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Romania May Be Split Into New Development Regions After 2013 – Minister

Romania’s Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea on Thursday said Romania could face a new regional division after 2013 when new development regions are likely to be created, besides the country's current eight development regions.

Romania Remains Transit Route For Heroin Traffic Toward Western Europe- UN Report

Romania remains a transit route used by traffickers transporting heroin from Afghanistan toward Western Europe, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime “World Drug Report 2010”, which notes numerous alleged Romanian traffickers have been arrested in Spain and Italy.

Romanian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan Awarded Wartime National Order Star Of Romania

Romania’s President Traian Basescu Thursday signed the decree awarding the wartime National Order Star of Romania with the rank of Knight to the two Romanian soldiers killed in Afghanistan Wednesday.

Romania Needs Territorial Reorganization But Not On Ethnic Criteria – PM

Romania’s administrative and territorial reorganization is necessary, considering the eight development regions no longer meet necessities, and the reorganization must be in line with the Constitution, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday during a seminar on territorial reorganization.

Romania PM: Bills Slashing Public Spending Are Constitutional, Govt Awaits Court Ruling

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc on Thursday said the bills slashing public spending, for which the Government asked the lawmakers’ confidence vote, are constitutional and the Executive expects the Constitutional Court ruling on their constitutionality.

Romania May Private Lending +1.2% On Month

Romanian private lending rose 1.2% in real terms to 203.11 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2234) in May from the month earlier, central bank data showed Thursday.

Romania’s Tax Evasion Decree Published In Official Journal, Enters Force

Romania’s emergency decree aiming to fight tax evasion, which drops plans to apply VAT on intra-EU trade and reintroduce excises on luxury items, has entered force after it was approved by the Government and was published in the Official Journal.

Carrefour To Open 4th Supermarket In Romanian Capital

Carrefour Romania, the local unit of French retailer Carrefour, Friday will open its fourth Carrefour Market supermarket in capital Bucharest, the company said in a statement.

Romania Scraps Proposed Anti-Tax Evasion Measures Under EU Infringement Threat

Romania’s Government has scrapped plans to apply VAT on intra-EU trade and reintroduce excises on luxury items after the European Commission warned the measures breach EU rules and threatened infringement.

Romanian State Employees’ Wages Might Rise 7% In 2011 If 70,000 Are Laid Off – Fin Min

Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Wednesday that state employees’ wages might increase by an average 7% in 2011 if 70,000 people are laid off and the state continues to pay a 13th salary.

Pensions In 2011 Won’t Be Reduced Further Following This Year’s 15% Slash – Romanian Fin Min

Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Wednesday it is unlikely pensions will be further reduced in 2011, after this year’s 15% reduction, adding that the pension level in 2011 will be set through the budget law.

Two Romanian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan

Two Romanian troops were killed Wednesday in Afghanistan, after their Humvee was hit by a makeshift remotely detonated explosive device, Defense Ministry officials said.

Romanian Freelancers To Pay Social Security Contributions

Romanians who gain income from freelance activities will pay a 16.5% social security contribution, as any other employee, but only for sums that amount to five average gross salaries per year, namely 10,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2234), Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Wednesday.

Romania Govt Ups State Cos’ Budget Contribution To 90% Of Tax On Profit

Romania’s government Wednesday raised the amount state-run companies and self-managed boards are required to contribute from their profits to the state budget to 90% from 50% previously, Prime Minister Emil Boc said.

Storms, Floods Hit Romania -160 People Displaced, 3 Dead

Romania’s General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) announced Wednesday that 95 towns and villages in 27 counties had been affected by storms and flooding between 6 a.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday, resulting in one death and the evacuation of at least 160 people.

Romania Govt OKs Tax Base Expansion As Of July 1

Romania’s Government Wednesday approved an ordinance amending the Fiscal Code, introducing a series of additional taxes and duties to be levied as of July 1, people familiar with the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Parliament Adopts Reexamined Civil Servants Statute

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday adopted the report drafted by the Chamber’s committee for legal matters, which reexamined the law on the statute of public servants and left out provisions declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.

Romania’s National Defense Strategy Lists Media Pressure Among Weaknesses

Romania’s National Defense Strategy, sent to the Parliament for debates and approval, states that Romania faces some weak points which affect the image of the country’s state institutions and hinder the enforcement of laws.

Romanian Liberals Submit Motion To Lower Chamber, Call For Transp Minister’s Resignation

Romania’s opposition liberals on Wednesday submitted to the Chamber of Deputies a simple motion against democrat liberal Transport Minister Radu Berceanu, calling for his resignation.

Alpha Bank Romania Says New Deposit Protected Against Tax On Interest Income

Alpha Bank Romania recently launched a new time deposit that would shelter clients from potential taxes levied on earnings from interests, the lender said in a statement.

Romanian Mobile Operators To Set Cut-Off Limit For Roaming Data Transfers As Of July 1

Mobile operators will impose a cut-off limit for roaming services as of July 1 for clients who have not chosen a cut-off limit, Romania’s telecom regulator ANCOM said Wednesday.

