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Romanian Subway Unionists Demand 26% Pay Raise, Threaten Strike In Nov

Romanian subway unionists threatened to go on strike next month demanding a pay raise of nearly 26% and calling for negotiations on a new collective labor contract, as the current contract expires on November 1.

Romanian Govt Eyes Savings Of RON317M From Cutting Heating Aid

The Romanian Government estimates to cut social assistance costs by 126.7 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2840) until the end of 2009, by cutting back on the number of people entitled to heating aids, and additional savings of RON190.1 million in the first months of 2010.

Romanian PM Accuses Opposition Of Dodging IMF-Required Pension Bill

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc accused Tuesday opposition liberals and social democrats of submitting a no-confidence motion to dodge the IMF-required pension reform, which lowers pensions for lawmakers and for which the government plans to seek a confidence vote in Parliament.

Romanian Local Authorities To Receive Another RON1B For Infrastructure Projects

The Romanian Government’s program to develop infrastructure and create sports bases in rural areas will be granted an extra 1 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2840) and its length will be extended by three years, until the end of 2012.

Romanian President Passes Law On Father’s, Mother’s Days

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday passed the law instating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, which will be celebrated on the first and respectively second Sunday of May.

Romanian Lawmakers Vote On Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion Tuesday

Romanian lawmakers met in plenary session Tuesday to debate and vote on a no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition last week, seeking to overthrow the country’s minority government less than two months ahead of presidential elections due on November 22.

Romanian Social Democrat Says Taxes Should Not Be Hiked

Romanian social democrat leader and presidential hopeful Mircea Geoana told a group of foreign investors that the current flat tax has reached its limits but he would not increase taxes in this economic context scarred by the crisis.

Romanian Tourism Brand Auction Enters Final Stage, Lowest Price Is EUR894,970

The association THR, made of Asesores en Turismo, Hoteleria y Recreacion - Taylor Nelson Sofres, filed the bid with the lowest price, EUR894,970, VAT excluded, in the final stage of Romania’s tourism brand auction, according to a press release issued by the Romanian Ministry of Tourism.

Romanian Constitutional Court Declares Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion Constitutional

Romania’s Constitutional Court on Monday decided unanimously that the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition in Parliament is constitutional, and rejected the democrat liberals’ notification on the unconstitutionality of the motion.

Romanian Weather Admin Issues Code Yellow Warning Of Upcoming Chilly Weather, Rain

Romania's weather administration authority ANM issued Monday code yellow warning of wind and rains, valid between Tuesday morning, 6 am, and Thursday, 12 pm.

Romania Nominates Dacian Ciolos For European Commissioner

Romania’s Government nominated Dacian Ciolos, a former agriculture minister, for European Commissioner and the proposition will be forwarded to President Traian Basescu Monday, Prime Minister Emil Boc said.

Romanian Govt Cuts Income Threshold For Heating Bill Subsidy

The Romanian Government significantly cut the income threshold for the heating bill subsidy this winter at 425 lei (EUR1=RON4.2840) per family member, compared with RON615 in the previous years.

Romania Enforces Mandatory Home Insurance Law As Of July1, 2010

The law forcing Romanian homeowners to insure their homes against natural disasters will be enforced starting July 1, 2010 and PAID, the company issuing mandatory home insurance policies must be ready by then, PAID chief Constantin Toma said Monday.

Romanian Jan-Aug Trade Gap Narrows To EUR5.8B

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed in the first eight months to EUR5.79 billion from EUR15.43 billion in the same period the year before, the National Statistics Institute said Monday.

Romania’s Sept CPI + 0.39% On Mo, +4.94% On Yr

Romania's consumer prices index rose by 39 basis points on the month in September, on higher non-food and service prices, but the annual inflation decelerated for the seventh consecutive month to 4.94%, the National Statistics Institute said Monday.

Romanian Democrat Liberals Secure Hungarians’ Support To Reject No-Confidence Motion – Sources

Romanian democrat liberals count on the support of the Hungarian minority party and of several liberal and social democrat lawmakers to vote against the no-confidence motion which seeks to overthrow the Government, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romania’s Govt Might Resign If Constitutional Court Rules No-Confidence Motion Constitutional

Romania’s Democratic Liberal Party takes into account the possibility the Cabinet resign if the Constitutional Court rules constitutional the no-confidence motion to oust the Government that will be voted on in Parliament Tuesday, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romania’s Railroad Company CFR Marfa Prolongs Technical Unemployment By 3 Months

Romania’s freight division of the national railroad company CFR Marfa extended technical unemployment by three months and the activity of the division will not be disturbed, Gheorghe Popa, secretary of state with the Transport Ministry told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romania’s Govt To Meet Before Parliament Votes On No-Confidence Motion To Oust Govt

Romania’s Government will meet in a session before the Parliament convenes Tuesday to analyze the no-confidence motion to oust the Cabinet, as several ministers drew draft emergency ordinances that need to be enforced, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romania’s Transport Min Wants To Construct 90 Km Of Highway, Get 3.5% Of GDP In 2010

Romania's Transport Ministry wants to finish the construction of 90 kilometers of highway next year and asked for 3.5% of the GDP in 2010, Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said in an interview broadcast Sunday on private television ProTV.

