English

Romanian Online Store eMAG Eyes EUR100M Sales In 2010, Up 56% On Yr

12:21, 23 Feb. 2010
Romanian online store eMAG estimates a turnover of EUR100 million this year, up 56% from 2009, when its turnover was down 12%, to EUR64 million.

Romania, Georgia, Azerbaijan Tri-Party Gas Proj Seen Developing Faster Than Nabucco

12:13, 23 Feb. 2010
The tri-party gas project developed by Romania, Georgia and Azerbaijan targeting liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport from the Caspian Sea to Europe, passing through Romania, will develop faster than Nabucco, according to Economy Ministry secretary of state Tudor Serban.

Romania Jan Private Lending Falls 8.2% YY To RON199.3B

12:01, 23 Feb. 2010
Romanian private lending fell 8.2% in real terms to 199.28 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.1252) in January compared with the same month a year earlier, central bank data showed Tuesday.

Romanian PM Threatens To Sack Any Minister Announcing Measures Not Discussed In Govt

11:18, 23 Feb. 2010
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said during the government meeting on Tuesday that he will not hesitate to replace any minister who pledges measures that are not included in the governing program, sources close to the talks said Tuesday.

One Dead, One Injured Among Romanian Troops In Afghanistan – Defense Min

10:40, 23 Feb. 2010
One Romanian soldier was killed and another was injured Tuesday in Afghanistan, Romania’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Five Romanian Troops Injured In Improvised Bomb Explosion In Afghanistan

10:33, 23 Feb. 2010
Five Romanian troops were injured in the explosion of an improvised explosive device over which they had driven their armored vehicle in southern Afghanistan, AFP reported Tuesday citing NATO and the local governor.

Bucharest Mayoralty To Spend EUR3.5M On Infrastructure Services For Old City Center

21:00, 22 Feb. 2010
The Bucharest mayoralty will pay nearly EUR3.5 million, VAT not included, for services of contract management consultancy and supervision of design and construction works needed to restore the base infrastructure in Bucharest’s historical center.

Romanian Senate Approves Amendment To Statute Of Privates And NCOs

20:54, 22 Feb. 2010
The Romanian Senate adopted Monday a draft law amending Law 384/2006 on the Statute of privates and non-commissioned officers, with Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea endorsing the draft in the Senate’s plenum.

Romania Jan Crude Steel Output Soars 86% To 275,000 MMT

19:46, 22 Feb. 2010
Romanian crude steel output rose 86.2% on the year to 275,000 metric tons in January, the World Steel Association said in an estimate Monday.

Romania To Grant Mandatory Car Insurance Claims Before Cars Are Mended

18:20, 22 Feb. 2010
Romania will pay mandatory civil liability car insurance (RCA) claims before cars are repaired and not after they are taken out of repair shops, and the value of the claim will be set by insurers according to the prices charged by car repair shops and not based on their own damage assessments.

IMF To Transfer EUR2.45B To Romania Tuesday

16:31, 22 Feb. 2010
The International Monetary Fund will transfer two new loan tranches amounting to EUR2.45 billion to Romania on February 23, the Finance Ministry said Monday.

Romanian Social Democrats Want More Elaborate Constitution Revision Process

16:01, 22 Feb. 2010
Romanian social democrat leader Victor Ponta said Monday his party wants a more elaborate process to revise the country’s Constitution, adding social democrats disagree with revising only those aspects of the fundamental law presented during the presidential election campaign in 2009.

Romania’s Parliament Rejects Setting Up Of Constitution Revision Committee

15:31, 22 Feb. 2010
The Romanian Parliament’s standing offices rejected the proposition of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) regarding the setting up of a committee to revise the Constitution, liberal deputy Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Monday.

Most Romanians Enjoy Roma Music – Romanian President Basescu

15:08, 22 Feb. 2010
Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday in a conference presenting a report on the country’s Roma minority, that Roma are not excluded from society and that many Romanians appreciate the ethnic group’s traditions and music.

Romania Has No Plans To Tax Pensions – Finance Minister

14:46, 22 Feb. 2010
Romania’s Finance Ministry doesn’t plan to tax pensions and it isn’t planning a public debate on the matter, Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Five People Removed From Romanian Conference On Roma Situation, After Criticizing Govt

14:09, 22 Feb. 2010
Five members of the Roma Civic Alliance of Romania were escorted by security out of the conference on Roma people’s condition, attended by President Traian Basescu, after they protested against authorities’ lack of involvement in protecting this ethnic group.

Microsoft Romania Plans “Aggressive Growth” For ’10

13:49, 22 Feb. 2010
The growth seen by the Romanian IT segment this year will be ten times the growth of the country's gross domestic product, estimated this year at 1%, Microsoft Romania general manager Calin Tatomir said Monday.

Romanian Mountain Rescuer Caught In Avalanche In C Romania Found Dead

13:01, 21 Feb. 2010
A 30-year-old mountain rescuer caught in an avalanche Saturday afternoon while he was skiing in Fagaras Mountains was found dead Sunday, mountain rescuers said.

Nine Passenger Train Routes Affected By Landslide In Sw Romania

09:49, 21 Feb. 2010
Nine passenger trains have been cancelled on certain routes and five have been detoured following a landslide Saturday evening in Mehedinti county, southwestern Romania.

Romanian Social Democrats Elect Victor Ponta For Party President

08:50, 21 Feb. 2010
Romanian social democrats have elected Victor Ponta, 38, as their new party president Saturday, to the detriment of Mircea Geoana who was vying for reelection.

Two Romanian Social Democrats Quit Race For Party Headship, Back Victor Ponta

14:54, 20 Feb. 2010
Romanian social democrats Radu Mazare and Miron Mitrea on Saturday said they are backing out of the race to head the leftist Social Democratic Party and want their votes to go to Victor Ponta.

