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Romania To Sack 4 Of 10 Road Auth Staff On Duty During AC/DC Bribe Taking Incident

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said Thursday that disciplinary layoffs will not affect all ten employees on duty at the western Romanian Nadlac customs point on the night of the AC/DC bribe demanding incident, but only the four in charge with checking outbound vehicles.

Romanian Airline Tarom Admits One Of Its Planes Involved In Israel Incident

Romania’s state-owned airliner Tarom admitted Thursday one of its planes was involved in the incident Wednesday night at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel, a few hours after a company spokesperson denied media reports that the Romanian airplane belonged to Tarom.

Romania Obtains New Deal On Wintershall Gas – Econ Min

Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Thursday that, during his trip to Moscow, he has managed to obtain a $13 reduction in the price of gas supplied to Romania by gas company Wintershall.

Romania’s Govt To Restructure State-Owned Postal Co Facing Financial Collapse

Romania’s Government has decided to restructure the state-owned national postal service through the development of its financial service portfolio, layoffs, local same-day deliveries and a staff bonus system, in an attempt to rescue the company from financial collapse.

European Parliament OKs Romania’s, Bulgaria’s Accession To Schengen Information System

The European Parliament adopted the European Council’s decision whereby Romania and Bulgaria meet the data protection criteria needed to join the Schengen Information System (SIS), the database used by border control agents to exchange information in the fight against crime and illegal immigration.

Romanian Typical Bk Debtor: 30, Male, Lives In Bucharest

Romania’s typical overdue debtor is a man, aged 30-34, who lives in capital Bucharest and who has taken out a consumer loan in local currency, the Credit Bureau head said Thursday.

Romanian Airline Tarom Says Doesn’t Own Plane Involved In Israel Incident

The Romanian airplane that nearly collided with a Turkish airplane Wednesday night at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel does not belong to Romania’s state-owned airliner Tarom, company spokeswoman Ioana Boca told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romanian Agric Ministry To Subsidize Premiums For Conversion To Organic Farming

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry will use European Union funds to subsidize premiums needed for the conversion of traditional farms to organic farms, the country’s Agriculture Minister Mihail Dumitru said Thursday.

Romanian Leu’s Exch Rate Hits 6-Mo Low At 4.2372 Vs Euro

Romania’s leu extended early losses against the euro in mid trade Thursday and the central bank’s reference lost nearly 0.3% on the day at 4.2372 units, the weakest rate in the past six months.

Romanian, Turkish Plane Nearly Collide On Airport In Israel

A Romanian and a Turkish plane nearly collided Wednesday night at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel, when the Turkish plane attempted to take off as a Romanian approached the same runway to land, ynetnews.com reported Thursday.

Romania, U.S. Begin Official Anti-Missile Shield Negotiations

Romania will carry out official negotiations on the anti-missile shield between June 17 and June 18 with an official U.S. delegation, headed by Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Ellen Tauscher, Foreign Ministry representatives said Thursday.

Romania Ctrl Bk Official: Low Salaries Of High Officials Feed Top-Level Corruption Theory

Romania’s president, prime minister and ministers are paid extremely low salaries for the positions they hold and this situation continues to feed the theory of top-level corruption, Romania’s central bank adviser Lucian Croitoru said Wednesday.

Romanian Bankers Expect New Loan Restructuring Deals

Romanian bankers expect a second wave of credit restructuring following the austerity measures announced by the government in the public sector, but say the system is able to sustain it.

Fin Min: At Least 100,000 State Employees Must Be Sacked To Allow Decent Wages For Remaining Staff

Romania’s Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu on Thursday said at least 100,000 public sector employees should be sacked so that the salaries of the remaining employees in the sector can be brought back to a decent level.

Romania Sacks Road Auth Staff Accused Of Taking Bribe From AC/DC Staff

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu told a news conference Thursday that the ten employees of local road department DRDP in Timisoara, western Romania, who exacted EUR50 for each of the 29 cars carrying rock band AC/DC’s equipment for a concert in Bucharest, were sacked.

Romania Public Sector Staff, Retirees To Get Slashed Wages, Pensions As Of Aug – Fin Min

Romania’s Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu on Thursday said the 25% cut in public sector salaries and the 15% cut in pensions will be applied to salary and pension rights for July and people will receive reduced salaries and pensions as of August.

Romanian Govt Sets RON8,000 Wage Cap For State-Run Companies’ Employees

Romania’s Government decided to set at 8,000 lei (EUR1= RON4.2254) the maximum wage cap for employees of state-run companies, and 90% of the sum that exceeds this ceiling will go to a solidarity fund, people with direct knowledge of talks told MEDIAFAX late Wednesday.

Romania PM Urges Ministers To Cut High Bonuses, Threatens To Sack Defiers

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc told ministers, during a Government meeting held Wednesday evening, that wage bonuses granted to employees of public institutions are way too high and asked them to cease the payment of such incentives, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian Govt To Cut Spending In Ministries, Govt Agencies, Mulls Sacking State Secretaries

Romania’s Government will halve spending on phone bills, travels, fuels and office supplies in all its institutions and agencies, along a 20% spending cut on goods and services and a 25% cut in wages and staff numbers, people close to the talks told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry Has Spent Over 90% Of 2010 Budget

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry has spent over 90% of this year’s budget on paying subsidies and outstanding debts for the previous year, and can only afford to subsidize diesel fuel, Agriculture Minister Mihail Dumitru told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian Govt Adds Eight New Substances To Banned Hallucinogenic Product List

Romania’s Government approved Wednesday a decision whereby eight other substances have been added to the list of banned hallucinogenic plants and products.

