English

Romanian Court Trying Legitimacy Of Subway Strike Halts Debates On Technicalities

The trial in which the management of Romanian state-owned subway company Metrorex calls on the Bucharest Court to rule on the legitimacy of its employees’ general strike was adjourned Wednesday on technicalities just minutes into the debates.

Romania Made No Capital Repairs On Railway Infrastructure Btw ’08-’09 – Transp Min

Romania’s railroad company CFR SA made no capital repairs on the country's railroad infrastructure during 2008-2009, not on a single kilometer of railway track, although nearly 5,500 kilometers of railway tracks require urgent repair works, Romania's Transport Ministry said Wednesday in a report.

U.S. Backs No Candidate In Romania’s Presidential Race – Ambassador

U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest Mark H. Gitenstein said Wednesday in a press release that the United States has no candidate in Romania’s presidential race due this weekend and no agency of the United States Government is taking actions to influence this race.

Accident-Free Romanian Drivers To Pay Less For Insurance In 2010

Romanian insurance companies will introduce as of January 1, 2010 the bonus-malus system used in civil liability car insurance (RCA), whereby drivers who have not had an accident in 2009 will pay a 10% lower premium in 2010, Romanian insurance regulator head Angela Toncescu said Wednesday.

Romanian RCA Car Insurance Policies To Be Issued Electronically Only Starting 2010

Mandatory civil liability car insurance policies (RCA) will be issued electronically only as of January 1, 2010, Angela Toncescu, head of the Romanian insurance regulator CSA, said Wednesday.

Bucharest Subway Strike Continues, Court Ruling Expected Wednesday

Employees of state-owned subway company Metrorex continue their general strike Wednesday after a new round of failed negotiations over wage raises and the Bucharest Court is expected to rule on the strike’s legitimacy later in the day.

Campaign Staffs Of Romania’s Top Presidential Contenders Agree On Direct Debate Wednesday

Romania’s Social Democratic Party election campaign spokesperson Victor Ponta recently said the election campaign staffs of Romania’s top presidential contenders agreed on a face-to-face debate Wednesday evening, at 8 p.m., at the Parliament Palace.

Two Foreign Bks Take Out EUR2B From Romania On Scarce FX Facilities – Sources

Two international lenders have temporarily withdrawn EUR2 billion in capital from the Romanian market recently, because they were unable to invest in short-term foreign currency facilities, people from the central bank told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Subway Employees Back To Work, Resume Strike Wednesday

The Bucharest subway was open Tuesday at 4 p.m. after employees halted a general strike that caused major traffic jams across the city, but the protest will be resumed Wednesday.

Romanian Govt Ordinance Reorganizing Public Bodies Ruled Unconstitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court has ruled unconstitutional a government emergency ordinance reorganizing certain government bodies including the Antifraud Department and Government control department.

TI: Romania Seen As Most Corrupted EU Country, No Progress Since 2008

Romania ranks last among European Union member states in 2009 in the Global Corruption Barometer by Berlin-based watchdog Transparency International (TI), which indicates Romania has made no progress in its fight against corruption since 2008.

Romania To Sell Energy Cos To Finance Investments – Consultant

Romania will sell state-owned companies in the energy sector between 2010 and 2011, to get the money it needs for investments in the sector, according to consultancy firm Horvath & Partners.

Former F1 Pilot Alain Prost To Drive Dacia Duster Competition Model In Ice Race

Former Formula 1 pilot Alain Prost will drive a Dacia Duster competition model in the French Andros Trophy ice racing championship, in a preview of the Romanian carmaker’s first SUV.

FOCUS: Bucharest Subway Strike – Political Games At People’s Expense

People in Romania’s capital city Bucharest found subway entrances closed Tuesday morning because subway employees started a general strike demanding bigger wages, while the country has no legitimate government, holds presidential elections this weekend and is mired in recession.

Romania Has Oil&Gas Reserves For 15 Years – Agency Head

Romania still has oil and natural gas reserves for about 15 years, while its coal reserves may ensure domestic consumption for 30 years, the National Mineral Resources Agency ANRM head said Tuesday.

EU Sends Romania Positive Signals On New Danube Power Plants

Romania received encouraging signals from the European Union authorities and the Danube riverside countries about the country's plans to build new hydro-power plants on the Danube river in joint venture with Bulgaria, hydropower producer Hidroelectrica officials said Tuesday.

Bucharest Court Expected To Rule On Subway Strike Legitimacy Tuesday

Romanian state-owned company Metrorex manager Gheorghe Udriste told MEDIAFAX the Bucharest Court has received a request to rule on the legitimacy of the subway strike started Tuesday.

Romanian Press Not Focused On Election Candidates’ Programs – OSCE Report

An interim report on Romania’s presidential elections, developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, said that the Romanian press provides too little coverage to the candidates’ programs.

Romanian Referendum To Downsize Parliament Dominant Issue Of Elections Campaign – OSCE Report

An interim report on Romania’s presidential elections, developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, noted that the referendum to downsize the Parliament is the main issue of the election campaign.

Romania Doubles Fines On Black Labor Mkt To RON4,000

Romania’s Labor Inspectorate on Monday said fines on the black labor market have doubled, ranging from 3,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2962) to RON4,000, according to a normative act effective as of November 16, 2009.

