Press Review - October 9, 2017

10.09.2017 By Oana Gavrila

NATO Secretary General Visits Bucharest Monday

NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg arrives in Bucharest Monday for the opening of the 63rd NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will meet with the NATO official to discuss the organization's 2018 summit and the two are set to visit the Multinational Brigade in Craiova.

The two officials will also attend the opening of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest and will address the assembly.

Government Offers Aid to Farmers in Fruit & Veg Sector

Romania's government has approved a financial aid scheme for farming organizations and associations producing fruit and vegetables.

The aid comes from the European agricultural guarantee fund, following changes in the EU legislation on fruit and vegetables.

Potential beneficiaries must submit and be approved for an operational program for a duration of 3 to 5 years. Aid is limited to 50% of the producers' expenses.

The aid scheme targets to raise the quantity and improve the quality and sales of Romanian produce.

Liberals To Submit No-Confidence Motion When It Stands a Chance

Liberal Party president Ludovic Orban said Saturday the party would submit a no-confidence motion to topple the government when it stands the best chance of being adopted.

“We will certainly submit a no-confidence motion during the current parliament session but at a time when it stands the best chance of being adopted,” said Orban.

The parliamentary session ends in two months, when lawmakers start winter recess.

The ruling coalition has a comfortable majority in Parliament.

Analysts: Central Bank May Let Leu Fall to 4.6-4.7 Vs Euro

Romania's central bank will allow the leu to decline to 4.6-4.7 to the euro in the first quarter of 2018, UniCredit bank analysts said in a report.

Analysts expect the central bank will allow the currency to depreciate gradually and will raise the key interest rate to 2.5% from the current record low of 1.75%.

Inflation is seen picking up to over 2% in the first quarter of next year due to hikes in excise duties on fuel and higher energy prices.

The central bank last week kept the benchmark interest unchanged by started narrowing its standing facilities corridor, a first step towards monetary policy tightening.