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Romanian Ministries To Redirect Investment Funds To Flood Reconstruction Effort – PM

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday, during a visit to a severely flood-hit village in northeastern Suceava county, that all ministries will reprioritize their investments and allot the funds to rebuilding the infrastructure and houses damaged by the floods.

IMF Concerned With Romania’s Ability To Continue Reforms

The board of the International Monetary Fund is concerned with Romania’s capacity to continue to implement reforms, IMF mission head to Romania Jeffrey Franks told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian PM Visits Flood-Hit NE Romania

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc arrived Sunday in the heavily flood-hit village of Zamostea, in northeastern Suceava county, where he talked to local flood evacuees and promised them their homes would be rebuilt before winter.

IMF To Maintain Romania’s 2010 GDP Forecast

The IMF will not significantly alter its forecast on Romania’s 2010 GDP, expected to see a 0.5% decrease this year, following the recently announced VAT hike and public sector wage cut, IMF mission head to Romania Jeffrey Franks told MEDIAFAX.

IMF, Romania To Discuss New Agreement Once Govt Sends Clear Signal Of Intent

Romania might begin talks on a new precautionary or standby agreement with the IMF during the coming months, should the country’s Government send a clear signal of intent, IMF mission head Jeffrey Franks told MEDIAFAX.

IMF Ups Romania’s 2010 Inflation Target To 7.9% After VAT Hike

The board of the International Monetary Fund approved Friday to increase Romania’s 2010 standby agreement inflation target from 3.5% to 7.9%, following the VAT hike to 24%, evaluation mission head Jeffrey Franks told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian President Visits Flood-Hit NE Romania

Romanian President Traian Basescu arrived Saturday afternoon in the heavily flood-hit village of Saucesti, in northeastern Bacau county, where he talked to the locals and promised them the village would have a dam to protect it from floods by the end of 2010.

Romanian PM Denies Use Of Dam-Building Funds For Sports Hall Construction

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc denied Saturday the information according to which funds for building dams were used for the construction of sports halls, while on a visit to a flood-threatened village in eastern Galati county.

Romania To Submit Flood Relief Request To EU Solidarity Fund – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Saturday, after talks with the country’s Emergency Committee, that the financial aid request for the European Union’s Solidarity Fund is currently being drawn up.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Nanny Found Guilty In Mistreatment Case

A Romanian court in capital Bucharest found a nanny guilty of physically abusing the two children in her care, and also ruled to have the woman serve a previously suspended one-year imprisonment sentence.

Over 30 Romanian Towns, Villages Affected By Rainfall, Floods In Past 24 Hours

Romania saw 36 towns and villages in 12 counties affected by heavy rainfall, 1,600 individual farms flooded and 54 people evacuated over the past 24 hours, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) said Saturday.

Romanian Danube Expects High Water Levels For Next 3 Weeks

Romanian downstream Danube sectors The Iron Gates will see increased water levels and flow volume rates for the next three weeks, prompting national water management authority ANAR to consolidate dams on the river, ANAR representatives said Saturday.

Meteorologists Extend Code Yellow Rainfall Alert For N, NE, C Romania Until Monday Morning

Romanian meteorologists extended the code yellow alert for rain until Monday at 9 a.m. for 16 counties in the northern, northeastern and the central part of the country.

IMF Praises Romania’s Efforts To Restore Macroeconomic Stability

Romania has taken significant steps toward restoring macroeconomic stability and adjusting pre-recession imbalances, says a press release issued Friday by John Lipsky, first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

IMF Approves EUR900M Disbursement For Romania

The International Monetary Fund Friday approved the disbursement of approximately EUR900 million to Romania, following a new review of the country’s performance under a EUR13 billion standby agreement.

Romania’s Senate Chairman Asks Ombudsman To Challenge Constitutionality Of VAT Hike

Romanian Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana said Friday that he asked the Ombudsman to challenge the constitutionality of the emergency ordinance regulating the value added tax hike, says a press release issued Friday.

Romanian President Promises Flood Relief, Says Education, Healthcare Cuts Required

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday that victims of the recent floods will be provided with construction materials to rebuild their homes, paid for from the state budget, through “cuts in education and healthcare.”

Romanian Orthodox Church Awards People’s Cathedral Contract Worth EUR100M

A company in the eastern Romanian county of Bacau was awarded the project for building the People’s Cathedral in Bucharest, at the estimated cost of approximately EUR100 million, half of the initially projected value, Patriarchal vicar bishop Ciprian Campineanul said Friday.

EC Received No Request For Flood Relief From Romanian Govt

The European Commission has not received any request for aid from the Romanian Government, although it is “open” to the idea of activating the Mechanism for civil protection on request, Commission spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny said Friday.

Romanian President, Tourism Min Visit Flood-Hit NE Romania

Romanian President Traian Basescu and Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea arrived Friday afternoon in Patrauti village, in the northeastern Romanian county of Suceava, seriously affected by recent floods.

Romania’s VAT Hike To Boost Used Car Sales – autovit.ro

Romania’s decision to hike the value added tax (VAT) to 24%, from 19%, would determine many people interested in purchasing cars to choose the second-hand car market, where prices will not be altered, said website autovit.ro manager Attila Okany.

