English

Romanian Parliament Committees Rebuff Proposed Economy Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for economy, industry and services on Thursday gave a no vote to democrat liberal Adriean Videanu, proposed for economy minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Lucian Croitoru.

Hassle Around Romania’s Proposed Govt, Waste Of Time – Johannis

Klaus Johannis, the mayor of the central Romanian city of Sibiu who is backed by a Parliament majority for prime minister, told a news conference Thursday he thinks all the hassle around the prime minister-designate’s proposed Cabinet is a waste of time.

Romanian Parliament Committees Thumb Down Proposed Education Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for education Thursday thumbed down proposed Education Minister Daniel Funeriu with 21 to 15 votes.

Romania Leu Hovers Above RON4.3 Vs Euro, Exch Rate Hits 8-1/2 Months Low

The Romanian leu has lost its slight gains versus the euro in mid trade Thursday, tracking regional markets, while the central bank’s reference broke through the psychological ceiling of 4.3 units per euro for the first time in the past eight and a half months.

Romanian NGOs Want Referendum Challenged At Constitutional Court

Four Romanian non-government organizations called on the country's ombudsman to notify the Constitution Court on potential breach of human rights, saying President Traian Basescu has the upper hand in election over other presidential contenders by appearing on two sets of electoral posters.

Romania To Have 1 Million Jobless People Next Year – Ex Labor Min

Romania’s former liberal labor minister Mariana Campeanu said Thursday the government has not adopted any measure this year to prompt economic revival and the country might have one million jobless people next year.

Romanian Parliament Committees Thumb Down Proposed Transport Min

Romania’s Parliament committees who heard proposed Transport and Communications Minister Radu Berceanu on Thursday opposed his nomination for the position 42 to 33 votes.

Fitch Sees Romania’s ’09 GDP -7.5%, Budget Gap At 7% Of GDP

Fitch Ratings forecasts Romania’s economy will fall 7.5% this year, while the budget deficit is seen at 7% of the projected gross domestic product, more optimistic compared with both the IMF and government’s estimations.

Hundreds Of Romanian Subway Workers March Up To Fin Ministry In Protest Over Wages

About 700 employees of Romania’s state-owned subway company Metrorex have gathered outside the Transport Ministry in Bucharest and will march up to the Finance Ministry protesting the management’s refusal to negotiate their wages.

Romanian MEP Adrian Severin To Run For EU High Representative For Foreign Policy – Press

Romanian center-left MEP Adrian Severin will run for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Policy to be created after the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, EurActiv quoted sources close to the matter in Brussels and Bucharest.

Romanian Parliament Committees Thumb Down Proposed Environment Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for public administration thumbed down proposed Environment Minister Sulfina Barbu with 21 to 15 votes.

Romania To Borrow EUR370M From EIB For Subway Line

Romania's Government on Wednesday authorized the Finance Ministry to contract a EUR370 million loan from the European Investment Bank for the construction of Drumul Taberei-Universitate subway line in capital Bucharest, acting Prime Minister Emil Boc said late Wednesday.

Orange Romania 9-Mo Revenues Down 18.1% YY, To EUR800M

Mobile telephony operator Orange Romania saw a 18.1% decrease in revenues, to EUR800 million, in the first nine months of 2009,compared with EUR977 million in the same period in 2008, on the backdrop of harsh economic conditions and fierce competition, Orange Group said in a press release Thursday.

Romanian Govt’s Budget Reserve Fund For 2009 Has Only RON7M Left – PM

The Romanian government’s budget reserve fund for 2009 currently has only 7 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2995) left but can be refilled by the end of the year with money left unspent by ministries, caretaker Prime Minister Emil Boc said late Wednesday.

Cancelling Public Sector Employees’ Unpaid Leave Entails Additional Expenses – Romanian Fin Min

The postponement of the decision regarding the unpaid leave for employees in the public sector will require additional measures so that the budget deficit be no higher than 7.3% of the GDP, as negotiated with the International Monetary Fund, Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday.

IMF Mission Meets Romanian Ctrl Bk Governor, Finance Minister

A mission of the International Monetary Fund met Wednesday with central bank Governor Mugur Isarescu and held talks with the representatives of the Finance Ministry.

Romanian Parliament Committees Opposed Proposed Agriculture Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for agriculture and public administration opposed proposed Agriculture Minister Adrian Radulescu with 26 to 43 votes.

Romanian Parliament Committees Oppose Proposed Justice Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for justice and human rights opposed proposed Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu with 26 to 36 votes.

Romanian Govt Allots RON15 Installment Of Subsidy For Sheep Farmers

Romania's Government decided Wednesday to allot a 15 lei per head (EUR1=RON4.2995) installment of the subsidy granted to sheep farmers, official sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Proposed Foreign Affairs Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for foreign policy and European affairs endorsed proposed Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu with 32 to 10 votes.

Romanian Parliament Committees Oppose Proposed Labor, Finance Ministers

Romania’s Parliament committees for labor and equality of chances opposed proposed Labor Minister Mihai Seitan with 18 to 28 votes, and the committees for budget and finances opposed proposed Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea with 15 to 23 votes.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Proposed Development Minister

Romania’s Parliament committees for public administration, economy and industry endorsed proposed Regional Development and Tourism Minister Vasile Blaga with 34 to 28 votes.