Romania Parliament To Debate Country’s Defense Strategy In Fall Session

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate on Wednesday decided the report on the country’s National Defense Strategy will be drafted until September 1 and lawmakers will set off debates on the report in the Parliament's fall session.

Romanian TV Station Owner, TV Producer Arrested For 29 Days

Romanian television station owner Dan Diaconescu and his producer Doru Parv on Wednesday were placed into custody for 29 days, on charges of blackmailing and threatening a mayor.

Romania’s Lower Chamber Adopts Reexamined Integrity Agency Bill

Romania’s integrity agency bill was adopted Tuesday through the definitive vote of the country’s Chamber of Deputies, after President Traian Basescu had resent the draft law to Parliament, following a Constitutional Court ruling.

Romanian Lower Chamber Adopts Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies adopted Tuesday the draft Civil Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Code, following an article-by-article vote.

Romania To Reduce Military Presence Abroad By 319 Troops In 2011

Romania’s military presence in operation theaters abroad will be reduced by 319 troops in 2011, compared to 2010, according to a press release issued Tuesday after the meeting of the country’s Supreme Defense Council CSAT.

Romanian Freelance Taxi Drivers To Protest If Income Tax For Authorized Individuals Is Enforced

Romanian freelance taxi drivers will stage a protest rally in July in capital Bucharest, should the Finance Ministry decide to increase taxes for authorized individual professionals, says a press release issued Tuesday by the association for freelance taxi drivers’ rights ADTI.

Ten Romanian Counties Affected By Recent Floods, Storms

The floods and storms which have affected Romania during the past two days caused damage and casualties in 32 towns and villages in ten counties, Romania’s General Inspectorate for Emergencies, or IGSU, said Tuesday.

Romania’s Deputies Adopt Articles Of Law Allowing Govt To Issue Decrees During Parliament Recess

Romania's Chamber of Deputies Tuesday adopted the articles of the draft law allowing the Government to issue decrees during the Parliament recess, in sectors stipulated in the country’s Constitution, including the budget revision field, and a final vote will be cast on Thursday.

Romania’s Lower Chamber Adopts Draft Civil Procedure Code By Articles, Final Vote Pending

Romania’s lower chamber adopted Tuesday the draft Civil Procedure Code, following an article-by-article vote, and the definitive ballot on the matter will be cast Thursday.

Norway’s Statkraft Avoids Romania In Its Investment Projects

Norwegian power producer Statkraft transferred investments projects worth up to EUR1.3 billion to emerging countries as Albania and Turkey, avoiding Romania due to its unfavorable political environment.

EXCLUSIVE: Swiss Federal Court’s Ruling In Romanian Striker Mutu’s Case Irrevocable

The Swiss Federal Court’s decision whereby Romanian striker Adrian Mutu must pay EUR17 million damages to the Chelsea London football club is irrevocable, and an executory act was already issued, so that the club can start foreclosure procedures against the footballer to recover its money.

Romania Lower House Endorses Integrity Agency Bill, Final Vote To Be Held Thursday

Romanian lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday adopted all articles of the draft law regulating the functioning of the National Integrity Agency (ANI), which was reexamined at the request of President Traian Basescu.

Romanian Notaries To Lower Fees By 15% For Natl Housing Program Beneficiaries

Romanian notaries public plan to lower their fees by 15%, after a 30% cut last year, for beneficiaries of a government-guaranteed home-buying program and forward their proposition to the justice minister.

Romanian Prosecutors Open Criminal Inquiry Against Nine People Accused Of Embezzlement

Romanian organized crime prosecutors Tuesday started criminal investigations against nine people accused of having defrauded press distribution firm Rodipet of EUR35.5 million, after it was privatized.

Romanian State-Owned Postal Co Restructuring Doesn’t Entail Layoffs

The restructuring strategy of Romania’s state owned postal company, which the Government approved last week, does not include any layoffs, the company said in a press release Tuesday.

Romanian TV Station Owner, TV Producer Detained For 24 Hours On Blackmail Charges

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors Tuesday morning detained television station owner Dan Diaconescu and TV producer Doru Parv for 24 hours, after the two were charged with blackmail on Monday.

Romania’s Defense Council To Discuss National Defense Issues Tuesday

Romania’s Supreme Defense Council CSAT will meet Tuesday at the presidential Cotroceni palace to discuss, among others, Romania’s national defense strategy, Romania’s military forces and means that can be provided for military missions abroad in 2011 and the situation in Afghanistan.

Romania Ranks 28th In Intl Retailers’ Preferences – Survey

Romania dropped five positions this year and ranked 28th in a top of the 30 most attractive emerging countries for international retailers, according to a survey conducted by consultancy firm A.T. Kearney.

Romanian TV Station Owner Charged With Blackmail

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Monday officially charged private television station owner Dan Diaconescu with blackmail in a corruption case opened in February 2010.