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Romanian Telecoms Regulator ANCOM Cancels Tender On Digital TV Transition

Romanian telecoms regulator ANCOM announced Tuesday that it has stopped the tender to award the country’s first two digital TV operation licenses.

Romania Not Currently Threatened By West Nile Epidemic – Health Official

About 4% of the population in Romania’s capital Bucharest is immune for life to the West Nile virus after an epidemic in 1996, according to studies by Romanian specialists and the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, U.S., a Health Ministry official said Tuesday.

Ordinance On Social Security Contributions Will Not Be Changed – Romanian Labor Min

Romanian Labor Minister Mihai Seitan said Tuesday that Government Ordinance 58/2010, which amends the Fiscal Code, will not be changed and that an online tax payment system will be completed by the end of September.

Romanian Govt To Reduce No. Of Family Allowance Beneficiaries By About 100,000

About 100,000 Romanian beneficiaries of single-parent family allowances and complementary family allowances will no longer receive these social benefits with the coming into force of a bill lowering the required income cap to 370 lei (EUR1=RON4.2597) per family member from the current RON470.

Czech CEZ Deplores E Romania Investment Holdups

Czech utilities group CEZ, which is currently developing wind farms for EUR1.1 billion in eastern Romania, said the investment is stopped because of disagreements between local authorities in Constanta county, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

Microsoft Romania Names New BMO Manager

Microsoft Romania, the local unit of U.S. software producer Microsoft, named Michal Golebiewski in the position of business, marketing and operations (BMO) manager, starting with September 1.

Romanian Unions To Rally On Oct 7 Over Public Sector Wage Law

Romanian unionists will rally in capital Bucharest on October 7, the World Day for Decent Work, angered by the country’s unitary wage law regulating wages across the public sector, which lowers salaries of all public sector workers as of next year.

IMF: Romania Public Wages Reduced To 2005 Level

Romanian public salaries have been reduced to a similar level as in 2005 and will have a comparable share in this year’s gross domestic product, an official of the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday.

Romanian Public Notaries In Bucharest, Five Other Counties Lower Realty Deal Fees By 10%

The Chamber of Notaries Public in Bucharest will reduce by 10% the fees charged for real estate transaction signed in Bucharest and in five other counties, namely Calarasi, Giurgiu, Ialomita, Ilfov and Teleorman, starting September 1, the institution said in a press release Tuesday.

Romanian PM Meets Democrat Liberal MPs To Analyze Govt’s Activity Wednesday

The Romanian Democratic Liberal Party’s Standing Office decided Monday that democrat liberal lawmakers will meet with the leaders of the party on Wednesday, when Prime Minister Emil Boc will present a report assessing the activity of the Government and its ministers.

Romania Govt Says Ctrl Bank Pay Cuts Stand

Romanian government Monday upheld a 25% pay cut for central bank staff, but decided the funds will remain at the bank’s disposal instead of being transferred directly to the state budget.

Romanian Unionists Reject RON650 Minimum Wage Proposition Made By Govt

Romanian Government representatives proposed a minimum monthly salary of 650 lei (EUR1=RON 4.2326), but unionists rejected the offer, after they had called on the Executive to consider setting the minimum salary at RON675 or RON705.

Romania’s OMV Petrom To Raise Pump Prices By Up To RON0.04/Liter

Romania’s largest oil company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) will raise Tuesday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.04 lei (EUR1=RON4.2326) and RON0.02 per liter, respectively, the company said Monday in a statement.

Romania’s Govt Plans To Amend Labor Legislation, Introduce Postal Voting For Romanians Abroad

Romania’s Government wants to amend the country’s labor legislation, introduce postal voting for Romanians living abroad, simplify privatization procedures and regulate aspects related to the checkup of public purchase contract award procedures.

Romania Reports Seven Cases Of West Nile Virus Infection, Two Deaths – Health Min

Romanian Health Minister Cseke Attila announced Monday in a press conference that Romania has registered seven cases of infection with the West Nile virus, including two deaths, adding that the Ministry has informed European organizations and specialized bodies.

ECB Slams Romania Again Over Central Bank Salary Cuts

The European Central Bank Monday rebuked Romania for the second time in two months over plans to trim payrolls at the central bank, saying that a proposed amendment to leave the slashed funds at the bank’s disposal is still in direct violation of the central bank independence principle.

Romania’s Govt Debates Draft Law Regulating Family Allowances

Romania’s Government Monday will debate a draft law which states that single-parent family allowances and complementary family allowances will merge, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romania Aug Econ Sentiment Improves On Retail Comeback

Romania’s economic sentiment index rose 1.4 points to 76.4 points in August, helped by improving confidence in retail trade, a widely watched European Commission monthly survey showed Monday.

Asus Puts Off Romania Launch Of NX90 Laptop Over Stolen Prototype

Asus Romania has postponed the official launch in Romania of its NX90 laptop, initially scheduled for September, after the prototype was stolen mid-August from a hotel where it had been displayed for promotional purposes, the company said Monday.

Romanian Prosecutors Question Maternity Hospital Interim Manager In Fire Case

Romanian prosecutors on Monday questioned Victoria Nicolau, the interim manager of the Giulesti maternity hospital, where a fire killed five babies and left six others severely injured on August 16.

