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January 2, 2014 UPDATE

HEALTHCARE-A National Strategy by which the Romanian Health Ministry intends to operate major changes in the healthcare system by 2020 is being publicly debated in Romania. Improving the population’s health condition and increasing life expectancy in Romania are among the goals the relevant authorities intend to reach by implementing this strategy. An important pillar of this strategy is prophylaxis, especially the prevention of and protective treatment for cardiovascular diseases and different types of cancer.

Florentin Căpitănescu, 02.01.2014, 18:19

EXPORTS-As of January the 1st, Romania can export pork meat to the EU member states. Exports will be made by all entrepreneurs who have been accredited to carry out this type of activity. In recent years, restrictions have been imposed on Romania’s exports to the EU member states because of swine pest. The last hotbeds of swine pest were registered in 2007, data released by the National Sanitary-Veterinary Agency show. Romania has spent over 7 million Euros to carry out various programs meant to eradicate swine pest, news agencies report.

ECONOMY-Of all currencies used in the EU, the Romanian leu, registered the lowest depreciation against the Euro in 2013, a survey made public by the well known brokerage agency “Noble Securities” shows. According to the survey, the Romanian national currency registered a drop of 0.5%. The Romanian leu registered the lowest exchange rate against the Euro in December, against the backdrop of misunderstandings on the domestic political scene. The political row impacted the business environment and sent messages to investors on the existence of a certain degree of instability in Romania, Noble Securities concludes.

CONCERTS– Marc Anthony and Peter Gabriel will be giving their first concerts in Romania this year. Also in 2014, such singers and bands like Deep Purple, Cyndi Lauper, Ricchie e Poveri, BZN, Richard Clayderman and Al Bano are expected to return onto Romanian stages. This month, the Saint Petersburg State Ballet on Ice will bring an exquisite show in Bucharest, the “Swans’ Lake”, and the Zdob and Zdub band, from the Republic of Moldova, will give a special concert.

EURO-BAROMETER-Europeans are increasingly optimistic about their economic situation, the latest Euro-barometer released in Brussels shows. Overall, 43% of the respondents believe that the EU has embarked on the right path to overcome the crisis and to cope with global challenges. The number of Europeans who consider that the impact of the economic crisis on the labour force occupancy has reached its peak has increased by 4 percentage points, from 36% in spring, up to 40%, at present. The poll also shows that unemployment, the overall economic situation, inflation and public debt are the main problems the Europeans are facing at national level. At a personal level, the main concern of over 40% of the EU citizens is inflation.

VOLGOGRAD-Russian president Vladimir Putin has met in Volgograd with the heads of the Federal Security Services and with Russian Interior Ministry officials, to discuss measures to tighten security across the whole of Russia. The talks are held in the wake of the two bombings in the southwestern city of Volgograd, which killed 34 people and injured scores of others. Both attacks were carried out by terrorist suicide bombers. A fourth day of mourning is being observed in Volgograd, and the whole community continues to be in shock. Flags are flying at half-mast, cultural events and TV entertainment programs have been cancelled. The inhabitants of the city have called for the cancellation of all firework-shows during the five days of mourning.

THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR FILE– Experts from Iran and of the P5+1 Group (made up of the US, Great Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany) have chosen January the 20th, as the date set to start the implementation of the Geneva agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. The agreement provides, among others, for limiting Iran’s uranium enrichment work for 6 months, a period during which new sanctions will not be imposed. The ultimate goal is to reach a final agreement with Iran, which is suspected of trying to develop the nuclear weapon, under the cloak of its civil nuclear program, a fact actually denied by Iran.