News of The Day: Attention To Our Distinguished Subscribers

2017- Piaa Presei Libere nr.
1,
Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
NEWS OF THE DAY
Attention to our distinguished subscribers

This service is legally protected and gives the AGERPRES National News Agency access to authorize
the reproduction of the news it only conveys to its subscribers, under the obligation of the latters to
use them in the limits of the agreement, to never dist ort their contents and mandatory mentioning the
AGERPRES source. Any other utilisation of the AGERPRES news is forbidden. AGERPRES is
reserving its legal right to take the necessary measures, up until the interruption of the service, in case
the above-mentioned are not observed.
Protest in Victoria Square ends; approximately 6,000 protesters at peak mome nt

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Approximately 6,000 protesters, according to some sources,
gathered in Victoria Square at the peak moment of the ninth day of protest against the Government.
They had placards reading: "Outside is snowing like in fairy tales, but they pretend it's
raining," "I am in 2017 and I am still shouting down with Communism," "Day by day we'll be here,"
"Resignation," "We are watching you," "We #resist, we exist," "Instead of working, we stay and
watch you."
Demonstrators chanted "Resignation," Down with the Government," "Traitors," Shame,
shame on you."
Protesters were offered tea, coffee, juice, still water, sweets, mushroom soup, pizza and fruit.
The traffic in the area had been restricted.
During the entire protest, demonstrators cleared the snow in Victoria Square. AGERPRES
ID: 4824175; Data: 2017-02-09 00:27:08; Redactori: paa/paa
Secretary of state Monica Gheorghita, ambassador of India address two-way economic

missions
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Secretary of state for Bilateral Global Affairs, Monica
Gheorghita received on Wednesday the Ambassador of India in Bucharest, A. V. S. Ramesh Chandra,
the two addressing both directions' economic missions, informs a release by the Foreign Affairs
Ministry (MAE), sent to AGERPRES.
The two dignitaries have reviewed the stage of the bilateral relationship and stressed the
priority interest to strengthening the Extended Partnership between Romania and India, by boosting
high-level political dialogue as well as through the exchange of visits at governmental, parliamentary
levels.
The meeting emphasised the priority the two parties give to extending and diversifying
investment and commercial cooperation, by setting up tighter contacts between the business milieus
and organising economic missions in both countries, included, adds the source.
Aspects of the bilateral legal framework under negotiation, as well as concrete ways of
boosting cooperation in education, by exchange of students and Romanian language and culture
promotion in India, and of Hindi and Indian civilisation in Romania, were also addressed.
1 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

2017- Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,
Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
The dialogue was also an opportunity for an exchange of opinions on the international
agenda's current topics, concludes MAE.AGERPRES
ID: 4824271; Data: 2017-02-09 08:37:23; Redactori: mav/mav
Monica-Laura Ion, the ne w Cabinet Director of Prime Minister Grindeanu

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Monica-Laura Ion was appointed Cabinet Director of Prime
Minister Sorin Grindeanu, by decision of the PM.
Monica-Laura Ion has rank of secretary of state and will unfold activity within the Premier's
own working staff.
At the same time, Simona-Gabriela Baltag was assigned counselor at the Prime Minister's
Cabinet.
Through another decision by Sorin Grindeanu, Ionica Sfetcu was installed deputy president,
undersecretary of state with the National Authority for Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety
(ANSVSA).
The decisions of Premier Grindeanu were published on Wednesday in the Official
Journal.AGERPRES
FC Viitorul Constanta makes it to UEFA Youth League's eighths

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Reigning national champion FC Viitorul Constanta U-19
qualified on Wednesday to the eighths of UEFA Youth League, a true Champions League for young,
after defeating 4-2 (1-1) FC Copenhagen U-19, on the Central Stadium belonging to Gheorghe Hagi
Academy.
The team coached by Nicolae Rosca overtopped through goals shot by Carlo Casap (32, 83),
Cristian Ene (67) and Florinel Coman (79). For the Danes, goals were scored by Carlo Holse (35) and
Jonas Wind (90+2).
FC Viitorul performed in the following formula: Arpad Tordai - Tiberiu Capusa, Tudor
Baluta, Virgil Ghita, Szabolcs Kilyen - Andrei Ciobanu, Adrian Dumitrescu, Carlo Casap - Alexandru
Cicaldau (captain; Cristian Ene, 67), Florinel Coman (Radu Boboc, 87), Alexandru Matan (Mihai
Ene, 77).
Referee of the match was Russian Serghei Lapochkin.
The U19 national title holders (8-0 in the final to Ardealul Cluj) reached this far after wining
to Sheriff Tiraspol (4-1 and 1-0) and FC Zurich (5-0 and 0-2).AGERPRES
Scheduled events for Thursday, February 9, 2017

PARLIAMENT:
- Joint session of Committees for Budget, Finance with the Senate, Chamber of Deputies
EXECUTIVE:
- Premier Sorin Grindeanu meets representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD), seconded by Economy Minister, Alexandru Petrescu, Minister Delegate
for European Funds, Mihaela Toader and secretary of state with Public Finance Ministry, Enache Jiru
- Government sitting
ECONOMICS:
- National Statistics Institute releases data for December 2016 on: average monthly salary,
turnover in industry value indices, Romania's international trade in goods (estimates)

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
- Central bank's Governor Mugur Isarescu holds news conference on Quarterly Report on
Inflation
English News Desk
Editor-in-chief: Razvan-Adrian Pandea (pra)
Telephone: +40212076171 / +40212076262
Email: emisie@agerpres.ro
www.agerpres. AGERPRES
National average net wage up 8.4 pct in December 2016 to rd EUR 523
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The national average gross wage grew by 8.4 pct in December
2016 against the previous month to 3,257 lei (rd EUR 724), while the national average net wage
reached 2,354 lei (EUR 523), also 8.4 pct higher; the best earnings were collected by the workers in
the manufacturing of coke and crude oil products, while the workers in the hotels and restaurants
industry were at the opposite end with the smallest earnings, shows data released on Thursday by the
National Institute of Statistics (INS).
In December 2016, as compared to December 2015, the national average net wage grew by
11.4 pct. The real wage index against the same period of 2015 was 112.0 pct. The real wage index
was 108.1 pct for December 2016 against November 2016. As compared to October 1990, the real
wage index was 178.5 pct, by 13.4 percentage points higher that the one recorded in November 2016.
The budget sector registered increases of the average net wage against the previous month in
the health care and social care sector (+20.2 pct), and in the public administration, respectively (+4.5
pct), following the enforcement of the legal provisions for the staff paid from public funds. In
education, the average net wage dropped 4.9 pct as a result of the winter holiday and the slashing of
the sums representing the educational staff's hourly pay. AGERPRES
ID: 4824532; Data: 2017-02-09 10:55:16; Redactori: mav/sko
Romanian films on the roster of the Berlinale 2017

