English

Romanian Teachers To Stage One-Day Full-Blown Strike Over New Education Law April 22

Romanian teachers will stage a one-day full-blown strike on April 22 and will not register students’ grades starting Monday, March 22, as they are displeased with the measures included in the draft education law, union leader Marius Nistor said Thursday.

EIB: Romanian Budget Affected By Crisis’ Final Stage

Romanian economy has already hit bottom and it now faces the last phase of the crisis, with “huge” difficulties concerning the public budget, an official of the European Investment Bank said Thursday.

Romania Court Suspends Order Banning Sale Of Alcoholic Drinks, Tobacco In Duty-Free Shops

The Ploiesti Court of Appeals has ruled to suspend the Order of the Romanian Finance Ministry banning the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in duty-free shops.

Romania Leu Rises Vs Euro, Exch Rate Hits 14-Mo High At 4.0801

The Romanian leu extended early gains against the euro in mid trade Thursday and the central bank’s reference strengthened 0.05% on the day to a 14-month peak at RON4.0801 versus the European currency.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Launches Duster SUV On Local Market – PHOTO GALLERY

Romanian carmaker Dacia launched Thursday on the local market the Duster SUV, a model that can be ordered through dealerships at a starting price of EUR10,500.

Three Quarters Of Romanians Wouldn’t Give Bribe To Get A Job – Poll

Three quarters of Romanians would refuse to bribe anyone to get a job and 17% would be willing to pay to get a job they consider good, according to a poll conducted by recruitment website Jobsinro.ro between March 12 and 17.

EIB Loans To Romania Hit EUR1.48M Record High In 2009

The European Investment Bank’s total lending in Romania reached the record level of EUR1.48 billion in 2009, the international bank said in a statement Thursday.

Romanian Govt Allots Extra RON195M For 2010 Clunkers Program

The Romanian Government assigned an additional 195 million lei (EUR1=RON4.0821) for the 2010 clunkers program, to issue 50,000 new vouchers used to scrap old cars, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday.

Romanian Constructors Breaching Public Procurement Contracts To Be Blacklisted

The Romanian national investment company CNI will publish a "black list" of constructors who fail to observe quality standards or deadlines for the unfolding of contracts, CNI general manager Ana Maria Topoliceanu said Monday.

Romanian Mayor Sentenced To Two And A Half Years In Prison For Corruption

Liberal Cristian Anghel, mayor of the northern Romanian city of Baia Mare, was sentenced Wednesday to two and a half years in prison for corruption, Cluj Court of Appeals spokeswoman Claudia Ilies said.

Some 60% Of Romanians Believe They Are Worse Off Financially Compared To Early 2009

Romanians believe that their financial situation this year and the current outlook are worse than those in the beginning of 2009, while the percentage of those who said they are worse off financially climbed close to 60% in February, according to a poll conducted by GfK Romania.

Romania 4Q/09 Labor Costs Up 5.9% On Year – Eurostat

Total hourly labor costs in the Romanian economy rose 5.2% on the year in the fourth quarter of 2009, the fifth-biggest annual growth in the European Union, official data showed Wednesday.

Romanian Subway Unionists Call Off Strike

Employees of Romania’s state-owned subway company Metrorex called off a full-blown strike planned for Thursday after the Government approved the company’s 2010 budget and included certain wage bonuses in base salaries, the Transport Ministry said in a press release Wednesday.

Romania PM Says RON1.9B e-Romania Strategy Just A Project, No Funds Allotted So Far

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Wednesday said the future web portal e-Romania, estimated to cost 1.9 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.0821), is only a project backed by the Government and the Communications Ministry, arguing no money has been earmarked so far for the implementation of this system.

Romanian Transport Min Thinks Airport Bomb-Scare Could Be Related To Fmr Manager’s Resignation

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu told a news conference Wednesday he thinks the bomb-scare on the airport in Timisoara, western Romania, Wednesday morning could have something to do with the recent resignation of the airport’s manager.

Romanian Govt Might Adopt Law To Keep Public Sector Wages At 2009 Level

Romania’s Government might adopt a normative act to amend Ordinance 1/2010 that forbids renewing collective labor contracts and eliminates negotiated wage bonuses, which led to wage reductions in the public sector.

Romanian Military Personnel In Combat To Be Insured For EUR80,000

Employees of the Romanian Defense Ministry who will see combat action are to be insured for EUR80,000, according to a ministry announcement regarding an auction to select the insurer, posted on www.e-licitatie.ro.

Romania Lower Chamber Enacts Decree Allowing Law Amendments Before Laws Come Into Force

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies Wednesday enacted a government emergency decree allowing for amendments, improvements or even invalidations of laws between the time they are published in the country’s Official Journal and the time they are to come into force.

Romanian Leu Exch Rate Hits 6-Wks High At RON4.0821 Vs Euro

The Romanian leu edged higher against the euro in mid-trade Wednesday, mirroring the currencies in the region, and the central bank’s reference gained 0.2% on the day at RON4.0821, the strongest rate in over six weeks.

Co-Financing, Romania’s Main Problem In Attracting EU Funds – State Secretary

Romanian Tourism and Regional Development Ministry secretary of state Barna Tanczos said Wednesday that co-financing has become the country's main problem in absorbing European funds.

