National Press Review, February 29

In today’s newspapers, we find out that the figures for January are offering us hope that the country’s GDP might have a favourable evolution this year. In addition, we learn what the stakes for the Romanian economy are in the coming decade and what the chances are that this year’s agricultural production will be salvaged.

“Boc has handed over a full purse to Ungureanu” – ADEVĂRUL writes. The figures for January are looking promising: the state has cashed in a billion lei more than it has spent – meaning a surplus of 0,17 percent of the GDP, the highest value in the last three years for this period of the year. This will make the new Prime Minister’s life easier. If the increase rhythm is consistent, the new government’s objectives might even be surpassed – according to the analysts consulted by ADEVĂRUL.

The alarming lack of morphine drugs has revealed “an extraordinary phenomenon”, ROMÂNIA LIBERĂ writes: the solidarity among anonymous Romanian citizens is saving lives instead of the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance House(CNAS), who have proven incapable of doing their job.

A veritable “Popular Ministry of Health” without a Ministry, state secretaries or employees, ROMÂNIA LIBERĂ remarks. “A colony of tiny ants with good intentions” is voluntarily bringing the missing drugs from Europe, on personal trips.

On the same topic of drugs, EVENIMENTUL ZILEI presents an interview with Dragoş Damian, the President of the Romanian Generic Drug Manufacturers. He claims that, firstly, the regulation of the clawback fee is problematic: the producers must pay fees for the shelf price. Secondly, the NHIS’ ( CNAS) computer system is poor and, thirdly, the state should set fixed budgets for prescriptions.

“The First House Programme is switching to lei”, we find out from JURNALUL NAŢIONAL. Eight banks are offering credits using our national currency, with interest rates between eight and fourteen percent.

A real example: for a 165.000 lei credit per thirty years, one bank is offering a monthly interest rate of approximately 1.200 lei.

ZIARUL FINANCIAR announces what the stakes for the coming decade are concerning local economy: Energy. It is the conclusion reached during the Power Summit, which was conducted by the publication and attended by the major companies in the field. The key players in the field of Energy have agreed to make consistent investments, warning us at the same time that if the energy market is not liberalised soon, Romania might pass important opportunities.

Let us also consult the “Handbook on how to grow and sell companies in the field of energy” – a series created by JURNALUL NAŢIONAL about an international network who is squeezing the life out of the

Romanian energy system. We find information on the Romanians involved, their investments and transactions and the size of the amounts.

Regarding national agriculture, ADEVĂRUL states that farmers are giving up any hope on some of the crops, which seem to be beyond repair. However, a few are still left, which might salvage the year agriculturally speaking: the corn and sunflower crops might even profit from the large quantities of rainwater. Unfortunately, the danger has not fully passed, if we consider the floods.

As to crop prices, these will depend on what happens at a regional level. The future does not look good for consumers: the drought has “wiped out” thirty percent of Ukraine’s wheat production, regarded as one of the largest producers in the world.

EVENIMENTUL ZILEI has caught Adina Vălean and Crin Antonescu red-handed – the couple have omitted to mention a luxury house of 180 square metres in their statement of assets. Although it was purchased through mortgage, both the house and the mortgage should have been specified in their statements, as highlighted by the journalists. The same Crin Antonescu was complaining during the parliamentary strike that he may have to borrow money from friends in order to buy food – Evenimentul writes.

Translated by:

Cristina Baciu, MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University