Press Review - March 30, 2016

03.30.2016 By Gabriela Stan

Klaus Iohannis: Romanian Intelligence Service Did Its Duty To The Fullest Last Year

President Klaus Iohannis said Tuesday that that the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) did its duty to the fullest last year, adding that Romania is a safe country.

"Today, I attended the activity report presentation of Romanian Intelligence Service. I gave them a message which can be easily synthesized: SRI has entirely done its duty, efficiently and seriously," Iohannis said in a joint conference with SRI head, Eduard Hellvig, after the presentation of SRI activity report for 2015.

The President added that Romania is a safe country, which is not subject to security and terrorism incidents and that SRI has made an essential contribution to the fight against corruption. (Puterea)

PNL Gathers All Necessary Signatures To Replace Senate Chairman

Mircea Geoana, president of the Romanian Social Party (PSRO), announced that the party would support the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) in the steps taken to replace Senate chairman Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.

“He shouldn’t have been appointed from the beginning, as it was an agreement between PSD, PC and ALDE. It was an attempt to use a position in the Romanian state to bring up a political party, ALDE respectively. It is totally unethical," Geoana said.

Asked whether he wants to be Senate chairman again, Mircea Geoana said: "No, this is for another round of leaders". (Romania Libera)

ANRE: Regulated Gas Prices For Household Consumers To Increase 7-8% In 2016

Natural gas regulated prices for Romanian household consumers will increase by 7-8% this year, according to Romania’s energy regulator ANRE.

The price hike will be triggered by the 10% increase of the price of natural gas from the local production, the increase of the value of minimum compulsory gas stock, as well as the higher regulated tariffs for distribution, supply, transport and storage.

“Regulated prices for household consumers are estimated to increase 7-8% in 2016 mainly due to the commitments with the international institutions, reflected in the provisions of government decision no. 488/2015.,” according to an ANRE report. (Puterea)

Alro Slatina Revises 2015 Result To RON24M Net Loss Due To Green Certificate Quota

Romanian aluminum smelter Alro Slatina (ALR.RO) has revised its 2015 earnings to a net loss of RON24 million from a previously reported net profit of RON9.6 million, citing a change in green certificate legislation.

The legislation change, introduced in February this year, means Alro will pay around $11 million more for its 2015 green certificate quota, an unexpected expense that drives the company's earnings back into loss, company officials said in a statement Tuesday.

"In determining the 2015 net result, Alro factored in an 85% exemption from the mandatory green certificate quota for the full year, but the legislation change in February 2016 states exemptions apply as of the date of approval from authorities, which was June 2015," the company said. (Adevarul)

Health Ministry To Buy Drugs For HIV Prevention And Control

The Romanian Health Ministry will buy medicines for the prevention and control of HIV worth RON111 million, according to an announcement published in the electronic public procurement system.

Thus, the institution assigned 33 contracts, through open auction to the companies: Mediplus Exim SRL in Mogosoaia, Farmexpert DCI SRL in Bucharest, Fidelio Farm SRL in Sibiu, Europharm Holding SA in Brasov and Romastru Trading SRL in Bucharest, among others.

The medicines to be bought are Abacavirum, Lamivudinum, Nevirapinum, Ritonavirum, Atazanavirum, Darunavirum, Stavudinum, Lopinavirum, Maravirocum, Zidovudinum, Tenofovirum, Fosamprenavirum, Etravirinum, Efavirenzum and Emtricitrabinum. (Adevarul)