EC Interim Justice Report Says Romania Didn’t Sustain Reform Momentum

The European Commission’s interim report on Romania’s justice sector, expected to be released next week, states the country has been unable to sustain reform momentum over the past six months but notes the fight against corruption has improved slightly, RFI reported Wednesday, citing a draft of the

Romanian PM Asks Unions To Forget About Bonuses Provided By Collective Work Contracts

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc asked unions to understand that salary increases can only be carried out according to budget resources and by eliminating bonuses provided by collective labor contracts but not by legislation.

Romanian Liberals Submit Motion Targeting Healthcare System

Romanian liberal lawmakers have submitted Wednesday with the Chamber of Deputies a simple motion targeting the country’s ailing healthcare system.

Romanian Cos Undergoing Insolvency Have Cumulated Debts Of EUR2.5B

Romania’s 32,00 companies that started insolvency procedures last year have cumulated debts of EUR2.5 billion, of which only about 10% was recovered last year, said Wednesday Arin Stanescu, head of the country’s union of insolvency practitioners UNPIR.

Romania Might Enforce Mandatory Home Insurance Law As Of July 1

The law forcing Romanian homeowners to insure their homes against natural disasters might be enforced as of July 1 if PAID, the company issuing mandatory home insurance policies, manages to conclude the reinsurance contract with reinsurance brokers, PAID head Marius Bulugea said Wednesday.

Specialists Determine Bomb Threat On Romanian Timisoara Airport Was False Alarm

Bomb squads, Police and Antiterrorism Department officers said Wednesday that the bomb threat on Timisoara Airport in western Romania was false.

Romania’s PM Says Govt Will Sell Minority Stakes

Romania’s Government plans to sell its minority stakes in several companies and use the funds to finance investment projects, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday, even though the economy minister has recently stated that these stakes would not be sold.

Bomb Threat On Plane In Romanian Airport

Romanian anti-terrorist teams are currently checking an airplane on Timisoara International Airport, western Romania, after its captain announced there was a bomb aboard.

Romanian State To Open EUR500 Education Accounts For Newborns – Draft Law

The Romanian State will open for each newborn child an education fund representing the equivalent of EUR500 in lei, according to the new draft education law.

Romanian PM Reiterates Measures To Uphold Business Environment, No New Elements

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc Tuesday presented once again, during a meeting held in Parliament, the measures to uphold the business environment in 2010, that were already announced at the end of 2009 in the government program.

Romanian Social Democrats Submit Motion Against Labor Min

The Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD) submitted Tuesday with the Chamber of Deputies a simple motion against Labor Minister Mihai Seitan, said social democrat deputy Valeriu Zgonea before debates in Parliament.

Romanian Bks May Enforce Account Transfer Rules On Apr 1 – Assoc

The Romanian lenders’ common rules on bank accounts' mobility are about to be approved by the central bank and will come into effect on April 1, Constantin Rotaru, counselor with the banking association ARB, said Tuesday.

Cos In Romania Might Submit All Fiscal Statements Via e-Guvernare Until End-2010

Companies in Romania might be able to submit all fiscal statements via a specific system on www.e-guvernare.ro until the end of 2010, as an inter-ministry committee is already working on the project, said Andrei Haas, head of the General Department of Large Taxpayers within tax authority ANAF.

Luxury Fashion Retailers Armani, Zilli To Enter Romanian Mkt In 2010

Luxury fashion brands Emporio Armani and Zilli will enter the Romanian market this year, through franchise agreements, while Hermes and Burberry stores might be opened in 2011, according to Oliver Petcu, general manager of consultancy firm CPP Management Consultants.

Romanian Parliament To Join “Earth Hour” Initiative

The Romanian Lower Chamber approved Tuesday a memo according to which the festive lighting of the Parliament Palace will be ceased for one hour, on March 27, as a gesture to mark "the need for action against climate change".

Romania’s Luxury Goods Market Dn Up To 35% In ’09, To EUR350M – Research

Romania’s luxury goods market was down by 30%-35% in 2009, to EUR350 million due to the economic crisis, consultancy firm CPP Management Consultants general manager Oliver Petcu said Tuesday.

Romania Govt, Transporters Conclude Protocol, Protests Dropped

Representatives of the Romanian Government and those of transporter union COTAR signed Tuesday a protocol to solve the claims of the union, which added protests planned for this week will be dropped.

Romania Tourism Min Lobbies At Austrian Niki Lauda For Future Vienna-Constanta Flight

Romania’s Tourism and Regional Development Minister Elena Udrea on Tuesday proposed to Austrian businessman Niki Lauda, whose airliner Fly Niki entered the Romanian market in February, to also operate a flight on the route Vienna, Austria, to Constanta, on the Romanian Black Sea coast.

Trade Register: 4,100 Romanian Cos Entered Insolvency In 2010

The number of companies that started insolvency procedures in the first to months of 2010 exceeded 4,100, 35% more than in the same period a year earlier, according to data of the Romanian Trade Register Office, or ONRC.

Romanian Senate Headship OKs Setup Of Committee To Check Transp Min Activity

The Romanian Senate’s Standing Office on Tuesday approved the setting up of a committee to look into the activity unfolded by the country’s Transport Ministry from 2005 to 2009.