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Romania will feature a multi-faceted presence at Europe's first
major event in the year's film festival season - the 67th Berlinale opening this Thursday; 'Ana, Mon
Amour'' directed by Calin Peter Netzer is on the roster of the festival's Main Competition. Netzer was
the 2013 Golden Bear winner, with the 'Child's Pose'.
Representing Romania at the Berlinale Talents creative platform for emerging filmmakers
will be directors Ilinca Calugareanu and Ioana Mischie, actor Alexandru Potocean, producer Andra
Popescu, operator Carmen Tofeni, film distributor Matei Truta and scriptwriter Monica Stan. Actor
Tudor Aaron Istodor runs in the Shooting Stars event of the festival, and the movie project 'The Deer',
directed by Bogdan George Apetri features in the selection of the Co-Production Market, the
Romanian Cultural Institute in Berlin informs.
The LOLA at Berlinale event - which spotlights the films long-listed for the German Film
Awards (LOLA) - will have Anca Lazarescu's 'Die Reise mit Vater / That Trip We Took with Dad'
screened. The Germany-Romania-Hungary-Sweden co-production tells a family's dramatic story
playing in the turbulent year 1968.
The National Center of Cinematography organizes the Romanian stand at the European Film
Market, having on the bill the Romanian fictions 'Two Lottery Tickets' by Paul Negoescu, 'The
Anniversary' by Dan Chisu, 'The Last Day' by Gabriel Achim, 'Breaking News' by Iulia Rugina, as
well as the documentaries 'The Manakia Brothers' by Eliza Zdru and Andrei Dascalescu's 'Planet
Petrila'. Also on display is the Romanian Films Catalogue, presenting information about the

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
Romanian movies that premiered in the last two years or that will be released in the coming
year.AGERPRES
ID: 4824600; Data: 2017-02-09 11:25:46; Redactori: sko/mav
Searches at lawyers, insolvency firms for ove r EUR 4 mln in damages

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Police officers of the Directorate for Economic Crime
Investigation with the Romanian Police General Inspectorate (IGPR), acting under the coordination of
a prosecutor with the Bucharest Court of Appeal, are conducting on Thursday three home searches,
two in Bucharest and one in nearby Ilfov County, at lawyers and insolvency firms suspected to have
caused damages worth over EUR 4 million (over 18,000,000 lei) , on the occasion of an insolvency
procedure upon a commercial company, the IGPR informs.
Searches are underway at the headquarters of a lawyer's firm, at an insolvency firm and the
home of an insolvency firm representative.
According to IGPR, investigations are being carried out in this criminal file over suspicions of
simple and fraudulent bankruptcy, as provided for by Art. 240 and Art. 241 of the Criminal Code.
The first investigations revealed that in 2014 - 2016, on the occasion of the opening and
unfolding of the insolvency procedure and judicial reorganisation of a commercial company in the
sports industry, assets worth 18,498,402 lei have been allegedly omitted (hidden), so they were not
included in the reorganisation plan, thus causing a prejudice to the company's creditors, the source
says. AGERPRES
Searches in Bucharest in connection with Dinamo Club insolvency (Court of Appeal)

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The searches underway in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov County
at the seat of a lawyers' firm, an insolvency firm and the home of an insolvency firm's representative
are connected to the reorganisation of the Dinamo Bucharest Club.
"On 9 February 2017, prosecutors with the Bucharest Court of Appeal's Prosecutors' Office
alongside police staff of the Romanian Police (IGPR) - DICE (Directorate for Economic Crime
Investigation) are conducting three searches, two in Bucharest and one in nearby Ilfov County, at
lawyers and insolvency firms, in a file over suspicions of simple and fraudulent bankruptcy," informs
the CAB Prosecutor's Office.
According to the source, searches revealed that during the insolvency procedure operated at
the Dinamo 1948 SA company, when drafting the reorganisation, inventory and evaluation of
patrimonial assets, a part of the assets under insolvency calculated at the net book value of over
18,498,000 lei (over EUR 4 million) were stashed with the purpose of defrauding the company's
creditors. AGERPRES
Head of Romanian Intelligence Service says agency politically uninvolved as long as he

is at the helm
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) Eduard
Hellvig said on Thursday that the agency has not been and never will be politically involved as long
as he is at its helm.
Before entering the hearing at the parliamentary committee on the oversight of SRI's activity,
Hellving was asked what his answer is to accusations of political involvement levelled against the
Service in connection with the recent anti-government protests in Victoriei Square. He replied: "No
[involvement], and never during my term in office will SRI be involved in such activities."

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
He added that SRI has an inter-institutional cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs
(MAI).
"The cooperation between SRI and MAI is evidently governed by a protocol which sets forth
all the mechanisms for cooperation between the two institutions, and Mr. Chairman Tutuianu (who
heads the SRI oversight parliamentary committee - Ed. note) will present it to you after the hearing,"
said Hellvig when asked if SRI had informed MAI on the day several violent incidents broke out
during the protest in Victoriei Square, and if a relevant inter-institutional protocol is in place.
The SRI Director said he does not want to go into further details on the subject.
Asked what intelligence SRI has about "the protests that degenerated into violence" in
Victoriei Square and who are those who veered into disrupting public order, Hellvig reiterated that it
is for the Chairman of parliamentary committee on the oversight of SRI to offer these details, adding
that whenever he reports to Parliament for hearing, he also brings documents to support his
statements.
The SRI head mentioned that he has nothing to reproach himself in connection with the
subject of the parliamentary hearing.
Adrian Tutuianu said last week that he sent the SRI head a letter asking him to report on the
aspects related to the Victoriei Square protests.AGERPRES
Central bank revises downwards 2017 year-end inflation forecast

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has revised downwards
by 0.4 percentage points its inflation forecast for end-2017, which is now projected at 1.7 percent,
BNR governor Mugur Isarescu told a press conference on Thursday, on the occasion of the
presentation of the central bank's Quarterly Inflation Report.
BNR estimates a 3.4 pct inflation rate for the end of next year, 0.2 percentage points above
the previous forecast; the target is 2.5 percent +/- 1 percentage point.
According to the governor, the annual inflation rate was relatively stable in Q4 2016.
"Raw material quotations reinforce their upward trend which is still continuing, yet seemingly
not at such a fast rate," Isarescu said, adding that fuel prices have returned to the positive territory.
The central bank head said that although demand for loans in domestic currency remained
robust, a slowdown is noticeable, apparently in correlation with "the uneven unfolding of the First
Home program."AGERPRES
Romania's 2016 trade deficit 1.6 bln lei higher than the year before
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Romania's trade balance deficit (FOB/CIF) hit 9.957 bln euro
in 2016, by 1.591 bln euro higher than in the previous year, shows data released on Thursday by the
National Institute of Statistics (INS)
In comparison with 2015, exports and imports increased last year by 5.1 pct and 7.0 pct,
respectively. FOB exports totaled 57.385 billion euros, while CIF imports amounted to 6.734 billion
euro.
The product groups with a significant share in the country's trade were machines and transport
equipment (47 pct for exports and 38 pct for imports) and other manufactured products (32.4 percent
for exports and 31.0 percent for imports, respectively).
In December 2016, FOB exports stood at 4.311 billion euro, CIF imports amounted to 5.497
billion euro, resulting in a deficit of 1.185 billion euro.

