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Romania’s Population Decreased By 502 People In September

Romania's population decreased by 502 people in September compared to August, driven by a negative natural growth, according to data released Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INS).

Romania Jan-Sept Trade Deficit Narrows To EUR6.9B

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR6.9 billion in January to September, from EUR7.1 billion in the year-earlier period, as exports rose more rapidly than imports, the country’s statistics institute INS said Tuesday.

Romanian Fmr Presidential Candidate Detained For Tax Evasion

Constantin Ninel Potarca, former presidential candidate from the Roma party in Romania, was arrested for 24 hours Monday night on charges of tax evasion, following a police raid in his neighborhood in Targu Jiu, southwestern Romania.

US Intel Opens Software Lab In Bucharest

US Intel Corporation on Monday opened a software development and research center in Romania’s capital city Bucharest, following an investment of a few million euros.

EC Mission To Evaluate Romania’s Progress In Priority Areas Next Week – EC President

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday, in Bucharest, that Romania's main objective should continue to be the implementation of structural and fiscal consolidation reforms, adding that EC experts will visit the country next week to evaluate its progress in seven areas.

Romania’s Schengen Area Accession Tied To Technical Criteria, Not CVM – EC President

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday, after meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu, that the EC sees no legal link between the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, which has technical requirements.

Romanian Pupils Win Gold, Two Silver In Balkan Olympiad In Informatics

Romania's national team won one gold and two silver medals at the 18th edition of the Balkan Olympiad in Informatics, held between October 31 and November 7 in Montenegro, the Education Ministry said on Monday.

No. Of British Tourists In Romania Might Increase By 10% In 2011

The number of British tourists in Romania might increase by 10% next year, once the country’s tourist brand is presented and promoted in the United Kingdom, said Sorin Munteanu, head of the Romanian Tourism Ministry delegation at the World Travel Market fair in London.

Romania, Bulgaria To Hold Joint Govt Meeting On Schengen As Show Of Solidarity

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc and his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov, talked Monday about holding a joint government meeting by March 2011, to send European partners a clear signal of solidarity and cooperation towards Schengen Area accession.

Danube Strategy To Help Riparian States Do Away With Regional Disparities – EC President

Danube riparian states have undergone many economic and political changes over the past 20 years, but they still face numerous disparities, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday at the Danube Summit, which takes place in Romania's capital Bucharest.

Romanian Opposition Liberals Refuse All Negotiations On Lower Chamber Rules Until Speaker Resigns

Romanian opposition liberals decided Monday to halt all negotiations to improve regulations of the Chamber of Deputies until Chamber Speaker Roberta Anastase resigns, said party leader Crin Antonescu.

Romania Overdue Pays On Loans Above RON20,000 Rise To RON14.6B In Sept

Romanian overdue payments on loans of at least 20,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.287) more than doubled to RON14.6 billion in September compared with the year-ago month, central bank data showed Monday.

Romania’s Ruling Coalition Wants Education Reform Effective By Yearend

Romania’s ruling coalition has agreed the issue of the country’s education reform entering force should be fixed by the end of the year, otherwise the Hungarian minority party UDMR could leave the coalition, UDMR vice-president Laszlo Borbely said Monday.

Romania Central Bank Revises Down 2009 FDI To EUR3.5B

Romania’s central bank Monday revised downward foreign direct investment data for 2009 to EUR3.5 billion, from EUR4.9 billion previously, after subtracting the net loss out of equity increases.

Romania Seeks Projects For Danube Strategy, To Be Applied As Of 2011

The Danube Strategy is due to be applied starting with the first half of next year, jointly with the other states in the region and the European Commission, but it requires solid projects, such as a network of highways, high-speed trains and flights, said Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Monday.

Romania, Bulgaria To Ask EP Support For Schengen Area Accession – Bulgarian PM

Romania and Bulgaria will ask the European Parliament for support in joining the Schengen Area, as agreed with Romanian President Traian Basescu in the European People's Party summit, said Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov during a meeting Monday with his Romanian counterpart, Emil Boc.

Court Postpones Trial Of Romanian Media Owner Vintu For Nov 26

The Bucharest Court on Monday postponed for November 26 the trial of Romanian media owner Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, his driver Alexandru Stoian and Moldovan businessman Octavian Turcan, indicted for aiding and abetting a fraud convict.

Romania Sept Adjusted Construction Works Down 15.1% YY

Romania's construction output fell 15.1% in adjusted data in September compared with the same month a year earlier, with decreases in all sectors, the National Institute for Statistics said Monday.

Romanian Poet Adrian Paunescu Buried With Military Honors Sunday

Romanian poet Adrian Paunescu was buried with military honors Sunday, at Bellu cemetery in capital Bucharest.