Romania Might Have 2,000 Km Of Highway In 20 Years – Transport Min

Romania might have 2,000 kilometers of highway in 20 years and this is possible both technically and financially, Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said in an interview broadcast Sunday on private television ProTV.

Romania Lost 5-0 To Serbia In 2010 World Cup Qualifying Match

Romania’s national football team lost Saturday 5-0 (1-0) the away match in the preliminaries of the 2010 World Cup with Serbia’s national football team which qualified for the world competition.

Serbia Takes Border Security Measures During Serbia-Romania Football Match – Foreign Affairs Min

Romanians are forbidden to cross the border to Serbia unless they have tickets for this evening’s football match between the two countries’ national teams, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday, adding the measure taken by the Serbian authorities was not officially transmitted to Romania.

Romanian VAT To Remain Unchanged – Tourism Min

Romania’s Tourism Minister Elena Udrea said Saturday during a visit in Romanian seaside resort Neptun, that a VAT increase is out of the question, adding the budget already set by the Government does not include any VAT change.

Europe’s Socialist Party Has No Say In Romania’s Govt – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Saturday, after the Party of European Socialists asked acting President Traian Basescu to propose a social democrat for a European Commission portfolio, the Government is not ruled by European socialists and the EC will soon receive the country’s proposition.

Romania’s Social Democratic Party Rejects Retirement Age Increase For Women

Social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Saturday during a visit in Zalau, northwestern Romania, his party does not agree with increasing retirement age for Romanian women as the latter face tougher life conditions than women elsewhere in the European Union.

Bucharest General Mayor Has “Short” Ruling Plan If Elected President

Independent candidate for the presidential race Bucharest general mayor Sorin Oprescu said Saturday during a visit in Timisoara, western Romania, his ruling plan is “short” and based on honesty and “peaceful” relations between state institutions.

PES Asks Romanian President For Social Democrat Candidate In European Commissioner Negotiations

The Party of European Socialists (PES) asks Romania’s President Traian Basescu to leave aside any political bias and act in the best interest of the country and of Europe by proposing a top social democrat for a European Commission portfolio.

EC Asks Romania For Different Candidates In European Commissioner Negotiations

Romanian MEP social democrat Victor Bostinaru told MEDIAFAX Friday that European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso officially asked Romanian President Traian Basescu to propose another three people for an EC portfolio.

IMF: Romania ’09 Pvt Lending Annual Growth Revised To -1.7% From +16%

The International Monetary Fund revised down its forecast on Romanian private lending, which is now seen declining roughly by 1.7% on the year in 2009 from a 16.4% growth initially estimated.

Romania’s 2011 Budget Gap Still Above EU Criteria – IMF

The International Monetary Fund revised up its forecast on Romania’s budget deficit for 2011 from 2.7% of the gross domestic product to 4.2% of the GDP, above the maximum ceiling required by the European Union.

IMF: Romania Unable To Curb Local Auth Spending In H1

Romanian authorities were unable to rein in personnel spending with local authorities and self-financed institutions, which grew by up to 20% in the first half compared to the 6% rise in the central government, according to International Monetary Fund data.

Romanian Transport Min Wants An Almost Doubled Budget In ’10

The Romanian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure wants a budget of 19 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2776) in 2010, compared to RON11 billion in 2009, said Transport Minister Radu Berceanu.

Romanian Govt Withdraws Up To EUR280M Guarantees From Bks In “First Home” Program

Romania's Government will withdraw 220-280 million euro guarantees from seven banks that approved no loan or very few loans to buy a house via the “First Home” program, redistributing the funds to other lenders, officials said Friday.

Romanian PM: High Pensions Will Still Be Paid Depending On People’ Contributions

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday, following talks with union leaders at the Labor Ministry headquarters, that the country’s new public pension law will not eliminate high pensions if their beneficiaries got them by contributions to the social security budget.

Romanian Transp Min Replaces CFR Calatori, CFR Infrastructura GMs

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu dismissed Friday the general managers of state-owned passenger railway company CFR Calatori and CFR Infrastructura, naming the deputy general managers as interims.

Romanian Constitutional Court Rules On No-Confidence Motion Legitimacy Monday

Romania’s Constitutional Court will rule Monday on the legitimacy of the opposition submitting a no-confidence motion in Parliament after the rejection of a similar motion, initiated by the same lawmakers, just last month.

Romania Interim Labor Min: Pensions’ Hike In Ratio With Inflation Is Good News For Retirees

Romania’s interim Labor Minister Gheorghe Pogea on Friday said retirees should not be displeased that their pensions will be increased in ratio with the inflation rate, stressing this is to their own benefit, as inflation remains a certainty for many years to come.

Two Workers Died On Highway Construction Site, In NW Romania

Two workers died Friday morning on the construction site of Romania's Transylvania Highway, in northwestern Cluj county, after they fell from height.

Romanian Unions Agree With RON705 Minimum Wage For 2010

The Romanian unions agree with a minimum wage of 705 lei (EUR1=RON 4.2766) for 2010 but only if the collective labor contract is observed, namely the minimum wage reached RON1,300 in 2014, while employers say they will analyze the matter and ask the Government for tax deductions.