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EC Unlocks EUR170M SAPARD Funds For Romania

The European Commission sent Saturday a letter to Romanian authorities, informing them SAPARD payments worth EUR170 million have been unlocked, Romanian agriculture minister Liviu Harbuz told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Transporters To File Complaint At EC Over Excessive Fines By Hungarian Authorities

Two transport organizations in Romania, namely APTE 2002 and FORT, will file a complaint at the European Commission against the fines applied to Romanian transporters by Hungarian road control authorities, MTI news agency informed, citing the leaders of the two organizations.

Romanian Trade Registry: 80,000 Cos Suspend Ops In 1H, Up 12-Fold On Yr

The number of Romanian companies that suspended their activity in the first half of 2009 rose sharply compared with the same period a year ago, Trade Registry data shows, signaling the financial crisis and the minimum tax enforcement have taken their toll on the country's economy.

Italian Co Building Bucharest-Brasov Hwy Should Use Local Reinforced Concrete – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Friday told the Italian constructors who won the auction for the first segment of the highway linking capital city Bucharest to central Brasov to buy reinforced concrete produced in Romania, as the local steel industry is closing down over lack of demand.

Romania Does Not Plan To Ask IMF To Hike Loan – PM

Romania's Government does not plan to ask the International Monetary Fund to increase the loan or to amend the macroeconomic indicators agreed in spring, and the first half indicators will be analyzed as of July 20 when official data is available, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

Romanian Prosecutors Request Financial Checkups In Youth Day Scandal

Romanian prosecutors requested financial checkups at the companies that signed contracts with the Youth and Sports Ministry for the Youth Day festivities, the country’s financial authority ANAF said Friday.

Romanian National Park Retezat In „Seven Natural Wonders of the World” Semifinals

Romania qualified in the semifinals of the competition "The Seven Natural Wonders of the World", as National Park Retezat ranked tenth among the most beautiful national parks, forests and natural monuments of the world.

Romania’s Jan-May Trade Def At EUR3.6B Vs EUR9.1B

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed in the first five months to EUR3.62 billion from EUR9.1 billion in the same period a year earlier, the National Statistics Institute reported Friday.

Romania’s June CPI +0.2% M-M, Annual Inflation Narrows To 5.86%

Romanian consumer price index rose 0.2% in June compared with the previous month, due to higher fuel prices and the leu depreciation, but the annual inflation narrowed to 5.86%, according to data released Friday by the National Statistics Institute.

Businessman Sorin Vantu Sues Romanian President For Slander

Romanian businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu has sued President Traian Basescu over slanderous allegations during a television on private channel B1 TV, according to journalist Victor Ciutacu’s blog.

Romanian Parl Commission Recommends Youth Minister Dismissal, Prosecution

The Romanian Parliament commission looking into the Youth Day scandal recommended on Thursday that the prime minister dismisses youth minister Monica Iacob Ridzi and requested her prosecution on charges of embezzlement and abuse of office.

OLAF ’08 Investigations In Bulgaria, Romania Brought Out More Than EUR80M In Fraud

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) had 23 ongoing investigations in Bulgaria and five in Romania at the end of 2008, in cases involving fraud and mismanagement of SAPARD funds, which brought total damages worth more than EUR80 million, according to OLAF’s Annual Activity Report for 2008.

Romanian Swine Flu Cases Climb To 50

Romanian authorities on Thursday confirmed the 50th infection with the new A/H1N1 flu virus, in a 38-year-old man who returned from the U.K. recently, the Health Ministry said in a release.

Moody’s Revises Dn Romania’s ’09 GDP Contraction Forecast To 5.7%

Moody’s revised downwards its predictions on Romania’s economic contraction in 2009 to -5.7% from its previous forecast of -4%, the rating agency said in a Credit Opinion report on Romania.

Romanian Ex-Convict Miron Cozma Set To Run For Presidency

Romanian former miners’ leader Miron Cozma, who served time in prison for his involvement in the 1991 riots, said Thursday that he will run independently in the presidential election in fall, unless he succeeds in registering his Workers Party by then.

Romanian Parliament Committee To Push For Prosecution Of Youth Minister

The parliament inquiry committee investigating Romania’s youth and sports minister Monica Iacob-Ridzi will recommend the start of prosecution against the minister, while the ruling Democratic Liberal Party will draft a separate stance.

Romania To Scrap Over 19,000 Jobs In July-October ’09

Romania will scrap 19,209 jobs July through October this year and 184 companies countrywide notified local employment agencies about layoff plans until Wednesday, the national employment agency ANOFM said Thursday.

Romanian Law Dissolving Anti-Fraud Department Ruled Unconstitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court ruled Thursday that the Law approving Government Emergency Ordinance no. 3/2009, which dissolved the Anti-Fraud Department, is unconstitutional.

Romanian Court Annuls Fin Ministry Address Regarding Magistrates’ Bonus

The Bucharest Court of Appeals on Thursday annulled an address of the Ministry of Finance informing magistrates that a 50% mental distress bonus was not included in their salaries for June, upholding an appeal of judges with the Supreme Court.

