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Romanian Senators Who Quit Their Parties To Lose Spots In Senate Committees

The Romanian Senate’s Standing Office decided Tuesday, after putting the matter to the vote, senators who quit parliamentary parties to join the independent group of MPs will lose their positions in parliament standing committees.

Romania PM: Govt To Earmark Extra Funds For 2010 Clunkers Program, If Necessary

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Tuesday said the government has enough financial resources to scrap at least 60,000 used cars in 2010, adding it will earmark extra funds for the 2010 clunkers program, if necessary.

Romanian Social Democrats To Challenge Law Allowing Political Appointees At Decentralized Services

Romania’s opposition Social Democratic Party will challenge the draft law on the Statute of Public Servants in the Constitutional Court, arguing the law allows political appointments at the helm of the country's decentralized state institutions, social democrat lawmaker Mircea Dusa said Tuesday.

Drugs Transiting Romania Could Be Stored Locally – U.S. Report

Romania is not a major source of narcotics, but it remains an important transit country for the drugs on the Northern Balkans route, according to a 2009 narcotics report released by the U.S. State Department Tuesday.

Romanian Liberals To Initiate Two Motions Targeting Healthcare System, Business Environment

Romanian liberal deputy Eugen Nicolaescu said Tuesday liberals will submit in two weeks a motion regarding the country’s healthcare system, adding another motion targeting the business environment will be submitted when the amendments to the Fiscal Code are presented.

Thousands On Waiting List For New Romanian Dacia Duster SUV

There is a waiting list of several thousand customers to buy Romanian carmaker Dacia’s new model, the Duster, commercial director Fabrice Cambolive said Tuesday, adding that the car will be available through the national clunkers program.

Corruption Still Serious Issue In Romania – USA State Dept Report

Corruption was still a serious issue in Romanian institutions in 2009, including the judiciary and law enforcement branches, according to the U.S. Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which criticized the difficulty in obtaining convictions.

Romanian Ruling Party Pushes Public Servants’ Statute Through Lower Chamber

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted Tuesday, with 172 pros, no cons and no abstentions the draft law on the Statute of Public Servants, while the two main opposition parties, PNL and PSD were absent from the proceedings.

Romanians’ Pvt Pension Contributions Increased To 2.5% As Of Feb – Pension House Head

Romanians’ contributions to mandatory private pensions will grow by 0.5% as of February to reach 2.5%, National Pension House (CNPAS) president Doina Parcalabu said Tuesday.

Cigarette Smuggling In Romania Accounts For 36% Of Market

Smuggled cigarettes have come to account for 36% of the total Romanian cigarette market in the first two months of the year, from 22% in the last quarter of 2009, according to a survey by Novel Research.

Romanian President Basescu To Buy Dacia’s First SUV

Romania’s President Traian Basescu will be Romanian automaker Dacia’s first client for its new SUV, Dacia Duster, company officials said Tuesday.

Euro Area Inflation Seen Falling To 0.9% In February

Euro area annual inflation is expected to fall slightly to 0.9% in February 2010 according to a flash estimate issued Tuesday by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Around 30% Of Romanian Public Pension Contributors Earn Less Than RON800

Around 30% of Romanian contributors to the public pension system earn less than 800 lei (EUR1=RON4.1054), and about one million of them are registered as earning less than RON600, National Pension House (CNPAS) president Doina Parcalabu said Tuesday.

Romanian Pvt Pension Funds Lack Enough Liquidity For Long-Term Investments

Private pension funds in Romania don’t have enough liquidity yet to invest in long-term treasuries and prefer short-term investments, Bogdan Dragoi, state secretary with the Finance Ministry, said Tuesday.

Romania 1-Yr T-Bill Yields Seen Falling Below 7% A Year

Yields at Romania’s local debt sales should fall below the key monetary policy rate, of 7% on the year, a Finance Ministry official said Tuesday.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Announces Local Market Prices Of New Duster Model

Dacia’s new crossover SUV, the Duster, can be bought in Romania for between EUR10,500 and EUR15,600 (including VAT), the Romanian carmaker announced Tuesday.

Fmr Romanian Diplomat Indicted For Negligent Homicide Willing To Pay Moral Damages – Press

Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, who was indicted for negligent homicide following a car accident in Singapore on December 15, 2009, said he will pay moral damages to the families of the car crash victims, newspaper The Straits Times reported on its website Tuesday.

Romanian Revolution Files Declassified On March 10 – Defense Min

Romanian Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea welcomed Monday a delegation led by Teodor Maries, president of the 21 December 1989 Association, telling them the Ministry of Defense is doing everything possible to learn the truth about the 1989 Revolution.

Romania Among States Which Implemented Most EU Directives On Internal Market – EC Report

Romania has a directive transposition deficit of only 0.3%, meaning it is among the member states with the least remaining unimplemented EU directives concerning the internal market, according to a Commission report, which also points out Romania is targeted in 21 infringement cases.

Romanian Authorities Hike Temporary Passport Fees To RON112

The tax for the Romanian simple temporary passport was increased Monday by RON16 (EUR1=RON4.1054), reaching RON112, since the cost for the issue of the document was hiked from RON64.2 to RON80, added with a RON32 consular tax.

