November 7, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news.
Ştefan Stoica, 07.11.2013, 12:48
ECONOMY– The National Bank of Romania has significantly revised downward the inflation rate forecast for this year, from 3.1%, down to 1.8%. The announcement has been made by the central bank governor, Mugur Isarescu. As regards the outlook for 2014, the National Bank of Romania has slightly decreased the inflation forecast from 3.1% to 3%, the central bank estimating a decrease in the inflation rate below the variation interval in the first half of next year, and afterwards, followed by an increase. Mugur Isarescu has also said the domestic demand is increasing slowly and that the overall economic situation is stagnating. As regards financing, Isarescu has said credits in foreign currencies will continue to lose ground and that the interest rate earned by new credits in the Romanian currency, the leu, for the population, is significantly reduced.
INVESTMENT-The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) wants to invest up to 600 million Euros in Romania next year, mainly in the energy industry and the banking sector, says the Director of EBRD Romania, James Hyslop, in an interview to Bloomberg. According to him, the aforementioned bank has granted Romania three billion Euros over the past five year, to help transform the country from a former communist state into a democracy with a market economy. Hyslop has also said that EBRD, which last week purchased 1.9% of the shares in the national company Romgaz, through the largest initial public offer ever made in Romania, might also participate in other share selling operations planned by the government. According to the figures made available by the bank, Romania is the fourth destination of EBRD’s investments, after Russia, Poland and Ukraine.
VISIT— Romanian foreign minister Titus Corlatean is today having talks in Bern with Swish foreign minister Didier Burkhalter and the president of the Swiss Council of States (the upper chamber of the Swiss Parliament), Filippo Lombardi. Talks are aimed at boosting bilateral economic cooperation and will also cover issues of topical European interest, such as the EU’s policy of enlargement towards the Western Balkans and the Vilnius summit on the Eastern Partnership. Yesterday, Corlatean, attended the official opening of the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Liechtenstein, based in Vaduz. The two visits are meant to boost cooperation and enhance coordination between the two countries, within international organizations.
GOLD EXPLOITATION– The special parliamentary committee for Rosia Montana in central Romania is today resuming works. The committee is expected to finalise until Sunday a report on the gold mining exploration in the Apuseni Mountains, regulated by a draft law issued by the government. The gold exploitation project in Rosia Montana has generated large-scale protests in recent months, mainly because of the use of cyanide during the exploitation process and of its prospective impact on the environment.
EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORT– The Romanian city of Constanta has got the title of “2014 European Capital of Sport”, in a ceremony hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels. In another move, 12 European cities, among which Pitesti, in southern Romania, have submitted their candidacy for European Green Capital in 2016. The winner will be announced next year in Copenhagen, which has been chosen the 2014 European Green Capital. This year, the title is granted to the French city of Nantes.
NUCLEAR ENERGY– Iran and the 5+1 Group, made up of the US, Russia, China, France, Great Britain plus Germany, have gathered in Geneva today to negotiate a new agreement on the controversial Iranian nuclear program. Attending the meeting, Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has said the negotiations with the big powers are extremely difficult. The westerners suspect Iran of trying to develop a nuclear weapon, a fact denied by Tehran, which evokes its right to use nuclear energy for civil purposes.
FOOTBALL– Romania’s football vice-champions, Pandurii Tg.Jiu, are today meeting, on home turf, the Italian side, Fiorentina, in the Europa League’s group E. In this group, Fiorentina ranks first with 9 points, followed by Dnepr Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) with 6 points, whereas Pandurii and Pacos de Ferreira (Portugal) have got one point each. In the Champions’ League, Romania’s Champion, Steaua Bucharest ended in a draw (1-1) the away match played against the Swiss team, FC Basel. In the other Group E match, Chelsea London won 3-0 the home match against the Germans of Schlake 04. With two points, Steaua ranks on the last position in the group and stands only slim chances to qualify to the European spring.