Romania’s Labor Ministry Grants RON115,000 Aid To Flood Victims’ Families

Romania’s Labor, Family and Social Protection Ministry handed out 115,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.3048) worth of aid to the families of those killed by the recent floods.

VAT Hike, Floods Seen Pushing Romanian YE Inflation At 8%

The higher sales tax and a spike in food prices because of heavy floods could push Romania’s annual inflation to over 8% at year-end, Raiffeisen Bank said in a report Friday.

Romanian Businessman Sergiu Bahaian Indicted On Fraud, Murder Charges

Romanian businessman Sergiu Bahaian has been indicted on charges of setting up a criminal group, fraud with severe consequences, murder and instigation to murder, organized crime prosecutors said Friday.

Over 100 Romanian Localities Affected By Rainfall, Flooding In Past 24 Hours

Over 100 Romanian localities in 14 counties were affected by heavy rainfall and 7,762 people have been evacuated due to flooding over the past 24 hours, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) said Friday.

River Dam Collapse In NE Romania Prompts Evacuation Of Nearby Village

A dam on the Siret, a major Romanian river crossing the northeastern part of the country, broke Thursday and submerged nearby farmland, prompting authorities to evacuate the inhabitants of a village in Neamt County, which is at risk of being flooded.

Romanian Press Club, Press Employers To Do Their Utmost To Have Copyright Tax Norms Amended

The Romanian Press Club (CRP) and the Romanian Press Employers (PPR) disapprove of the authorities’ decision to collect social security contributions for income gained from copyright starting July 1, as the decision will have a serious impact on journalists.

Romania Could Ask IMF For Higher Deficit Target To Cushion Flood Effects

Romania could ask the International Monetary Fund to allow it run a higher budget deficit in 2010 to cope with the effects of devastating flooding that already killed 22 people and forced thousands out of their homes, Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said Thursday.

Romanian Govt Ordinance Enforces 20% Food Expense Cut For Institutionalized Children, Prisons Exempt

An emergency ordinance issued by Romania’s Government says that food funds for institutionalized children and people with disabilities will see a 20% cut, while the rations budget for prison inmates is exempt from the cut.

Romanian Dacia Sees Biggest Car Registration Increase On French Mkt In June

Registrations of Romanian new Dacia cars in France rose 95.8% on the year in June, to 12,075 units, placing the Romanian carmaker first on the French market in terms of car registrations and third among foreign brands marketed in France.

Romania Avg Bank Rate On New Loans Rises To 11.69% In May

Romanian average banking interest on new loans in national currency leu rose by over 0.5 percentage points to 11.69% in May, due to increased rates for new corporate lending, central bank data showed Thursday.

Romania To Add EUR500M To Pension Budget – Labor Min

Romanian Labor Minister Mihai Seitan told a news conference Thursday that the state will not encounter any difficulties in paying pensions this year, adding that the budget revision set for early August will allot a further EUR500 million to the retirement benefit sector.

Recalculating Special Pensions To Save Up To RON300M Each Month – Romanian Labor Min

Romanian Labor Minister Mihail Seitan said Thursday that recalculating special pensions will save the state budget around 300 million lei (EUR1=RON4.3537) per month, and this figure will grow in 2011, after recalculating military pensions.

Guns N’ Roses To Perform In Bucharest On September 21

American hard rock band Guns N' Roses will hold a concert in Bucharest, Romania, on September 21 within the Chinese Democracy World Tour promoting their 2008 album 'Chinese Democracy', said organizers D&D Entertainment.

Only 5% Of Romanians In Urban Areas To Seek A Loan This Year – Survey

One in three Romanians in the urban environment has a bank loan to repay and only 5% of urban residents plant to take out a bank loan this year, according to a study compiled by research 360insights for MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Leu Up Vs Euro, Exch Rate At 4.3537

Romania’s leu edged higher against the euro in mid trade Thursday and the central bank’s reference strengthened for the first time this week to 4.3537 units, after hitting an all-time low versus the euro a day earlier.

Romanian June Forex Reserves Fall To EUR31.63B

Romanian foreign exchange reserves fell EUR362 million in June to EUR31.627 billion, central bank data showed Thursday.

Plane On W Romanian Airport Delayed Takeoff Over Technical Problems

A Valencia-bound airplane belonging to airline Wizz Air, scheduled for takeoff Wednesday from the Timisoara International Airport in western Romania, remained on the ground after pilots found a technical problem, postponing takeoff for Thursday afternoon.

Romania Indicts Fmr Diplomat Silviu Ionescu In Singapore Hit-And-Run Case

Romania’s former envoy to Singapore Silviu Ionescu has been indicted by Romania’s General Production Office for manslaughter and he is also accused of using his diplomatic immunity to leave Singapore and attempted to influence the investigation into a hit-and-run accident.

Romanian Govt Guarantees Homeowner Loans For Thermal Rehabilitation

The Romanian Government decided in its meeting Wednesday to approve a normative act setting that homeowners can have their apartments thermally refurbished by taking out bank loans guaranteed by the state with subsidized interest.