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
In a Y-o-Y comparison, exports were 9.4 percent higher in December 2016 and imports
advanced 7.5 percent.
The value of intra-Community trade in 2016 was 43.079 billion euro on the outbound and
51.948 billion euro on the inbound, accounting for 75.1 percent of total exports and 77.1 percent of
total imports, respectively.
The amount of extra-Community exchanges of goods in 2016 was 14.307 bln euro for exports
and 15.394 billion euro for imports, accounting for 24.9 percent of total exports and 22.9 percent of
total imports, respectively.AGERPRES
Priorities of Siegfried Muresan, EP chief-negotiator for 2018 EU budget: citize n's

safety, job creation
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Romanian MEP Siegfried Muresan, the European Parliament's
chief-negotiator for the European Union's budget for 2018, told AGERPRES in an interview that his
priorities will be the allocations aimed at the citizen's safety and the economic support to job creation.
Muresan estimates that the EU budget for 2018 will stay close to the value allocated
for the current year, somewhere at EUR 158 billion.
At the same time, he said he is confident that the cohesion policy won't be put at stake by the
United Kingdom's leaving the EU, but added that in the report on the guidelines of the EU budget for
2018 he stressed the importance of maintaining predictability.
Referring to the stance the Bucharest authorities should adopt for Romania to get an as
favorable as possible budgetary allocation in 2018, Muresan said that the Romanian decision-makers
must "absorb all the money set at their disposal and make an exact prediction at the beginning of the
year regarding the needs related to the 2018 EU budget."
On Thursday, Muresan is to present the committee on budgets the draft guidelines, "meaning
what I, as a general rapporteur for the budget of the European Union on behalf of the European
Parliament, consider to be the priorities."
"The final volume of the budget will also be determined by how much money the Member
States will be able to adsorb this year, which will also have implications upon the sums we are going
to put at their disposal and will be absorbed in the next year. But most probably, the final budget will
range next year between EUR 155 and 160 billion, just like this year, somewhere around EUR 158
billion," said Muresan. AGERPRES
Euro trades at 4.4956 lei

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from
the quotations announced on Thursday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market is as
follows:
CURRENCY SYMBOL RON
1 Euro EUR 4.4956
1 US dollar USD 4.2040
1 Swiss franc CHF 4.2236
1 British pound GBP 5.2827
100 Japanese yen JPY 3.7451
1 Moldovan leu MDL 0.2122
1 Russian rouble RUB 0.0714
1 new Turkish lira TRY 1.1367

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
1 Chinese renminbi CNY 0.6123

1 gram of gold XAU 167.9114
1 SDR XDR 5.7100
The exchange rates of the currencies included in the list are based on the quotations of the
banking companies authorized to carry out operations on the currency market. This list does not make
it compulsory to use the exchange rates of currencies and gold in actual transactions of currency
exchange and book entries.AGERPRES
Communications authority: Ove r 3.66 ml phone numbers ported in Romania in past 8

years
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - More than 3.66 million mobile and fixed telephony customers
have switched service providers since 2008, the year the portability service was rolled out, shows a
statistical report of the National Communications Administration and Regulation Authority
(ANCOM) released on Thursday.
According to ANCOM, of this total 3,010,150 are mobile phone customers (accounting for 82
percent of the total) and 654,000 are landline subscribers.
On the mobile telephony segment, RCS & RDS is the provider with most incoming ported
numbers (1,058,527), followed by Vodafone with 743,592; Orange - 696,746; Telekom Romania
Mobile Communications - 465,914; and Telekom Romania Communications with 44,556.
On the landline service segment, the 654,572 ported numbers moved to 25 providers, of
which those to receive the highest numbers of ported customers were RCS & RDS (179,125);
Vodafone (151,532); UPC Romania (134,636); Orange (128,115) and Telekom Romania
Communications (25,500).AGERPRES
Central bank estimates 4 pct - 5 pct economic growth for 2017

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The National Bank of Romania (BNR) forecasts for 2017 an
economic growth ranging between 4 pct and 5 pct, but this is in connection with the institution's
macro-economic scenario, the central bank's governor Mugur Isarescu on Thursday told a news
conference.
"The prediction in our model is confidential (...) it's somewhere between 4 pct and 5 pct. It's
unrelated to the budget construction, do not put them in counterpart, we wouldn't want to create
another issue in the society! It is a prediction linked to our macro-economic model. (...) We too have
been off the mark with the inflation prognosis for one year and a half, meaning that the inflation was
way smaller. I don't think a lot of analysts would trust our prognoses if we were mistaken. This is how
prognoses go. We work in a market economy, with several factors to deal with," said Isarescu.
The draft budget's construction for 2017 is grounded on an economic growth of 5.2 pct, a
budget deficit (in cash) estimated at 2.96 pct of the GDP, and an average annual inflation of 1.4 pct,
according to the Report on the macro-economic situation for 2017 and its projection for 2018 - 2020,
published on the Public Finance Ministry's website.
The National Prognosis Commission(CNP) has revised upwards its economic growth
prognosis until 2020, these indicators underpinning the budget's construction for 2017. Thus, the
increase estimate for 2017 was revised from 4.3 pct in the Autumn Prognosis to 5.2 pct in the current
one.

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
In its turn, the World Bank has predicted in the Report on Global Economy Perspectives, that
Romania's economy will shoot up by 3.7 pct in 2017.
Likewise, the figures included in IMF's latest Regional Economic Issues (REI) report for
Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe published on 2 November 2016 are similar to those of the
World Economic Outlook (October). The IMF counts in 2017 on an advance of Romania's GDP of
3.8 pct, the highest economic growth rate in Europe.
The estimate of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) too
indicates for the Romanian economy a growth rate of 3.7 pct for 2017, with Romania expected to
record the highest economic growth rate in Europe, according to the Report on Global Economy
Outlook published at the beginning of November 2016.
In addition, the European Commission predicts for 2017 a 3.9 pct advance, according to fall
economic forecasts released at the beginning of November. AGERPRES
CCR: Ombuds man's notification on GEO 13/2017- re jected as inadmissible

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR), on Thursday,
rejected as inadmissible the notification of the Ombudsman in respect to the emergency ordinance
regarding the amendments to the Criminal Codes. AGERPRES
ID: 4825002; Data: 2017-02-09 14:21:31; Redactori: rod/paa
SRI oversight committee head: SRI-MAI collaboration very good now; communication,
insufficient in protest beginning
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The collaboration between the Romanian Intelligence Service
(SRI) and the Interior Ministry (MAI) is very good at this moment, being conducted "at maximum
height," based on some protocols of previous years that need improvement, however there was "an
insufficient communication" between the two institutions in the first part of the protests in Victoria
Square, during which, on 1 February, violent incidents occurred, Deputy Adrian Tutuianu, chairman
of the Parliament's SRI activity oversight committee said.
"We could find that between the two institutions - the SRI and the MAI - at this moment,
there is a very good collaboration and a useful information exchange in terms of the two authorities'
duties, and this communication has at present that maximum height level, is conducted on the
leadership level, based on some protocols existing since previous years. We reached the conclusion
that these protocols must be improved in order to give more consistency to the activity of the two
authorities. Secondly, I believe we must stress that we have to deal with a public perception that
doesn't coincide with the reality of the collaboration between the two institutions. This public
perception was rather generated by the statements made in the public space by persons having the
authority of the positions they are occupying and which would have revealed that the MAI hadn't
properly managed the incidents mainly those of 1 February," Adrian Tutuianu said after hearing in the
committee the SRI director and the Interior Minister.
Asked by the media if on 1 February there was an information exchange between the SRI and
the MAI, Tutuianu pointed out that "it was an insufficient communication, in the first part."
He showed that starting 2 February, the SRI sent the MAI a higher volume of information.
AGERPRES

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
JusMin Iordache: I have decided to tender my resignation as Justice Minister

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Justice Minister Florin Iordache announced on Fr iday he
decided to tender his resignation.
"I have decided to tender my resignation from the office as Justice Minister," Iordache said at
the Victoria Palace, in a press briefing.
He pointed out that all initiatives he assumed were "legal and constitutional." AGERPRES
BNR's Isarescu: Political tension cannot do good to economy

