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Over 260 Kg Of Drugs Seized By Romanian Police In First Seven Mos ‘10

The Romanian Police seized over 260 kilograms of drugs and 32,800 drug tablets worth over EUR6 million in the first seven months of 2010, the Romanian Police said Sunday.

Several Romanian Journalists, Politicians Initiate Media Protection Campaign

Several Romanian politicians, journalists and artists set up a media right protection group, following President Traian Basescu’s decision to list the media among potential threats to the country’s national security, social democrat deputy Carmen Moldovan said in a press release Saturday.

Romanian Govt To Present New Measures To Boost Economy – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Saturday at the inauguration of the Lugoj eastern bypass road, southwestern Romania, that, in September, the Government will put forward a series of measures to uphold the country’s economy.

Romanian Govt To Set Up Land Expropriation Fund For Road Construction – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Saturday that he called on the Government to set up a special land expropriation fund for the construction of roads, as the state can no longer afford to pay for land expropriations, which are very costly.

Romanian Banks Gloomy About Lending Revival In 2010 – Survey

Romanian banks are pessimistic about lending revival in 2010, following tightening credit terms on the local market in the second quarter of the year, a central bank survey showed Friday.

Romania Ranks 8th In EU By European Agriculture Funds Attracted In 2009

Romania is ranked eighth in the European Union by EU agriculture funds attracted in 2009, which amounted to EUR2.1 billion, according to data released by the European Commission’s department on Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

Romania Govt Unlikely To Change Consumer Loan Act – Sources

Romanian government is not likely to amend the existing law on consumer loans, despite its commitment to the International Monetary Fund to reexamine it and make sure its provisions do not apply retroactively, people familiar with the matter said Friday.

Romanian Public Sector Unitary Wage Law To Be Revised – Unions

Romania’s public sector wage law will be revised in its entirety and will no longer be based on 2009’s salaries, but on those of 2010, reduced through the austerity measures, and a new law will be issued every year to set the new wage level, said unionists after talks with Prime Minister Emil Boc.

Romania Gets Eight Bids To Sell CO2 Emission Allowances – Econ Min

Romania received eight offers to sell carbon dioxide (CO2) emission certificates, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Friday, adding that negotiations will start next week.

Romania 7-Mo Car Production Hit 219,656 Units

Romania’s Automobile Dacia, owned by French Renault, produced 215,463 cars in the first seven months of the year and Ford Romania produced 4,178 units in the same interval, according to data released by Romania’s Association of Carmakers and Importers APIA.

Romanian State-Owned Cos’ Salary Funds Unaffected By Wage Cutting Austerity Plan

The budgets of Romanian state-owned companies were revised after authorities decided to cut their costs with goods and services, but their salary funds were not affected.

Romanian Purchases Via EU-Funded Projects To Be Checked Regardless Of Value – Draft

Purchases made through projects financed from European Union non-reimbursable funds will be checked by the Department Coordinating and Verifying Public Purchases, regardless of their estimated value and the way they were assigned, says a draft emergency decree drawn up by the Finance Ministry.

Romania To Decide On Stake Owned In Nuke JV Next Week

Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu on Friday said the government will decide next week on the stake it keeps in the joint-venture that will build reactors 3 and 4 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.

Romania July Passenger Car Sales -40% On Month To 8,336 Units

Romanian new passenger car sales fell 40% on the month to 8,336 units in July and were down 31.7% compared with the year-earlier period, the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, or APIA, said Friday.

EU Strategy Regarding Roma Ethnics Impossible At The Moment – Romanian Official

The Romanian presidential adviser for European Affairs, Leonard Orban, said Friday on RFI Romania that it is impossible to draw up a European strategy regarding Roma ethnics at the moment, as the European Union lacks expertise to deal with this problem.

Romanian Ministry: No. Of State-Built Homes To Be Cut To 1,400 From Initial Target Of 7,000

The recent cut in state budget funds needed to build homes for youngsters, via the National Housing Agency ANL, allows the construction of only 1,400 homes in 2010, compared to the Regional Development Ministry’s initial estimates to build 7,000 homes, the ministry said in a press release Friday.

Romania Regional Development Min To Subsidize Interests On Homeowner Loans For Thermal Rehab

Romania’s Regional Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea on Thursday said the thermal rehabilitation of apartment buildings will be made with loans contracted by homeowners’ associations and guaranteed by the state, with interest rates subsidized by the Regional Development Ministry.

Romanian Govt To Replace Minimum Tax With Lump Sum Tax

The Romanian Government will eliminate the minimum tax starting with October 1, and replace it with a lump sum tax, Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romania Regional Development Ministry Halts Several Investment Programs Over 10% Budget Cut

Romanian Regional Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea said her ministry has halted several investment programs, including the construction of homes via the National Housing Agency ANL, after its budget was cut by 10%.

Romanian Govt Discussed Flat Tax Exemptions

Romania’s Government made a list of the activities exempt from the flat tax, including income from agriculture, transfers of real estate, and night clubs and casinos, for which the tax ranges from 2% to 5%, after President Traian Basescu suggested the flat tax should be levied on any type of income.

Romanian Govt To Keep Heat Subsidies This Year – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Thursday said heat subsidies will be kept this year, but a new strategy will be applied starting April 2011.

