Some 18,539 People With Diabetes In Romania Died In Past Year
Over 1,500,000 Romanians suffer from diabetes and 18,539 diabetics have died over the past year, placing Romania among the top ten countries by diabetes mortality rates, according to data by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
As regards Romanians’ access to diabetes treatment, the list of necessary medical drugs will be updated at the beginning of 2014, according to the latest information provided by the Health Ministry. (Curentul)
Romania October Unemployment Rate Rises To 5.4%
Romania’s unemployment rate rose to 5.4% in October, from 4.73% a month earlier, the country’s employment agency ANOFM said Thursday.
In October 2012, the jobless rate was 5.17%, ANOFM data showed.
The total number of unemployed Romanians increased to 489,260 in October, from 428,866 people in the previous month.
Jobless claims reached 173,310, down from 163,007 in September. (Adevarul)
Fuel Prices To Rise RON0.3-0.4/L In 2014 Following Excises Increase
The prices of gasoline and diesel oil in Romania will increase by 0.3 lei (EUR0.06) to RON0.4 per liter in 2014, following an increase in fuel excises, Finance Minister Daniel Chitoiu said Thursday.
The prices of best-selling gasoline types in Romania range between RON5.5 and RON5.9/liter.
The government will raise excise duties on fuels by EUR0.07/liter in 2014.
Moreover, authorities decided excises will be indexed for inflation starting next year.
The government expects to collect excise tax revenues of RON22.8 billion in 2014, up 15.74% from RON19.7 billion, the amount estimated for 2013. (Curentul)
Romania’s Economic Growth Accelerates To 4.1% In 3Q
Romania’s economic growth accelerated to 4.1% in the July-September period, from an annual increase of 1.5% in the second quarter, a flash estimate of the country’s statistics institute showed Thursday.
Compared with the previous quarter, Romania’s gross domestic product grew by 1.6% in the third quarter, in seasonally adjusted data, the statistics institute said. The economy grew at a quarterly rate of 0.5% in the second quarter.
In the first nine months of 2013, the GDP expanded by 2.7% compared with the same period a year ago.
The International Monetary Fund recently improved its forecast on Romania’s economic growth to 2.2% in 2013, from 2% previously, citing a good harvest and better contribution from exports. (Romania Libera)
France Backs Bulgaria And Romania’s Schengen Entry In Two Stages
France supports Bulgaria and Romania’s accession into the border-free Schengen Area in two stages, said the new French ambassador to Sofia Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, according to novinite.com.
“Two years ago it was France who proposed Bulgaria and Romania to be admitted in two stages: first for air and sea borders, then for land borders,” said the French ambassador while on a trip to Plovdiv.
“However, this did not meet the agreement of other EU member states,” he added. (Romania Libera)
Referendum Quorum Bill To Be Promulgated And Published In Official Journal
Romania’s bill lowering the required quorum in referendums to 30% of voters from 50%, which was recently upheld by the Constitutional Court, will be promulgated and published in the Official Journal by the heads of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said this will happen if President Traian Basescu refuses to pass the bill into law within the law-stipulated ten-day deadline.
The Constitutional Court Thursday rejected Basescu’s notification regarding the unconstitutionality of the bill. Basescu recently said the new quorum of 30% fails to ensure sufficient representation in referendums. (Adevarul)