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Romanian Authorities Suspended 3,869 Fraudulent Invalidity Pension Files

More than 470,000 files for invalidity pensions have been investigated by Romanian authorities since the start of 2010 and 3,869 people have been taken off pension after being re-evaluated, with the National Pension and Social Insurance House (CNPAS) stating it would save EUR5 million every year.

Romania 2Q Labor Costs Rise At 2nd Fastest Pace In EU

Total hourly labor costs in the Romanian economy rose 5% on the year in April to June, the second-biggest increase in the European Union, official data showed Tuesday.

One Third Of Romanian Companies Have Cash Flow Problems – Survey

More than one third of Romanian companies have had cash flow problems due to customer default or payment delays, a survey from EOS Group showed Tuesday.

Romanian Railway Co CFR Calatori, Subway Co Metrorex To Hike Tariffs Starting Sept 15

Romanian state-owned passenger railway company CFR Calatori and state-run subway company Metrorex will raise tariffs by 8% starting September 15, the Transport Ministry said at the beginning of the month.

Romania Signs Four-State Declaration Backing AGRI Gas Pipeline

The presidents of Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia, along with the Hungarian Prime Minister, signed Tuesday a joint statement supporting the AGRI gas pipe project.

Romanian Fraud-Convict Ioana Maria Vlas Stays In Custody, As Parole Release Request Postponed

Romanian Ioana Maria Vlas, sentenced to ten years in prison for fraud, will remain under arrest after the Targsor Penitentiary parole release commission decided Tuesday to postpone by two months discussions on her latest release on parole request.

Romanian Tax Authorities Impound Church Assets Over RON4.2M Debt

Local fiscal authorities in Constanta, southeastern Romania, have impounded assets of the Tomis Archbishopric, including the Archbishopric Palace, plots of land and cars, over a tax debt exceeding 4.2 million (EUR1=RON4.2478), tax authorities said Tuesday.

Romanian Public Servants To Go On General Strike Indefinitely As Of Sept 27

Romanian public servants will go on general strike indefinitely starting Monday, September 27, said Sebastian Oprescu, head of the National Union of Public Servants (SNFP), adding public servants are starving and are heavily indebted.

Romanian President: Supporting Separatist Regimes Endanger Regional Stability

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday, referring to the situation in Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, that any attempt to support separatist regimes contributes to the deterioration of regional stability.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Will Prevent Attacks Against Leu’s Exch Rate – Deputy Gov

The money market is free, but Romania's central bank will prevent any possible attack on the leu, given that the evolution of the local currency is closely related to the country’s economic situation, central bank deputy governor Bogdan Olteanu said Tuesday.

Romanian Football Referees Remain Under Preventive Arrest, Court Ruling Definitive

Romanian football referee Marius Martis and former referee Ionica Serea, who were indicted on corruption charges in May this year, will remain under preventive arrest after the Pitesti Court of Appeals rejected their petitions against the arrest decision ruled by the Arges Court.

Romania Fiscal Auth Says Rompetrol Must Fully Repay State Debt

Romania’s second largest oil refinery Rompetrol Rafinare (RRC.RO) must fully repay its historic debt to the state after the company expressed its intent to buy back bond debt before the September 30 deadline, the fiscal authority ANAF said in a statement Monday.

Over 60% Of Romanians Would Send Their Children To Study Abroad – Poll

Over 60% of Romanians would send their children to study abroad, according to a research conducted by the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategies.

Romanian Liberal Lawmaker Proposes Bill On School Textbooks

Romanian liberal lawmaker Adriana Saftoiu submitted with the Chamber of Deputies a bill setting that textbooks in the mandatory education system should be free and textbook authors should observe certain quality standards to ensure information is scientifically correct.

Over 20,000 Unionists To Rally In Bucharest On Sept 22

Over 20,000 unionists affiliated with Romanian union federation CNSLR-Fratia will take part in a rally in capital Bucharest Wednesday, September 22, in protest to public sector wage cuts and harsh austerity measures, union leader Marius Petcu said Monday.

Romanian Defense Min Assures Most Military Pensions Will Not Be Cut Through Recalculation

Romanian Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea said in a press conference Monday that most military pensions will not be reduced, while some will even be increased, through recalculation under the country's new public pension law.

Fraud Convict Denies Romanian Media Owner Vintu Sent Him Money

Romanian fraud convict Nicolae Popa denied, when questioned by Indonesian authorities following Romania’s request to have him extradited, that Romanian media owner Sorin Ovidiu Vintu sent him money.

IMF, Romanian PM Hold Working Meeting In Bucharest

A delegation of the International Monetary Fund led by Tonny Lybek met Monday with Romanian officials to discuss the Government’s commitments under a EUR13 billion loan agreement and set up the coordinates for the Fund’s next mission in Bucharest due in October.

Foreign Investors Affected By Romanian Partners’ Bankruptcy – Survey

The main problem of German, Swiss and Austrian investors in Romania is the bankruptcy of their local partners, fueled by the economic crisis, according to a survey conducted by audit and consultancy firm LeitnerLeitner.

Romania Leu Widens Gains Vs Euro, Exch Rate At 4.263

The Romanian leu extended early gains versus the euro in mid trade Monday and the central bank’s reference strengthened 0.2% at 4.263 units, from 4.2723 units Friday.

