RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Week in Review – May 15-19

A roundup of the week's main stories

The Week in Review – May 15-19
The Week in Review – May 15-19

, 20.05.2017, 12:38

The law on prevention


The Government on Thursday adopted the bill on prevention, which is to be submitted to Parliament for debate and vote. The 267 offenses that fall within the range of the prevention mechanism do not pose a high social risk and concern taxation, labour legislation, agriculture, tourism, waters and forests, environmental protection, communications, education, consumer protection, the local administration and home affairs. The Government says that under the new bill economic agents will have the possibility of correcting a newly identified irregularity within 3 months at the most. According to the Minister for the Business Environment, Alexandru Petrescu, the law, representing a stage in the Governments strategy to improve its relations with the business environment, will also improve the rate of collecting budget revenues.



Decisions concerning vaccination


This week, the Government decided to set up a department for monitoring and implementing the national vaccination scheme. The new body will report directly to the Health Minister and will oversee the entire vaccination process, from the purchase of serums and inoculation of children to raising public awareness regarding the benefits of vaccines. In addition, the Government also set up an emergency inter-ministerial committee for solving the current vaccine crisis. The decision comes against the backdrop of a severe measles epidemic which broke out in Romania last year, affecting children under 4 years of age. One of the reasons was a drop in the vaccination rate. So far, some 5,700 measles cases have been reported, while 30 children and teenagers have died. In 2016, the first-dose vaccination coverage stood at 86%, while the second-dose rate stood at 67%, below the 95% level recommended by the World Health Organization.



Romanias economic growth hits record high


Romania reported the highest economic growth rate at EU level in the first quarter of 2017, its GDP going up by 5.6% as compared to the same period of last year, reads a Eurostat report made public on Tuesday. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2017 Romania had the largest growth rate in the EU, of 1.7% as compared to the previous quarter. According to data released by the National Institute of Statistics on Tuesday, Romanias economy reported a 5.7% growth in the first quarter as compared to the same period of last year. Economic expert Aurelian Dochia says it is very likely that Romanian economy should attain the 5.2% annual growth mark forecast by the Government, although it is too early to tell.


JINGLE


Compulsory vehicle insurances and the renewal of Romanias car fleet


Owners of cars older than 8 years who want to buy a new car in Romania, under the state-funded car-scrapping scheme can register with the certified producers and importers. This year, the government has allotted for this purpose a budget of around 66 million Euros, the amount of the scrappage premiums standing at 1,430 euros. Important incentives have been given for the purchase of electric and hybrid cars through the “Plus program, which provides eco-premiums of 10,000 euros for the purchase of 100% electric cars, and premiums worth 4,400 euros for the purchase of hybrid cars of the plug-in type. The Financial Surveillance Authority will set a reference price for the compulsory civil liability insurance for vehicle owners, which all insurance companies will take as a reference point when issuing a price for beneficiaries. The provision is included in the bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making body in this matter. Therefore, car owners will receive damages irrespective of the automobile repair shop they choose, and they will also benefit from direct reimbursement between insurance companies.



The unified pay scale bill reaches the Senate


The draft law on the unified pay scale will reach the Senate next week after being approved by Parliaments labour committee. Following three days of heated debates, a series of amendments have been passed, providing for a 15% salary increase for the employees of decentralized agencies of the Environment Ministry as well as the personnel of the National Integrity Agency, who have access to classified documents and information. The National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians have tabled an amendment providing for a 320-euro increase of allowances paid to city mayors and deputy mayors, with the exception of the Bucharest General Mayor and the Bucharest Deputy Mayor, as well as county council presidents and vice-presidents. (Translated by V. Palcu)

Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 09 November 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

President Klaus Iohannis at the summit of the European Political Community in Budapest Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area is not only a...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 02 November 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Electoral campaigns in Romania The electoral campaign for the parliamentary elections in Romania started on the night of Thursday to Friday and will...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 26 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The electoral campaign at the start The electoral campaign for the presidential elections in Romania started at midnight from Thursday to Friday and...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 19 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, at the European Council meeting in Brussels The leaders of the EU countries, including the Romanian President...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Week in Review Saturday, 12 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The Central Electoral Office announced, on Thursday, the final list of candidates for this year’s presidential elections. There are 10...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Week in Review Saturday, 05 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

German support for Romania’s accession to Schengen by land The fastest possible accession of Romania to the Schengen area by land will...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Week in Review Saturday, 28 September 2024

22-29 September, 2024

The first budget adjustment in 2024 This past week, the Romanian Executive adopted the first budget amendment this year. Although it was operated on...

22-29 September, 2024
The Week in Review Saturday, 21 September 2024

The Week in Review 16-20.09.2024

Aid for victims   Like the authorities in several European states, the Romanian authorities have also been on alert this week, after the severe...

The Week in Review 16-20.09.2024

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company