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EC Asks Romania To Correct Integrity Agency Law, Install Full Public Procurement Transparency

The European Commission "invites" Romania in its report on the country, released Tuesday, to take action correcting the National Integrity Agency law, monitoring sanctions applied in high-level corruption cases and install full transparency in public procurement.

EC Says Romania Should Revise Supreme Court Competence, Increase Magistracy Institute Role

The European Commission recommended Romania in its report released Tuesday to revise the competences of its High Court of Justice and strengthen the role of the country’s National Magistracy Institute.

PwC: Some 190 Multinationals To Come Out Of Romania By 2025

Some 190 new Romanian-owned multinational companies are expected to emerge out over the next 15 years, a level close to that of Ukraine (192 over the next 15 years) and Hungary (221), consultancy company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said Tuesday in a report.

Romania Seeks Derogation From EC Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations For 13 Penalized Companies

Romanian authorities try to convince the European Commission to grant derogation from regulations regarding greenhouse gas emissions to 13 companies compelled to pay sanctions totaling EUR21 million after breaching the deadline by which greenhouse gas certificates should have been submitted.

EC Report On Romania Points To Shortcomings, Integrity Agency Law Seen As Significant Step Back

The European Commission said in its report on Romania’s justice system, released Tuesday, the country didn’t show sufficient political commitments and its progress has important shortcomings, such as legislative amendments weakening the National Integrity Agency.

EC To Release Next Justice Report On Romania In Summer 2011

The European Commission notes, in its justice report on Romania released Tuesday, that the next assessment of the country’s progress will be released in summer 2011.

Romania Might Introduce Health Insurance Cards By 2012

Romanian citizens will have a national health insurance card by 2012, said National Health Insurance House manager Dorin Ionescu, adding health insurance cards will contain insurance data, as well as medical information about their owners, such as blood type or allergies.

Romanian Parliament To Restart Debates On National Integrity Law’s Unconstitutional Provisions

Toni Grebla, head of the Romanian Senate committee for legal matters, said Monday that the two chambers of the Parliament will restart debates on the provisions of the law regulating the activity of the country’s National Integrity Agency (ANI) which have been ruled unconstitutional.

Romania’s Constitutional Court Rules Revised National Integrity Law Unconstitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court Monday ruled unconstitutional the revised version of the law regulating the activity of the country’s National Integrity Agency (ANI), after President Traian Basescu challenged the revised normative act’s constitutionality.

Hydrologists Extend Flood Alert For Prut River, E Romania, Until End-July

Romanian hydrologists extended the flood alert on the Prut river, eastern Romania, until the end of July, as dam-held waters must be released and the river’s level will further increase.

Romanian Leu Weakens On IMF-Hungary Negotiations Fail

The Romanian leu fell against the euro early Monday, on a negative regional sentiment caused by the suspension of the financing agreement between the International Monetary Fund and Hungary.

About 120,000 Tourists Spent Weekend On Romanian Black Sea Coast

About 120,000 people spent their weekend in resorts on the Romanian Black Sea shore, the busiest weekend so far this season.

Romanian PM Assures 16% Flat Tax Remains Unchanged For The Moment

Romania’s Government currently has no plans to either increase, lower or eliminate its 16% flat tax, although it is considering different scenarios, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday.

Heat Wave, Thunderstorms To Sweep Romania Over Next Two Weeks

Romania will be faced with scorching heat and thunderstorms over the next two weeks, national weather authority head Ion Sandu said Sunday.

Over 1,000 Homes Need Rebuilding After Major Flooding In Romania – PM

About 1,000 homes will need to be rebuilt following floods that ravaged the country this summer and claimed 23 lives, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday during a videoconference with prefects across the country.

Romania, Germany To Sign Plane-Construction Agreement

The Bucharest National Institute for Airspace Research (INCAS) and a similar institute in Germany want to seal an agreement to construct a plane for regional flights.

Most Romanian SMEs Believe Crisis Will Reach Peak This Year – Poll

Most heads of Romanian small and medium enterprises believe the crisis will reach its peak this year, while a quarter of company officials questioned in a poll by the SME Council expect the peak to happen in 2011.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Indict Fmr Prosecutor, Two Lawyers, One Judge

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Friday indicted former prosecutor Nelu Carpen for corruption, along 12 others, including two lawyers and a judge.

Romanian PM Says Floods Caused Damages Of Hundreds Of Million Euros

Damages caused by floods in Romania over the past three weeks rise to hundreds of millions of euros, according to data sent to the Government by local authorities, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

Over Three Quarters Of Romanians Pay Bills Directly With Service Providers – Poll

Over three quarters of Romanians go to service providers' pay desks to pay their bills, while almost one third use bank services, including ATMs or internet banking, according to a survey conducted by GfK Romania.

