Press Review - December 22, 2015

12.22.2015 By Gabriela Stan

President Klaus Iohannis Sends Back To Parliament The Law On Giving In Payment

President Klaus Iohannis sent back to Parliament the law on the payment of the mortgage loan with the mortgaged property (law on giving in payment) after bankers criticized the bill. They have also got the support of European Central Bank.

Iohannis posted on his Facebook page that the draft law is “welcomed” but the version adopted by the Parliament might create “difficulties” instead of supporting those who have mortgage loans, due to unclear terminology and the lack of correlation with the current legislation.

 Lawyer Gheorghe Piperea, initiator of the draft law, also posted on his Facebook page: “After such a Christmas present, Mr. Iohannis will go to Florida for holidays. Multinationals, step by step and positive pressure by positive pressure (this is how blackmail is now called), took their country back”.  (Romania Libera)

Anti-Smoking Law Challenged By 33 Senators At Constitutional Court

The draft law on banning smoking in enclosed public spaces was challenged on Monday by a group of 33 senators at the Constitutional Court, saying that the notification targets the “enclosed public space” definition, not the law itself.

According to the senators’ notification, by defining the enclosed public space as any space for collective use, irrespective of the type of property, the law is introducing a type of discrimination. At the same time, the law is discriminating prisoners and people transiting the airports (who are excepted from the ban) and the other smokers. (Puterea)

Banca Transilvania Gets Highest Additional Funding For First Home Program

Lender Banca Transilvania got the highest additional funds for the government-backed mortgage lending First Home program in 2015, namely RON46 million, followed by BRD-Groupe Societe Generale, with RON44 million and Banca Comerciala Romana, with RON42 million, according to the Finance Ministry.

This year, CEC Bank is getting an extra RON28 million, ING Bank – RON17 million, Alpha Bank – RON9 million, Raiffeisen Bank – RON8.5 million, UniCredit Bank – RON2.5 million, Banca Romaneasca – RON1.3 million, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank and Credit Agricole Bank – RON500,000 each, Bancpost – RON400,000, CREDITCOOP – RON200,000 and Bank Leumi – RON100,000. (Adevarul)

Wine Consumption Up By Over 50% During Winter Holidays

Wine consumption is increasing by over 50% during winter holidays compared with other months, while Romanians prefer red wine in December, according to the National Vine and Wine Employers Organization.

"During winter holidays, wine sales increase by over 50% compared with normal months, and especially the red wine sales, as Romanians usually buy white wine (60%).  Although there are no market studies, the total wine consumption in December is estimated at 50 million liters, of which only 40% coming from the legal market," said Ovidiu Gheorghe, general manager of the National Vine and Wine Employers Organization.  (Puterea)

Nearly Nine Million Fake Medicines Seized In Asian Countries

Approximately nine million fake medicines have been seized in Asian countries in the last months within Interpol operations, the international police organization reports.

According to Interpol, the value of the counterfeit drugs reaches $7 million (EUR6.4 million). Nearly 90 persons have been arrested within Storm VI operation which included hundreds of pharmacies, markets and online pharmacies in 13 Asian countries (Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). (Romania Libera)