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry To Lay Off 2,820 Employees

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry will see a staff cut of 26-27% this year, as it plans to lay off 2,820 employees, of which some 2,000 county department staff, Agriculture Minister Mihail Dumitru told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romania’s Recently Adopted Austerity Plan Challenged With Constitutional Court

Romanian Liberal Party Wednesday challenged with the Constitutional Court the Government’s two spending cut laws aimed to bring the country’s economy on track, in a move to prevent the enforcement of the drastic social measures they entail.

Romanian Senators Tacitly Pass New Sick Leave Bill

Romania’s Senate failed to reach an agreement Wednesday over the emergency ordinance which introduces a verification system for insurance beneficiaries on sick leave.

Mobile Operator Orange To Launch Apple’s iPhone 4 In Romania

Romania’s largest mobile operator, Orange, will launch Apple’s iPhone 4 in Romania in the upcoming weeks the company said Wednesday.

Romanian Union Leader Dumitru Costin Resigns As Head Of National Union Bloc

Romanian union leader Dumitru Costin announced Wednesday he is stepping down as head of the National Union Bloc (BNS), since Tuesday’s protests failed to prevent the Government from pushing ahead with its austerity plan.

Romanian Leu Seen Rising After Govt Wins No-Confidence Vote

Romanian opposition’s failure in toppling the government Tuesday may lead to a firmer leu in the coming period, ING Bank said in a report.

Romanian Govt Lends RON1.5B To Mayoralties To Pay Overdue Debts To Suppliers

The Romanian Government will lend mayoralties up to 1.5 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2322) in 2010, using privatization proceeds, which will allow mayoralties to pay debts due on December 31, 2009 to suppliers of public works and services.

Romania Jan-Apr FDI Fall 36% To EUR1.1B

Romanian foreign direct investments, or FDI, fell to EUR1.135 billion in the first four months, from EUR1.8 billion in the year-earlier period, the central bank said Wednesday.

Romania Jan-Apr Current Account Gap Widens 40% To EUR2B

Romania's current account deficit widened 40.3% to EUR2.06 billion in January to April, from EUR1.47 billion in the same period a year earlier, due to the decreasing surplus in the current transfers balance, the central bank said in a statement Wednesday.

Romania’s President To Attend European Council’s June Summit, EPP Summit In Brussels

Romania’s President Traian Basescu will attend on Wednesday and Thursday the summit of the European People's Party and the European Council summer session in Brussels, the Presidency said in a press release Tuesday.

Romania’s Opp May Submit Another No-Confidence Motion During Current Session – Party Leader

Romanian social democrat leader Victor Ponta said Tuesday, after the no-confidence motion against the Government was rejected, that the opposition may submit a second motion in the current Parliament session, adding the party will do its utmost to fight against the Government’s austerity plan.

Romania’s Centrist Govt Survives Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion

Romania’s centrist democrat liberal Government stays in office after surviving the opposition’s no-confidence motion, which received 228 votes in Parliament on Tuesday but required 236 to pass, and may enforce its unpopular austerity plan.

Romanian Unionists Cease Protests Outside Parliament, Rallies To Follow If Austerity Plan Approved

Romanian unionists, who gathered outside Parliament headquarters to support the opposition’s no-confidence motion, ended their protests at about 3.30 p.m. and decided to unblock the streets nearby the Parliament.

ECHR: Romania To Pay Over EUR18,000 Damages For Harsh Prison Conditions

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday ruled in favor of Romanian national Dragos Ciupercescu, who sued the Romanian state over harsh prison conditions, and compelled Romania to pay Ciupercescu over EUR18,000 in moral and material damages.

Romanian Supreme Court Notifies Constitutional Court About Pension, Salary Slash Bills

Romania’s Supreme Court on Tuesday sent the Constitutional Court two notices of unconstitutionality regarding the bill reducing public pensions and the bill reducing salaries with the aim of restoring budgetary balance.

Romania 1Q Exports Rise At 2nd Fastest Pace In EU

Romanian exports rose 21% on the year to EUR7.9 billion in the first quarter, the second biggest increase in the European Union, official data showed Tuesday.

Romania’s Car Market Posts Biggest Drop In EU In Jan-May Interval, Registrations Fell 49%

The Romanian car market registered the most abrupt decline in the European Union regarding the number of new car registrations in the January-May interval, and the 49% decrease brought the total number of registrations in the first five months of 2010 to 26,351 units.

Romania 1Q Employment -1.6% On Year

Romania’s employment rate fell 1.6% in the first quarter compared with the year-earlier period, slightly below the 1.5% annual decline in the European Union, official data showed Tuesday.

Fitch: Romanian GDP To Shrink 1% In 2010

Fitch Ratings estimates Romanian economy will decline 1% this year, visibly less compared with a 7.1% contraction in 2009, but the agency rules out a significant raise of the country’s sovereign rating in the coming period.