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The political tension will affect the economic growth, as it has
an impact on the financial stability, the Governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), Mugur
Isarescu, stated on Thursday in a press conference.
"We perceive this as having an impact on the monetary, financial and macroeconomic
stability. There is no way that political uncertainty, political tension can be good. As a consequence, it
will affect the economic growth. To what extent distrust, financial instability affect the economic
growth is not easy to calculate. We hopewe all have the wisdom to overcome these moments and
benefit from an incredibly good macroeconomic framework. In 27 years, since I have been in the
public sphere, I have not seen a better macroeconomic framework, with micro tensions, as are those
mentioned previously, problems linked to how bankable are the Romanian enterprises, with other
problems, with infrastructures that are always drawn up, but not finished, with problems on the Olt
Valley for so many years, as well as the ring road of the capital," Isarescu said.
According to him, the macroeconomic framework is reflected in low interest rates and
reduced inflation.
In other words, the BNR Governor brought into attention the fact that there are a series of
problems in cleaning-up the companies' balance sheets.
"The clean-up of balance sheets is not done, unfortunately. You cannot separate the clean-up
of balance sheets on the level of banks from the clean-up the balance sheets of companies. The
biggest problems are there. The companies with Romanian capital need a sperate discussion on this
topic, not rushed," he stated.
In what regards the multinational companies, Mugur Isarescu showed that the problem of
transfer prices is known to him since the '70s.
"Foreign companies must comply with the Romanian legis lation, observe the taxation, our
rules. The problem with transfer prices was discussed as it is discussed in Europe. This isn't a simple
matter anywhere in the world. I have been aware of the problem with transfer prices since the '70s . It
is almost perpetual and is linked to the statute of multinationals," Isarescu explained. AGERPRES
ID: 4825120; Data: 2017-02-09 15:07:19; Redactori: kan/paa
Central bank governor: Romanian producers gradually losing domestic market share
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Romanian producers are gradually losing domestic market
share because prices erode their competitiveness, governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR)
Mugur Isarescu told a press conference on Thursday.
"I think we are having issues not necessarily with the increase of the relative importance of
imports as an effect of the adjustment of consumer demand, but particularly with a clear trend of
erosion of the domestic producers' price competitiveness. From this point of view we calculated the
real effective exchange rate which points to a loss of competitiveness. The Romanian producers
gradually lose the domestic market. We never make cost forecasts but (...) there is little room for an

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
appreciation of the domestic currency. There is hardly such room, not to say there is none at all,"
Isarescu said.
According to him, domestic investments are relatively modest.
"Investments stay relatively modest. For nearly 20 months now we have had a robust
economic growth, but based mainly on consumption, with a fresh revival of loans to non-financial
companies. The BNR has shown on various occasions that the big problem is decapitalisation, or the
low capital indicators of Romanian companies. This is where we face issues. The multinationals
usually get financing from the parent company or from their home market. The issue is not that the
interest rates are too high or too low," said the central bank head, pointing out that retail banks have a
hard time finding bankable clients. AGERPRES
ID: 4825199; Data: 2017-02-09 15:31:55; Redactori: sko/paa
UPDATE JusMin Iordache: I have decided to te nde r my resignation as Justice Minister

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Justice Minister Florin Iordache announced on Friday he
decided to tender his resignation.
"Since I have come to the Justice Ministry, I planned and carried out all legal demarches to
fix a series of existing and quite sensitive problems. All assumed initiatives are legal and
constitutional. The drafts proposed were submitted to public debate organised by the Justice Ministry,
and now they are under parliamentary debate. In spite of all these, for the public opinion it wasn't
enough, therefore I have decided to tender my resignation as Justice Minister," Iordache said at the
Victoria Palace, in a press briefing. AGERPRES
BRD-Groupe Societe Generale posts 2016 net profit of 728.281 ml lei

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - BRD-Groupe Societe Generale reported a pre-tax profit of
863.319 million lei for 2016, by 62 percent higher than in the previous year; the net profit was
728.281 million lei, up 63 percent, shows preliminary data sent to the Bucharest Stock Exchange on
Thursday.
Net interest income totaled 1.481 bln lei, while fees income amounted to 737.021 ml lei.
Operating revenues stood at 2.634 bln lei, and the net operating profit was 1.324 bln lei.
The group posted a pre-tax profit of 906.569 million lei (551.716 million lei in 2015), and the
net profit for the reporting period was 763.499 million lei, considerably higher than the 467.236 ml lei
posted in 2015.
Net interest income totaled 1.586 bln lei and fees income was 772.666 ml lei.
The group's net operating profit amounted to 1.39 bln lei. AGERPRES
EconMin: Companies in defence industry can invest 60pct of assets amounts

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Economy Minister Alexandru Petrescu announced on
Thursday that, according to a normative act adopted by the Government, the companies in the defence
industry will be able to invest in modernisation and re-technologisation 60 percent of the amounts
obtained by capitalising on assets.
"Under this normative act, 60 percent of the amounts made following the asset capitalisation
will remain at the companies' disposal, having as priority destination the modernisation and re -
technologisation of the production capacities for defence. The measure concerns economic operators
having a restructuring or reorganisation plan approved according to law, having the capacities

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
included in the inventory of the production capacities for defence and tasks in the mobilisation plan,"
Petrescu told a press briefing at the Victoria Palace.
He explained that at present very many companies in the area cannot use for investment the
amounts coming including from asset sales, as they go straight to the fiscal authority.
Petrescu maintained that many of the companies in the Romanian defence industry are
managing valuable assets, and this industry has "very much to recoup" in respect to technology.
According to the Economy Minister, this normative act was drawn up taking into account the
requests and recommendations of employers' associations and trade unions from among the economic
operators in question. AGERPRES
Romania's industrial turnover up 4.5 pct in 2016

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Romania's industrial turnover advanced 4.7 pct in 2016 from
the year before, mainly as an effect of a 5.8-percent growth in the manufacturing industry, shows data
released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
The major industrial groups that saw growth were durable goods (+17.7 pct), capital goods
(+10 pct), FMCG (+6 pct) and intermediate goods (+0.7 pct). On the other hand, the turnover of the
energy industry declined by 10.7 pct.
In December 2016, the total industrial turnover was down 10.9 percent in nominal terms
from the month before due to a 11.2 pct decline in the manufacturing industry; the turnover of the
mining and quarrying industry inched up 1.5 pct.
By major industrial groups, a decrease in turnover was recorded in the durable goods industry
(-20.5 pct), the industry of intermediate goods (-20 pct), the capital goods industry (-9.7 pct) and the
FMCG industry (- 2.9 pct). The energy industry advanced 10.5 pct.
In a Y-o-Y comparison, the industrial turnover was 7.3 percent higher in December 2016 due
to growth in the manufacturing industry (+8.6 pct). The mining and quarrying industry plunged 24.4
percent.
The major industrial groups that saw growth were the the energy industry (+28.5 pct), the
industry of capital goods (+9.7 pct), the industry of durables (+9.5 pct), the FMCG industry (+5 pct)
and the industry of intermediate goods (+2.1 pct). AGERPRES
UPDATE/ CCR: Ombudsman's notification on GEO 13/2017- re jected as inadmissible

