Press Review - February 14, 2017

02.14.2017 By Oana Gavrila

President Invites PM For Talks On State Budget

President Klaus Iohannis has invited prime minister Sorin Grindeanu and finance minister Viorel Stefan for talks on the 2017 state budget on Tuesday.

The Parliament on Monday sent the budget bill to the president for promulgation.

The Parliament adopted the 2017 state budget on February 7 with 208 votes in favor and 105 against. (gandul.info)

Energy Ministry: Electricity Imports Serve End Consumers

End consumers must have access to the cheapest possible electricity and imports on Monday morning were in the interests of consumers, the energy ministry said in a  note Monday.

“Romania is not having difficulty ensuring enough energy from domestic output: there are sufficient production units and fuel stocks to cover domestic consumption, including for exports. The electricity import of Feb 13, 2017 was on the day-ahead market, coupled with markets in Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia,” the ministry said. (mediafax.ro)

Romania Confirms 12 Bird Flu Outbreaks Among Domestic Fowl

Romania has so far confirmed 12 bird flu outbreaks in domestic fowl in six counties, the veterinary and food safety authority announced.

Cases have been confirmed in counties Tulcea, Prahova, Bacau, Brasov, Mures and  Constanta.

Losses amount to 1,102 fowl including chickens, ducks, geese and other domestic fowl, which died of the influenza or were culled. (mediafax.ro)

EC Sees Romania’s GDP Growth At 4.4%, Budget Deficit At 3.6% Of GDP In 2017

The European Commission expects Romania’s economy to grow by 4.4% in 2017, according to the EU executive’s winter forecast, while the Romanian government drafted the 2017 state budget on an economic growth projection of 5.2%.

For 2016, European Commission forecast a 4.9% economic growth in Romania.

In 2017, the general government headline deficit is projected to deteriorate further, to 3.6% of GDP, while the government forecast a deficit below the EU-required limit of 3% of the GDP.

Romania’s structural deficit is forecast to increase to around 4% in 2017 and 2018.

According to EC, the economy will grow mainly due to private consumption, which is seen up 6.7%, versus the government’s estimations of 7.2%. Consumption will contribute 6.3% to the economic growth in 2017. (mediafax.ro)