Ionut Preda

Finance Minister: Romania Will Adopt Euro In 2024

16:38, 02 Nov. 2018
Romanian Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici said on Friday that the ministry decided for Romania to adopt the Euro in 2024, adding that the full calendar of the transition stages will be presented next week.

Romania, Bulgaria, Greece And Serbia Could Host Joint Bid For 2030 FIFA World Cup

15:21, 02 Nov. 2018
Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov announced on Friday that his country, Romania, Greece and Serbia will discuss about forwarding a joint bid for hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, following a high-level meeting between officials of the four countries and Israel.

Cluj-Napoca Mayor: City’s Planned Subway To Have Electric Battery Trains

19:03, 01 Nov. 2018
The mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc, announced on Thursday that the City Hall is close to validating the pre-feasibility study for the planned subway, adding that trains will function entirely on electric batteries instead of relying on third rails.

Social Democrat Leader To Propose Two Party Executive Committee Meetings – Sources

18:48, 01 Nov. 2018
Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea will propose that the group hold two national executive committee meetings in the near future, one for “political subjects”, and one to decide on the upcoming government reshuffle, party top brass sources told MEDIAFAX.

Businessman Ioan Niculae Sentenced To Prison For Corruption Charges

18:26, 01 Nov. 2018
Judges of the Bucharest Court decided on Thursday to sentence Romanian businessman Ioan Niculae to three years and six months in prison, for multiple corruption charges related to agro-industrial company Interagro. The decision is not final and can be appealed.

General Prosecutor: Justice Minister Is Exploiting A Registry Error In Nomination File

14:20, 01 Nov. 2018
Romanian General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar said on Wednesday that a document invoked by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader as being in his nomination file was actually drafted and signed by prosecutor Cristian Lazar, and erroneously added to his file.

Justice Minister Requests Ruling On Legality Of Publishing General Prosecutor’s Nomination File

18:56, 31 Oct. 2018
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader requested the country’s top judicial watchdog CSM to rule on whether it would be legal to publish certain documents he said were found in the nomination file of General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar, including one from a court case involving President Iohannis.

Bucharest Public Transportation To Be Regulated Entirely By City General Council

18:39, 31 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Lower Chamber voted on Wednesday, as a deciding body, to approve a government decree which shuts down the Bucharest Metropolitan Transportations Authority from within the Transportations Ministry, and moves all of its attribution to the Bucharest Town Hall.

Opposition Challenges Money Laundering Prevention Bill At Constitutional Court

18:10, 31 Oct. 2018
Romanian opposition parties PNL and USR filed with the Constitutional Court on Wednesday a challenge against the recently passed money laundering prevention bills, which they say could block the activity of non-governmental organizations.

ECHR Rules That Romania Must Pay Damages To Several Victims Of The 1989 Revolution

17:24, 31 Oct. 2018
The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Wednesday that Romania should pay compensation for a number of 23 victims or relatives of victims of the December 1989 revolution, due to the numerous delays in the criminal investigation of the event.

Ruling Party Leader: Party Dissidents Turning Into ISIS, They Claim Responsibility For Everything

16:55, 31 Oct. 2018
Social Democrat Party (PSD) Chairman Liviu Dragnea issued new attacks on his opponents within the party on Wednesday, even comparing them with the terrorist group ISIS, stating that they claim responsibility for all rumored setbacks suffered by the group.

Ruling Party Leader Lashes Out At Journalists Following Question On Home Arrest Bill

16:17, 31 Oct. 2018
The chairman of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party, Liviu Dragnea, threw a temper tantrum on Wednesday when he was asked if a recent bill extending conditions of home arrest would be in his benefit, ironically telling journalists to ask President Klaus Iohannis “to sign a decree to shoot” him.

Parliament Passes Bill Regulating Airline Passenger Data Collection

15:15, 31 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Lower Chamber passed on Wednesday, as a deciding body, a draft bill which regulates the collection of data from passengers of commercial airline flights, with regards to prevention of terrorism and other serious offenses.

