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Romanian Democrat Liberals Approve Minister Proposition List

Romanian Democratic Liberal Party’s leadership Friday approved the list of democrat liberals proposed for ministers in the country’s future Government.

Romanian Commissioner-Designate Dacian Ciolos To Be Heard In EP On Jan 15

Dacian Ciolos, the Romanian nominee for the position of European commissioner, will be heard by the European Parliament on January 15, according to the schedule published on the EP’s site.

Romania’s Hungarian Minority Party Lawmaker Cseke Attila Accepts Health Minister Position

Romania’s Hungarian minority party lawmaker Cseke Attila told MEDIAFAX Friday that party leaders proposed him for the future Government's health minister and he accepted the proposition.

Romania May Contribute To Petrom’s EUR1B Capital Hike – Sources

Romanian authorities might contribute by over EUR400 million to oil company Petrom’s (SNP.RO) planned capital hike of around EUR1 billion, government officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said Friday.

Romania Nov New Car Sales Down 6% On Month To 9,781 Units

Romanian new car sales fell 5.8% on the month to 9,781 units in November, after an 11% increase in October, the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, or APIA, said in a statement Friday.

Romanian Democrat Liberals, Hungarian Minority Party Agree On Cabinet List

The Romanian Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) agreed Friday on a Cabinet list, which is to be validated by the two parties’ leadership.

AH1N1 Flu In Romania: 92 New Infections, 5,071 Total Cases

The Romanian Health Ministry Friday confirmed other 92 new infections with the AH1N1 virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 5,071 and 29 fatalities.

Romania Transp Min Sacks Road Auth Head Over Faulty Mgmt Of Snow-Removal Ops

Romania’s Transport Minister Radu Berceanu on Friday said he sacked Vasile Ionascu as interim general manager of the Bucharest branch of the national public roads authority CNADNR, citing faulty management of snow-removal operations in recent days.

Romania’s Hungarian Minority Party Likely To Get 3 Ministers, Deputy-PM In Future Govt

Romania’s Hungarian minority party UDMR will likely have three ministers and one deputy-prime minister in the future government, party leader Marko Bela said Friday, but declined to say which ministries would be headed by UDMR members.

Romanian PM-Designate Wants Fmr Liberal Vladescu For Finance Minister

Romania’s’ Prime Minster-designate Emil Boc asked former liberal Sebastian Vladescu to be his Cabinet’s finance minister and Vladescu accepted, people familiar with the talk told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Over Half Of Romanians Bought No Books In 2009 – Survey

Over half of Romanians, namely 51%, bought no books in 2009, compared with 46% in 2008, according to a survey presented Thursday evening by the Romanian Center for Cultural Study and Research.

Steaua Bucharest Tie FC Twente 1-1, Settles For 4th Place In Europa League Group H

Romanian football team Steaua Bucharest on Thursday settled for a fourth place in UEFA Europa League Group H after a 1-1 (1-1) draw in the home match against Dutch football team Twente Enschede, which put FC Twente in Europa League’s last 32.

Former Romanian Fin Min Considered For Finance Portfolio In Boc Govt

The name of the former finance minister, in the Tariceanu Cabinet, Sebastian Vladescu is discussed for the finance portfolio in the future Boc Cabinet, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian State-Owned Railway Cargo Carrier Defends Need For Layoffs

Romanian state-owned railway company CFR Marfa said the measure to layoff 6,380 is necessary and is based on the need to “balance income and expenses,” as the company’s activity has dropped 60% in the first ten months compared to 2008.

Red Tape In Romania Keeps Foreign Investors Away – Law Firm

Many foreign investors choose to discard their business plans in Romania over excessive deadlines for registration with the National Trade Registry Office ONRC, which can take up to one year, according to representatives of Bucharest-based law firm Enescu&Cuc.

EU Hopes To Wrap Up Review Mission To Romania In Jan, Urges For Continued Progress

The European Commission on Thursday urged Romania to “rapidly endorse” the draft budget for 2010 and carry on structural reforms, in view of releasing the second EUR1 billion tranche of its EUR5 billion loan to the eastern European Country.

Most Romanians Buy Sweets, Clothing As Christmas Presents – Survey

Most Romanians plan to buy sweets specific for the winter holidays as Christmas presents, as well as clothes, footwear and accessories, according to a survey conducted by market research company GfK Romania.

Romanian Liberals Enter Opposition, Blast President’s Choice Of PM

Romanian liberal head Crin Antonescu said Thursday democrat liberal leader Emil Boc is, as prime minister, "the poorest choice in the face of the crisis", adding the liberals will remain in opposition but the proposed Government will be instated quickly.

Romanian New Govt’s Priority Is To Ensure Country’s Stability, Continue Reforms – PM

Romanian acting Prime Minister Emil Boc designated by President Traian Basescu for a new term said the new government’s priority is to adopt next year’s state budget, the fiscal liability law and the unitary pension law, continue reforms and ensure the country’s stability.

Romania To Cut Public Spending By 2.5% Of GDP In 2010 – IMF

The International Monetary Fund and the Romanian Finance Ministry agreed on measures to reduce the public expenditure by 2.5 percentage points of the gross domestic product next year, in order to reach a budget deficit target of 5.9% from the GDP, the fund said Thursday.

