English

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.

Romania Hikes Tax On Owners Of Multiple Homes

The Romanian Government decided in its meeting Wednesday that owners of multiple homes would pay 65%, 150% and 300% more on the yearly home tax, set in ratio with the number of homes owned.

Romanian Govt Doubles Tax On Cars With Engines Larger Than 2,000 CC

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc announced Wednesday the tax on automobiles with engines larger than 2,000 cc will be doubled, as per the amended Fiscal Code.

Romanian Leu Opens Slightly Stronger Vs Euro

The Romanian leu opened slightly higher against the euro on Thursday, continuing the previous day’s appreciation trend, on foreign currency sales.

Romanian Govt To Lay Off 55,000-60,000 Public Sector Employees – Sources

Romania’s Government decided Wednesday to lay off between 55,000 and 60,000 public sector employees, most from local administration bodies (around 54,000) and the rest from the ministries of Interior, Labor, Education and Agriculture, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Dam On Danube Arm Damaged, Overflows Threaten Nearby Inhabitants

A dam on one of the Danube river’s arms in Ialomita county, southern Romania, was damaged due to the increased water level, and the overflows have already submerged about five hectares of farmland.

Romanian President Promulgates Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code

Romanian President Traian Basescu promulgated Wednesday the Civil Procedure Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

Bucharest City Hall To Eliminate 268 Vacant Positions – Mayor

Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu said Wednesday the city hall will reduce the number of positions within the institution by 19%, bringing their total number to 1,354.

U.S. Ambassador Supports Romanian President’s Stance On Integrity Agency Bill

Romania’s recently adopted integrity agency bill will weaken the agency beyond what was required by the Constitutional Court decision, U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest Mark Gitenstein said Wednesday, adding that he supports President Traian Basescu’s stance on the matter.

Romania’s Petrom Hikes Pump Prices By Up To RON0.22/Liter

Romania’s largest oil company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) will raise Thursday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.18-0.22 lei (EUR1=RON4.3688) per liter, following the value added tax increase to 24%.

Romanian State Employees’ Income To Decrease By 32% Starting June 1 – Union Leader

Romanian state employees will see their income reduced by about 32% starting July 1, after the 25% salary cut and the 5% VAT hike are applied, Cartel Alfa union leader Bogdan Hossu said Wednesday.

Romania’s Austerity Laws Published In Official Journal

Romania’s two austerity laws cutting state employees’ salaries by 25% and recalculating certain categories of pensions were published Wednesday in the Official Journal, after they were promulgated by the head of state Tuesday.

Romania Lower House Committee OKs Bill Scraping Lump-Sum Tax, Setting 5% VAT On Food, Constructions

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies budget-finance committee Wednesday endorsed a bill submitted by the opposition, which scraps the lump-sum tax and sets the value added tax on food and home construction at 5%.

Victims Of Romanian Communist Nationalization To Receive Only Shares As Compensation

Former Romanian home owners, whose homes were seized by the Communist regime, will not receive money as compensation for the next two years, but only shares in investement fund Fondul Proprietatea, according to a draft emergency ordinance.

Romanian Transporters Ask Govt To Diversify Profit Taxation

Romanian transporter federation FORT asked the Government to tax profit in differentiated manner, with 10% to 30%, in order to stimulate production and ease the crisis.

Romanian Textile Cos To Operate Some 50,000-60,000 Layoffs In 2010

Some 50,000-60,000 Romanian textile industry personnel might be laid off by the end of the year, while the textile market will see a 10%-15% decrease, down to EUR2.9 billion, because of fewer orders, managing board chairwoman of Romanian textile company Pasmatex Maria Grapini said Wednesday.

Romania’s PM Calls On Prefects To Forgo Leave, Be Present In Areas Affected By Floods

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc called on his Cabinet ministers to go to the areas affected by floods and urged prefects on vacation to go back to work immediately and take swifter measures to evacuate people affected by floods.

Romania’s 2009 Democracy Score Worsens By 0.1 On Year – Report

International NGO Freedom House lowered Romania’s democracy score from 3.36 in 2008 to 3.46 in 2009, on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest, says the NGOs yearly “Nations in Transit” report issued Wednesday.

Romania’s Faur Bucuresti Produced Devices To Be Used In Assembly Of Airbus Aircraft

Romanian industrial manufacturer Faur Bucuresti (FAU.RO) has delivered technical devices to French aircraft company Latecoere, to be used in the assembly lines of the A380 airplane, the latest type of ultra-high-capacity airliner, says a press release issued Wednesday by the Romanian company.

Romania’s Demand For Filipino Nannies Grew 40% In 1Q, Compared To 2009

The demand for Filipino nannies has increased 40% on the Romanian market in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period of 2009, and recruitment firms forecast the number of requests will grow next year.

Romania Flood Death Toll Rises To 22, About 7,000 People Evacuated

Flooding in Romania in recent days has claimed the lives of 22 people and about 7,000 others were forced to flee their homes to safety, according to data presented Wednesday during the Government meeting

Romania To Set EUR10,000 Cap On Moral Damages For Fmr Political Detainees

The Romanian Government intends to set a threshold of EUR10,000 on moral compensations paid to former political detainees during the communist regime.

Romanian Rompetrol Hikes Pump Prices By Up To RON0.28/Liter

Romanian fuel retailer Rompetrol Downstream will boost Thursday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.25-0.28 lei (EUR1=RON4.3688), depending on the type of fuel, the company announced.