Death toll raises to 55 two weeks after nightclub fire in Bucharest
Two weeks after the nightclub fire in Bucharest, a young woman hospitalized in Germany rose the death toll to 55 victims today. She had been transferred from Romania this Tuesday with 50% of her body burned and severe respiratory tract injuries.
Romania’s Health Ministry has informed that 68 remaining patients with burns are receiving care in Bucharest’s hospitals and 14 out of them are in critical and severe condition. 36 injured persons are currently hospitalized abroad. Two patients in the UK are reported to feel well, one patient in Rotterdam is still in severe but stable condition and another one, in the Netherlands as well, is currently undergoing a neuromotor rehabilitation program.
A benefit concert dedicated to people who died in the fire is scheduled tonight in Republic of Moldova’s capital. The band „Good Bye to Gravity”- which lost four of its five members in the tragedy alongside dozens of fans – was going to perform in Chisinau for the first time today.
Romania registers highest economic growth in the EU in the third quarter
Romania has registered the highest economic growth rate in the European Union this quarter – 1.4 %, according to the European statistical office, Eurostat. Our country comes first in the EU before Poland and Slovakia. Romania has also registered a 3.6% increase in its GDP against the previous year, the second best in the European Union after Czech Republic’s 4.3%. According to Eurostat, the Eurozone economy has only seen a 0.3% growth this quarter against 0.4% the previous one, RADIO ROMANIA reported.
EU leaders congratulate Romania’s PM-designate Dacian Cioloş
President of the European Council Donald Tusk has congratulated today Romania’s PM-designate Dacian Cioloş for being appointed to form the new Cabinet in Bucharest. Donald Tusk has expressed his confidence in his professionalism and considered the swearing in of the new Government will bring the necessary political stability for coping with the upcoming challenges. The other day, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Mr Cioloş as well, who is currently his counselor but who has already informed him he was ready to resign, RADIO ROMANIA reported.
Romania’s Interim Cabinet prepares technical drafts of next year’s state budget
Interim Prime Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu has discussed today with resigning ministers of Finance and European Funds in the attempt to prepare technical drafts of next year’s state budget. Health and Education ministries are expected to get 6 billion, respectively 5 billion Ron. The draft state budget also envisions nearly 4.500 infrastructure projects worth 13 billion Ron. The PM-designated Dacian Cioloş has also been invited today at the Cabinet’s headquarters. Mr Ciolos reiterated what he repeatedly announced over the last few days, that he intends to present a list of ministers by the end of the week.
Central Bank data show positive trends
According to a press release by the Central Bank, the balance of payments deficit has decreased over the first nine months of the year with more than 45% against last year. The document also reveals a positive trend of foreign investment which reached 2,5 billion Euros. Long-term external debt has seen a 8% decrease in late September against the end of 2014 whereas short-term debt also went down, by 4%.
EBRD reduces stake owned in Banca Transilvania
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has sold today at the Bucharest Stock Exchange 86.76 million shares of its 15% stake in the Romanian bank „Banca Transilvania” – according to a press release. Following this transaction, EBRD still owns a 11.5% stake in the Romanian bank. The document says today’s transaction reflects EBRD’s confidence in the bank’s solid progress and strategic orientation. EBRD is one of the largest institutional investors in Romania with 7 billion Euros worth of investment and 14 billion Euros assembled from other financing sources in all sectors of Romania’s economy, RADIO ROMANIA reported.
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