English

Romania Calls On EU To Strengthen Efforts In Tackling Roma Expulsion Issue

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Romania must call on the European Union to strengthen its efforts in solving the issue of recent expulsions from France of Romanian citizens of Roma ethnicity.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Businessman Detained Based On Evidence From Cyprus, Indonesia

Romanian prosecutors Thursday detained businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu after information provided by authorities in Cyprus and Indonesia last week showed Vantu was transferring money to fraud-convict Nicolae Popa, who fled the country after being sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Romanian Businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu Detained For 24 Hours In Fraud Case

Romanian prosecutors Thursday detained businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu for 24 hours in a case regarding Nicolae Popa, a former manager of company Gelsor sentenced to jail time for fraud.

Romanian Electricity Transporter Transelectrica “Is Still In Recession” – GM

The financial results posted by Romanian state-owned electricity transporter Translectrica (TEL.RO) in the first half of the year were influenced, among others, by unpaid debts, and the company is still in “recession”, Thursday said company general manager Adrian Baicusi.

Romania Mosquito-Borne West Nile Virus Infections Reach 25

Romania has confirmed five new infections with the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, taking the total number of confirmed infections to 25, the Health Ministry said Thursday.

Romania’s Population Decreased By 1,157 People In July 2010

Romania's population decreased by 1,157 people on the month in July 2010, driven by a negative natural growth, according to data released Thursday by the National Statistics Institute (INS).

Romania Jan-July Trade Gap Widens To EUR5.36B

Romania’s trade deficit widened to EUR5.36 billion in January to July, from EUR5.23 billion in the same period a year earlier, the National Statistics Institute said Thursday.

Romania’s Revised Constitution Bill To Be Sent To Parliament This Fall – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday evening that the draft law to revise the Constitution, which was drawn up by the Government, will be sent to Parliament this fall, adding the draft act is currently analyzed by the Presidency.

Romanian Dacia Logan Sales In Russia Up 12% In Jan-August 2010

Romanian carmaker Dacia sold 39,389 Logan models in Russia in the first eight months of 2010, up 12% from 2009, ranking fifth among the best-sold brands, in a market which grew 14%, to 1,135,074 cars.

Romanian Corruption-Charged Mayor To Be Released From Arrest

The Galati Court of Appeals Wednesday ruled to release from arrest Antonie Solomon, the suspended Mayor of Romania’s southern city of Craiova, indicted on charges of corruption and intellectual forgery.

Romanian Healthcare Service Co-Payment System To Be Introduced In Jan 2011

Romanian will introduce the co-payment system for healthcare services in January 2011, Health Minister Attila Cseke said Wednesday.

Romanian Govt: Employers To Withhold, Pay Social Contributions For Copyright Income

The Romanian Government decided in its meeting Wednesday that employers shall withhold, declare and calculate the pension insurance contribution and the contribution to the unemployment fund for their employees’ income from copyright, Labor Minister Ioan Botis said Wednesday.

Romania Govt Approves Letter Of Intent To IMF Deal

Romania's Government Wednesday approved an additional letter of intent to its EUR13 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund, Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu said.

Romania Government OKs Merger Of Three Electrica Branches

Romanian state-run power distributor Electrica SA received the government’s go-ahead to merge three of its units into a single supplying company, named Electrica Furnizare, according to a Government decision approved Wednesday.

Romanian Unionists To Picket Health Ministry Thursday, More Protests Forthcoming

Around 200 members of the Romanian “Sanitas” Federation of healthcare unions will picket the headquarters of the Health Ministry on Thursday, in protest to salary cuts and problems with the decentralization process.

Romania 1H Beer Sales Dn 11%, To About 8M Hl

Romania's beer sales volume decreased by 11% in the first half of the year, compared to the same interval in 2009, to about eight million hectoliters, according to the ‘Romanian Brewers’ association.

Romania’s VAT Revenues Up 25% In First Month After VAT Hike – PM

Romania’s value added tax revenues were up 25% in the month following the increase of the VAT level to 24% from 19%, compared to the average VAT revenues registered in the months preceding the fiscal measure, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday during a Government meeting.

Romania PM Says Govt Not In Favor Of Doubling Social Security Contributions For Copyright Income

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said in the Government meeting Wednesday that the Executive is not in favor of doubling social security contributions for people who gain income from copyright and asked Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu to consider this aspect.

Romanian Employers To Declare, Pay Social Security Contributions For Copyright Income – Draft

Romanian employers will have to withhold, declare and calculate the pension insurance contribution and the contribution to the unemployment fund for their employees’ income from copyright, according to a draft government emergency ordinance.

Romanian Govt To Change Car Pollution Tax; Owners Of Old Cars Might Pay More – Minister

Romanian Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely said Tuesday that the car pollution tax will be changed to the effect that owners of older cars, “which produce more pollution,” will have to pay a higher tax.

Romanian Opp Liberals To File Motion Against Labor Min Next Week, Motion On Health In Two Weeks

Romania’ s opposition Liberal Party on Tuesday said the simple motion against the Labor Ministry will be submitted in the Chamber of Deputies next week and a motion on health will be submitted in about two weeks.

