WHO Report: Romania’s Road Traffic Death Rate Relatively High In 2010
Romania saw a relatively high road traffic death rate in 2010, compared to other European Union countries, but almost equal to that in the USA, according to the “Global status report on road safety 2013” drafted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, Romania gets eight out of ten points when it comes to adequate laws that address all five risk factors (speed, drink-driving, helmets, seat-belts and child restraints), the report also shows.
According to the report, Romania placed among European countries with a relatively high road traffic death rate in 2010, namely, 11.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, the same as Lithuania’s, but higher than death rates in Bulgaria (10.4) and Hungary (9.1), France (only 6.4), Germany and Denmark (4.7), Great Britain (3.7) and Sweden (3).
Approximately 1.24 million people die every year on the world’s roads, and another 20 to 50 million sustain nonfatal injuries as a result of road traffic crashes.
In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 64/2551, which proclaimed a Decade of Action for Road Safety. The goal of the Decade (2011–2020) is to stabilize and reduce the increasing trend in road traffic fatalities, saving an estimated 5 million lives over the period, the report also notes. (Curentul)
Visa: Romania’s Shadow Economy Fell 3.5% Since 2008 To EUR39.6B
The underground economy in Romania is seen to have fallen 3.5% over the past five years to EUR39.6 billion in 2013, or 28% of the country’s gross domestic product, according to a report released Wednesday by Visa Europe.
The shadow economy in the southeastern European country, mainly illegal labor and revenue/profit underreporting, has decreased almost 15% in the last ten years. The decrease reflects Romania’s efforts to join the European Union.
Staring 2008, after the beginning of the financial crisis, Romania’s underground economy witnessed a mixed evolution, according to Visa Europe.
Between 2010 and 2013, the phenomenon gained impetus following austerity measures and fueled by belief that corruption goes unpunished.
In 2013, underground economy will drop by EUR1.5 billion and Romania’s GDP will return to the level registered in 2008, according to Visa Europe. (Curentul)
Ctrl Bank Head: Lenders Should Cut Rates To Boost Demand
Romanian central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Wednesday that the institution’s move to cut interest rates on its standing facilities should reflect in lower loan rates on the interbank market rather than in reduced deposit rates.
“We are sending a signal for banks to start an easing cycle, but we urge the banks not to begin by reducing interest rates on deposits,” Isarescu told a news conference.
The central bank last week has narrowed the corridor around the monetary policy rate for the interest rates on its standing facilities to +/- 3 percentage points from +/- 4 percentage points previously. The decision is expected to temper interest rate volatility on the money and banking markets, the central bank said. (Curentul)
Opposition Democratic Liberal Party Blasts Ruling Coalition USL
Romania’s opposition Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) made public a document Wednesday which accuses the country’s ruling Social Liberal Union (USL) of ruining Romania’s image abroad and postponing both its accession to the border-free Schengen area and its adoption of the single European currency.
According to the document, the ruling parties have set no “goals” whatsoever for Romania’s development. (Curentul)
Romania’s New Constitution May Bring Changes To Ownership Right, Expropriation System
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said he will propose new amendments to Romania’s new Constitution, which target, among others, article 44 regarding the ownership right.
According to Ponta, wealth and assets obtained illegally must be seized, while expropriations of “strategic interest” must be made easier. (Gandul)