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Romanian Constitutional Court Says State Not Compelled To Compensate Pvt Emergency Medical Services

The Romanian Constitutional Court ruled that the state cannot be compelled to cover the cost of emergency medical services provided by private operators, from public funds or the national health insurance fund.

Weapons Stolen From Romanian Military Base Functional, Unused – Police Chief

The weapons found following searches in the case of the theft at the Romanian military base in Ciorogarla are functional and unused, as they were stolen without their ammunition, Romanian Police department inspector general Petre Toba said Monday.

Romanian Parliament To Set State Budget Adoption Calendar Tuesday

The Romanian Parliament’s standing offices meet Tuesday to set a calendar for the adoption of the 2010 state budget, Senate secretary Gheorghe David told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Over 75% Of Cos In Romania Lowered Training Budgets By 30-40% In 2009

Over three quarters of companies operating in Romania lowered their training budgets by 30%-40% in 2009 because of the crisis and focused on in-house and online training, which led to a decrease of nearly 50% on the local training market, to EUR17.5 million, human resources experts said.

Indonesian Police To Deport Romanian Fraud Convict

Indonesian police will deport Romanian Nicolae Popa, convicted in absentia for defrauding more than 100,000 people in a massive Ponzi scheme and detained in Jakarta, the Jakarta globe reported in its online edition.

Romanian Police Makes New Arrests In Weapon Heist Case

Romanian police arrested Liviu and Alexandru Iordan Sunday in mountain resort Sinaia, in connection with the weapon heist at the Ciorogarla military base.

Romanian Government Approves 2010 Draft Budget

Romanian government on Wednesday has approved a much-needed draft budget for 2010, which will be sent to parliament on Thursday for urgent debates and approval.

Romania’s New Environment Min Promises Clunkers Program Start On Jan 1, ‘10

Romania’s new environment minister, Laszlo Borbely, promised Wednesday upon being sworn in, that the 2010 edition of the Romanian clunkers program will begin on January 1 for cars and “as soon as possible” for tractors.

Romanian Romaero Cleared To Lay Off 200 Staff In ‘10

Romanian state-run aircraft maintenance services provider Romaero (RORX.RO) may lay off up to 200 employees in 2010, provided the move doesn’t endanger its defense production capabilities or its obligations to the Ministry of Defense, according to the company’s restructuring program.

Romanian Energy Watchdog To Keep Gas Prices Unchanged Jan 1

Romania’s energy regulatory authority ANRE will keep unchanged household and industrial gas prices as of January 1, 2010, and may change the electricity prices according to inflation rate, ANRE’s president Petru Lificiu said Wednesday.

Romania Must Send EC Data On Four Steel Plants By Jan 20

Romania complied with all the obligations in the EU Accession Treaty regarding the steel sector but must send the European Commission various data on four steel plants until January 20, 2010, namely on Mechel Targoviste, Mechel Campia Turzii, ArcelorMittal Hunedoara and ArcelorMittal Galati.

Romanian Employers: 280,000 Employees In Public, Pvt Sectors To Be Laid Off In 2010

The secretary general of the Romanian Association of Businessmen (AOAR), Cristian Parvan, on Wednesday said 280,000 employees will be laid off in 2010 in the public and private sectors, adding forecasts regarding revenues estimated for 2010 are too optimistic.

Romanian PM Gains Parliament Confidence Vote For New Cabinet

Romania’s Parliament Wednesday gave a confidence vote to the 15-minister Cabinet proposed by democrat liberal Prime Minister Emil Boc, which now has to adopt the 2010 state budget and submitted to Parliament in a bid to unlock further tranches of an IMF-led EUR20 billion loan the country relies on.

Romanian Unions Frown On Draft State Budget

Romanian unions are displeased with the draft state budget for 2010, saying it is built on a minimum wage of 600 lei (EUR1=RON4.2047) which will lead to discrimination between the public and private sector.

Bucharest Military Court Releases Defendants In Weapon Heist Case

The eight defendants in the case regarding the theft of weapons from Romanian military base Ciorogarla will be released from the Rahova Penitentiary, according to a decision issued Wednesday by the Bucharest Military Court, which sustained their requests for release.

Romania’s PM-Designate Seeks Parliament Confidence Vote For New Govt To Unlock Bailout Money

Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Emil Boc seeks a confidence vote in Parliament Wednesday for his 15-minister cabinet, which needs to push through next year’s state budget and unlock further tranches of an IMF-led EUR20 billion loan the country relies on.

Romania Regional Development & Tourism Min Wants To Revise Resort Urbanistic Plans

Romanian Regional Development and Tourism Minister-designate Elena Udrea said Tuesday she plans to make changes in the regional urbanistic plans (PUZ) of resorts countrywide.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Proposed Development & Tourism Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for public administration, industry and services Tuesday endorsed proposed Regional Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea with 43 to four votes and one abstention.

Romanian FM-Designate Wants To Relaunch Ties With Russia

Romania’s Foreign Minister-designate Theodor Baconschi told lawmakers in a hearing Tuesday try he will try to resume Romania’s bilateral relation with Russia, adding Romania cannot ignore Russia, just as Russia cannot the fact that Romania is the EU and NATO’s eastern border.