Romanian Transp Minister, Railway Unionists To Discuss Spending Cut Programs Monday

Romania’s Transport Minister Radu Berceanu will meet Monday with unionists in the railway sector to discuss programs aimed to cut spending at state-owned railway company CFR.

Ninety-Three Repatriated Roma To Arrive In Bucharest From France Thursday – FM

Romania’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that 93 Romanians of Roma ethnicity, who chose voluntary repatriation, would arrive in Bucharest from France aboard two flights.

Kazakhs Paid Only 10% Of Romanian Petromidia’s Debt To The State – ZF

Romanian Rompetrol Rafinare (RRC.RO), the owner of Petromidia refinery controlled by Kazakh KazMunayGas, paid so far less than 10% of the EUR570 million loan falling due at the end of September, while the rest of the sum might be converted into shares, to settle the rest of the debt.

Romania’s Econ Min Sustains State Monopoly In Power Transport

Romania’s Economy Minister Adriean Videanu on Thursday said he supports keeping the state monopoly in the electricity transport, as it ensures a non-discriminating access to energy for all companies.

Romanian Health, Interior Ministry Teams To Carry Out Fire Prevention Checkups in Hospitals

Romania’s Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry will check up hospitals countrywide to see if they are properly equipped to prevent fire, Health Minister Attila Cseke said Wednesday evening on private television Realitatea TV.

Death Toll Among Romanian Babies Injured In Explosion Rises To Five

One of the seven babies admitted to Grigore Alexandrescu children hospital in Bucharest after they have been severely injured in an explosion at Giulesti maternity hospital died Wednesday night, taking the death toll among babies to five.

Romania 2010 Budget Revision Envisages 5.9% Avg Inflation – FinMin

The projections included in Romania’s first-half budget revision are based on an exchange rate of 4.24 lei/euro and an average annual inflation rate estimated at 5.9%, Finance Minister Sebastian said Wednesday.

Romanian Electroputere To Sack 350 People Come Oct 1

Romanian electric motor maker Electroputere Craiova (EPT.RO) will lay off 350 employees starting with October 1, with compensation pay, due to the lack of contracts and liquidity, as well as following activity reorganization, the company announced Wednesday.

Romania Govt OKs First Budget Revision Of 2010

Romanian government Wednesday approved the first budget revision of 2010, which includes fund increases for socially protected categories, alongside budget cuts for several ministries.

Romania Consumer Protection Auth Says Banks May Keep Rates For Ongoing Loans

Romanian agency for consumers’ protection ANPC on Wednesday said local banks are permitted to increase their fixed margins for ongoing loans with variable interests so interest rates can stay at levels prior to the implementation of the EURIBOR/ROBOR/LIBOR reference.

Romanian Health Ministry Wants To Sort Out Public-Private Employment For Doctors

Romania’s Health Ministry will put forward an act to eliminate problems caused by doctors practicing both in public hospitals and private clinics, Minister Cseke Attila said Wednesday.

Romanian Health Minister Requested Healthcare System Hiring Thaw

Romanian Health Minister Cseke Attila confirmed Wednesday that he requested the Government unfreeze the jobs in the healthcare system that must be urgently filled, adding that a decision could be made by the Executive next week.

Talks With Railway Transport Unionists To Follow Cost Cutting Solutions – Romanian Transp Min

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said Wednesday that railway transport unionists will be summoned for discussions after railway companies come up with solutions to increase revenues and cut expenses and after these solutions are approved by the ministry.

Romanian Railway Transport Unionists Protested Outside Transp Min HQ Over Planned Layoffs

About 100 railway transport unionists protested Wednesday outside the Transport Ministry headquarters, displeased with the restructuring program at state-owned railway company CFR and the authorities’ decision to put CFR employees on furlough.

Parents Of Babies Killed In Romanian Maternity Hospital Explosion To Receive State Aid – Sources

Romania’s Government discussed in its meeting Wednesday the proposal to give financial aid to the parents of babies dead or injured in the accident that took place Monday evening at the Giulesti maternity hospital in Bucharest, said people close to the matter.

Romania June Construction Output Rises At Fastest Pace In EU

Romanian construction output rose 16.5% on the month in June, the biggest increase in the European Union, official data showed Wednesday.

All Hospitals Administered By Bucharest City Hall To Have Smoke Detectors

The 21 hospitals administered by the Bucharest City Hall will be equipped with smoke detectors, Bucharest deputy mayor Victor Iovici told MEDIAFAX Wednesday, adding the measure will be implemented with urgency.

Ten Israeli Doctors Come To Romania To Help Injured Newborns

Ten Israeli doctors arrived in Bucharest to help the seven Romanian newborn babies severely injured in an explosion which took place Monday at the Giulesti maternity hospital, Bucharest Hospital Administration general manager Marius Savu said Wednesday.

Anatoly Akopov – Russian Diplomat Declared Persona Non Grata By Romanian Authorities

Anatoly Akopov is the Russian diplomat declared persona non grata by Romanian authorities, following similar measures taken by Russia against Romanian diplomat to Moscow Gabriel Grecu accused of attempting to obtain military secrets, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.