Romania Aug-Oct Industry, Services Seen Stable, Construction, Retail Slightly Dn – INS

Romanian managers said they are slightly negative about the retail and construction sectors and stable as regards the industrial, and services sectors between August and October 2010, compared with the previous three months, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Romania, Hungary Only E Europe Property Markets Unattractive To Investors – DTZ

Romania and Hungary are the only Eastern European real estate markets unattractive to investors, because of overvalued assets, while the lack of transactions means property prices need to continue to drop, says a global study by real estate adviser DTZ.

Over 125,000 Tourists Spending Weekend On Romanian Black Sea Coast

More than 125,000 tourists are spending their weekend in resorts on the Romanian Black Sea shore, but hotel operators expect their numbers to swell by a few more thousand.

Bucharest Court Rules To Release Head Of Giulesti Maternity Hospital Tech Dept

A Bucharest lower court rejected prosecutors’ for preventive arrest in the case of Vasile Dima, the head of the technical department of the Giulesti maternity hospital, and decided to have him released and investigated at large.

Romanian Govt To Set Minimum Monthly Wage Level Next Week – PM

The Romanian Government will set the level of the minimum monthly salary next week, after a new meeting with union representatives, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

Romanian Ambulatory Care Suppliers Must Be ISO-Certified As Of 2012 – Draft

Romanian suppliers of ambulatory care, including recuperation-rehabilitation and dental medicine, will be required to hold ISO quality certificates by December 31, 2011, according to the draft frame-contract on healthcare.

Romanian Technical Service Head Detained For 24 Hours In Giulesti Maternity Hospital Case

Romanian prosecutors Friday detained for 24 hours the head of the technical department of the Giulesti maternity hospital in capital Bucharest, Vasile Dima, in a criminal file investigating the accident that took place in the hospital’s intensive care unit last week.

Romanian State-Owned Railway Co CFR SA General Manager Resigns Over Fraud Charge

Emil Sabo, general manager of Romanian state-owned railway company CFR SA, resigned Friday after being indicted, along with others, for defrauding EUR700,000 in 2005.

Romania’s Decree Extending Tax Pool Not Directed Against True Creators – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday he is willing to hold talks with freelancers, who said they will stage protests and will not pay the new taxes on income gained from copyright, in order to make them understand that the amendments to the Tax Code are not directed against “true creators.”

Romanian PM Says Ministers’ Activity Will Be Assessed Only Inside Govt

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Friday said the activity of both Labor Minister Mihail Seitan and of all other ministers, in view of a potential Cabinet reshuffling, will be assessed only inside the Government and together with “decision makers”.

Nine In Ten Romanians Say Country’s Economic Situation Is Gloomy; 85% Distrust Govt – Poll

Nine in ten Romanians say the country’s economic situation is gloomy and 85% of them, the highest percentage in the European Union, distrust the Government, according to a Eurobarometer survey.

Romania Transgaz Eyes Changes To Nabucco Agreement To Ease Decision-Making

Romanian natural gas pipeline operator Transgaz (TGN.RO) recommended a series of amendments to the partnership agreement for the construction of the Nabucco pipeline to simplify executive procedures and adjust the documents to the current development stage of the project.

Bucharest Stock Exchange General Manager Resigns

The general manager of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB.RO), Anca Dumitru, resigned her position Thursday and will be replaced by Valentin Ionescu starting September 27, Dumitru told MEDIAFAX.

Romania Leu Falls Vs Euro On Growing FX Demand

Romania’s leu widened early losses against the euro in late trade Thursday, pushed by heavy demand for euros, and closed 0.26% weaker on the day at 4.249/4.25 units.

Romania, France To Request Extra Funds For Roma Inclusion Projects From EC – Labor Min

Romanian and French authorities have agreed to jointly request extra funds for Roma inclusion programs from the European Commission, with a French delegation expected in Bucharest on September 9-10, Romanian Labor Minister Mihai Seitan said Wednesday.

Romanian Health Minister Asks For 5,000 New Employees, PM Approves Only 1,000

Romanian Health Minister Cseke Attila asked the Government to unfreeze 5,000 jobs in the public healthcare system, but Prime Minister Emil Boc said that only one in seven vacancies, or 1,000 overall, can be unfrozen at the moment and any changes will have to be negotiated with the IMF.

Romanian Govt To Cover Difference Between Farming Loan Interest And EC Reference Rate

Romania’s Government will allot 103 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2368) until 2012 to cover the difference between the interest rate of loans taken out by farmers for production in 2010 and the reference rate announced monthly by the European Commission, Agriculture Minister Mihail Dumitru said Wednesday.

Romania’s Large Thermal Pwr Plants To Be Resized, Heat Subsidy Eliminated In 2011 – PM

Romania’s major thermal power plants will be resized in 2011, adjusting to city demand, lower after the closing of the larger industrial consumers, while the heating subsidy will be granted only to households with low incomes, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday on national radio.

Enel Romania Appoints Radu Cosarca As External Relations Manager

Romanian former journalist Radu Cosarca was appointed manager in charge with external relations at Enel Romania, the local subsidiary of Italian utilities group Enel, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Wednesday, information confirmed afterward by Enel Romania.

Romanian Public Sector Salaries May Be Adjusted In 2011 If Reforms Continue – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday on national radio that public sector salaries may be “adjusted” in 2011, as long as the process of reform and restructuring continues.