Ramnicu Valcea Mayor Acquitted By Supreme Court In Decade-Long Bribery Case

17:32, 30 Oct. 2018
The mayor of Romanian city Ramnicu Valcea, Mircia Gutau, was acquitted of all charges in a final decision issued by the country’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, in a case where he was initially sentenced to prison for bribery, but was reopened following a ECHR decision.

Lower Chamber Committees Vote To Declassify Judiciary-Secret Service Protocols

17:00, 30 Oct. 2018
The judicial and defense committees of Romania’s Lower Chamber voted on Tuesday to recommend the declassification of a 2005 Defense Council decision which enabled collaboration protocols between judicial bodies and the Romanian Intelligence Service(SRI), as well as all documents signed on its basis.

Ten Romanians Wounded In Germany Traffic Crash

15:52, 30 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced on Tuesday that ten Romanians who were aboard a utility vehicle were injured in Germany, after the vehicle crashed and overturned in a ditch in the Schleswig-Holstein land.

Prime Minister: Minister Evaluation Is Completed, Reshuffle Should Be Decided In Coming Days

15:13, 30 Oct. 2018
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Tuesday that she finished the announced assessment of her cabinet's activity, but declined to specify which ministers will be replaced in the upcoming Government reshuffle.

President Lays Wreath To Commemorate Victims Of Bucharest Nightclub Fire

13:55, 30 Oct. 2018
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis laid a wreath on Tuesday at the former location of the Bucharest nightclub Colectiv, which on the same day in 2015 was the scene of Romania’s deadliest incident in the country's post-Communist era.

Senate Chairman To Visit South Korea For 10-Year Strategic Partnership Anniversary

13:10, 30 Oct. 2018
The chairman of Romania’s Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, will lead an official delegation in a state visit to Seoul during November 12-17, marking the 10-year anniversary of the Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries.

University Dean Sworn In As Research Minister

18:47, 29 Oct. 2018
"Gheorghe Asachi" University dean Nicolae Hurduc was sworn in as Romania’s new research minister at the Bucharest’s Presidential Palace on Monday, following a two-month interim served by Deputy Prime Minister Viorel Stefan.

Three Years After Nightclub Fire, Romania Has 11 Special Beds For Severe Burn Victims

17:17, 29 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Health Minister Sorana Pintea told MEDIAFAX on Monday that Romania currently has only 11 specialized beds for victims of severe burn injuries, three years after a nightclub fire in Bucharest resulted in 65 deaths – some of which were the result of improper treatment conditions.

Justice Minister To Publish Documents From General Prosecutor’s Nomination File

16:20, 29 Oct. 2018
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader told MEDIAFAX on Monday that he will publish several documents issued during the appointment process of General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar, to support his claims he made in the prosecutor’s dismissal recommendation.

Austria Cancels Trilateral Meeting With Romanian And Bulgaria

14:38, 29 Oct. 2018
The Romanian Presidential Administration announced on Monday that President Klaus Iohannis will not take part in a trilateral meeting with his Austrian and Bulgarian counterparts, initially scheduled for Tuesday in Wien, after Austrian officials decided to cancel it.

One Dead, Thirty-Two Injured Following Bus Crash In Hunedoara County

13:38, 29 Oct. 2018
A bus with 72 people on-board crashed Monday morning in the town of Tatarasti, Hunedoara county, leading to the death of one passenger and injuries to 32 others, according to emergency responders.

Justice Minister: Criminal Code Project Was Drafted Within Limits Of EU Directives

20:20, 26 Oct. 2018
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader stated on Friday that the draft project for amending the country’s criminal codes was made by the ministry “in accordance with Constitutional Court decisions and EU directives”, despite being deemed unconstitutional by the country’s Constitutional Court.

Ruling Party Leader: We Are In A Dilemma Regarding The Justice Minister

19:26, 26 Oct. 2018
The chairman of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), Liviu Dragnea, said on Friday that the group finds itself in a “big dilemma” regarding Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, as coalition partners ALDE want him to remain in office, while President Klaus Iohannis requested his resignation.