Romania’s 2010 State Budget To See Parliament Approval Early January – PM-Designate

Romania’s Parliament will approve next year’s state budget early January in an extraordinary meeting, Prime Minister-designate Emil Boc said Thursday.

IMF Ups Romania GDP Growth Forecast To -7% In ‘09, +1.3% In ’10

The International Monetary Fund revised up its forecast on Romania's economic growth for 2009 and 2010, saying the economy looks better than a month ago on the backdrop of a stronger foreign demand.

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Sees PM-Designate As President’s Worst Choice

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Thursday the decision made by President Traian Basescu to designate acting Prime Minister Emil Boc for a new term is unfit and shows Basescu’s second term as president might be even worse than the first.

Romania May Get 2 New IMF Loan Tranches On Feb 17 – President

Romania might receive two new tranches of a EUR13 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund on February 17, provided it can adopt the 2010 budget by mid-January, President Traian Basescu said Thursday.

Romania’s President Asks Boc To Counsel With Him On Ministers Part Of High Defense Council

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Thursday, after designating acting Prime Minister Emil Boc for a new term, he asked the latter to take counsel with him on the ministers that are also members in the State Defense High Council (CSAT).

Romanian President Designates Acting PM Emil Boc To Lead New Govt

Romania’s newly reelected President Traian Basescu Thursday designated democrat liberal leader and acting Prime Minister Emil Boc to head the country’s new government.

Romania’s President Asks Social Democrats To Consider Forming National Union Govt

Romania’s President Traian Basescu asked social democrats Wednesday, during consultations on the country’s future government, to analyze the proposition to form a national union government, adding he would like social democrat Marian Sarbu to be appointed labor minister in the new Cabinet.

Next Romanian Government To Include Several Technocrats – Sources

Bogdan Aurescu, secretary of state within the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lucian Croitoru, adviser to the central bank governor, could join the next Government as foreign affairs minister and, respectively finance minister, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Railway Unionists To Sue Transports Ministry Over Layoffs

Romanian railway unionists said they would sue the Transports Ministry and state-owned railway company CFR Marfa because they have not withdrawn the collective layoff plan which would come into effect before the Government decision providing severance pay for some 6,380 employees.

Romanian Govt Upgrades ’10 GDP Growth To 1.3%

Romania’s draft budget envisages an economic growth of 1.3% in 2010, up from 0.5% previously estimated, interim Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday.

Romania’s Online Advertising Market 1H Sales Estimated At RON25.5M

Romania’s online advertising market generated sales of about 25.5 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2459), in the first half of 2009, down 25% compared to the same interval last year, and up 58% compared to the first half of 2007, according to Romanian Online Advertising Study (ROADS).

Romania’s President Invites Liberals To Form Right-Wing Govt

Romanian President Traian Basescu Wednesday told liberals participating in consultations on the country’s new government that the National Liberal Party is invited to form a right-wing Government alongside democrat liberals and the Hungarian minority party.

Romania Should Have Govt In Place By New Year’s – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday at the start of talks with the group of national minorities that the country’s priority is to have a government in place between Christmas and New Year’s at the latest.

Romanian Liberals Fail To Reach Agreement With Democrat Liberals On New Govt

Romanian liberal leader Crin Antonescu said Wednesday, after a meeting with democrat liberals, his party failed to reach an agreement with democrat liberals as they discard the principle according to which the government should be upheld by a parliament majority.

BCR Revises Up Romanian GDP Growth F’cast At -7.1% In ’09, +0.6% In ’10

Banca Comerciala Romana revised up its forecast regarding Romania's economic growth, seeing now a 7.1% contraction in 2009 from previously expected 8%, according to BCR's chief economist Lucian Anghel.

Romanian Estate Agents Want Law Requiring Home Energy Certification Delayed

The Romanian Association of Real Estate Agencies (ARAI) said the law which requires an energy certificate when carrying out real estate transactions will be hard to apply as of January 1, 2010 and requested its implementation be delayed until the second half of next year.

Bucharest’s Baneasa Airport Auctions Off EUR3.17M Safety Area Layout Works

Bucharest international airport Aurel Vlaicu (Baneasa) will hold an auction for the layout of the safety area near the runway, a contract estimated at 3.17 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2459), VAT excluded.

E.ON Asks Romania’s Energy Watchdog For Gas, Electricity Price Hikes

Germany’s E.ON, which activates on the Romanian natural gas and power distribution market, asked the country's energy regulatory authority ANRE to increase gas and electricity prices in 2010 by 15% and 12% respectively, but does not anticipate a favorable answer.

Ford National Sales Co In Romania To Sell, Service Ford Vehicles As Of Aug 2010

The new Ford National Sales Company for Romania, established by Ford Europe, will take full responsibility for the marketing, sales and service of Ford vehicles as of August 2010 and Paul Flanagan will be general manager of the new company, Ford Europe said Wednesday.

Romania Likely To Get New IMF Loan Tranche In Feb

Romania is likely to receive a third EUR1.5 billion loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund in February, IMF representative Jeffrey Franks said Wednesday.