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR), on Thursday,
rejected as inadmissible the notification of the Ombudsman in respect to the emergency ordinance
regarding the amendments to the Criminal Codes.
"We were notified by the Ombudsman in regards to the constitutionality of the GEO
No.13/2017. In such cases, in the first place we verify if the notification is legal and secondly we
verify if the request is admissible. We established, while checking the legality of the notification, that
the Ombudsman was entitled to make the notification on an ordinance which was in force. In respect
to the admissibility of the request, according to the article 29 in our law of organization, we verify the
constitutionality of laws and ordinances in force. (...) The Ordinance No.13 was repealed, it's true that
it was repealed after the notification of the Ombudsman, and from this point of view, we cannot
establish the notification admissibility if the ordinance gathered the extraordinary conditions of
opportuneness, on the content, or on the extrinsic method of control. In these conditions, with
majority of votes, we have decided to reject the notification, as it became inadmissible. I said that "it

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
became inadmissible," because the repeal came up after our notification," President of the CCR Valer
Dorneanu stated.
He added that the CCR often gave opinions in respect to the unconstitutionality objections
that were raised by the parties throughout the trials and in some cases the Court can also continue the
investigation on the repealed acts when they generated judicial effects.
"In the notification made by the Ombudsman, we have jurisprudence and decided to reject as
inadmissible or becoming inadmissible, precisely because in this case we make an analysis of the
ordinance in an abstract manner, as we call it, and not enter in its content. We make the same analysis
as in the case of exceptions raised in trials, where we take into account the presence of the parties and
the effects which occurred to the parties involved in the trial. (..) Neither the intervention of the
prosecutor, (...) nor the examination that we conducted has established elements that were already in
force, that were already generating judicial effects. If such things exist, remedies will a lso exist,
stipulated by the Constitution and by our law of organization," Dorneanu added.
When asked about the possible consequences of rejecting the GEO No.14/2017, Dorneanu
mentioned that the CCR does not rule on a case based on suppositions.
"Both from the Ombudsman and the prosecutor plea, we deducted that we should rule on the
constitutionality, because the GEO No.14, which repealed the GEO 13, might be in its turn repealed
and then I don't know what consequences will be generated. We don't rule on a case based on
suppositions, possibilities, the moment when someone challenges the GEO 14 then the person who
will be forced to solve it will establish all the outcomes related to the Ordinance effects that might
occur. The correlations of that case will be made then, not now. (...) The GEO No.13 is no longer in
the legislation in force," Dorneanu explained. AGERPRES
Tutuianu: SRI will inform us when companies inte rfere with national security
Bucharest , Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Member of Parliament and head of the Parliamentary
Committee for the control of SRI's (Romanian Intelligence Service) activity, Adrian Tutuianu, stated
on Thursday that he was assured by the Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service, Eduard
Hellvig, that the institution will inform the Committee "whenever there are elements showing that
some companies, through their carried out activities, interfere with what it is called national security."
"I tell you that all the members of the Committee brought almost all that circulated in the
public space in front of the SRI's leadership. And I saw here some comments including regarding
myself. And namely that I am against the multinational companies, the PSD [Social Democratic
Party] is against the multinational companies. Some even went on making comments about the goods
I have in my house. (...) The first matter - PSD has nothing against any multinational company or any
company in Romania. Companies are important in creating jobs, paying taxes and duties, observing
the existing normative framework. Secondly - there was information, and we asked to be checked, on
the activity of some companies' management and, in order to be very balanced, both on foreign
capital, as well on Romanian capital, that were involved in these protests. I pointed out a draft law: the
use of society's goods and society's credit in the interest of a third party, it is a violation of the Law
31/1990", Adrian Tutuianu stated, after the hearing of SRI's Director at the Committee, when asked
whether at the hearings the aspect of "multinational companies' involvement" in the protests in
Victoriei Square was clarified.
The head of the Parliamentary Committee for the control of SRI's activity also said that "the
presence of a Director of a multinational company, which is found having litigations with the
Romanian state on some issues, at the demonstrations" is "at least out of place." "I keep my
statement", Tutuianu stated.
He added that "there is a European Directive which should be implemented in Romania."
"Today I had a discussion on the potential reactions of some companies towards the implementation

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
of this Directive and the intentions of legislative amendments, Fiscal Code and so on of the
Government or regarding the the minimum salary on the national economy. I was assured that all the
matters on the national security (...) will be brought into our attention by the SRI. If we talk of the
violation stipulated by the Law 31/1990, obviously, SRI has no connection, the Police should do
checkups and then, it is the Prosecutor's Office's duty because it is not the SRI's duty. Secondly, it is
the duty of the Romanian Intelligence Service if there are elements or activities regarding the national
security. SRI will inform the SRI oversight Committee whenever there are elements that show some
companies, through the activities they carry out, interfere with what national security means",
Tutuianu stated. AGERPRES
Economy Ministry: Gove rnment to establish Sovereign Development and Investment

Fund
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The Government decided on Thursday to adopt a
memorandum on establishing the Sovereign Development and Investment Fund (FSDI), the Economy
Minister Alexandru Petrescu announced.
"Today, we have adopted a memorandum, according to the 2017-2020 governance
programme, taking into account the founding of new public investments, the establishment of the
Sovereign Development and Investment Fund being an economy stimulation measure, an investment
funding instrument in competitive, profitable and sustainable sectors, with a multiplication effect in
economy, going to attract capital and financial market sources," Alexandru Petrescu stated, in a
briefing at the Victoria Palace.
According to the Economy Minister, the FSDI will represent "a partner" for international
investors, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European
Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank (WB), investment funds and other private investors.
"Through this document we only mark the initiative and the demarche of this project. We
further formalized the founding of some inter-ministerial committees, with representatives of the
Economy Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Competition Council, the Financial Supervisory
Authority (ASF). (...) This is the day we formalize the demarche, starting tomorrow these committees
will gather formally, (...) issuing points of view," Alexandru Petrescu stated.
According to Petrescu, discussions were also carried out with the main players of the national,
regional investment arena, so that the fund launching process be "accompanied" by "their general
opinion and consent."
Furthermore, the Economy Minister mentioned that a normative act is to be adopted regarding
the actual functioning of this fund.
"The next step will be another normative act, with the constitutive act in the center, where we
will have the exact functioning and structure mechanism of the fund," Petrescu also stated.
AGERPRES
AmCham Romania: Allegations against multinational companies - untrue and

unconstructive for economy and society
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The allegations recently circulated in the public space against
multinational companies are untrue and unconstructive for the economy and society, American
Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham) representatives maintain.
"On behalf of its members, U.S., Romanian, EU and international companies, AmCham
Romania rejects the recent allegations reflected in the public media according to which multinational
companies in Romania have supported the public protests, in response to the impact of the recent tax

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
and legislative changes. It is unhealthy for the Romanian society to disseminate such untrue
statements. Romanian citizens working in both multinational and local companies have voluntarily
expressed their point of view in public, without any interference by their employer," AmCham)
representatives say in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday.
In their opinion, human capital is one of the most valuable resources that Romania has, an
important competitive advantage that has placed Romania on the global economy map, due to the
high technical, linguistic and creativity competences that especially young generations have brought
to the labor market and that had a defining role in attracting investments in the local economy.
"As this competitive edge is affected by the brain drain and demographic trends, we believe
that stigmatizing employees due to the country of origin of the shareholders only builds up an
unnecessary tension and lack of confidence among employees and employers, while also sending a
negative signal to investors. Through the volume of their investments, the size of the operations they
run, the jobs that multinational companies offer, they ensure a better life for hundreds of thousands of
Romanian families, have a high contribution to the GDP, generously support social causes and open
access to the wide expertize gained in international markets, thus contributing to the overall progress
of the Romanian economy," the AmCham release reads.
According to the release, In AmCham's opinion, the collaboration between the local and
foreign companies needs to be fostered as it is a prerequisite for a functional and competitive
economy, that will contribute to a better life for all Romanians.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham) currently gathers over 400
U.S., international and Romanian companies, with aggregate investments worth over 20 billion
dollars, generating around 250,000 jobs. AGERPRES
UPDATE / Economy Ministry: Government to establish Sove reign Development and