Subway Union Threatens Strike As CBA Negotiations Continue

18:49, 26 Oct. 2018
The Union of Free Subway Syndicates (USLM) announced on Friday that employees of the Bucharest metro could go on strike between November 10 and 15 if their demands in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement are met, with a new round of talks set for Monday.

Bucharest Subway Murderer Sentenced To Life In Prison

17:45, 26 Oct. 2018
The Bucharest Court handed out a sentence of life in prison for 37-year old Magdalena Serban, who killed a young woman after pushing her in front of a Bucharest subway train in 2017, in a first decision in the case.

EU Justice Commissioner: Romania Must Overcome Crisis And Ensure Judicial Independence

17:19, 26 Oct. 2018
The EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourova, launched an appeal for Romanian authorities to overcome the country’s judicial crisis and guarantee an independent judiciary, in a statement made on Friday.

Constitutional Court Admits Challenges Against Criminal Code Amendments

20:16, 25 Oct. 2018
Romania’s Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that 31 provisions from a bill amending the country’s Criminal Code were unconstitutional, following challenges made by President Klaus Iohannis, opposition parties and the Supreme Court.

President: Justice Minister’s Request To Dismiss General Prosecutor Is “Inadequate”

19:01, 25 Oct. 2018
The president also requested Toader’s resignation for the second time in the past weeks, after previously doing it after a negative Venice Commission report on the country’s judicial reform process.In a statement published by the Presidential Administration, the president states that he apprecia

EU Parliament To Vote On Resolution Regarding Rule Of Law In Romania On November 14

18:44, 25 Oct. 2018
The European Parliament will vote on a resolution regarding the state of the rule of law in Romania on November 14, the institution mentions in its latest schedule project for the month.

Wizzair Flight Lands On Otopeni Airport Following Bomb Threat

17:58, 25 Oct. 2018
A Wizzair flight which departed from the Georgian city of Kutaisi towards Warsaw performed an emergency landing on Romania’s Otopeni Airport on Thursday, after the company received a threat of a bomb being onboard. Romanian specialized intelligence units have been deployed on site.

European Commission Expresses Concern On General Prosecutor Dismissal

17:21, 25 Oct. 2018
The European Commission announced on Thursday that the procedure for dismissing Romanian General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar, requested by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, is a “source for concern” and it will be addressed in the upcoming Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report.

Prime Minister Proposes University Dean Nicoale Hurduc As Research Minister

16:24, 25 Oct. 2018
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Thursday that she proposed Nicolae Hurduc, a faculty dean within the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, for the vacant office of research minister.

Ruling Party Asked President Why He Didn’t Take A Stance Against Secret Protocols

16:00, 25 Oct. 2018
Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party asked President Klaus Iohannis why he did not intervene in the matter of judiciary-secret service protocols during his term in office, among a series of seven questions it posed him during Wednesday’s presidential-parliamentary parties talks.

Imprisoned Football Agent Victor Becali To Be Released On Parole

18:28, 24 Oct. 2018
Magistrates of the Ilfov Court decided on Wednesday to order the release on parole of former football agent Victo Becali, after they rejected an appeal made by prosecutors to measure, effectively ending his sentence of five years and eight months in prison. The decision is final.

Ruling Party Offers President List Of Principles, Questions During Talks On Judicial Reform

18:06, 24 Oct. 2018
The delegation of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party which attended talks with President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday presented the latter with a document containing ten principles they consider vital for judicial independence and a list of seven questions, according to chairman Liviu Dragnea.

Social Democrat Leadership To Analyze Research Minister Proposals On Thursday

16:42, 24 Oct. 2018
The top brass of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party will hold a National Standing Bureau meeting on Thursday to discuss proposals for the vacant office of research and innovation minister, party sources told MEDIAFAX.

Opposition To Challenge Money Laundering Prevention Bill At The Constitutional Court

15:23, 24 Oct. 2018
Romania’s main parliamentary opposition parties PNL and USR announced on Wednesday that they will challenge the recently passed money laundering prevention bill at the Constitutional Court, after it was controversially adopted following the repeat of its Lower Chamber vote.