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Senate Chairman Invites Ctrl Bk Head, Fin Min To Talks On Romania’s Economic Situation

Romanian Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana said in a press release Wednesday that he invited the country’s central bank governor and finance minister to talks with the Senate’s Standing Office on the country’s economic situation, in the fallout of recent negotiations with IMF experts.

Ford Wants Automobile Craiova Deal Revised

Ford Motor Co. requested Romanian authorities to revise a series of terms included in the privatization deal of the auto assembly plant Automobile Craiova the American company bought in 2007.

EU: Romania ‘10 Budget Gap May Reach 8% Of GDP Unless More Measures Taken

Romania’s planned budgetary measures may not be sufficient to achieve this year’s deficit target of 6.4% of the gross domestic product and, without additional measures, the gap could reach 8% of GDP by year-end, the European Commission said in its spring forecast Wednesday.

Romanian President, PM, Ministers In Talks Over Recent Negotiations With IMF Experts

Romanian President Traian Basescu is in talks Wednesday, at the presidential Cotroceni palace, with Prime Minister Emil Boc and Cabinet members on recent negotiations between Romanian officials and International Monetary Fund experts, sources close to the talks told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian Institutions With Overdue Debts For More Than 90 Days To Enter Insolvency

Romanian administrative-territorial institutions that can no longer pay debts overdue by more than 90 days, which exceed 15% of the annual local budget, will undergo insolvency and will have to present plans for financial recovery and management reorganization.

EC Revises Up Romania 2010 Inflation Forecast To 4.3%

The European Commission revised its inflation forecast on Romania to 4.3% this year from 3.5% previously, as it expects higher excise duties on tobacco and oil to increase inflationary pressures, according to its spring forecast report released Wednesday.

CME Revenues Up 5% In 1Q 2010, To $143.6M

Broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises (CME) reported net revenues of $143.6 million for the first quarter of 2010, up 5% from the first quarter of 2009, while its first-quarter operating loss narrowed 73%, to $19.1 million, the group said in a press release Wednesday.

American Rock Group Heaven & Hell Cancel Romanian Festival Performance

Representatives of rock music festival Sonisphere in Romanian capital Bucharest said Wednesday that legendary rock group Heaven & Hell have cancelled all their summer performances including the one in Bucharest, because of lead Ronnie James Dio’s poor health.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Distrain Estates Of Graft Probed Businessmen

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors have placed a partial distraint on the estates of businessmen Marius Locic and Costel Casuneanu, currently investigated for graft in the same case as senator Catalin Voicu and Supreme Court judge Florin Costiniu, sources close to the case told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romania’s March Net Salary Up 6.9% M-M To RON1,509

Romania’s net average salary in March was at 1,509 lei (EUR1=RON4.1352), up 6.9% compared with the previous month, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Wednesday.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Releases Limited Black Line Edition On Local Market

Romanian carmaker Dacia released the special Black Line edition on the local market Tuesday, all-black Logan, Sandero and MCV cars with extra features, whose prices range from EUR8,200 and EUR12,750.

Romanian Foreign Ministry Warns Flights To, From Thessaloniki Grounded Wednesday

Romania’s Foreign Ministry warns people wishing to travel to Greece that international flights to and from Thessaloniki Airport will be grounded Wednesday, and ferry-boats will remain docked, because of protests in the country.

Romanian Fashion Designer Gets 4-Year Suspended Prison Term For Pimping

Romanian fashion designer Danut Dyandy Parvan has been sentenced to a four-year suspended jail term by the Court of Sector 1 in capital Bucharest, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romanian Communications Minister Signs eCall Memorandum

Romanian Communications Minister Gabriel Sandu Tuesday signed a Memorandum in Brussels whereby car owners can equip their vehicles with a system which automatically dials 112, Europe's single emergency number, in case of serious accidents.

Romanian Bill To Force Alcohol Abusers To Pay For Their Own Medical Services

The Romanian Senate’s committee for legal matters Tuesday endorsed a legal initiative whereby people who require medical attention over voluntary alcohol abuse would have to pay for the medical services.

Romania March Indus Prod Prices Rise At 6th Fastest Pace In EU

Romanian industrial producer prices rose 4.5% on the year in March, the sixth biggest increase in the European Union, official data showed Tuesday.

Over 500 European Cities Pledge To Cut CO2 Emissions

The mayors of more than 500 cities in European Union member states, including Romania, will commit Tuesday to cut carbon dioxide emissions by over 20% by 2020, said a European Commission press release published Monday.

Romanian Govt “Is Trying” Not To Hike Taxes – Fin Min

Romanian finance minister Sebastian Vladescu on Tuesday said the government is trying to keep the current taxation and there are several options on the table in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, but none corresponds to variants presented in the media.

Romania Celebrates Fathers’ Day On Second Sunday Of May

Romania will celebrate Fathers’ Day for the first time this year, as the country decided the second Sunday of May will be the official day honoring fathers.

Romanian Public Servants Call Off Plans To Strike Wednesday

Romanian public servants have agreed to suspend plans for a full-blown strike until May 21 following talks with government officials, who promised Tuesday to look into cases where people had their wages lowered under the country’s new wage law for the public sector.

