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President Says Romania Could Overcome Crisis More Easily If It Used EUR30B EU Funds

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday, in the presence of the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that Romania could overcome the economic crisis “more easily” if it used the EUR30 billion non-reimbursable funds from the European Union.

Romanian Ambassador To Chile Involved In Car Crash, One Person Injured

Romania’s Ambassador to Chile, Valentin Florea, was involved in a car crash, said the online Monday edition of Chilean daily La Nacion, according to which the Romanian diplomat was unhurt, but another driver was seriously injured.

Romanian President Basescu Restates Support For Palestine-Israel Direct Negotiations

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday, after meeting with Palestinian National Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, that Romania encourages and strongly supports the resumption of direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel.

Romanian Justice Min To Be Reorganized; To Keep Two State Secretaries, One Undersecretary

Romania’s Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu on Monday said his ministry will be reorganized and a decision on the number of employees to be sacked will be made after the Government meeting next Wednesday.

Romanian FM Cuts Utilities, Transport, Staff Spending Amid Austere Measures

Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi on Monday said his ministry has already taken spending cut measures, which imply, among others, the renegotiation of rental contracts, a cut in utilities costs and the switch to low-cost flights and internet telephony.

Half Of Romanian Journalists Consider Media Outlet Owners Influence Editorial Content – Survey

About half of Romanian journalists (50.8%) and almost as many Romanian Public Relations professionals (44%) believe editorial content is generally influenced by media outlet owners, said a survey on transparency in PR-media-public relations.

Romanian Ctrl Bank Move Depends On Insider Trade Case Ruling

The central bank will not act against the four bankers involved in an insider trading case until the court issues a ruling, central bank official Adrian Vasilescu told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Authorities Seize EUR13.5M In Insider Trading Case

Romanian prosecutors seized assets worth a total EUR13.5 million in the case involving the insider trading charges brought against the chairman of lender Banca Transilvania, Horia Ciorcila and three other bankers.

Negative Experience With Telecom Operators Made 44% Of Romanians Terminate Contracts

Nearly half the customers of Romanian telecom operators (44%), dissatisfied with the service they received, have stopped using the supplier and 72% have told others about their negative experience, says a study by GfK Romania.

Banca Transilvania Shares Suspended From Trading In Bucharest

The shares of Romanian lender Banca Transilvania (TLV.RO) were suspended Monday from trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, following the indictment of the bank’s chairman on insider trading charges.

Romanian Banca Transilvania Chairman Faces Insider Trading Charges

Romanian lender Banca Transilvania’s (TLV.RO) chairman, Horia Ciorcila, was sent to trial on charges of insider trading and market manipulation, investigators announced Monday.

Romania’s Electronic Road Toll System Might Be Available As Of Oct 1

Romania’s Transport Ministry plans to postpone the implementation of the country’s electronic road toll system until October 1, as the auction selecting the company to insure the system was challenged and implementation procedures were hindered.

Romania Jun New Car Registrations +18% M-M To 10,285 Units

Romanian new car registrations rose 18% to 10,285 units in June, from 8,654 units a month earlier, Interior Ministry data showed Monday.

Romania OMV Petrom, Petrofac Sign Production Enhancement Deal

Romanian leading oil company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) Monday said it has awarded a 15-year production enhancement services contract to Petrofac Limited for the management of Ticleni oilfield, southwest Romania.

Romanian Developer Impact Dubbed Insolvent, Appeal Pending

The Bucharest Court allowed Thursday the insolvency request lodged by Romconstruct Ploiesti against Impact Developer & Contractor (IMP.RO), but the latter said it will appeal the decision.

Romania Jan-May Trade Gap Narrows To EUR3.8B

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR3.8 billion in January-May, from EUR3.9 billion in the same period the year earlier, the National Statistics Institute said Monday.

Romania June CPI + 0.16% On Mo, +4.38% On Yr

Romanian consumer prices inched up 0.16% in June from May, held back by cheaper food, while the annual inflation eased to 4.38%, the country’s statistics institute INS said Monday.

Romania’s Annual Inflation Decreased To 4.3%-4.4% In June, To Hit 7% In July – Analysts

Romania’s annual inflation decreased to 4.3 – 4.4% in June, from 4.42% in May, and is expected to hit about 7% in July, economic analysts said.

Romanian Ministers, Prefects To Present Monthly Reports On EU Fund Adsorption, Investments – PM

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday he will set up a system monitoring EU fund absorption and public investments, adding that the ministers and prefects who will not “fight to get each penny” granted by EU will “leave”.

Romania To Reduce VAT If Feasible Alternative Measure Found, Taxing Pensions Not Enough – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday the value added tax can be reduced only if authorities find other means to cover the revenues brought to the state budget by the 5-percentage point VAT increase, adding taxing pensions is not enough.

Meteorologists Issue Code Yellow Rain Alert For NE, C, SE Romania, Valid Until Sunday Evening

Romanian meteorologists issued a code yellow alert for rain, thunderstorm and hail in the northeastern, central and southeastern parts of the country, valid until Sunday at 9 p.m..

