Antitrust Watchdog Head Mulls Amending Competition Law
Antitrust watchdog head Bogdan Chiritoiu stated Thursday that he plans to amend Competition Law, in order to encourage companies to admit their offences.
“This year, we should amend Competition Law no. 21/1996. From my point of view, it doesn’t need fundamental changes, as it is in line with similar laws worldwide. I think it needs a change (…) as regards the admitting of the actions by those who broke the law, to shorten and simplify authorities’ investigations. At the moment, we have two action procedures. First, the pan-European instrument named clemency, by which companies admitting their offences get zero fine or substantial fine cut, on one condition: they should bring evidences to support authorities in sanctioning other companies,” Chiritoiu said. (Romania Libera)
Alina Gorghiu Says Victor Ponta Didn’t Want To Vote For Child Benefit Increase
PNL co-chair Alina Gorghiu stated Thursday that she publicly asked Prime Minister Victor Ponta to admit that he didn’t want to vote for the law on child benefit increase.
“Yesterday, as you all know, was a special day for PNL (…) I refer to the doubling of child benefit, the vote in the Chamber of Deputies. (…) Later, I discovered something I would be very embarrassed to do. Believe me, at my age and at the age of PM Ponta, I don’t think you can play by introducing and pulling out the voting card, and not undertake the vote for a draft law which you have publicly undertaken,” Gorghiu said, explaining that Ponta pulled out the voting card like a child, without undertaking a clear position. (Romania Libera)
42 Entrepreneurs May Get EUR25,000 Each To Set Up New Enterprises
At least 42 entrepreneurs will benefit from individual subventions of maximum EUR25,000 to set up new enterprises, following a business plan contest.
The Center for Economic Education and Development in Romania (CEED Romania) launched the project “IDEAL – Investing Intelligently for Economic, Entrepreneurial Development and Jobs,” co-financed by the Social European Fund through Sectoral Operational Program Human Resources Development 2007-2013.
The contest will be opened to the 420 beneficiaries registered with IDEAL project. The newly-established enterprises will operate in one of the main sectors in Romania, namely tourism and ecotourism, textiles and leather, wood and furniture, creative industries, auto industry, IT, health and pharmaceutical products, energy and environment management, bio-economy. Thus, minimum 84 new jobs will be created. (Puterea)
Banks Lower Deposit Interests Following Key Rate Cut
Banks lowered the interests for population’s deposits following the key rate cut to a new all-time low, thus the highest interests for time deposits in local currency barely exceed 3% per year.
The interests for population’s deposits in local currency continued to decrease following the decision of Romania’s central bank to lower its main monetary policy rate by 25 basis points to a new record low of 1.75%. Thus, at the moment, the highest interests for time deposits in lei barely exceed 3% per year. (Adevarul)
Romania Negotiates Price Cut For Hepatitis C Medication
Medical drugs treating hepatitis C entered the Romanian market at prices exceeding EUR50,400 for one patient, thus the Romanian government announced it would negotiate a price cut.
The same medicine costs EUR790/patient in Egypt and EUR6,750/patient in Brazil. As the minimum wage in Romania stands at RON975/month, a Romanian suffering from Hepatitis C would not afford the treatment. Thursday, Prime Minister Victor Ponta stressed the government’s efforts to negotiate a lower price for medical drugs treating hepatitis C. (Romania Libera)