Romanian Unions Push For Differentiated VAT In Talks With IMF

Romanian union leader Bogdan Hossu, head of national union federation Cartel Alfa, said Tuesday after a meeting with International Monetary Fund experts that Romanian unions think the country’s tax policy is inadequate and would prefer differentiated taxation, especially for VAT.

UK Labor Party Accused Of Having Weakened Royal Navy, Warships Sold To Romania, Other Countries

The UK Labor Party, currently in government, was accused of having sold a considerable part of the British Navy's ships to several countries, including Romania, for only 580 million pounds, Daily Mail reported Tuesday in its online edition.

Romania Ctrl Bank Cuts Key Rate To Record-Low 6.25%

Romania’s central bank Tuesday cut its key monetary policy rate by 25 basis points to a new record low of 6.25%, leaving the minimum reserve requirements unchanged.

Romania’s Defense Min Gets Extra Money To Increase Presence In Afghanistan

Romania’s Government assigned an extra 61.5 million lei (EUR1=RON4.1275) to the Defense Ministry to ensure the sums needed in the second quarter of the year to increase the country’s number of troops to be stationed in Afghanistan in 2010 and purchase new military equipment.

Romania’s Govt Allots Over RON200M To Pay Magistrates’ Salary Rights Won In Court In ‘09

Romania’s Government granted extra 205.5 million lei (EUR1=RON4.1275) to the Justice Ministry, the High Court of Justice, the High Council of Magistrates and the country’s prosecution offices to pay a part of the salary rights magistrates have claimed and won in court.

Romanian Economy Could Decline In 2010 As Well – Fin Min

Romania and the International Monetary Fund officials have discussed a possible scenario indicating an economic decline in 2010, but a final forecast has not been presented yet, Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Monday.

Around 94% Of Romanian Media Managers Target Online Sector

Around 94% of Romanian media managers believe that mass-media which do not develop online will miss out, according to a study conducted by the Center for Independent Journalism, the Romanian Press Club (CRP) and the Local Editors’ Association (APEL).

Economic Framework Affected Press Freedom, Quality In Romania In ’09- Report

The economic framework of the Romanian media affected freedom of expression and the quality of media products in 2009, according to the report “The Freedom of the Press in Romania in 2009”, launched Monday in a press conference by the Press Monitoring Agency (AMP).

Romanian Social Democrat Senator Quits Party After Dismissal From Local Branch Headship

Romanian social democrat senator Ion Vasile said Monday he is quitting the party after he was dismissed from the headship of the party’s local organization in Buzau, eastern Romania.

Romanian Banks Swing To 1Q Combined Net Profit Vs Year-Ago Loss

Romanian banks switched to a combined net profit of EUR100 million in the first quarter, from a total loss of EUR50 million in the year-earlier quarter, central bank data showed Monday.

C&A Plans To Open Three Stores In Romania In 2010

German apparel retailer C&A plans to open two or three stores in Romania this year, depending on available space in shopping centers, C&A regional manager for southeast Europe Michael Suare told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Church Ranks First In Income Tax Redirection Ranking

Almost one third of the Romanians who redirected 2% of their income tax to a non-profit organization last year gave to the Church or church foundations, while 10% chose Save the Children or the state-run emergency service SMURD, said a poll by market research company GfK released Monday.

Romanian Senate Chairman Summoned To Witness In Corruption Case

Romanian Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana Monday morning was summoned to the National Anticorruption Department (DNA) to witness in the case of social democrat senator Catalin Voicu placed under arrest for corruption.

Romanian Film Director Bobby Paunescu Won Best Debut Film Award At East End Film Festival

Romanian film director Bobby Paunescu won the best debut film award for his feature film “Francesca” at the East End Film Festival in London organized between April 22 and April 30, the Romanian Cultural Institute in London said Sunday.

Romanian Social Democrat Supporters Receive Party-Supporter Cards, Not Enough To Become Members

Romanian social democrat leader Victor Ponta Sunday handed out party-supporter cards to the young social democrat supporters who registered with the party on-line and came to the political group’s headquarters on May 2.

Romania Remains On USTR Watch List Regarding Protection Of Intellectual Property Rights

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) annual “Special 301” report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection of intellectual property rights shows Romania is still on the lower-level watch list.

Romanians Spent About EUR6M On Tourism Services On May 1

Over 86,000 Romanians spent the International Workers’ Day in the country’s tourist resorts and only 11,000 people chose to go abroad on May 1, said the Romanian Tourism Employers’ Federation in a press release Sunday.

Romania’s Government Arrears Rose To RON1.6-1.7B – Fin Minister

Romania’s Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said the state’s arrears rose to 1.6-1.7 billion lei (EUR1= RON4.1276), from RON1.5 billion at the end of 2009, adding that, should the country pay all its 2009 overdue debts, its investment potential would be considerably reduced.

Romania’s Talks With IMF Difficult, Loan Agreement To Continue – Fin Minister

Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said talks with the International Monetary Fund are difficult, given Romania’s economic situation, adding that, at the moment, there is no risk the country might not continue the agreement signed with the international institution.

Romania’s Govt To Cut As Many Jobs As Needed To Make System Function Efficiently – Fin Minister

Romania’s Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Sunday on private television ProTV the Government will cut as many jobs as the system needs to function efficiently, adding layoffs will continue until a proper balance between the public sector and the private sector is achieved.