Press Review - June 15, 2015

06.15.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Industrial Production In European Union And Euro Area Up 0.1% In April 2015

Industrial production in European Union and the euro area rose 0.1% on the month in April 2015, with a similar growth in Romania, according to the EU's statistics office Eurostat.

In April 2015, the highest increases in industrial production were registered in Lithuania (+3.4 %), Sweden (+ 2.2%) and Portugal (+ 2.1%), and the largest decreases in Croatia (-4.1 %), Malta (-3.8 %), Greece (- 2.3 %) and Poland (-2.1%).

According to Romania’s statistics institute INS, the adjusted industrial output rose 3.4% on the year in the January-April period, supported by growth in the manufacturing sector.

The industrial production was flat on the month in April. Compared with April 2014, the industrial production was up 4.1% in adjusted data. (Puterea)

Tourism Investors Ask For Introduction Of Lump Sum Tax

Investors in seaside tourism had a meeting with Economy Minister Mihai Tudose and Finance Ministry Eugen Teodorovici, on Saturday, in Navodari seaside resort.

Besides the cut of the VAT to 9% for holiday packages and the law on holiday vouchers, which were already solved problems, they have some other demands.  One of them would be the introduction of the lump sum tax, which would be soon discussed in the Parliament, according to Mohammad Murad, president of the Federation of Employers’ Associations in Tourism FPTR.

Most of hotel owners surveyed by “Romania libera“ newspaper agree with such a measure, as long as the tax would be differentiated based on the resort and the revenues of the hotel. (Romania Libera)

Klaus Iohannis Pays Two-Day Official Visit To Croatia

President Klaus Iohannis will pay a two-day official visit to Croatia Monday, according to a press statement of the Presidential Administration.

During the visit, the Romanian president will have meetings with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and with Prime Minister Zoran Milanović.

On Monday afternoon, at 17:00 local time, the Romanian President will hold official talks with PM Zoran Milanovic at the headquarters of the Croatian Government and immediately after this, Iohannis will be received by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic at the Presidential Palace in Zagreb. Subsequently, the two Presidents will hold a joint press statement. (Romania Libera)

Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea: If I were Victor Ponta, I Would Resign

Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea, the man who can change the parliamentary majority by the vote of UNPR MPs, stated he would resign if he was PM Victor Ponta.

“If I were him I would resign. It’s Victor Ponta’s decision. A person is guilty or innocent based on a judge decision. It’s not easy for Romania’s image to have a PM under investigation. He’s a good PM, but he could be even better,” Oprea stated in a PRO TV show.

“I have many reproaches for Victor Ponta. (…) I advised him on many occasions. He now has a problem that he has to solve. It’s a huge problem. (…) Despite all his sins, Victor Ponta has a good government,” Gabriel Oprea stated. (Adevarul)

Association For Patients’ Protection Disagrees With Private Medical Services In Public Hospitals

Vasile Barbu, head of the Association for Patients’ Protection, as well as several hospital managers consider that the draft law on carrying out private medical services in public hospitals will lead to the discrimination of the patients with less money.

Last week, the Senate approved the legislative proposal according to which physicians can carry out private medical services in public hospitals where they work, at the request of the patient. The bill will be next debated by the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decisional chamber.  (Evenimentul Zilei)