English

Romania’s PC Software Piracy Rate Dn 1 Pct In 2009, To 65% – BSA

The rate of software piracy dropped to 65% in Romania in 2009, from 66% in 2008 and losses triggered by software piracy decreased by 22.5%, to $183 million, from $249 million in 2008, according to a report drawn up by Business Software Alliance (BSA).

Romania’s Overdue Debts To Bechtel Might Be Paid Off In Two Weeks – Transport Minister

Romania might pay off overdue debts to U.S. constructor Bechtel in two weeks, for works carried out on the Transylvania Highway, but the county lacks funds to continue works on the two highway sectors in Cluj county, northwestern Romania, Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said Tuesday.

Romania Might Regulate Online Gambling

The Romanian Finance Ministry is looking into ways to regulate and authorize online gambling and will allow the setting up of a firm tasked with checking the money collection process, Finance Ministry secretary of state Bogdan Dragoi told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Ionut Popescu Resigns From Romanian EximBank Board

The general manager of Romanian investment fund Fondul Propriteatea, Ionut Popescu, resigned from the managing board of state-owned lender Eximbank, effective May 1, bank representatives said Tuesday.

Liebrecht&wooD To Invest In Retail Park In SE Bucharest

Belgian real estate developer Liebrecht&wooD wants to build a retail park, which will include a shopping outlet, in the southeastern part of Bucharest, managing director Johan Rogiers told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Med Students Sentenced To 16 Yrs In Prison Each In Brutal Murder Case

A Court in Timis county, western Romania, on Tuesday sentenced two Romanian medical students to 16 years in prison each for the killing and dismemberment of a man.

Romanian Senate Committees Endorse Integrity Agency Bill

The Romanian Senate’s committees for legal matters and human rights on Tuesday unanimously adopted a report endorsing the bill regulating the country’s integrity agency, with amendments to the draft adopted by the lower chamber late April.

Romania Should Implement Structural Reforms To Boost Competitiveness – IMF

Romania’s economic competitiveness rose by 15% as a result of a more depreciated leu since the start of the recession, but authorities should undertake structural reforms to take advantage of the gain and further increase efficiency, according to Jeffrey Franks, the IMF’s mission chief for Romania.

IMF: Romania Had More Balanced Options To Tame Deficit

The International Monetary Fund recommended a series of “balanced” measures to lower Romania’s growing budget deficit, but the authorities in Bucharest decided to rely almost entirely on public spending cuts, IMF’s mission chief for Romania Jeffrey Franks said.

Orange Romania Set To Launch Cell Phone For Seniors

The Romanian branch of mobile services operator Orange will launch Thursday an easy-to-use phone designed for the elderly, with loud volume settings, large keys, vocal playback of numbers dialed, a quick caller list and an SOS key.

Romanian Parliament HQ Picketed By 100 Education Unionists

One hundred members of two Romanian education unions picketed Parliament headquarters Tuesday to express dissatisfaction with the salary cuts announced after IMF negotiations and with the draft education law.

Volcanic Ash Plume Exits Romanian Airspace Tuesday

The new ash plume from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjöll will exit Romanian airspace Tuesday, Romania’s Environment Ministry said, citing the latest forecast of the London Volcanic Ash Advisory.

Romania ‘Cash For Clunkers’ Program Doubles Car Registrations In April

Romanian new car registrations more than doubled to 8,875 units in April from 4,027 units a month earlier, boosted by the government-funded cash for clunkers program, the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, or APIA, said Tuesday.

Romanian Farmers Picket Govt HQ Tuesday Calling For Subsidies, EU Funds

Over 1,200 Romanian farmers picket Tuesday for two hours the Government’s headquarters, calling for payment of overdue subsidies, lower excises on fuel used in farming and access to EU funds.

Romanian Termoelectrica To Be Stripped Of Assets – Econ Min

Romanian state-owned power producer Termoelectrica will go bankrupt once the “viable” assets are externalized, but the company’s debts to the state budget cannot be paid, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Tuesday.

Romania Slashes Child-Rearing Benefit From June 1 – PM Adviser

Romania’s Government will reduce child-rearing benefits starting June 1 and it will soon be decided whether the benefits will drop to a given percentage or a fixed sum, said Tuesday Andreea Paul-Vass, economic adviser to Prime Minister Emil Boc.

Romania Mulls Guaranteeing Homeowner Loans For Thermal Rehabilitation

Romania’s Development and Tourism Ministry will present a draft decision in the Cabinet meeting Wednesday whereby the state guarantees bank loans for homeowners’ associations for the thermal rehabilitation of apartment buildings, Minister Elena Udrea said Tuesday.

Romania Has 2,500 Projects Underway, Totaling EUR5.5B In EU Funds

Romania has approved 4,200 projects worth EUR9.7 billion to be funded with European money, of which 2,500 projects, worth EUR5.5 billion, have already been signed, Finance Ministry state secretary Bogdan Dragoi said Tuesday.

Romania’s April CPI + 0.35% On Mo, +4.28% On Yr

Romanian consumer prices rose 0.35% on the month in April driven by a pick up in non-food and service prices, while the annual inflation accelerated slightly to 4.28%, the country’s statistics institute INS said Tuesday.