Bucharest Public Transport Co Supplements Transport Vehicles Due To Subway Strike

Public road transport in Romania's capital Bucharest will be supplemented with 12% additional vehicles because of a general strike of subway employees Tuesday, November 17, public transport company RATB general manager Gheorghe Aron said Monday.

Romania Ctrl Bk Cuts Forex Reserve Requirements To 25%

Romania’s central bank on Monday lowered the minimum reserve requirements on foreign currency-denominated liabilities to 25% from 30%, in a move to counter the imbalances following delayed loan tranches from the International Monetary Fund and other lenders.

Launch Of First Romanian Space Rocket Rescheduled For 2010

The launch of the first Romanian rocket into space was rescheduled for the beginning of 2010 after a series of problems caused by weather conditions, people close to the matter said.

Romania Petrom Makes It To Platts 250 Global Energy Companies Top

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), owned by Austrian OMV AG, has entered the Platts 2009 global energy companies ranking on the 169th place, being the only Romanian company that made the top.

Most Romanians Would Seek Doctors, Avoid Vaccine, In Case Of AH1N1 Virus Infection

Most Romanians are prepared to go to the doctor at the first symptoms of flu, but less than half of them want to get vaccines against the AH1N1 virus, saying they do not trust the new vaccine because it is insufficiently tested or they don’t see the flu as a real threat.

Romanian Subway Employees Go On Gen Strike Indefinitely Tuesday Over Wages

Romanian subway company Metrorex employees will go on a general strike as of Tuesday, November 17, protesting rejected wage raise claims, and the subway will be closed for eleven hours, between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m., but will function normally from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m..

New Car Registrations In Romania Plummeted In Oct ’09, On Upward Trend In EU States

Romania’s auto market continues to decline although new car registrations in European Union member states have been increasing since June and have been on upward trend since October, according to data of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA.

Romania’s Population Sees Growth In September ’09

Romania's population increased in September 2009, when there was a natural positive evolution, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) said Monday.

AH1N1 Flu In Romania: 82 New Infections, 1,335 Total Cases

Romania’s Health Ministry Sunday confirmed other 82 infections with the AH1N1 virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 1,335.

Romania’s President Regrets Having Promulgated Law On 50% Wage Increase For Teachers

Romania's President Traian Basescu said Saturday during a debate held in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, he regrets having upheld the law on a 50% wage increase for teachers, adding he promulgated the law without having knowledge of the real state of the budget.

Train Evacuated Due To Bomb Threat At Bucharest’s Northern Railway Station

A bomb threat Saturday evening triggered the evacuation of an international train at Bucharest’s Northern Railway Station, the spokesperson of the passenger division of Romania’s railroad company CFR Calatori, Oana Branzan, told MEDIAFAX Saturday.

Romania’s President Welcomes Decision To Forbid School Principals’ Membership In Political Parties

Romanian liberal leader Crin Antonescu said Saturday during a debate in Cluj, northwestern Romania, only ministers and secretary of state should be designated on political criteria, and President Traian Basescu said he agrees with the decision school principals should not be members in political parties.

Flat Tax Might Be Reduced In 2011 If Romania Resumes Economic Growth – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Saturday, during a debate held in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, the flat tax might be reduced from 16% to 14% in 2011 if Romania resumes economic growth.

Romanian President, Liberal Leader Accuse Each Other Of Being Politically Manipulated

Romanian President Traian Basescu and liberal presidential candidate Crin Antonescu accused each other, during a debate held Saturday in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, of being politically manipulated.

Romanian Senate Chairman Proposes Moldova Republic Common Govt Meetings

Romanian Senate Chairman social democrat Mircea Geoana Saturday proposed Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat Romania and Moldova Republic should establish a system of common Government meetings, adding a first meeting might take place in Iasi, eastern Romania, after presidential elections.

Romanian Green Party Presidential Candidate To Participate In Public Debate In Cluj

Romanian Green Party presidential candidate Remus Cernea told MEDIAFAX Saturday he will participate alongside President Traian Basescu and liberal presidential candidate Crin Antonescu in a public debate in Cluj, northwestern Romania, adding he has doubts the meeting will take place today.

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Proposes Presidential Candidates To Meet Wednesday

Romanian social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana said he will participate Saturday in election campaign events in Braila and Tulcea, southeastern Romania, and proposed presidential candidates to meet Wednesday at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest.

Family Of Romanian Deceased In Austria Disclaims Death Caused By AH1N1 Virus

The family of the Romanian national who recently died in Austria said the information released by the media according to which the man died due to complications caused by the AH1N1 virus is not true as the medical file of the deceased does not mention such a diagnosis.

Romanian Democrat Liberal, Liberal Presidential Candidates To Participate In Public Debate In Cluj

Romanian presidential candidates democrat liberal Traian Basescu and liberal Crin Antonescu will participate Saturday in a public debate in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, at 3 p.m., at the invitation of social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana.

Romania Govt Decides Elections-Referendum Combo Needs Separate Voter Lists

The Romanian Government decided that in the presdiential elections and the referendum there will be two electoral tables, not a single one, and people voting in special polling stations will file two self statements, changes that will generate additional costs of RON4 million.