Students Announce Protest Plans
The National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania (ANOSR) said it would stage protests Wednesday in Bucharest and countrywide, displeased that the Government has turned its back on the education system.
Students are calling on the government to allot 6% of the gross domestic product (GDP) to the education sector, ANOSR said in a statement. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Health Ministry Delays Free Anti-Flu Vaccination Campaign
Romania’s Health Ministry said it did not start the free anti-flu vaccination campaign, because there haven’t been registered any flu cases so far.
The campaign targets people with high risk of getting ill.
The ministry said it would provide one million doses of anti-flu vaccine, of which 400,000 will come from the Cantacuzino Institute.
End-June 2013, Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu announced that the Cantacuzino Institute received its license to resume production of anti-flu vaccines. (Curentul)
EBRD Ups Romania GDP Growth Forecast To 2.4% In 2014
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Monday revised slightly its forecast on Romania’s economic growth to 2.4% in 2014, from 2.2% previously, but warned of continued growth constraints from external factors, particularly from eurozone economies.
For 2013, the EBRD estimates a growth of 2.2% in Romania, up from 1.4% envisaged earlier in the year, the bank said in its latest Regional Economic Prospects report.
EBRD also raised its growth estimate on southeastern Europe to 1.6% in 2013, from 1.4% previously. The estimate on the 2014 growth in the region remained unchanged at 2.2%.
Romania forecasts an economic growth of 2.2% in 2013, from an increase of 0.7% in 2012. (Gandul)
Romania January-September Trade Gap Narrows To EUR4.16B
Romania’s trade deficit shrank 42.4% to EUR4.16 billion in the first nine months of 2013, as imports declined while exports increased, official data showed Monday.
In the first nine months of last year, the deficit was EUR7.22 billion, the country’s statistics institute INS said.
Exports of Romanian-made products rose 8.8% on the year to EUR36.48 billion in January through September, but imports declined 0.3% to EUR40.64 billion, the data showed. (Adevarul)
Transporters Frown On Government’s Planned Fuel Tax Increase
Romanian transporters’ association UNTRR said the Government’s planned increase in excises on gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene by EUR0.07 per liter of fuel is totally wrong at this moment.
Transporters argue the measure is a serious and permanent threat to the stability of the country’s transport industry, which has already reached the limit of its tolerance.
Last week, Romania’s government announced a series of new fiscal measures, in a bid to boost revenues and balance up planned increases of public salaries and pensions. (Curentul)
President Basescu Denounces Ruling Coalition’s Planned Decentralization
Romanian President Traian Basescu said the Government’s planned decentralization, which entails transferring duties from central to local authorities, is “sheer stupidity” and only proves the ‘incompetence” of the Ponta Cabinet.
Basescu also said the decentralization process will certainly fail.
Early November, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the Government would seek a confidence vote in Parliament on a bill decentralizing public administration “around November 15.”
“In November, sometime around the 15th, we will go to Parliament seeking a confidence vote so that decentralization may be included in the 2014 budget,” Ponta said at that time. (Gandul)
Parliament’s Special Committee Rejects Rosia Montana Gold Mining Project
The Romanian Parliament’s special committee for the gold mining project in Rosia Montana, central Romania, Monday rejected the Government’s bill on gold exploitation in the region.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said earlier Monday the Rosia Montana gold mining project would be developed under a frame-law to be drawn up by the legislature.
Thousands of Romanians have been protesting against gold mining exploitation in Rosia Montana every weekend over the past three months. The project was launched in 1997 and plans to open the gold mine have been on and off for the past 14 years because of environmental concerns entailed by cyanide mining.
Following ample protests, the Parliament set up a special committee to discuss the project. (Evenimentul Zilei)