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Romanian Unions File ILO Complaint Against Govt On 25% Cut In Public Sector Wages

Romania’s union federation Cartel Alfa representing workers in public services, metallurgy, steel, transport and mining sectors filed a complaint with the International Labor Organization (ILO) against the Romanian Government for its measure to reduce public sector wages by 25%.

Meteorologists Extend Code Yellow Rain Alert For N, NE Romania Until Wednesday Morning

Romanian meteorologists extended until Wednesday morning the code yellow rainfall alert valid for the northern and the northeastern parts of the country.

Romania’s Defense Council Approves Strategy Against Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing

Romania’s Supreme Defense Council approved in its meeting Monday the National Strategy fighting money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, the Presidency said in a press release Monday.

Romania’s Defense Council Calls For Action Plan Against Financial Crimes

Romania’s Supreme Defense Council decided in its meeting Monday that all bodies in charge with fighting tax evasion and smuggling will draft a joint plan of action in order to crack down on financial crimes, the Romanian Presidency said in a press release Monday.

Euro Panic Buy As Romanian Leu Sinks To Record Low

Panic-driven Romanians waited in line to buy euros Monday, after the leu fell to an all-time low against the European common currency, amid fears that the country’s EUR13 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund could come to a halt.

Romanian Parl Legal Committee Purges Unconstitutional Provisions From Austerity Law Pack

The joint committee for legal matters in Romania’s Parliament adopted Monday evening favorable reports on the austerity law package, eliminating the articles slashing or recalculating public pensions which were ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.

Romanian Lower Chamber To Debate, Vote On Motion Against Transp Min Monday Evening

The Standing Office of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies decided Monday to debate the Liberal Party’s simple motion against Transports Minister Radu Berceanu starting with 6.30 p.m. and vote on the motion in the session starting at 8.30 pm..

Romania ‘09 Alcoholic Beverages 30% Cheaper Than EU Average

In 2009, Romanians paid 30% less for alcoholic beverages than other European Union states, while a basket of food and non-alcoholic beverages was 34% cheaper than the EU average, a survey from EU’s statistics office Eurostat showed Monday.

Romanian Govt To Move Solidarity Tax On Multiple Homes From Fiscal Code To Separate Law

Romania’s Government decided Monday to move the provision requiring owners of multiple homes to pay a solidarity tax this year from the act amending the Fiscal Code to a separate bill, with no influence on the Code.

Romania Ctrl Bk To Leave Key Rate Unchanged After VAT Hike – Analysts

Romania’s central bank is bound to leave its key rate unchanged at 6.25% during its monetary policy meeting June 20, as the government’s recent decision to increase the value added tax level has made a rate cut highly unlikely, analysts said Monday.

Romanian Opp Social Democrats To Challenge Govt’s VAT Hike Decree With Ombudsman

Romania’s opposition Social Democratic Party will challenge with the Ombudsman the Government’s emergency decree that hikes the value added tax (VAT) from 19% to 24%, Adrian Nastase, head of the party’s national council, said Monday.

Romtelecom: VAT Increase To Also Reduce Consumption On Telecom Market

The upcoming increase in the value added tax in Romania will trigger a reduction in the consumption of goods and services, including on the telecom market, Yorgos Ioannidis, general manager of Romania’s hard-line telecom operator Romtelecom, told a news conference Monday.

Romanian Justice System Marred By Large No. Of Files, Shallowness – Justice Min

The efficiency of Romania’s justice system is mainly marred by the large number of cases, the magistrates’ sluggishness, the superficial manner in which files are instrumented and the slowness of the legal system, Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu said Monday.

Romanian Leu Falls To All-Time Low Vs Euro, At 4.3257

Romania's leu extended early losses against the euro in mid-trade Monday after a government decision to hike the value added tax raised concerns about inflationary pressures, while the central bank’s reference hit an all-time low at 4.3257 to the European currency.

Romania Indus, Constructions Seen Stable In Jun-Aug – INS

Romanian managers expect relative stability in activity on the industrial and construction segments between June and August 2010, while retail and services are expected to decrease slightly, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Meteorologists Issue Code Yellow Alert For Rain In N, NE Romania

Romanian meteorologists issued a new code yellow alert for rainfall valid for 13 counties in the northern and northeastern parts of the country, from Monday morning until Tuesday morning.

Hydrologists Issue Code Red Flood Warning For Rivers In NE, C Romania

Romanian hydrologists issued a code red flood warning for the river Prut, Botosani County, and the river Negru, Covasna County, valid from Sunday 4 p.m. until the same time Tuesday.

Romanian Tennis Player Victor Hanescu Fined $15,000 After Wimbledon Spitting Incident

Romanian tennis player Victor Hanescu was fined $15,000 on Saturday for “unsportsmanlike conduct” and “not using best efforts,” after he spat at the crowd Friday at a match against Germany’s Daniel Brands, in the third round of the Wimbledon tournament, organizers said.

Romania To Receive Next IMF Loan Tranche On July 1 Or 2 – Finance Min

Romania will receive the next tranche of the loan from the International Monetary Fund on July 1 or 2, Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Saturday.

Romanian Govt Agencies Not Required By EU Or Created Through Laws To Be Downgraded

Romanian government agencies which were not created on the basis of European Union directives or through organic laws will be converted into ministry departments, while public bodies under the authority of ministries will be directed by a single structure.