Comm Min-Designate: Romania Not To Sell Posta Romana, To Keep Stake In Romtelecom

Romania’s Communications and Information Society Minister-designate Gabriel Sandu on Tuesday said he does not plan to sell state-owned postal company Posta Romana during his mandate, but reorganize it, adding the ministry’s stake in mainline operator Romtelecom will not be sold either.

Transport Min Says Romania Can Have 101 Km Of Highway Next Year Depending On Funds

Romania’s Transport Minister-designate Radu Berceanu said Tuesday Romania could have 101 kilometers in 2010 provided that financing is ensured.

Romanian Leasing Debtors May Sell Contracts On Specialized Website

Romanian leasing clients who are unable to pay their installments may transfer their leasing contract to other interested people, contacted through a dedicated website, which was launched Tuesday.

Romania’s Mining Sector To Be Reorganized, 1,600 Miners Sacked – EconMin Designate

Romania’s mining sector will be reorganized and 1,600 persons will be sacked from the state-owned pitcoal mining company CNH, Economy Minister-designate Adriean Videanu said at parliamentary hearing Tuesday, giving guarantees that no mine will be shut down.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Proposed Defense Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for defense Tuesday endorsed proposed Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea with 20 to two votes and one abstention.

Romania Social Security Contributions Kept In 2010 At This Year’s Level

Social security contributions in Romania will be kept in 2010 at this year’s level, for both employers and employees, and law-regulated loans that can be contracted from the social security budget by authorized individuals will be kept at 1.5 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2268) in 2010.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Proposed Foreign Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for foreign policy and European affairs Tuesday endorsed proposed Foreign Affairs Minister Theodor Baconschi with 33 to 15 votes and one abstention.

Romanian Econ Min-Designate Wants Rosia Montana Gold Mining Proj Renegotiated

Romania’s Economy Minister-designate Adriean Videanu said Tuesday during hearings on parliament committees that he wants to renegotiate Romania’s stake in the gold mining project in Rosia Montana, western Romania.

Romania’s Unemployment Rate To Drop To 7.3% In 2010 From 7.8% In 2009

Romania’s average unemployment rate will decrease from 7.8% in 2009 to 7.3% in 2010, and the number of unemployed people will be of 645,000 at the end of 2010, down 55,000 compared to the end of this year, according to Romania’s social security draft budget, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Proposed Finance Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for budget and finance Tuesday endorsed proposed Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu with 36 to two votes.

Romania To Set Restrictive Salary Policies, In Line With IMF Pact- FinMin Designate

Romania must observe the terms of the stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund IMF and the European Union regarding a restrictive salary and social policy for at least three years, Finance minister designate Sebastian Vladescu said at parliamentary hearing Tuesday.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Proposed Interior Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for public administration, defense and public order Tuesday endorsed proposed Interior Minister Vasile Blaga with 46 to ten votes and four abstentions.

Romania Freezes Pensions In 2010 At Oct ’09 Level

Pensions will be frozen next year by keeping the pension point at the level set for October 2009, of 732.8 lei (EUR1=RON 4.2119), so that the average monthly pension of social security contributors will be of RON701.2, according to Romania’s social security draft budget, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s Proposed Fin Min Says State Budget Entails 100,000 Public Sector Job Cuts

Romania’s 2010 state budget entails 100,000 job cuts in the public sector, proposed Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu told lawmakers in special commissions during his hearing Tuesday.

Romania Ups Pvt Pension Contribution To 2.5% In 2010 Instead Of Law-Required 3%

Romanians’ contributions to mandatory private pensions will increase by half a percentage point in 2010, to 2.5% of the contributors’ gross wage, instead of the 3% as required by the law regulating private pensions, according to next year’s draft social security budget.

Romanian Commissioner-Designate Sees Agriculture Minister’s Nomination As Wise

Dacian Ciolos, Romania's European Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Rural Development, said Monday the designation of Mihai Dumitru as the country’s future agriculture minister is “a wise decision” as he is familiar with the Union’s agricultural policy.

Romania’s Parliament Decides Not To Hear Designated Deputy PM Marko Bela

Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania leader Marko Bela, designated deputy prime minister in the country’s future Government, will not be heard in parliament commissions as he does not have direct attributions.

Romania To Earn RON1B Less Than Initially Estimated From Car Pollution Tax

Romania will earn around 630 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2119) this year from the tax on automobile pollution, RON1 billion less than the Government initially estimated, because of the severe drop in the number of car registrations.

Romania’s President Calls For Dialogue Between Politicians

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Monday, after he was sworn in for a second term, that his reelection is due to the fact that he has taken up the task of modernizing the country.

Romania’s President To Request New National Defense Strategy

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Monday he will request a new national defense strategy and highlighted the support given by France so that Romania could obtain the Agriculture portfolio in the European Commission.

Reelected Romanian President Basescu Vows To Oppose Oligarchization

Reelected Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday that the excessive influence of financial interest groups is a threat to democracy and that he will oppose any attempt to turn Romania into an oligarchy.