Investment Fund
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The Government decided on Thursday to adopt a
memorandum on establishing the Sovereign Development and Investment Fund (FSDI), the Economy
Minister Alexandru Petrescu announced.
"Today, we have adopted a memorandum, according to the 2017-2020 governance
programme, taking into account the founding of new public investments, the establishment of the
Sovereign Development and Investment Fund being an economy stimulation measure, an investment
funding instrument in competitive, profitable and sustainable sectors, with a multiplication effect in
economy, going to attract capital and financial market sources," Alexandru Petrescu stated, in a
briefing at the Victoria Palace.
According to the Economy Minister, the FSDI will represent "a partner" for international
investors, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European
Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank (WB), investment funds and other private investors.
"Through this document we only mark the initiative and the demarche of this process. We
further formalized the founding of some inter-ministerial committees, with representatives of the
Economy Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Competition Council, the Financial Supervisory
Authority (ASF). (...) This is the day we formalize the demarche, starting tomorrow these committees
will gather formally, (...) issuing points of view," Alexandru Petrescu stated.
According to Petrescu, discussions were also carried out with the main players of the national,
regional investment arena, so that the fund launching process be "accompanied" by "their general
opinion and consent."
Furthermore, the Economy Minister mentioned that a normative act is to be adopted regarding
the actual functioning of this fund.

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
"The next step will be another normative act, with the constitutive act in the center, where we
will have the exact functioning and structure mechanism of the fund," Petrescu also stated.
The FDSI will contribute both to Romania's efforts to gain the statute of an emergent market
for the domestic capital market, by growing liquidities on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), as
well as to the growth of the absorption level of non-refundable European funds by ensuring the co-
funding financial sources of the investment projects, the Government release points out.
According to the quoted source, the Romanian state, through the Economy Ministry, will be
the sole shareholder throughout the functioning period of the FSDI. AGERPRES
MAE: Anti-missile defence shield at Deveselu not directed against Russia; a contrary
speech - a nonconstructive approach
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Romania has constantly highlighted that the anti-missile
defence system hosted at Deveselu isn't directed against Russia and is in compliance with the relevant
provisions of the UN Charter, and the perpetuation in the public space of a rhetoric that doesn't take
into account all these elements "isn't appropriate or capable to facilitate a constructive approach,"
shows a response of the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) at AGERPRES' request.
"Romania has constantly highlighted both publicly and in the contacts with its partners, that
the anti-missile defence system, hosted by our country at Deveselu, is not directed against Russia, as it
has a strictly defensive nature, in full agreement with the relevant provisions of the UN Charter," the
MAE message points out.
MAE shows the coherence, in this message, with NATO representatives. "This position is
shared by NATO, an aspect inclusively revealed in the final declaration of the 2016 NATO Summit,
when the system at Deveselu was decided to be integrated in the allied anti-missile defence system,"
the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry underscores.
MAE appreciates that a contrary message would not facilitate "a constructive approach."
"Consequently, the perpetuation in the public space of a rhetoric that doesn't take into account
all these elements isn't appropriate or capable to facilitate a constructive approach," MAE also states.
The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry's response comes in the context in which a Russian
high official, according to Interfax, said that Russia sees Romania as a NATO outpost and "a clear
threat" due to it hosting elements of a US anti-missile shield.
"Romania's stance and the stance of its leadership, who have turned the country into an
outpost, is a clear threat for us," Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, a senior Russian foreign ministry
official, told Interfax in an interview.
"All these decisions (...) are in the first instance aimed against Russia," he said, accusing
Romanian authorities of reveling in anti-Russian rhetoric. AGERPRES
Ana Birchall proposed for interim at Justice Ministry

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Minister-delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall was
proposed as interim minister at the Justice Ministry.
Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu sent to President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday the proposal
for the Justice Minister. AGERPRES

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
Ana Birchall discusses with Ambassador of Austria continuation of European project,

in Brexit context
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The Minister delegate of European Affairs, Ana Birchall,
received on Thursday the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Gerhard Reiweger, and discussed
with him including the continuation of the European project, in the context of Brexit.
Both sides have expressed the openness for deepening the cooperation in view of ensuring
some successful Presidencies of the Council of the European Union for Austria (second semester of
2018) and Romania (first semester of 2019), shows a press release the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MAE) sent to AGERPRES.
The Minister delegate reiterated the determination of Romanian authorities "to exert this
mandate in a constructive manner, in close relation with the member states and European institutions.
In the same context, the major importance of this project for the whole Romanian society was evoked,
taking into account the benefits it generates, including in the sphere of investments, trade and tourism,
MAE shows.
Ana Birchall appreciated the collaboration with Austria on the level of the European agenda
as being a consistent one, starting from the common interests of the two states, mainly focussed on the
necessity of maintaining a European Union that is competitive, safe, with a higher degree of cohesion,
particularly in the context of the current challenges.
In this regard, she underlined the fact that debates on the Union's future and relation with the
UK in the context of Brexit should start from the premise that the European project is essential for all
its members, and the fundamental values and principles are solid and indivisible. She reiterated the
importance of unitary, pragmatic and constructive approaches, within some inclusive formats of
discussions, in the perspective of preparing the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, but also the
future project for negotiation on the UK's exit from the Union.
The Romanian official reaffirmed, likewise, the essential character of the S ingle Market's
integrity to the economic and social development of the EU and its member states. Ana Birchall
underscored the importance of respecting the fundamental freedoms, including the free movement of
the work force and services, the source specifies.
Furthermore, she reiterated the importance of consolidating the security of European citizens,
including the measures on protection of the European Union's external borders.
Ana Birchall reaffirmed Romania's support for the common efforts of the EU on the
management of migration and underlined the importance of continuing the discussions on the EU
level for identifying the most efficient solutions in the area of migration and asylum. The Romanian
side evoked the necessity of consolidating the cooperation with the external partners, states of origin
and states of transit, that would allow drawing up long-term solutions to the profound reasons of
migration.
Regarding the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), initiated in 2008 by Romania
and Austria, the two officials underscored the importance of a better public communication, including
on a ministerial level, on the positive impact of the launched projects under its aegis on a regional
level.
During the meeting, Gerhard Reiweger evoked the perspective of the Romanian official
paying a visit to Austria, in the next period, dedicated to coordinating the preparation of the two
countries for taking over the rotating Presidency of the EU Council, the MAE press release also
specifies. AGERPRES

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
ELI-NP project in Magurele - central element of Romania's pavilion at Expo Astana