“First Home” Program Meets EU Rules On State Guarantees – Romanian PM

The “First Homese” program complies with all European Union norms regarding state guarantees, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday.

Low-Cost Airliner Wizz Air Carried 720,000 Passengers In 1H ’09, Up 86% On Yr

Low-cost airliner Wizz Air carried 720,000 passengers from and to Romania in the first half of the year, up 86% from the same period in 2008, mainly on the backdrop of the increase in the number of flights and the setting up of new operations bases on the Romanian market.

Romanian PM Urges Magistrates To Resume Business As Usual

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Thursday called on the magistrates to understand the burden their pay bonuses would put on the state budget in a period of crisis, urging them to give up protests and carry on their activity as usual.

EC Asks Romania For Information On „First House” Program In Routine Procedure

The European Commission has recently asked Romanian authorities for information on the "First Home" program, EC spokesperson Jonathan Todd said Thursday, adding that it was just a routine procedure.

Probe Committee Report On Youth Minister Case Completed Tuesday – Youth Min

Romanian youth and sports minister Monica Iacob Ridzi presented a document on television station Realitatea TV, saying it is the final draft of the Parliament investigation committee’s report, adding criminal investigations are requested against her over alleged embezzlement and abuse of office.

FC Arges Demoted To League II

Romania’s Professional Football League (LPF) on Wednesday decided to demote FC Arges to the second league and declared club owner Cornel Penescu persona non-grata in the Romanian football, following allegations of match fixing.

Romania’s Petrom Cuts Gas, Diesel Oil Pump Prices

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) will cut Thursday its unleaded gasoline and euro 5 diesel pump prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON4.2170) and RON0.02 per liter, respectively.

Romanian Government To Guarantee Storage Certificates Granted To Farmers

The Romanian Government decided on Wednesday to guarantee storage certificates granted to farmers, with the new system’s procedures to be explained in detail, through methodological norms, within one week, government sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Cos’ VAT To Be Reimbursed 3 Times/Month, 80% Payments Directed To Old Debts

The sums owed by the Romanian state to companies as value-added tax reimbursements will be paid three times a month, on 4th, 24th and 29th of the month, while 80% of the payments will be made to companies subject to the highest delays, Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday.

Romanian Justice Minister To Appeal Ruling Cancelling His Order On Magistrates’ Bonuses

Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu said Wednesday he will file an appeal at the High Court of Justice to ruling passed Tuesday by the Bucharest Court of Appeals, which suspended his order scrapping a 50% bonus for magistrates.

Romanian Magistrates Call On Justice Min To Resign Over Unpaid Bonuses

Romanian magistrates on Wednesday requested the resignation of Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu, following an order removing a 50% pay bonus for neuropsychological exhaustion.

Romanian Magistrates To Halt Activity For 3 Hrs Daily As Of Thursday

Court sessions across Romania will be suspended daily for three hours as of Thursday, most likely as of 9 a.m., the vice-president of the Romanian National Union of Judges, Dragos Calin, said Wednesday.

Romanian Agriculture Ministry Cuts Staff Down To Half – Minister

Romania’s Ministry of Agriculture will cut to half the number of staff in its central apparatus, to 300 employees from the more than 600 currently employed, agriculture minister Ilie Sarbu said Wednesday.

Romanian Financial Guard To Probe Youth Day Organizers – Youth Minister

Romanian youth minister Monica Iacob Ridzi said Wednesday before the Parliament inquiry committee that she has asked the Financial Guard to check the two companies which organized the Youth Day festivities.

A Quarter Of Requests In „First Home” Program Are For Newly-Built Homes – Romanian Govt

Current data show that more than 25% of the applications for mortgage loans guaranteed by the state in the "First Home" program target newly-built dwellings, the Romanian government said Wednesday.

Romanian Justice Minister Calls On Magistrates To Cease Illegal Protests

Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu on Wednesday called on magistrates to do their job and stop halting activity in courts, after trials were halted temporarily over the past two days, in protest to the ministry’s decision to cut a 50% wage bonus for justice system staff.

Romanian Environment Min Heard By Parliament Inquiry Committee

Romanian environment minister Nicolae Nemirschi si being heard Wednesday by a parliamentary inquiry committee regarding the ministry’s awarding of an advertising contract worth over 2 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2100) in April.

U.S. Nominated Ambassador To Romania To Focus On Corruption, International Adoptions

The nominated U.S. Ambassador to Romania said the improvement of the economic environment for American companies, especially through the fight against corruption, as well as the resumption of international adoptions will be his priorities throughout the mandate, according to the U.S. Senate website.

Romanian President Greets Belgian Royal Family

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday welcomed the Belgian royal couple at the presidencial Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest.

Frattini: Romania Should Not Be Slammed Over Justice System

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in Bucharest on Tuesday that the EU bloc should not slam Romania and Bulgaria over their slow reform in the justice sector, as the mechanism for cooperation and verification is supposed to “help and encourage.”

Oil Group Rompetrol’s Future Gas Stations In Romania To Be Named Litro

The future gas stations that oil company Rompetrol Group will open in Romania will operate under Litro brand, while the current ones will keep the previous name, the group’s new CEO Saduokhas Meraliev said Tuesday.