to austerity.”
Predoiu also said the draft was put up for public debate, adding that liberals will see the real situation of the country’s economy and finance when they manage to take over. (Puterea)