2017
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - The Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP)
Project in Magurele will be the central element of our country's pavilion at the Expo Astana 2017, the
Romanian committee in charge with this event decided, a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry
(MAE) sent to AGERPRES informs.
The announcement was made in the context in which on Thursday there was the inaugural
meeting of the Organizing Committee of Romania participation at the Expo Astana 2017, attended by
state secretaries within four ministries (the Energy Ministry, the Ministry for Business Environment,
Trade and Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Culture and
National Identity), under the coordination of the Commissioner of Romanian Section at the exhibition,
within the MAE.
The Committee's functioning regulation was agreed, as well as the framework concept of
Romania's participation in the international exhibition, which will take place in the period 10 June -
10 September in Astana, in Kazakhstan. Moreover, the objectives of several ministries throughout the
three-month period of exhibition have been drawn, and the central element of Romania's pavilion has
been agreed as being the ELI-NP in Magurele, the most important investment in Romanian research
of the last half of century, which highlights Romanian tradition in science and laser technology, the
MAE reveals.
On 22 November 1928 in Paris the Convention relating to International Exhibitions was
signed, which Romania, as a founding member, ratified through the Decree No.2581/1930. Romania
attended after 1989 all the worldwide and international exhibitions organized under the aegis of the
Bureau International des Expositions.
The Expo Astana 2017 will take place in the period 10 June - 10 September and it's estimated
that over 110 countries and 5 million visitors will be attending. AGERPRES
Tennis: Marius Copil through to quarte rfinals of challenge r tour in Budapest

Budapest, Feb 8 /Agerpres/ - The Romanian tennis player Marius Copil has qualified for the
quarterfinals of the challenger tournament in Budapest, with total prize money worth EUR 64,000,
after he defeated, on Thursday, Belgian Joris De Loore, with 6-1, 6-4.
Copil (26 years, ATP's 134th), the third seed, won in an hour and 37 minutes against a
competitor aged 23, ranked 197th in the world ranking.
Copil managed 12 aces in this match, against the competitor's 4 aces, and committed 4 double
faults.
Copil has ensured EUR 1,850 and 15 ATP points, and will play in the quarterfinals with
Austrian Jurgen Melzer, victorious with 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 against Slovak Norbert Gombos. Copil will play
as a first with Melzer (35 years old), ranked 257th in the ATP ranking, after having ranked eighth in
the world in 2011. AGERPRES
UPDATE / Ana Birchall proposed for interim at Justice Ministry

Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Minister-delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall was
proposed as interim minister at the Justice Ministry, a release of the Government sent to AGERPRES
reveals.
Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu sent to President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday the proposal
for the Justice Minister.

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
"Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu sent today to Romania's President, Klaus Werner Iohannis,
the nomination proposal of Minister-delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall as interim Minister of
Justice," the release mentions.
According to the quoted source, the proposal was made according to the provisions of the
article 106 and the article 107, the paragraphs (3) and (4) of the Constitution of Romania, republished,
as well as in accordance with the article 9 of the Law No.90/2001 regarding the organization and
functioning of the Government and ministries, with subsequent amendments and additions.
The PM made this nomination in the context in which Florin Iordache tendered his
resignation as Justice Minister.
Iordache announced on Thursday, in a press briefing, at the Victoria Palace, that he decided to
leave the Justice Ministry.
"Since I have come to the Justice Ministry, I planned and carried out all legal demarches to
fix a series of existing and quite sensitive problems. All assumed initiatives are legal and
constitutional. The drafts proposed were submitted to public debate organised by the Justice Ministry,
and now they are under parliamentary debate. In spite of all these, for the public opinion it wasn't
enough, therefore I have decided to tender my resignation as Justice Minister," Iordache stated.
AGERPRES
Ana Birchall, proposed as interim Justice Minister (bio)

On 9 February 2017 Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu Prime sentto Romania's President, Klaus
Werner Iohannis, the proposal for Minister-delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall to take over as
interim the Minister of Justice office.
Deputy Ana Birchall was born on August 30, 1973 in Mizil, Prahova county.
Graduate in Law Studies, University of Bucharest, the Faculty of Law (1996), according to
her own website, www.anabirchall.ro; the Law and International Relations Faculty "Nicolae
Titulescu" (annual scholarship, graduate with honors 1991-1996); master's degree at Yale Law
School, USA (1999-2000), PhD in law at Yale Law School, USA (2000-2002), with the thesis "The
Law of Bankruptcy Applied to Banking Systems in Central and South European countries".
Head of Legal Office, S.C Omniasig S.A. (1996-1998). She worked as attorney for "White &
Casse" LLP International Law Firm in New York (2002-2003), she worked for Biris Goran as head of
the Group of practice in the Financial Restructuring and Insolvency domain (2010-2012); Of Counsel,
Musat and Associates - Restructuring & Insolvency (2012), adviser to Foreign Affairs Minister (2003-
2004), adviser within the Foreign Policy Commission of Romania's Senate (2005-2006), the Prime
Minister's adviser (July-December 2012). High Representative of the Prime Minister for European
Affairs and Partnership with the United States of America (pro-bono job, 2014-present), according to
the cdep.ro website.
Deputy on behalf of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Constituency no.5 Vaslui (2012-
present), she acted as member in the Budget, Finance and Banks Commission, member in the Special
Commission of the two Chambers for Romania's accession to Schengen Area, head of the
Commission for European Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies (Febr 2015 - present) and head of the
Friendship Parliamentary Group Romania-India. On December 11, 2016 she won a second deputy
mandate of Vaslui on behalf of PSD.
Starting with 2013 she has been ambassador of the prestigious ONG Vital Voices, established
by Hillary Clinton within the Global Ambassadors Programme; and member in the Global Advisory
Council WeConnect International, starting with 2014 - member of the Executive Committee of Yale
Law School Association, Yale Law School, SUA.
She is an Assistant professor at "Dimitrie Cantemir" University in Bucharest (2005-present).

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
Member of PSD starting with 2015. Head of PSD Education and Research Department (2007-
2009), executive secretary with the Equal Opportunities for Young people Subcommittee (2005-
2007). At present, she is foreign policy adviser of the PSD leader and executive secretary on
International Relations. Deputy Secretary General (International Relations) of PSD, vice-president of
the Vaslui County PSD Organisation. She is head of the Social Democratic Progressive Forum and
vice-president/spokesperson of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Association.
Member of the Bucharest Bar, member of Policy Network, UK, and Terra Nova, France.
AGERPRES
Bucharest protest: Almost 400 protesters outside Cotroceni Palace; traffic closed on
Eroii Sanitari Boulevard
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Approximately 400 persons are demonstrating on Thursday
outside the Cotroceni Palace.
They are on the sidewalk, as well as on the roadway. The traffic was closed on the Eroii
Sanitari Boulevard.
The people are chanting slogans against President Klaus Iohannis.
The protesters' placards display messages, such as: "Get out country traitor," "From what are
we to pay the ECHR fine? From giving private lessons," "Iohannis - suspended," "Iohannis - only six
are lucky," " Iohannis resign, I'm not your Romanian. Bad luck!."
This is the 5th day in a row when protesters are demonstrating outside the Cotroceni Palace.
AGERPRES
Bucharest protest: About 200 pe rsons in Victoria Square on tenth day of protests
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - About 200 persons have gathered on Thursday evening for the
tenth day in a row in Victoria Square in the Capital, to protest against the Government.
Protesters have come with flags of Romania, the EU and the US.
They are voicing their dissatisfaction with the Executive and demanding its resignation. Same
as in the previous days, demonstrators are chanting "Resignation," "Day by day, we'll be here,"
whistling and blowing vuvuzelas.
A laser projection with the message "We #continue" is displayed on a building near the
Government headquarters.
Protesters have placards reading: "We are a people, not a population," "In democracy, thieves
stay in jail!," "At night like thieves," " We #resist," "Resistance becomes duty," "Dare believe," "With
scarfs and undershorts, we rid the country of robbers," "I had a rest, I have come back." AGERPRES
Romania loans Rep. Moldova EUR 50 million instalment a month earlie r than initial
date
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - Romania will loan the Republic of Moldova, a month earlier,
the second instalment worth EUR 50 million of the loan ratified in 2016, worth EUR 150 million. The
first instalment EUR 60 million was granted on 24 August 2016, informs the Ministry of Public
Finance (MFP).
The loan is carried out on the basis of the "Agreement on the repayable funding assistance
between Romania and Republic of Moldova" ratified under the Law no. 91/2016.