Romanian Employers Say Minimum Wage At RON705 Would Entail Massive Job Cuts

Romanian employers said Wednesday that increasing the minimum wage to 705 lei (EUR1=RON4.2995) without amending the Collective Labor Contract would be “irresponsible” and would lead to massive layoffs.

Half Of Romanian Pharmacies Can’t Pay Debts To Medicine Suppliers, Budget

About half of Romanian pharmacies risk not being able to pay their debts to medicine suppliers and the state budget by the end of the year, after the government gave health insurance houses six months to pay their bills instead of three, the Romanian Pharmacists’ College said Wednesday.

Romania’s Constitutional Court Postpones Rulings On Controversial Laws Until After Elections

Romanian Constitutional Court postponed Wednesday until after presidential elections rulings on the legitimacy of three laws the government enacted after gaining a confidence vote in Parliament mid-September.

PepsiAmericas Says 3Q Results Hurt By Falling Sales In Romania

PepsiAmericas Inc., the world’s second-largest Pepsi bottler, Wednesday said its third-quarter revenue on the European markets was negatively affected by the economic downturn in Romania.

Romanian President Calls For Yes Vote In Referendum To Downsize Parliament

Romanian Present Traian Basescu Wednesday called on Romanians to vote yes at the referendum to downsize the Parliament, held along with presidential elections on November 22, saying the political class refuses to reform itself.

Romanian President Opposes Tax Hikes, Including VAT

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Wednesday said he opposes any tax hikes in times of crisis, as the measure would only increase tax evasion, dismissing recent media reports about him favoring a higher level of the value added tax to boost revenues to the state budget.

Romanian Govt Can Pay Livestock Farming Subsidies In 2010 – Interim Agric Min

Romanian interim Agriculture Minister Radu Berceanu asked livestock farmers to consent to receiving part of the subsidy for cattle and sheep in 2009 and the rest in the first two months of 2010, as the budget does not allow for the allocation of the entire amount at the moment.

Romania Will Be Normal When An Ethnic Hungarian Has Equal Chance To Be President

Kelemen Hunor, running for president of Romania in the November 22 election, said Wednesday Romania will be a normal country when people no longer consider an ethnic Hungarian has a slimmer chance of becoming president than a Romanian.

Heavy Fog Delayed 21 Carpatair Flights On W Romanian Timisoara Airport

Twenty-one flights operated by Romanian airliner Carpatair, due to land on Timisoara international airport, western Romania, registered delays of three to four hours on Wednesday due to heavy fog, airport spokesperson Roxana Manasia said Wednesday.

Romanian School Teacher Catches Severe AH1N1 Flu

A school teacher in Bucharest developed a severe infection with the AH1N1 virus and children in her class were sent home for a week and will be monitored by their family physicians.

Airliners To Pay Higher Taxes On Bucharest’s Baneasa Airport

Airliners operating on the Bucharest's Baneasa Airport will pay higher taxes and might relocate their activity to Otopeni Airport, just outside Bucharest, starting 2012, general manager of Baneasa airport George Mihalcea said Wednesday.

Romania’s Tarom Launched New Flights From Bucharest To Budapest, Bari

Romania’s state-run airliner Tarom started to operate new flights from capital city Bucharest to Budapest in Hungary, on October 25, and it will also launch new flights from Bucharest to Bari in Italy, on December 11, the company said Wednesday.

French Group Alcatel-Lucent To Transfer Romanian Employees To Partner Firms

French telecommunications equipment giant Alcatel-Lucent will transfer some of the staff of its Romanian division to firms set up in partnership with other companies and there will be no layoffs, as part of a program to streamline its operations, according to local branch officials.

Russia’s Future Logistical Center In Serbia Might Pose Problems For Romania – U.S. Think Tank

Russia will set up a “humanitarian” logistical center in Serbia to prevent natural disasters and technological catastrophes, but the center might pose problems for Romania or Bulgaria by requesting over flight permission to resupply the center, U.S. Jamestown Foundation reported on its website.

Romanian Farmers Clash With Security Forces During Protest In Bucharest

Romanian farmers protesting outside the Finance Ministry in Bucharest clashed with gendarmes Wednesday morning when they tried to break through security lines.

Romanian Parliament Legal Committee To Hear Two High Officials In Connection With Controversial Cases

The defense committee of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies will hear Wednesday democrat liberal interim Interior Minister Vasile Blaga and presidential adviser Constantin Degeratu on the indictment of four intelligence officers and the Omar Hayssam case, respectively.

Romanian President Pledges New Govt Before Presidential Polls If Croitoru’ Cabinet Falls

Romania’s acting President Traian Basescu on Tuesday said that, if the new Cabinet formed by designated Prime Minister Lucian Croitoru does not get the Parliament’s confidence vote, he will see that a new Cabinet is formed before the presidential elections due on November 22.

Romania’s New President Will Secure Majority In Parliament – President Basescu

Romania's acting President Traian Basescu said Tuesday that, after the presidential elections in November, the country's new president will succeed in putting together a Parliament majority to further form a new government.