Press Review - February 2, 2016

02.02.2016 By Gabriela Stan

George Cristian Maior Meets With U.S. Deputy Secretary Of Commerce Bruce Andrews

George Cristian Maior, Romanian Ambassador to the U.S., on Monday met with Bruce Andrews, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce.

During the meeting, the Romanian Ambassador reaffirmed the government’s commitment for the development of the economic dimension of Romania-U.S. Strategic Partnership.

Maior said that the priorities of his mandate are the development of economic relations and the drawing of investments, as Romania has taken important steps in improving fiscal predictability and increasing transparency, so that it should become attractive for investors.

Telecom Operator RCS&RDS Enters Electricity Market

Telecom operator RCS&RDS, controlled by businessman Zoltan Teszari, has repeatedly announced that it plans to develop its own electric power distribution network.

In January, clients who paid their Internet, cable TV of phone invoice at RCS&RDS pay desks got an offer for a new type of service: electric power supply.

Last year, RCS&RDS was only authorized to sell electric power to companies.

According to the offer, prices are nearly 29% lower than the regulated prices paid by population and 25% lower than Enel prices in the offer addressed to household consumers willing to give up the regulated prices.

Contacted by PUTEREA reporters, RCS&RDS officials refused to comment on the issue. (Puterea)

Final Version Of Giving In Payment Law To Be Ready In Upcoming Weeks

The final version of giving in payment law, according to which clients will be able to pay the mortgage loan with the mortgaged property, will be ready in the upcoming weeks.

Bankers have already restricted the access to loans, while the MPs say they are rather exaggerating. Several banks in Romania, some of them in Top 10, have suggested or even said that this law will make them participate less in financing real estate loans, namely 65% instead of the current 85%.

Raiffeisen Bank president, Steven van Groningen, has recently announced that, due to this law, the bank will increase the advance payment to be paid by the client for the acquisition of a home to 35% for loans in local currency and to 40% for loans in euros. (Evenimentul Zilei)

Anti-Smoking Law, Effective As Of March 16

The law on smoking ban was published in the Official Gazette on Monday, and will come into force in 45 days, namely on March 16.

According to the law, smoking is banned “in any space available to the public or destined to the collective use, regardless of the type of property or the right of access, which has a roof or ceiling and which is delimited by minimum two, temporary or permanent walls”.

The anti-smoking law also bans smoking at the work place and at children’s playgrounds (closed or open space), in public transportation means, in medical and educational units and in childcare and protection units. Maximum-security penitentiaries and international airports’ transit areas will be exempted from the rule.  (Puterea)

WHO: Zika Virus Declared Public Health Emergency Of International Concern

Zika virus, suspected of causing neurological disorders and neonatal malformations, was declared public health emergency of international concern by World Health Organization (WHO).

The action, which the international body has taken only three times before, is also aimed at the mobilization of more funding to fight the mosquito-born pathogen.

The WHO warned that Zika is likely to "spread explosively" across nearly all of the Americas and estimated that it is likely to infect 3-4 million people in 2016.

Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, stated that there is a "strongly suspected" causal relationship between Zika and the rare congenital condition called microcephaly, meaning that babies are born with underdeveloped brains. (Adevarul)