Press Review - February 8, 2016

02.08.2016 By Gabriela Stan

Calin Popescu Tariceanu Says ALDE Won’t Collaborate With Traian Basescu’s Party

ALDE co-chair Calin Popescu Tariceanu stated that the party wants to participate in local elections with own electoral lists and to get a double-digit score at the legislative elections.

Tariceanu added that ALDE will only have punctual agreements with PSD, at local organizations, without signing any document or protocol, like the protocol between PSD and UNPR.

"There are certain persons in Romania that I don’t want to deal with, like Mr.

Basescu and his party. As President, he has done much harm. I have even talked to my colleagues about who we won’t collaborate with, and this is Mr. Basescu’s party," ALDE co-president stated. (Adevarul)

 

Romania Posts Slight Trade Surplus For Agri-Food Products In January-October

Romania registered a slight trade surplus, of RON70.47 million, for agri-food products in January-October 2015.

Nevertheless, the trade surplus fell by nearly 86% compared with EUR496.50 million in the same period a year before.

Exports of agri-food products rose 6.1% on the year in EU and non-EU countries in January-October, to EUR4.76 billion. In the same period, imports rose 17.5% to EUR4.69 billion

In 2013 and 2014, Romania registered trade surplus for agri-food products, after 20 years in which imports exceeded exports. (Evenimentul Zilei)

 

Blue Air Launches Bucharest–Cluj Low Cost Flights

Romanian low-cost airliner Blue Air will introduce flights on Cluj-Napoca – Bucharest and Bucharest-Cluj Napoca route, as of June 3, with a frequency of four flights per week, as an alternative to the costly similar flights of Tarom.

Ticket prices will start from RON89.99, taxes included, according to www.blueairweb.com website.

The price for a similar Tarom flight is EUR70-90 (RON315-405). Blue Air also operates flights to Iasi, Bacau, Constanta, Sibiu.  The ticket price for a flight to Iasi is RON89.  (Puterea)

 

Food Industry Organizations, Unions Prepare Protests At Environment Ministry

The food industry employees’ organizations and trade unions announced they will picket the Environment Ministry headquarters on Tuesday, February 9.

The organizations’ representatives say people are discontent with the payment of RON2 penalties for each kilogram of packaging material uncollected and un-recycled.

The protests will start in Constitution Square, at 11:00 local time and, according to organizers, over 2,500 persons are expected to attend the event.

Environment Minister Cristina Pasca Palmer said Wednesday, after the weekly government meeting, that the ministries’ representatives will have technical meetings and talks with the producers in this respect.

According to the legislation, food producers have to collect 50 – 60% of the packaging material (metal, paper, bottles, plastic, wood etc) to avoid getting fines worth RON2,000 per ton of packaging material (Puterea)

 

PNL Bill On Preventive Healthcare Triggers PSD Protests

A controversial bill initiated by PNL stipulates that patients refusing to attend prevention programs could be forced to pay the price of treatments.

“Romanians can submit a written consent on the refusal of prevention services, being fully aware that, in case they get sick because they have not attended prevention programs, they will partially or fully pay for the treatment,” said PNL deputy Eugen Nicolaescu, former Health Minister.

Thus, authorities will draw up a multi-annual National Prevention Program, financed with 10% of the sum assigned to the national healthcare system.

“We ought not to let simple people at the mercy of PNL members, who want the patients suffering from cancer to pay for their treatment unless they participate in prevention examinations. We should take initiative. Some citizens have signed a petition for the rejection of this bill,” Valeriu Zgonea posted on his Facebook page. (Evenimentul Zilei)