Press Review - December 6, 2017

12.06.2017 By Oana Gavrila

Constitutional Court Debates Public Servant Bill on Dec 13

Romania's Constitutional court will examine on Dec 13 the head of state's challenge on a bill that no longer suspends public servants from office when indicted for various crimes, such as corruption.

President Klaus Iohannis challenged the bill arguing it hinders integrity standards and damages confidence in public institutions, affecting the rule of law and constitutional democracy.

“A bill that eliminates the sanction of suspension from office of a public servant indicted for certain crimes prejudices ethical and professional standards required by the people who were granted authority by the state,” the president’s notification reads.

The bill cleared Parliament on November 14 and was sent to the president for enactment. It amends the current law which suspends indicted public servants from office.

Government Expected to Approve 2018 State Budget Wednesday

Romania's government on Wednesday is expected to approve the 2018 draft budget bill.

The bill sets revenues at RON125.95 billion and expenses at RON161.73 billion, while keeping within the 3% of GDP EU deficit limit.

Early November, the country's Forecast Commission published its estimates for 2017-2021 in view of the government drafting the 2018 state budget and sees a gross domestic product of RON907.9 billion next year and economic growth of 5.5%.

The forecast commission expects final consumption will grow 5.8% in 2018, and household consumption will grow 6.2%.

Investments in the economy are set to grow 7.9%.

Inflation is seen at 2.6% at the end of 2018, and the Romanian leu is expected to oscillate around 4.55 lei to the euro.

EC: Romania School Dropout Rate Double the EU Average

The school dropout rate in Romania is nearly double compared with the European average and students have poor knowledge of math, science, and reading.

According to a report by the European Commission, the dropout rate grew in Romania to 18.5% in 2016 from 17.3% in 2013, and nearly doubled compared with the EU average of 10%.

Higher education graduates make up just 25.6%, while over 39% of EU students graduate from universities.

Romania King Michael I To Be Buried on Dec 16

Romania's former monarch King Michael I, who died Thursday at his residence in Switzerland at the age of 96, will be buried in Romania on December 16.

The government will declare national mourning on December 14-16.

The funeral ceremony will take place at the new Cathedral in Curtea de Arges, a traditional burial site for the Romanian monarchy.

Romania Sets Up Emergency Department for Immunoglobulin Stocks

Romania's health authorities have set up an emergency department to set up and coordinate stocks of immunoglobulin, the health minister said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Mihai Tudose on Wednesday will meet with health officials and producers of immunoglobulin, an essential substance for patients with weak immune systems, amid a crisis sparked by its shortage within the healthcare system.

Tudose took this decision after a 69-year-old woman died Saturday in Alba Iulia because the hospital where she had been admitted did not have immunoglobulin. Hospital representatives said they had ordered immunoglobulin drugs on October 20 but received nothing.