Romanian Suspended Craiova Mayor To Be Tried For Corruption In Custody

The suspended mayor of Romania’s southern city of Craiova, Antonie Solomon, indicted on charges of corruption and intellectual forgery, will be tried while held in custody, as the Galati Court of Appeals denied his request for release Friday.

U.S. Transfers Mohammad Munaf To Iraqi Custody – Paper

Mohammad Munaf, arrested in 2005 on charges that he aided in the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists, has been transferred to Iraqi authorities this week said American attorney Aziz Huq, cited by the Salt Lake Tribune’s online edition Friday.

Romanian PM Threatens To Sack Fin Min Unless Tax Evasion Is Countered

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday he explicitly required the finance minister and the head of the country’s fiscal authority ANAF to be efficiently involved in fighting tax evasion and threaten to sack both unless he sees results.

Bucharest-Constanta Railway Upgrade To Be Finalized In July 2011 – Transport Min

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said Thursday modernization works on the railway linking capital Bucharest to southeastern Constanta will be finalized in July 2011, and a train ride on that distance will take two and a half hours.

Romania Ctrl Bk: Leu’s Weakening Mirrors Econ Fundamentals

The Romanian leu’s recent depreciation against the euro “pretty much” reflects the current macroeconomic fundamentals, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Banks Reticent To Finance Romania At 7% Yield, Despite Low Mkt Rates – Ctrl Bker

Romanian banks still hesitate to finance the state at a 7% annual yield, despite money market rates of around 2%, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Romania Opens Investigations Into Romanian Envoy To Chile’s Car-Crash Case

Romanian criminal prosecutors Thursday have started investigations into the case of Romanian ambassador to Chile Valentin Florea, who was involved in a car accident in Santiago de Chile on July 12.

Romania Ctrl Bk Reserves Can’t Be Used To Cover Deficit – Gov

Romania's gold reserves would be depleted in one year if the central bank were to cover the social security budget from its reserves, the bank’s governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Romania Needs Steady Reserves To Attract Loans – Ctrl Bker

Romania needs steady international reserves to attract new loans, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday, adding that local and foreign borrowings are estimated at EUR8 billion-EUR9 billion in 2010.

Romanian Homeowners Have 6 Months To Get Mandatory Home Insurance

Romanian homeowners have six months to insure their homes, as the country’s law on mandatory home insurance has entered force.

Romanian Car Market Sees Third Largest Decline In EU In 1H, Of 41.5%

Romania’s car market registered the third biggest decline in the European Union in the first half of the year, of 41.5%, while bigger declines were registered only in neighboring Bulgaria and Hungary and the EU car market increased 0.2%.

Autopsy Confirms Romanian Singer Madalina Manole Committed Suicide

Medical examiners have concluded the autopsy of Romanian singer Madalina Manole, found dead Wednesday morning in her home, and ruled the death suicide, people close to the investigation told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Graft-Indicted Senator Stays In Custody, Trial Starts In Sept

Romania’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday graft-indicted senator Catalin Voicu is to remain in custody, after it moved the start of the trail to September on Wednesday.

Romanian Govt Approves Program To Purchase Materials To Rebuild Flood-Affected Homes

Romania’s Government approved Wednesday a program through which the state will provide materials for the reconstruction or repair of homes affected by “natural disasters” in 2010.

Romanian State Secretary, Deputy Prefect Cuts To Save Up EUR2 Million In 2010

Romania’s Government estimates savings of up to EUR2 million by the end of this year, and EUR4.5-5 million over an entire year, by reducing the number of state secretaries, undersecretaries of state and deputy prefects.

Trial Of Romanian Graft-Charged Senator Voicu Postponed For September

The trial in which Romanian senator Catalin Voicu, judge Florin Costiniu and businessmen Marius Locic and Costel Casuneanu are charged with corruption has been rescheduled for September, before the Supreme Court ruled whether Voicu was to remain in custody or not.

EC Report: 81% Of Pre-Accession Fund Fraud Cases Reported In Romania, Bulgaria

A European Commission report published Wednesday says 81% of the instances of irregularities with pre-accession funds in 2009 were reported in Romania and Bulgaria, accounting for 93% of the irregular amounts reported that year.

Romania’s Govt Cuts 2,450 Positions Within Environment Min

The Romanian Government decided in a meeting Wednesday to cut 2,450 positions within the Environment Ministry and the bodies subordinated to the institution, Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian PM Signs Decisions To Dismiss 17 State Secretaries, Two State Undersecretaries

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday he signed the decisions whereby 17 state secretaries and 2 undersecretaries of state are released from office.

Miss Universe Romania 2010 Winner Turns Down Crown, Runner-Up To Take Her Place

Alexandra Catalina Filip, winner of Miss Universe Romania 2010, announced Wednesday she is turning down the crown, which will go to the runner-up, Oana Paveluc.