Romania’s consolidated budget recorded a deficit of 2.2 billion euros
\naccounting for 1.4% of the GDP at the end of December, following a surplus of 11
\nmillion euros and 0.76% of the GDP in November, the finance ministry has
\nannounced. The government spent no less than 2% of the GDP in one single month.
\n1.5 billion went into European-funded projects, given that the eligibility
\nperiod for the European-funded projects corresponding to the 2007-2013 period
\nwas to expire at the end of 2015. Last month, co-funding for European projects
\nexceeded 1.9 billion euros, which is six times the average amount. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The Romanian
\npresident Klaus Iohannis on Friday signed into law a bill that bans smoking in
\nenclosed public spaces, two days after the Constitutional Court established
\nthat the bill in question complies with the constitution. First passed in
\nDecember, the bill bans smoking in enclosed public spaces, enclosed work
\nspaces, children playground areas, hospitals, schools and areas housing child
\nprotection and assistance services. Smoking is banned in enclosed public
\nspaces, on public transport and in work spaces in 17 of the European Union’s 28
\nmember states. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The Romanian justice minister Raluca Pruna will today
\nmake public the draft of an emergency order to eliminate a legal provision on
\nthe possibility of early release for convicts who publish academic papers while
\nin prison. Although the proposal received a negative opinion from the Superior
\nCouncil of Magistracy, the minister will pursue her efforts to repeal the
\nprovision in question, arguing that it has been extensively abused. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The Hungarian foreign affairs and foreign
\ntrade minister Peter Szijjarto today travels to
\nBucharest following an invitation by his Romanian counterpart Lazar Comanescu.
\nAccording to the foreign ministry, the two officials will have talks on the
\nbilateral relationship and ways to diversify cooperation, in particular in the
\neconomic, transport and energy infrastructure areas. Talks will also tackle
\nEuropean, regional and international issues. The Hungarian minister will also
\nbe received by prime minister Dacian Ciolos. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The representatives of protesters in the Republic of
\nMoldova today said they would continue protests in an attempt to put pressure
\non the government. They said protesters’ demands must be fully met for their
\ncountry to be able to overcome the crisis. One of the leaders, the Socialist
\nIgor Dodon, described as a victory the announcement made today by parliament
\nspeaker Adrian Candu on the possibility of holding a referendum on the election
\nof the president through direct vote. Speaking about protesters’ demand for
\nearly elections, Candu says the law does not allow for the dissolution of
\nParliament and explained that there is no other legal option to hold early
\nelections. Following last week’s installation of Pavel Filip’s government, tens
\nof thousands of people have taken to the streets following a call by
\npro-European civil society organisations, as well as two pro-Russian parties
\ndenouncing the corruption of the Moldovan political class. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The Romanian-American mixed doubles pair Horia Tecau and
\nCoco Vandeweghe will face the Russian-Brazilian pair Elena Vesnina and Bruno
\nSoares in the Australian Open finals. In the semifinals, Tecau and Vandeweghe
\ndefeated the Filipino-Slovenian pair Treat Huey and Andreja Klepac in two sets,
\nwhile Vesnina and Soares defeated Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig, who were seeded
\nfirst in the tournament. Horia Tecau won the Australian Open mixed doubles
\ntitle in 2012, together with the American player Bethanie Mattek-Sands. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Romanias president Klaus Iohannis signs into law legislation banning smoking in enclosed public spaces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":100004,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[29507,29130,29842,29851],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-100802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsflash","tag-horia-tecau","tag-moldova","tag-raluca-pruna","tag-smoke-free-law"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n