Romania West Nile Virus Death Toll Reaches 3, Infections At 34

Romania has reported one more West Nile virus infection-related death, bringing the number of fatalities to three, and nine new infections, bring the total number of cases to 34, the Health Ministry said Monday.

Romanian Education System To Face Hardship In 2010-2011 School Year – Union

The Romanian Federation of Free Education Unions (FSLI) said in a press release, that the 2010-2011 school year “will be a period of hardship for the Romanian education system,” given the 25% salary cuts and teacher layoffs.

Romanian Fiscal Authorities Impound Rompetrol Rafinare Assets Over Debt

Romania’s fiscal authority ANAF impounded on September 10 the assets of Rompetrol Rafinare (RRC.RO), the refining unit of The Rompetrol Group, the company said in a press release Sunday.

Romanian Agric Min Calls For Extra RON1B For Agriculture In 2011

Romania’s Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara told MEDIAFAX in an interview he has asked the Finance Ministry for an extra 1 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2723) in the agriculture sector’s budget for next year.

Romanian Agric Min Wants To Convince EC To Allow Reverse Taxation On Food

Romania’s Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara says he is working to get the European Commission to accept reverse taxation on food products, which it rejected earlier this year.

Sixth Baby Dies Following Bucharest Maternity Fire

A sixth baby has died from injuries sustained on August 16 when a fire broke out in the intensive care unit of a Bucharest maternity, leaving five newborns dead and six others severely injured.

Romania PM Warns Contracts For EU Projs Are Terminated Unless Terms Observed

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc Saturday warned local mayors and county council heads at a party meeting that contracts for EU-funded projects are to be terminated, regardless of political affiliation, unless contract terms are observed.

Romanian PM Says Large Infrastructure Works Should Have Been Done In The ’90s

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Saturday the Government is having trouble paying people expropriated for infrastructure works and the matter could have been solved a lot cheaper in the '90s.

Romanian Govt Pledges To Eliminate Income Tax Exemptions For Computer Programmers

Romania’s Government pledged in its additional Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the European Union to extend the income taxation pool by taxing food vouchers and bank deposit interest, as well as by gradually eliminating income tax exemptions for computer programmers.

Gazprom: Romania Confirms Interest In South Stream Pipeline

Russian natural gas giant Gazprom Friday said Romania confirmed its interest in the South Stream pipeline project.

Registration Of New, EU-Bought Cars In Romania To Require Proof Of VAT Payment

Natural persons may no longer register cars originating in the EU without proof of VAT payment, in the case of new cars, or a certificate exempting them from VAT payment, in the case of used cars, says an order by Romania’s Interior Ministry and Finance Ministry.

Romanian Self-Employed People Not Targeted By Draft Decree On Social Security Contributions

Romanian self-employed people will not pay social security contributions for their income as stipulated by Government emergency ordinance 58/2010, once a draft act amending the decree comes into force.

Romania Jan-July Current Account Gap Widens To EUR3.8B

Romania's current account deficit widened 38.5% to EUR3.79 billion in the first seven months of the year, from a gap of EUR2.74 billion a year earlier, largely due to the falling current transfers surplus, central bank data showed Friday

Two Divers Missing In Black Sea Near Turkish Cargo Ship Wreck

Two divers employed by a private firm went missing Thursday evening during explorations of the wreckage of Turkish cargo ship Medy, which sunk off the Romanian Black Sea coast on September 1.

Romania August CPI +0.23% On Month, +7.6% On Year

Romanian consumer prices inched up 0.23% in August after a 2.6% increase a month earlier, while the annual inflation accelerated to 7.58%, the highest rate in two years, the country’s statistics institute INS said Friday.

Romanian Media Owner Vintu Arrested For One Month For Allegedly Aiding A Fraud Convict

Romanian media owner Sorin Ovidiu Vintu was placed under one-month preventive arrest Thursday night, along Octavian Turcan and Alex Stoian, on charges of aiding Nicolae Popa, sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud, flee the country.

Romania Readies Measures For Roma Social Inclusion; Pushes For Free Movement In EU

The Romanian Government plans to take measures for the social inclusion of Roma, which will rely on available European Union funds, and considers that the principle of free movement of European citizens in the EU must be observed, the Executive said in a press release Thursday.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Govt Pledges To Keep Pensions Frozen, Sack 90,000 More Public Employees

The Romanian Government stands by its commitment to sack 74,000 public sector employees by the end of 2010, at least 15,000 more in 2011, keep pensions frozen next year and scrap the 13th monthly salary, vacation bonuses and heat subsidies.

Indonesian President Approved Extradition Of Romanian Fraud Convict Nicolae Popa

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has approved Romanian authorities’ request for the extradition of Nicolae Popa, convicted for fraud and detained in Jakarta on December 2, 2009, but the repatriation procedure will take more time, people close to the matter said Thursday.

EXCLUSIVE: Romania Ups ‘10 Primary Spending Fcast, Cuts Revenue Estimate

Romania's Government revised upward its estimate on primary spending to 131.5 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2821) this year, from RON130.9 billion previously, according to the additional letter of intent to its International Monetary Fund deal.