President Basescu Says Govt To Approve Extra RON8M Funds For Dam Works In NE Romania

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday said the Government will approve, in its meeting Wednesday, additional funds of 8 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2915) for the construction of the dam over the Siret river, in the area of Saucesti commune, in Romanian northeastern county of Bacau.

Romania, Switzerland Sign EUR135M Cooperation Agreement

Romania’s Government and the Swiss Federal Council signed Tuesday a frame agreement whereby Switzerland grants Romania EUR135 million (CHF181 million) in non-reimbursable funds to help reduce economic and social lags in the extended European Union, the Finance Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

Romanian PM To Meet With Finance, Labor Ministers For Talks On Fiscal Code, Public Sector Wages

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Tuesday called for a meeting with the ministers of Finance and Labor, regarding the ordinance amending the Fiscal Code, which will also be discussed with employers’ organizations, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Large, Medium Companies Required To File Fiscal Statements Online As Of Oct 25

Romanian large and medium companies will be required to file their fiscal statements online as of October 25, while other taxpayers will have a choice between the traditional and online method of submitting tax documents, according to a draft decision by the National Fiscal Administration Agency.

Romania Fin Ministry To Refinance Local Debt Worth RON17B In 2011 – Survey

Romania's Finance Ministry will have to refinance local debt worth 17 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2915) in 2011, according to a survey from ING Bank released Tuesday.

Romanian Farmers Put Off Planned Protests Until Early Oct For Talks With New Minister

Romanian farmers’ union federation Agrostar and the National Federation of Farm Producers (FNPAR) put off planned protests until early October in order to hold talks with the new Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara.

Romanian Senate Committee Rejects Draft Law On Fortune-Telling, Witchcraft

The Romanian Senate’s committee for legal matters Tuesday rejected a draft normative act drawn up by several democrat liberal lawmakers, who proposed that fortune-telling and witchcraft should be included among freelance activities and taxed.

Social Democrats’ Motion On Agric Removed From Lower Chamber Agenda Amid Political Squabble

The simple motion on agriculture submitted by Romania’s opposition Social Democratic Party on Tuesday was removed from the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies, after social democrats refused to read out the motion in the plenary meeting because of disputes with ruling democrat liberals.

Romania Mosquito-Borne West Nile Virus Infections Reach 20

Romania has confirmed five new infections with the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, taking the total number of confirmed infections to 20 and no related deaths have been registered over the past week, the Health ministry said Tuesday.

Romanian President To Visit Northeastern Localities Affected By Flood This Summer

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday will inspect works on the dams in the northeastern part of the country, which were destroyed by floods this summer, said the Presidential Administration's press bureau.

Romanian Employers See Hiring Frozen For Q4 2010 – Survey

Employers in Romania forecast a balanced activity on the local labor market for the last quarter of the year but are less pessimistic than in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to a survey by human resources company Manpower.

Romania Scrapped 164,752 Cars Under 2010 Clunkers Program Until Sept 3

Over 164,000 cars older than ten years were scrapped until September 3, 2010 within Romania's clunkers program, and the number of new cars bought within the program exceeded 38,000 units, of which 17,215 were made locally, Romanian Environment Ministry said in a press release Tuesday.

Romania Proprietatea Fund To Pay Dividends Of RON0.816 A Share For 08/09 Pfts

Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea will pay out a gross dividend of 0.816 lei (EUR1=RON4.2762) a share for the 2008 and 2009 profits, according to a shareholders’ decision Monday.

Romania, Bulgaria To Join Forces In Nabucco Project

Officials in the Romanian and Bulgarian Economy Ministries decided to take a common position as regards the construction of Nabucco gas pipeline, which is a priority project for both countries.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski Might Visit Bucharest In 2010

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski might visit Romania’s capital Bucharest this year, according to talks held Monday, at the presidential Cotroceni palace, between Romanian President Traian Basescu and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsk

Foreign Cos Planning To Build Pwr Units In Romania Ask For State Aid

Several foreign companies interested to partner up with local firms in the construction of thermal power plants in Romania, asked for state aid the government cannot give, sources close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Romanian Opp Liberals To File Motion Against Labor Ministry Over Higher Taxes On Copyright Income

Romania’s opposition Liberal Party will submit a simple motion against the measures recently taken by the Labor Ministry, which increase taxes for people who gain income from freelance activities, party head Crin Antonescu said Monday after the meeting of the party’s central political office.

Romanian Govt To Levy Tax On Employee Bonuses Higher Than RON150

Bonuses paid by employers in Romania to their employees for Christmas, Easter or International Women’s Day (March 8), which exceed 150 lei (EUR1=RON4.2762) will be counted for the purposes of social security contributions, according to a draft Government Ordinance.

Around 40 Roma Protest Outside French Embassy In Bucharest Over Roma Expulsions

Around 40 Roma people are protesting Monday in front of the French Embassy in Bucharest against France's recent "voluntary repatriations" of Roma ethnics.