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Romanian Education Unionists Go Ahead With Strike On April 22

Romanian teachers affiliated with the FSLI, “Spiru Haret” and FEN trade union federations have decided to go ahead with the all-out strike announced for April 22, dissatisfied with the results of the meeting with Education Minister Daniel Funeriu.

CME Closes $400M Acquisition Of Bulgarian bTV

Broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises (CME) announced Tuesday it finalized the acquisition of Bulgarian bTV group from News Corporation, for $400 million.

EXCLUSIVE: Romania Mulls Setting Up Natl Invest Fund To Finance Ambitious Projects

Romania’s government is considering setting up a national investment fund to finance larges economic projects, fueled by the state’s minority stakes in several companies and by cash contribution from state-run lender CEC Bank, according to an executive bill.

Fitch Revises Bucharest’s Outlook To Stable; Affirms at ‘BB+’

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday revised Bucharest's outlook to stable from negative, while affirming the city's long-term foreign and local currency ratings at 'BB+' and 'BBB-' respectively, to reflect a similar action on the country's outlook.

Romanian Business Community Deplores Low Econ Predictability

Romanian businesspeople association AOAR officials said the leu levels are OK as long as they remain in a narrow range and predictability, coupled with good management by politicians, should take priority.

Romania Climbs One Notch To 80th In WB Purchasing Power Top

Romania edged up one notch to 80th in a global ranking by purchasing power parity, a World Bank survey showed Tuesday.

Romanian Labor Min Says 180,000 Out Of 4.8 Million Pensions To Be Recalculated

Romanian Labor Minister Mihai Seitan told senators Tuesday 180,000 pensions would be recalculated under the country’s pension bill and the process would take about six months.

Romanian PM Accuses Liberals Of Having Wasted Public Money

Romanian democrat liberal leader and Prime Minister Emil Boc Tuesday accused the National Liberal Party of dissipating the money got by the state after selling its 36.8% stake in the county’s largest lender Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) back in 2006.

Romanian Court Allows Independent Lawmakers To Create Party

The Bucharest Court on Monday sustained a request by Romania’s independent lawmakers’ group to set up their own political party, led by Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea.

Romanian PM Says About 7,000 Military Pensions To Be Reduced Under Pension Bill

Romania’s pension reform will lower the pensions of 7,250 military staff out of a total 82,000 retirees in the military system, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday during debates on the pension bill in the Senate.

Romanian PM Advocates New Pension Law To Make System Sustainable

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday morning during debates in the Senate that the country’s pension system must be reformed, otherwise the state won’t be able to pay pensions.

Romanian PM To Attend Senate’s Debates On Pension Bill

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc Tuesday morning will attend debates in the Senate on the country’s pension bill, after senators decided Monday the bill will be the first item on Tuesday’s work agenda.

Romania Opens Air Space As Volcanic Ash Cloud Disperses

Romania reopened its air space Monday evening and international airports in Targu Mures, Bacau, Iasi, Suceava, Constanta and Tulcea resumed operations, Transport Ministry secretary of state Marin Anton said Monday.

Romania Might Open Air Traffic By Tuesday Morning

Romania’s international airports might be opened starting Monday night and the first likely to resume air traffic is the airport in the central city of Targu Mures, Romanian air traffic overseer Romatsa general manager Bogdan Donciu said Monday.

Romanian Opposition Parties Set To File No-Confidence Motion Against Ruling Power

Romanian opposition liberal and social democrat leaders Crin Antonescu and Victor Ponta, respectively, on Monday agreed on the need to submit a no-confidence motion against the country’s ruling power.

Romanian Footballer Adrian Mutu Suspended For 9 Months

The Italian Olympic Committee's antidoping tribunal on Monday ruled to suspend Romanian footballer Adrian Mutu for nine months after he tested positive for banned sibutramine at an antidoping test taken on January 10, 2010, Italian news agency Ansa reported Monday.

IMF To Visit Romania April 27-May 7

The International Monetary Fund will send a mission to review Romania’s progress under a EUR13 billion aid package during April 27 and May 7, Tonny Lybek, IMF representative to Romania, said Monday.

Bucharest City Hall Has Not Authorized Romanian Taxi Drivers’ Protest

The City Hall of Romania’s capital Bucharest has not authorized the rally planned by two transporter and taxi driver associations for April 22-26, on the grounds that it would severely affect road traffic and the activity of public institutions.

Iberdrola To Develop 1,500 MW Wind Energy Proj In Romania

Spanish Iberdrola Renovables SA, the world's biggest wind power generator, Monday said it purchased rights to develop 1,500 MW of wind energy in Dobrogea region, southeastern Romania.

Local Authorities In W Romania Call For EUR10M EU Funds For Solar Street Lighting

Local authorities in Arad, western Romania, will apply for European Union non-refundable financing worth EUR10 million for a project meant to install solar lamps across the city for eco-friendly street lighting during the night.