Romanian Banks’ Contributions In Deposits Guarantee Fund To Hike As Of 2011

Romania’s deposits guarantee fund FGD will consolidate its funds through raising, as of 2011, the contributions of the participating banks and will progressively give up the stand-by credit lines, according to additional documents to the agreement sealed with the International Monetary Fund.

Romania Promises To Revive Privatization Program

Romania has pledged to "aggresively" resurrect the privatization program, especially in the industry, energy, transport, tourism or agriculture, as part of its efforts to raise budget revenue to meet the International Monetary Fund requirements.

EU Says Romania „Broadly” Meets Loan Terms

Romania has broadly met the policy conditions for a loan from the European Union, but still needs to take additional measures to narrow the budget deficit, the European Commission said Monday.

Romania Pledges Cos Under IMF Monitoring Will Cut Arrears By 2.5%

Romania’s Government pledged during negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission that each of the ten state-owned companies under monitoring will reduce arrears by 2.5% each quarter, starting with July-September period.

Romania’s Govt Promises IMF To Tax Drug Sellers’ Turnover

Romania’s government engages to introduce the tax per planned turnover for the drug distributors, according to the additional document that will be sent to the executive board of the International Monetary Fund, obtained Monday by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Senate To Adopt Draft Pension Law Tacitly

Romania’s Senate Monday evening has canceled debates on the country’s draft pension law, due to lack of quorum, and the normative act will be adopted tacitly.

Romanian Authorities Pledge Not To Uphold Personal Insolvency Bill

Romanian authorities said they will not uphold certain draft laws, such as the draft personal insolvency law, in order to strengthen the country’s financial stability, according to the Memorandum of Understanding between Romania and the IMF and EU.

Romania’s Govt Pledges To Enforce Healthcare Co-Payments

Romania’s Government pledged that it will introduce the co-payment system for healthcare services and that exemptions from co-payment will not exceed a set cap, according to the country's agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.

Romanian Cos’ Budget Debts Rise To RON18.7B End-March

Romanian companies’ debts to the consolidated budget rose 8.5% in the first quarter, at 18.69 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.1641), most of them being unpaid obligations to the state budget, according to additional letter of intent to the agreement sealed with the International Monetary Fund.

Romania’s Govt Pledges To Lay Off 70,000 Public Sector Employees In 2010

Romania’s Government pledged to reduce the number of public employees to 1.29 million this year by laying off about 70,000 employees in the public sector, according to the country’s additional letter of intent to the EUR13 billion standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

Romania To Limit 2011 Public Sector Wage Fund To RON39B

Romania will limit the public sector salary fund for next year to 39 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.1641) by reducing the number of employees in the public sector, according to the Memorandum of Understanding between Romania and the IMF and EU.

Romania’s Child-Rearing Benefit To Return To Fixed Rate – Sources

Romania’s child-rearing benefit, currently set at 85% of the parent’s average income for the previous year, might return to a fixed rate, said sources who took part in talks with President Traian Basescu Monday.

Romania Freezes Early Retirement, Limits Retirement For Incapacitated People

The Romanian Government will freeze early retirement starting June 1, 2010 until the country’s new pension law is enforced, and pensions for incapacitated people will be granted only if they were previously approved by Labor Ministry medical assessment teams.

Romania Scraps 13th Salary For Public Workers Amid Spending Cuts

Romania will not pay public sector employees a 13th monthly salary this year and the measure will be included in next year’s state budget, according to the Memorandum of Understanding between Romania and the IMF and EU.

Romania To Tax Food Vouchers, Bank Deposit Interests

Romania’s government will tax food vouchers, capital gains--including interests on bank deposits--and severance payments, and will eliminate tax exemptions for IT programmers.

Romania Is Better Off Than Certain Eurozone Countries – President

Romania is not among the most financially afflicted countries in Europe, said President Traian Basescu Monday, after a meeting with the parliamentary groups which endorse the current Cabinet.

Romanian Romgaz Asks For 5% Higher Gas Storage Tariffs

Romania’s largest gas producer Romgaz Medias asked the country’s energy regulatory authority ANRE to raise gas storage tariffs by around 5% for the 2010-2011 winter, the company’s deputy general manager Lucian Stancu said Monday.

Romanian Fin Min Mulls Solidarity Tax For State-Run Cos Amid Public Sector Wage Cuts

Employees in Romanian state-owned companies whose income exceeds a certain cap may be forced to pay a solidarity tax, Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Monday after a meeting with lawmakers of the ruling coalition.

Romanian Union Leader Announces Daily Protests, 40,000 To Rally On May 19

Romania’s Cartel Alfa union confederation head, Bogdan Hossu, said Monday that almost 1,000 people will protest daily outside the Government and the presidential palace in capital Bucharest and on May 19 there will be a 40,000-person rally in the city’s center.

Romanians To Receive 90 Million Text Messages From Companies In 2010 – Report

Romanian mobile phone users will receive 90 million informational and promotional text messages from companies in 2010, nearly 30% more on the year, said a report issued Monday by web2sms operator Netopia Sistem.

Fmr Romanian Envoy Blamed For Hit-And-Run Asked Witnesses To Change Testimonies– Court

A Bucharest court trying the case in which Romania’s former envoy to Singapore Silviu Ionescu is blamed for a hit-and-run accident that resulted in one fatality said Ionescu tried to get two witnesses testifying in the case to change their depositions.