‘Colivia’ By Romanian Adrian Sitaru Wins Best Short Film Award At Curtas Vila Do Conde Festival

‘Colivia’ by Romanian film director Adrian Sitaru won the best film award at the Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival in Portugal, which took place between July 3 and July 11, said expresso.pt.

Romanian Authorities Might Consider Taxing High Pensions Progressively – Environment Min

Romania’s Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely told MEDIAFAX Saturday that authorities might consider taxing high pensions progressively starting this fall, adding that decisions in this respect depend, to a great extent, on the country’s economic situation.

Romanian Pensions Must Be Taxed, VAT Reduced – President

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Saturday, during a visit to flood-hit areas in the northern part of the country, that the value added tax must be decreased to its previous level, adding pensions must be taxed.

Romanian Govt To Adopt Fund Granting Decision For Dam Construction In NE Romania – President

The Romanian Government will adopt during its next week’s meeting a decision to provide the funds needed to build a dam in Buruienesti, a water-covered village in the northeastern part of the country, President Traian Basescu said Saturday during a visit to the areas hit by floods.

Romania Willing To Offer Building Materials To Flood-Hit Moldova – President

Romania is willing to offer construction materials to the Republic of Moldova, as part of a EUR100 million non-reimbursable aid granted to the neighboring country by Romanian authorities, Romanian President Traian Basescu told Moldovan President Mihai Ghimpu during a phone call.

President Basescu Expected To Arrive In Flood-Hit Neamt County, NE Romania

Romanian President Traian Basescu is expected to arrive Saturday afternoon in northeastern county of Neamt, severely affected by widespread flooding.

Floods Hit Nine Romanian Counties, 109 People Evacuated Over Past 24 Hours

About 20 localities in nine Romanian counties were affected by flooding over the past 24 hours, and 109 people had to be evacuated, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) said Saturday.

Alexandra Catalina Filip Wins Miss Universe Romania 2010

Miss Universe Romania 2010 winner, Alexandra Catalina Filip, 19, also a dance sport national champion, will represent Romania in the international competition selecting the most beautiful woman in the world, which will take place in Las Vegas on August 23.

Danube Level In SE Romania Decreases, Galati City No Longer Under Flood Alert

The Danube’s water level in Galati, southeastern Romania, hit 656 centimeters Saturday morning, 21 centimeters less than previously forecast by hydrologists for July 10, and it is unlikely the city will be flooded.

Romanian Govt, President Agree To Restructure Public Bodies By September 1

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday that September 1 is the deadline agreed with President Traian Basescu by which the restructuration of state institutions must be completed.

Romania Might Close Down Hospitals Not Taken Over By Local Authorities – Health Min

Romanian authorities will soon assess the stages of the hospital decentralization process and the hospitals that present no interest to local authorities might be closed down, Health Minister Cseke Attila told a news conference Friday.

Romanian President Rejects Law Extending Newborns’ Trousseau Until 2010

Romanian President Traian Basescu has asked the Parliament to re-examine the law approving a Government Ordinance, which says the state will provide the equivalent of trousseaus for newborns until the end of 2010, as that act was repealed through the Government’s austerity plan.

Some Scenes Of Brad Pitt-Produced Feature Film ‘Vlad’ To Be Shot In Romania

Some scenes of the feature film ‘Vlad,’ produced by American actor Brad Pitt and Summit Entertainment and which tells the story of Vlad the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia, will be shot in Curtea de Arges, southern Romania, Princess Lia of Romania told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Car Prices Fell 10% In Romania In 2009 – EC Report

Car prices fell by more than 10% in Romania last year, one of the most significant reductions in the European Union, behind Slovenia, Lithuania and Slovakia, where prices dropped by as much as 13.4%, according to a European Commission report.

Romanian Govt To Revise Budget In August, Pay Hospitals’ Debts – Health Min

Romania’s Health Minister, Cseke Attila, said Friday that the Government will likely do a budget revision in August, allotting EUR170 million to pay the debts of hospitals.

ING: Romanian Ctrl Bk May Rise Key Rate To 7% By Yearend

Romania’s central bank could raise the key monetary policy rate to 7% a year from the current 6.25% in the last two Board meetings of 2010, ING Bank Romania said in a report.

Romanian Senate Chairman Calls On Govt To Come Up With Anti-Flood Strategy

Romanian Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana said Friday that the Government must urgently present before Parliament a multiannual strategy to combat flooding, since such incidents may happen in the fall.

Romania Still Under Flood Threat, Evacuations Continue

Romania is still threatened by river floods and authorities continue the evacuation of people from the areas placed under high risk flood alert, after meteorologists extended on Friday flood warnings for rivers in the eastern part of the country.

Romania’s Population At 21.5 Million, World Population Expected To Hit 7 Billion This Year

Romania has 21.5 million inhabitants and the United Nations Organization expects the world’s population to hit seven billion this year, according to data released Friday by Romania’s National Institutive for Statistics.