Press Review - September 17, 2015

09.17.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Romania And Other EU States Urged To Clean Up Mismanaged Public Deals Or Lose Funds

Nearly half of EU member states, including Romania, risk losing access to development funds worth hundreds of billions of euros unless they clean up public procurement contracts by the end of 2016, according to a report of the European Audit Court.

Early 2015, 12 of the 28 member states, including Romania, did not meet the standard conditions for public acquisitions in the fields of transportation and energy infrastructure.

The 12 states mentioned in the report are Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Should member states fail to meet EU standards on public procurement by the end of 2016, the European Commission ought to suspend payments until the countries fix the problems, according to the report. (Romania Libera)

 

Former President Traian Basescu Makes Sure PMP Gets More And More Members

Former President of Romania Traian Basescu is making sure that People’s Movement Party (PMP) would have as many members as possible; this week, 250 persons joined the party.

”USL alliance is alive, I will start campaigning for PMP, the only acting opposition party! I am not worried that the party would not reach the threshold; my problem is whether we reach 22-25% until the autumn of 2016, that’s the goal. Liberals and PSD hold the power, while USL holds the power in the local administration. USL is in everything (…). I want a party like I would have liked the former PDL to remain, a party that would push the country’s modernization. I have not succeeded yet, but I will not give up either. That’s what I want from PMP,” Basescu told PMP members.  (Puterea)

 

Romania Jumps Five Spots To 17^th In Economic Freedom Of The World Ranking

Levels of economic freedom in Romania have improved over the past year, pushing the country up 5 places to 17th in the “Economic Freedom of the World” ranking released by Canadian Institute Fraser.

Thus, Romania ranks 17^th in the world and is leader in the Southeastern Europe.

The report, based on 2013 data, is comparing the level of economic freedom in 157 states of the world based on several criteria such as the size of government, legal structure and security of property rights, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally and regulation of credit, labor and business.

Hong Kong ranks first, followed by Singapore, New Zeeland, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates. Romania ranks right after the United States (16), and outranks Armenia (18).

Syria, Chad, Libya, Congo and Venezuela are on the last positions in the ranking. (Puterea)

 

Romania Adopts National Strategy On Migration For 2015 – 2018

The Romanian government adopted Wednesday the National Strategy on migration for 2015 – 2018, and the document will be debated Thursday in the meeting of the country’s highest defense body CSAT.

The national strategy on migration is establishing the process of integration of immigrants.

According to the document, authorities are trying to provide better access to asylum for persons who need protection, a better quality of the asylum conditions and faster decisions. (Adevarul)

 

Commonly-Used Drugs May Cut The Risk Of Breast Cancer

 A few commonly-used drugs may cut the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, namely the breast cancer gene inherited by actress Angelina Jolie, dailymail.co.uk reports.

Thus, women could be spared the pain of breast cancer and saved from the trauma of having their breasts removed, thanks to a breakthrough by British doctors.

According to the newspaper, the research is still at an early stage but is described as “opening up a whole new window of opportunity” in the battle against the breast cancer gene.

Experts said it could even eliminate the painful surgery that the actress recently underwent.  (Romania Libera)