Romanian President Summons Govt For Talks On Public Spending, EU Funds, Constitution Revision

Romanian President Traian Basescu Tuesday will hold talks with the Government on issues regarding public spending in the administrative sector, absorption of European funds, public procurement legislation, the revision of the country’s Constitution and the decentralization of state institutions.

Romania Leu Widens Losses, Exch Rate Hits 14-Wk Low At 4.1597

Romania’s leu extended early losses against the euro in mid trade Monday and the central bank’s reference lost 0.4% on the day to a 14-week low at 4.1597 to the European common currency.

Romania To Open Eight More Airports

The Romanian Government’s committee for emergency situations decided Monday to open eight more airports, namely the two near Bucharest (Otopeni and Baneasa) and the ones in Craiova, Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Oradea, Satu Mare and Baia Mare.

Dalai Lama May Visit Romania In September

Romanian MEP Laszlo Tokes said in a press release Sunday that he has received confirmation that the Dalai Lama will visit Romania in September.

Romania Opens Airports In Western Cities Timisoara, Arad

Romania’s international airports in the western cities of Timisoara and Arad were opened Monday morning and the rest of the country’s airports are expected to open later today.

Romania To Keep Airspace Closed Until Monday 12 P.M.

The Romanian Government’s committee for emergency situations decided Sunday to keep the country’s airspace closed until Monday 12 p.m. local time, because of the plume of volcanic ash sweeping across Europe.

Romanian Boxer Lucian Bute KOs Miranda To Keep IBF Super Middleweight Title

Romanian boxer Lucian Bute kept his IBF super middleweight world title after knocking out Colombian challenger Edison “Pantera” Miranda in the third round, on Saturday in Montreal, Canada.

Romanian Tourism Minister Requests Extra Funds For Infrastructure Development

Romania’s Regional Development and Tourism Minister, Elena Udrea, said Saturday that the Government will ask the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Operational Program (ROP) to transfer unused funds from Priority Axis 4 to Axis 5.2, investments into tourism infrastructure.

Romanian Govt May Penalize Owners Of Closed Tourism Facilities

Romania’s Regional Development and Tourism Minister, Elena Udrea, said Saturday that tourism facility owners who refuse to include them in the country’s tourist circuit may be penalized.

Romania Closes Entire Airspace As Volcanic Ash Cloud Approaches

Romania’s Government has decided to close the country’s entire airspace as of Saturday 6 p.m. (local time), until at least Sunday 12 p.m., because of the approaching plume of volcanic ash from Iceland.

Several Other Romanian Airports Closed Starting Tonight

Several airports in Romania’s central and northern cities will be closed starting tonight and Saturday morning, as the plume of volcanic ash coming from Iceland threatens to approach the country.

Hungarian Minority Party Rejects 10% Election Threshold Proposition Made By Romanian President

Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania leader and deputy Prime Minister Marko Bela said he rejects President Traian Basescu’s proposition to implement a 10% threshold for Parliament representation, adding that parties which get one million votes might not obtain seats in Parliament.

EIB May Provide EUR60M For Bucharest Municipality Project To Build 60 Kindergartens

The European Investment Bank (EIB) may provide financing of up to EUR60 million for a Bucharest Municipality project to build 60 kindergartens, according to an announcement of intention posted on the bank’s website.

Romania Public Debt Bound To Rise Further – S&P

Romania’s public debt will continue its rapid advancement seen in the past two years and is likely to rise to 27.4% of the gross domestic product this year, from 21.8% of GDP in 2009, as a result of mounting deficits, Standard & Poor's said in a report.

Romania Closes NW Airspace Saturday Due To Approaching Volcanic Ash Cloud

Romania will close its northwest airspace Saturday, starting with 3 a.m. local time, due to an approaching cloud of ash generated by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Romania’s Contribution To 2010 EU Budget Reduced By EUR24.8M

Romania’s contribution to the 2010 European Union budget will be smaller than initially set, as the figures released on April 15, 2010 show the Union registered a EUR2.25 billion surplus in its last year's budget, said the European Commission.

Romanian Integrity Agency Notifies Prosecutors After Checks Into Opp Deputy Wealth Statement

Romania’s National Integrity Agency, which screens public officials’ wealth for potential cases of corruption, called for prosecution in the case of social democrat deputy Robert Negoita who did not include in his 2009 wealth statement revenues exceeding EUR5 million.

Volcanic Ash Cloud Won’t Affect Romania Directly

Romania’s National Meteorology Authority said Friday it estimates the ash cloud caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland will not affect Romania directly, but will advance close to the north-west area of the country Saturday.

Romanian Leu Exch Rate Hits 12-Weeks Low, At 4.1429 Vs Euro

The Romanian leu fell slightly against the euro in the first part of Friday's trading session and the central bank computed an indicative at 4.1429 units, the weakest in 12 weeks.

Romanian Govt Mulls Passing Emergency Decree To Allow Integrity Agency To Continue Activity

Romania’s Government is considering passing an emergency decree to allow the country’s National Integrity Agency to continue functioning at EU-required standards unless it finds other legal ways, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Friday.