Romania Sets Cost Standard/Km Of EUR5.05M To EUR6.1M For Highway Construction – Draft

The construction of highways will have a cost standard per kilometer of EUR5.05 million to EUR6.1 million, VAT not included, and capital repair works on a railroad will cost EUR1.19 million/km, VAT not included, according to a draft Government Decision drawn up by the Romanian Transport Ministry.

Romania’s Economy Unlikely To Grow In 2011 Unless Govt Boosts Public Investments – Ctrl Bk Gov

Romania’s central bank governor Mugur Isarescu told Pro TV in an interview Sunday that the country’s economy is unlikely to grow in 2011 unless the Government allots more money for actual, not statistic investments, considering that it is more difficult for the private sector to get back on track.

Hungarian Minority Party Urges Ruling Democrat Liberals To Find Ways For Adoption Of Education Bill

Marko Bela, leader of the Hungarian minority party UDMR, part of Romania’s ruling coalition, on Saturday said his party expects democrat liberal ruling partners to find ways for the urgent adoption of the education reform bill, otherwise, his party will leave the coalition.

Romanian Govt To Fight Illicit Employment Via Anonymous Notifications

Romania's Government will begin fighting illicit work by enabling "interested people" to report such instances anonymously through mailboxes specially placed in local labor inspectorates, as well as requiring employers to sign individual labor contracts and running checks on more companies.

Romania To Return Misused EU Farm Funds Of EUR41M

Romania will have to return EUR41.7 million to the European Commission for failure to use the money correctly under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Romanians To See Improved Living Standards In ’12 – Ctrl Bk Gov

Romanians will notice an improvement in their living standards in 2012, even thought the economy could start recovering in 2011, said Friday central bank governor Mugur Isarescu.

Romania Ranks 50th Of 169 Countries According To HDI

Romania is 50th in the 2010 Human Development Index (HDI) ranking published by the United Nations Development Program, having climbed 13 spots since last year.

Fmr Romanian Envoy To Singapore Might Be Released Under Judicial Supervision

A Bucharest court admitted former Romanian envoy to Singapore Silviu Ionescu’s request to be released under judicial supervision, but prosecutors can appeal the ruling.

PM: Romania Met Technical Objective For Separation Of Schengen Passenger Flow At Otopeni Airport

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Friday said the technical objective to separate the passenger flow intra and extra Schengen on the Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport has been achieved.

Romanian Transport Min To Hold Auction For Hwy Construction End-Nov

The Romanian Transport Ministry will hold an auction at the end of November to award construction contracts for four highway sectors totaling 270 kilometers.

Romania Sep Retail Sales Post 4th Largest Annual Fall In EU

Romanian retail sales fell 1.6% on the year in September, one of the largest decreases in the European Union, official data showed Tuesday.

Romanian Drivers Obliged To Get Snow Tires, Govt To Approve Decree In 2 Weeks

Romania’s Government will approve in maximum two weeks an emergency decree obliging vehicle owners to equip their vehicles with snow tires from November 1 to March 31, Transport Minister Anca Boagiu said Friday.

Romania PM Denies Rumors Of Resignation Plans Over Education Reform

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Friday denied rumors that he planned to resign following a Constitutional Court ruling regarding the education bill he had sought to adopt through a confidence vote in Parliament.

Romania Sept Indus New Orders +26.3% On Mo, +29.9% On Yr

Romanian industrial new orders soared 26.3% on the month in September, due to increases in all sectors, the country’s statistics institute INS said Friday.

Romanian Poet Adrian Paunescu Dies Of Cardiac Arrest

Romanian poet and journalist Adrian Paunescu Friday morning died of cardiac arrest in Floreasca emergency hospital in capital Bucharest. He was 67.

Romanian Top-100 Cos Post Overall Sales Of EUR46.27B In ‘09

The top-100 companies with respect for turnover posted overall sales of EUR46.27 billion last year, 20% less than in 2008, while the overall pretax profit decreased by 45%, to EUR1.48 billion, according to a report compiled by FinMedia.

Romania Ranks 44 In World Economic Forum’s Financial Development Chart

Romania has ranked 44 after being included this year, for the first time, in a World Economic Forum chart of the 57 most developed financial markets worldwide.

Romanian Drivers Without Snow Tires May Be Fined RON2500-4000 – Draft

Romanian drivers will be required to use winter tires between November 1 and March 31, or pay a fine between 2,500 and 4,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2967), in addition to the damage done to the road if they have no insurance.

Romania Central Bank Says Consumer Credit Growth Limited

Romanian central bank governor Mugur Isarescu Thursday said local bankers shouldn’t have illusions about being able to resume consumer lending at pre-crisis levels, adding that the banks should focus on corporate loans instead.

Romanian Lenders Pay Excessive Interests On FX Deposits – Ctrl Bk Gov

Romanian lenders pay surprisingly high interests on foreign currency deposits compared to international rates, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Romanian President Upset That Education Reform Is Being Stalled

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday on public radio the Hungarian minority party is not the only one upset about the education bill, adding he too is upset the reform of the education system is being stalled.