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
"In January 2017, the Ministry of Finance of Rep. Moldova sent through the Ministry of
Public Finances of Romania an official letter through which requests amending the date on issuing the
second instalment of EUR 50 million from 31 March 2016 to 27 February 2017", the press release of
MFP shows.
According to the Draft of the Government Decision on approving the date's amendment,
published on the website of the Ministry of Finances, the entry into force of the funding facility
granted by the International Monetary Fund over a period of three years, by two credit instruments -
Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of USD 178.7 million total value
was communicated.
"The entry into force of the IMF facility represents a necessary condition for issuing no. 2
instalment on the repayable funding assistance granted by Romania", the document shows.
By the Law no. 91/6 May 2016, the Agreement on the repayable funding assistance between
Romania, as the lender, and Republic of Moldova, as the borrower, an amount up to EUR 150 million,
signed in Chisinau on 7 October 2015, was amended through the exchange of letters between the
Prime-Ministers of Romania and the Rep. Moldova on 30 January 2016, respectively on 5 February
2016.
"The exchange of letters established a series of obligations on behalf of Rep. Moldova on
issuing the first instalment, like establishing a Roadmap for reaching an agreement with the IMF,
initiating a legislative package for improving the business environment, launching a systemic analysis
of the vulnerabilities in the banking system and setting a legislative calendar on correcting them, with
an emphasis on consolidating the regulation's prerogatives of the National Bank, presenting an
updated and application plan for the Strategy for Justice Sector Reform and National Anticorruption
Strategy, and close consultation and cooperation with the representatives of civil society in the Rep.
Moldova for solving the mentioned aspects", the explanatory memorandum specifies.
On 24 August 2016, the first loan instalment provided in the Agreement, amounting EUR 60
million, was granted, (...) the registered progresses by Rep. Moldova in signing a funding program
with the IMF for a three-year period being confirmed, through a staff level agreement and the adopted
measures for improving the business environment and Reform Strategy on the Strategy for Justice
Sector Reform and National Anticorruption Strategy were communicated. AGERPRES
Situation of Romanians sentenced in Malaysia- discussed by State Secretary Monica

Ghita with Ambassador of Malaysia in Bucharest
Bucharest, Feb 9 /Agerpres/ - State Secretary for Global Bilateral Affairs Monica Ghita,
welcomed on Thursday in an audience Ambassador of Malaysia to Romania Dato' Tajul Aman
Mohammad, to whom she talked, including about the situation of Romanians sentenced in this
country.
The two officials reviewed the stage and prospects of bilateral relations. The Romanian
dignitary appreciated the positive dynamic of Romanian-Malaysian contacts on a governmental,
sectoral and parliamentary level and underlined the importance which the Romanian side grants to
intensifying the political-diplomatic dialogue and to extending the economic and commercial
cooperation between the two countries, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) release sent to
AGERPRES informs.
The two dignitaries "highlighted the constant interest granted to upgrading the judicial
bilateral framework and supported the diversification of cooperation in different areas of mutual
interest, such as tourism, food industry, IT sector, education and culture," the quoted source reveals.
The State Secretary "reiterated Bucharest authorities' concern regarding the situation of
Romanian citizens who were arrested and sentenced in Malaysia for drug trafficking, expressing the

Sector 1, Bucureti,
02-09 Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
www.agerpres.ro
interest in a permanent dialogue with the Malaysian part on this topic, including in relation to the
efforts of developing the bilateral cooperation in the legal area, the MAE mentions. AGERPRES
Englis h Service Team, February 9, 2017

Editors Rodica Ionita (rod)
Simona Klodnischi (sko)
Carolina Novac (kan)
Adina Panaitescu (paa)
Maria Voican (mav)
Secretary Atena Alexe Timocicu (ate)

AGERPRES

News of The Day: Attention To Our Distinguished Subscribers

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

News of The Day: Attention To Our Distinguished Subscribers

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

2017- Piaa Presei Libere nr.

NEWS OF THE DAY

Attention to our distinguished subscribers

Protest in Victoria Square ends; approximately 6,000 protesters at peak mome nt

Secretary of state Monica Gheorghita, ambassador of India address two-way economic

1 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Monica-Laura Ion, the ne w Cabinet Director of Prime Minister Grindeanu

FC Viitorul Constanta makes it to UEFA Youth League's eighths

Scheduled events for Thursday, February 9, 2017

2 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Romanian films on the roster of the Berlinale 2017

3 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Searches at lawyers, insolvency firms for ove r EUR 4 mln in damages

Searches in Bucharest in connection with Dinamo Club insolvency (Court of Appeal)

Head of Romanian Intelligence Service says agency politically uninvolved as long as he

4 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Central bank revises downwards 2017 year-end inflation forecast

5 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Priorities of Siegfried Muresan, EP chief-negotiator for 2018 EU budget: citize n's

Euro trades at 4.4956 lei

6 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

1 Chinese renminbi CNY 0.6123

Communications authority: Ove r 3.66 ml phone numbers ported in Romania in past 8

Central bank estimates 4 pct - 5 pct economic growth for 2017

7 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

CCR: Ombuds man's notification on GEO 13/2017- re jected as inadmissible

8 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

JusMin Iordache: I have decided to tender my resignation as Justice Minister

BNR's Isarescu: Political tension cannot do good to economy

9 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

UPDATE JusMin Iordache: I have decided to te nde r my resignation as Justice Minister

BRD-Groupe Societe Generale posts 2016 net profit of 728.281 ml lei

EconMin: Companies in defence industry can invest 60pct of assets amounts

10 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Romania's industrial turnover up 4.5 pct in 2016

UPDATE/ CCR: Ombudsman's notification on GEO 13/2017- re jected as inadmissible

11 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

12 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Economy Ministry: Gove rnment to establish Sovereign Development and Investment

AmCham Romania: Allegations against multinational companies - untrue and

13 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

UPDATE / Economy Ministry: Government to establish Sove reign Development and

14 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Ana Birchall proposed for interim at Justice Ministry

15 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Ana Birchall discusses with Ambassador of Austria continuation of European project,

16 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

ELI-NP project in Magurele - central element of Romania's pavilion at Expo Astana

Tennis: Marius Copil through to quarte rfinals of challenge r tour in Budapest

UPDATE / Ana Birchall proposed for interim at Justice Ministry

17 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Ana Birchall, proposed as interim Justice Minister (bio)

18 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

19 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Situation of Romanians sentenced in Malaysia- discussed by State Secretary Monica

20 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Englis h Service Team, February 9, 2017

Secretary Atena Alexe Timocicu (ate)

21 NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen