Press Review - January 18, 2016

01.18.2016 By Gabriela Stan

Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos, Informal Meeting With Victoria Nuland

Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos on Sunday had an informal meeting with Victoria Nuland, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State. Nuland was expected to arrive to Bucharest on Sunday evening, according to official sources.

The representatives of the US Embassy to Bucharest said last week that Nuland will pay a visit to Romania, to meet with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, PM Dacian Ciolos and other representatives of the new government and discuss bilateral issues of common interest within the strategic partnership between the two countries.

PSD To Discuss Position Of Calin Popescu Tariceanu As Senate Chairman End-January

PSD president, Liviu Dragnea, stated Sunday that there is certain discontentment in the party regarding Senate chairman Calin Popescu Tariceanu, as certain colleagues say he is “secretly” negotiating with PNL, so that PSD will discuss his position at the end of January.

Asked about the reasons for the alleged replacement of Senate chairman, Dragnea admitted that there is certain discontentment in the party related to Tariceanu.

“My colleagues said there are certain ALDE members, maybe even (Tariceanu – e.n.) himself, who are secretly or unofficially negotiating with PNL. (...) On one hand, they are negotiating with PNL, and on the other hand, they criticize the government and PNL and pretend they are the only ones in the opposition and that is very annoying,” PSD president said.  (Evenimentul Zilei)

Romania Posts One Of Lowest Gasoline Price Drops In The Region

According to European statistics, the oil price collapse has triggered a higher gasoline price decrease in neighbor countries, while gasoline price fell less in Romania, despite the additional VAT cut.

The VAT rate cut at the beginning of the year, jointly with the drop in crude oil prices, should have led to lower gasoline prices, but, according to Eurostat data, Romania registered one of the lowest price cuts compared with the previous year.

Thus, gasoline prices fell by only RON0,06 in Romania at the beginning of the year, meaning that the pump prices included neither the VAT cut nor the oil price decrease.

According to Eurostat, the average gasoline price (taxes included) was at RON5.01 per liter in Romania on December 14 and reached RON4.95 per liter after three weeks, on January 11, 2016, although the price should have fallen to RON4.85 per liter as of January 1. (Evenimentul Zilei)

Gulf Shares Sharply Down On Sunday, On Oil Price Decline

Share prices in the energy-rich Gulf states fell sharply on Sunday following the decline in oil prices and the preparation of Iran to resume crude oil exports after the lifting of sanctions, AFP reports.

The fall of shares listed on Gulf exchanges in the first day of trading of the Muslim week is following the massive losses in global bourses on Friday, when Gulf exchanges were closed for the weekend.

Oil price, which contributes more than 80% to Gulf states' revenues, fell by over 20% this year, to less than $30 a barrel, following a 65% drop in crude oil price in the past two years, according to AFP.  (Adevarul)

Health Ministry To Solve Hexavalent Vaccine Crisis In Maximum Two Weeks

After family physicians warned that thousands of children countrywide might get convulsive cough or poliomyelitis, Health Ministry gave assurance that the hexavalent vaccine crisis would be solved in maximum two weeks, as it is an international crisis.

Thousands of children might get convulsive cough as Hexacima vaccine, which also protects children against poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B or diphtheria, has been out of stock since September 2015. Children should be vaccinated at the optimum time, namely 2 months, 4 months, and 12 months.

On the other hand, Health Ministry gave assurance that the hexavalent vaccine crisis will be solved in maximum two weeks as they started special procedures to get the doses. (Adevarul)