Romanian Chess Grandmaster Hits Two People During Chess Federation Meeting

14:40, 20 Feb. 2010
Romanian chess international grandmaster Elisabeta Polihroniade hit two people at a meeting of the Romanian Chess Federation, which is electing a new president.

IMF Approves EUR2.3B Disbursement For Romania

21:36, 19 Feb. 2010
The International Monetary Fund on Friday approved the disbursement of EUR2.3 billion for Romania after completing new reviews of the country’s performance under a EUR13 billion standby agreement.

Romanian Child Allowance Cap Considered For „Active Solidarity” – PM

16:26, 19 Feb. 2010
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday regarding the draft law on children’s state allowances that the intention is not to save money “at the expense of children” but to apply active solidarity, adding the right to an allowance is acknowledged, but the state decides the sum.

Stere Farmache Reelected Bucharest Bourse President

15:33, 19 Feb. 2010
The Bucharest Stock Exchange’s shareholders on Friday reelected Stere Farmache as Chairman of the Board.

J. P. Gaultier Demands EUR760,000 Reparations From Romanian Company For Fake Perfumes

15:30, 19 Feb. 2010
Fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier demands EUR760,000 in reparations from a company in Romanian city Sibiu, which introduced into the country and was about to sell over 19,000 bottles of perfume, marked with the official insignia of the company, but which turned out to be counterfeit.

Romanian Businessman Copos To Invest EUR10M In 100-Room Hotel In Poiana Brasov

14:32, 19 Feb. 2010
Romanian businessman George Copos will open a four-star 100-room hotel in Poiana Brasov, a mountain resort in central Romania, in a EUR10 million investment.

NE Romania Remains One Of The Poorest Areas In The EU

13:43, 19 Feb. 2010
The northeastern part of Romania continues to be one of the poorest areas in the EU, and seven Romanian regions are still below 75% of the European purchasing power average, while capital Bucharest is above 90%, as Bucharest citizens are twice as rich as the rest of the country.

Romania Officially Invited To Join South Stream Project – Econ Min

13:06, 19 Feb. 2010
Russia’s Gazprom extended a formal invitation to the Romanian authorities to join the South Stream pipeline project and to expand natural gas co-operation beyond Romania’s borders, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Friday.

Romania Plans To Cut Child State Allowance For High Income Families

12:16, 19 Feb. 2010
Romania is working on a law to cut state allowance for children coming from families with high incomes, Labor Minister Mihai Seitan said Friday, adding authorities have yet to decide on the maximum family income entitling children to state allowance.

Romania’s Presidential Couple To Go On Official Visit To Japan In March

11:32, 19 Feb. 2010
Romania’s President Traian Basescu and his wife Maria Basescu will make a state call to Japan between March 9 and March 11, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Friday on its website.

Romanian Troop Injured In Patrol Mission In Afghanistan

11:00, 19 Feb. 2010
Romanian sergeant Eugen Manaila was injured in the right leg Friday morning in Afghanistan during a patrol mission, the Romanian Defense Ministry said, adding he underwent emergency surgery and is now stable.

Romanian Banks See Easier Conditions For Mortgage Loans, First Time In 2 Yrs – Survey

19:55, 18 Feb. 2010
Romanian banks expect, for the first time in the past two years, a relaxation of lending standards for mortgage loans, on the real estate market, by lowering housing prices, according to a central bank survey.

Romania Ups Penalties For Early Retirement To 45% From 30%

16:38, 18 Feb. 2010
Romanian Labor Minister Mihai Seitan said Thursday the country's new pension law increases penalties for early retirement to 45% from 30%, adding the number of people taking early retirement pensions has tripled since 2001.

Romania Romtelecom To Lay Off 600 Staff In May To Improve Efficiency

16:22, 18 Feb. 2010
Romania’s leading hard-line telecom operator Romtelecom, majority owned by Greece's OTE, plans to lay off 600 employees to cut costs and improve efficiency, the phone company said in a statement Thursday.

About 25% Of Disability Pensions Obtained Illegally – Romanian Labor Min

15:58, 18 Feb. 2010
Romanian Labor Minister Mihai Steitan said Thursday Romania pays about 900,000 disability pensions, adding it is estimated almost 25% of them are obtained illegally.

Romanian Military, Police, Special Services Employees To Pay Higher Social Security Contributions

15:48, 18 Feb. 2010
Employees of the Romanian military, police or special services will have to pay 10.5% of their gross wages as social security contributions starting with 2011, up from 5% at present, but their salaries will be increased to account for the tax hike.

About 10% Of Romania’s Special Pensions To See Avg Reduction Of EUR1,500 – Labor Min

15:41, 18 Feb. 2010
About 10% of special pensions in Romania could be reduced by an average EUR1,500 following recalculation under the new pension law, but reduction could be by as much as 80%, Labor Minister Mihai Seitan said Thursday, adding magistrates, aviators and diplomats would be the most affected.

Hungary Opposes Gold Mining Proj In W Romania But It’s Romania’s Decision – Diplomat

14:42, 18 Feb. 2010
Hungary’s ambassador to Bucharest, Oskar Fuzes, told a news conference Thursday Hungary opposes the gold mining project in Rosia Montana in western Romania, but underscored the decision belongs to Romanian authorities.

Businesspeople See Romania’s 10 GDP Growth At 0.5%-1%

14:03, 18 Feb. 2010
The Romanian Businessmen Association AOAR predicts Romania will post an economic growth of 0.5%-1% in 2010, below authorities' official forecast of 1.3%.