Moody’s: Romanian Banking System’s Outlook Is Negative

The fundamental credit outlook for the Romanian banking sector is negative, reflecting the challenging conditions in the local economy stemming from the global financial crisis, according to Moody's Investors Service's new Banking System Outlook on Romania.

Romania’s 2010 Edition Of B’estfest Festival Canceled

The 2010 edition of Romania’s B'estfest music festival has been canceled on lack of funds, organizers said Monday, but British electronic band Faithless will hold a concert in Bucharest on July 16.

Danube Rises On Romanian Territory, Risks For Population Are Low

The flow of the Danube is currently above flood warning levels in four Romanian hydrometric stations and it continues to rise, according to Romanian water administrator ANAR.

Romania’s Feb Forex Reserves Rise EUR1.7B To EUR29.74B

Romanian foreign exchange reserves rose EUR1.7 billion in February to an all-time high of EUR29.739 billion, fueled by two tranches from the International Monetary Fund, according to central bank data released Monday.

Romanian Recently Discovered Pop Art Genius Meets Angelina Jolie In Paris

Romanian recently discovered collage artist Ion Barladeanu met Angelina Jolie in Paris where he exhibited his art collection named “Realpolitik”, at the Anne de Villepoix gallery.

Bob Dylan To Hold Concert In Bucharest On June 2

American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan will hold a concert in Bucharest on June 2, according to the musician’s official site.

Romania’s Economy Min Resumes Debates On Draft Law Supporting Young Entrepreneurs

Romanian youths that plan to set up firms will be exempt from paying taxes on profit and salaries in the first three years, according to a draft law put up for public debate by Romania’s Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment, after a similar draft act was debated in September 2009.

Romania’s Nuclear Power Plant Cernavoda Shuts Down Nuclear Reactor Due To Technical Problems

Romania’s nuclear power plant in Cernavoda Sunday morning temporarily shut down one of its nuclear reactors, following certain problems in the building protecting the Unit 2 nuclear reactor.

Romanian Democrat Liberal Senators Propose Draft Law To Amend Fiscal Code

Several Romanian democrat liberals proposed a draft law to amend the Fiscal Code so that companies that signed service contracts with the state should pay the value added tax only after the state pays back the money owed for the respective services, said democrat liberal senator Orest Onofrei.

Romania’s Construction Mkt To See Growth In 2H Of 2010 – Lafarge Romania

Romania’s construction market will see growth in the second half of 2010 if Romanian authorities support the economic sector and start big construction projects, cement producer Lafarge Ciment manager Philippe Questiaux told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

“The Concert” By Romanian-Born Radu Mihaileanu Wins A César For Best Musical Score

“The Concert” by Romanian-born French film director and screenwriter Radu Mihaileanu was awarded a César for best sound and best musical score, in a ceremony that took place Saturday at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Romania RomTelecom Urges Partners To Hire Part Of Employees To Be Laid Off In May

Romania’s telecom operator RomTelecom urged several of its business partners to hire a part of the 600 employees that will be laid off in May, RomTelecom said in a press release Saturday.

No Romanian Nationals Died In 8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Which Hit Chile

Romania’s Embassy to Chile contacted a part of the Romanian nationals living in Chile, following an 8.8- magnitude earthquake that struck the South American country early Saturday, and no victims have been reported among Romanians so far, Romanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Lucian Rosenfeld told MEDIAFAX Saturday.

Romania, Bulgaria To Call On EU To Extend Interval To Finance Works On Vidin-Calafat Bridge

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday, during an official visit to Bulgaria, the two countries will call on the European Union to extend the interval of financing works on the Danube Bridge linking Calafat in Romnaia to Vidin in Bulgaria, so that the construction of the bridge be finished by July 2011.

Romanian Minority In Bulgaria To Benefit From Television, Radio Airtime

The Romanian minority in Bulgaria will benefit from airtime on the Bulgarian public radio and television and will be granted all rights as minority, especially the right of using and learning Romanian in schools.

Romanian Pirate-Abducted Sailor Is In Alleged Mortal Danger

The Romanian sailor onboard the ship Rim, which was captured by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, on February 2, telephonically announced his girlfriend that the pirates are threatening to kill him Friday if the ransom is not paid.

Romanian Environment Min Wants Clunkers Program To Include Public Authorities

Romanian Environment Minister Borbely Laszlo told a press conference Friday that he wants to extend the local clunkers program to include local authorities and institutions, adding he hopes to get the Government to drop the ban on new purchases of vehicles applied to public institutions.

United States To Deploy Some 20 Missile Interceptors In Romania – Romanian Foreign Min

Romanian Foreign Minister Theodor Baconschi said Friday the United States will deploy about 20 antiballistic missile interceptors on Romanian soil and negotiations regarding the proper missile interceptor locations are likely to take one and a half years.

Statistics Show Btw 17,000 And 24,000 Injected Drug Users In Bucharest In ‘09

Romania's capital Bucharest had between 17,000 and 24,000 injected drug users in 2009, the leader of the presidential committee analyzing social and demographic risks, Marian Preda, said Friday.

Romania’s Fin Min Urged To Exempt Disabled People From Paying Taxes On Salary, Pension

Romania's National Authority for People with Disabilities (ANPH) Friday urged the Finance Ministry to amend a Government decision which applies taxes on the salaries and pensions of people with serious disabilities.