VAT Hike To Be Directly Felt By Population – Romanian Central Bank

Increasing VAT in Romania will affect the rate of inflation, which could reach 10% in the next few months, as suppliers and distributors will transfer most of the tax directly to the end-price, said Lucian Croitoru, advisor to the governor of the National Bank of Romania.

VAT Hike Accepted By IMF, Will Add RON3.5-4B To Budget – Romanian Fin Min

Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Saturday the VAT hike has already been agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund and is expected to provide 3.5-4 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2808) to the state budget, allowing the country to meet the 6.8% of GDP budget deficit target.

Romanian PM Urges Ministers To Restructure Public Bodies, Use Emergency Decrees – Sources

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc urged the ministers to begin the procedures to restructure the public bodies they lead, pointing out that this process, which could include layoffs, can be initiated through emergency decrees, if the law allows it, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

IMF Board Postpones Meeting On Loan Agreement With Romania

The International Monetary Fund board meeting to analyze the stand-by agreement with Romania, initially scheduled for June 28, has been postponed as the IMF is evaluating the impact of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Government’s program of public spending cuts.

Romanian Govt To Hike VAT To 24%, From 19% – Sources

Romania’s Government has decided to increase VAT from 19% to 24%, leaving the flat tax as it is, and will also ask the Parliament to hurry the application of the bills reducing public sector salaries and recalculating special pensions, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Saturday.

ING: Court Ruling To Plunge Romania Into Political Turmoil

Romania is likely to face a period of political uncertainty after the Constitutional Court rejected part of the government’s austerity plans to slash public spending, putting downward pressure on the leu and increasing financing costs, an official at ING Romania said Friday.

IMF Could Halt Tranche If Romania Unable To Make Fiscal Adjustments – RBS

Romania’s EUR13 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund could come to a halt unless the government is able to legislate fiscal adjustments in time for a new disbursement, RBS analyst Timothy Ash told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romanian TV Station Owner Released From Custody, TV Producer Remains Under Preventive Arrest

The Bucharest Court ruled Friday to release from custody Romanian television station owner Dan Diaconescu, who was placed under 29-day preventive arrest along with Doru Parv, his TV producer, on charges of blackmailing and threatening a mayor.

Censorship, Threats – Common Practice Among Romanian Democrat Liberals: Romanian MEP

Romanian democrat liberal MEP Cristian Preda said Friday that censorship, the lack of respect for dialogue, threats, double-meaning statements, defiance towards certain forms of expressing opinions, such as blogs, are a common practice within the country’s Democratic Liberal Party.

Romanian Transporters Fear Potential Tax Hike May Cause Layoffs, Tax Evasion

Romanian transport operator representatives said Friday that the sector will see layoffs, wage cuts and an increase of tax evasion, should the Government decide to lower the budget deficit by increasing the VAT and the flat tax.

Floods Affect 28 Romanian Counties From Wednesday Until Friday

About 156 localities in 28 Romanian counties were affected by heavy rainfall and floods from Wednesday until Friday, and four people died following freshets in Alba, Cluj and Suceava counties, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, or IGSU, said Friday.

Romania’s Govt To Disclose Alternative Austerity Plan After Talks With IMF, WB – Interior Min

Romanian Interior Minister Vasile Blaga said Friday that the Government will bring out its alternative austerity plan after discussions with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Romania Ctrl Bk: Tax Hikes Not Enough To Reduce Deficit

Romanian economy may temporarily benefit from raised taxes, but such a measure will be insufficient to reduce the budget deficit to 6.8% of the gross domestic product, a central bank official said Friday.

Romanian Car Dealers Fear Potential Tax Hike May Cause Bankruptcies

Representatives of Romanian car dealers told MEDIAFAX Friday that a VAT and flat tax increase would cause several businesses to close down and investments to stop.

Moody’s Says Romania Rating Endangered If Budget Gap Exceeds Target

Romania’s sovereign outlook could come under downward pressure if the government fails to lower the budget deficit to 6.8% of the gross domestic product in 2010, Moody’s Investors Service said Friday.

Romania CDS Higher After Court Ruling On Austerity Measures

Credit default swaps (CDS) to insure Romanian sovereign debt against default inched higher Friday, after the country’s Constitutional Court rejected part of the austerity measures proposed by the government to slash spending.

Romania Moves To Plan B After Court Rejects Austerity Measures – PM

Romania has prepared an alternate plan to lower the budget deficit and keep a EUR20 billion IMF-led foreign loan package on track, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday after the Constitutional Court fended off a 15% cut in pensions.

Romanian Opp Social Democrats Might Try To Oust Govt Against During Current Parliament Session

Romanian social democrat leader Victor Ponta said Friday that he considers submitting a second no-confidence motion against the Government during the current Parliament session, if there is no other way to “free” Romania from Prime Minister Emil Boc’s “scourge”.

Romanian Media Poses No Threat To National Security – EFJ

Romanian mass-media are not a threat to the country’s national security, says the European Federation of Journalists, or EFJ, in a press release posted Friday on its website.

Romania Collected About EUR350,000 In Fines For Medical Leave Condition Breaches – Health Min

Romania collected about EUR350,000 in just one month from fines applied to employees who took groundless sick leaves, and a total EUR140,000 were collected only in the June 7 to June 11 interval, the Health Ministry said in a press release Friday.