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Drug Prices In Romanian Drugstores To Increase Just 1% As Of April, Producer Prices Hike 6% – Min

Romanian health minister Ion Bazac told MEDIAFAX Thursday that people needn’t worry about drug prices rising 6% as of April, because that hike is for producer prices and prices in drugstores will only increase 1%.

Constr, Agric Weight In Romanian GDP Up In ’08, Industry’s Contribution Dn 1 Pps

The construction sector and agriculture increased in 2008 their ratio in Romania's gross domestic product, while industry’s weight in the GDP fell by one percentage point, according to data released Thursday by the country’s Statistics Institute INS.

Romanian Transport Ministry Will Send Restructuring Plan To Railway Union

Romanian Transport Ministry representatives will send the railway workers’ union the restructuring program for the sector, and a meeting on the topic is planned for next week.

Romanian Govt Extends Welfare Granting Interval By 3 Months

The unemployment aid granting interval will be extended by three months, while the employer and employees will be exempt from paying social security contributions, throughout the temporary cease of activity, for an interval of three months, the Romanian government decided Wednesday.

Alexandru Ion Tiriac Ups His Stake In Romanian Flamingo At 5.12%

Alexandru Ion Tiriac, the son of Romanian businessman Ion Tiriac, increased his stake in electronics retailer Flamingo International (FLA.RO) at 5.12%, after buying 0.12% of the company’s shares on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

Romania’s Petrom Hikes Gasoline Pump Prices By RON0.07/Liter

Romania’s dominant oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), owned by Austria’s OMV (OMV.VI), will hike Thursday its gasoline pump prices by 0.07 lei (EUR1=RON4.2939) per liter, keeping the same price for its diesel oil, the company said in a statement.

Italian Man Get 5-Year Sentence For Raping A Romanian Woman In Rome

A court in Rome issued a five-year prison sentence against an Italian citizen found guilty of raping a 38-yea old Romanian woman, TGcom.it informed.

Romania Seaside Hotel Rates Kept Unchanged In ‘09 – Hotel Owners

Romanian seaside hotels will charge similar tariffs as the last year, according to hotel owners, who said the number of tour packages sold in the first two months of the year exceeded the sales in the corresponding period of 2008.

Romanians Register Cars In Bulgaria To Avoid Tax – Environment Min

Romanian and Bulgarian ministries of interior are looking for a "catch" that could prevent Romanians from registering their cars in the name of Bulgarian nationals to avoid paying car taxes, Romanian Environment Minister Nicolae Nemirschi said Wednesday.

IMF Sees Romanian Econ Shrinking By 4% In 09, Budget Def At 4% Of GDP – Sources

International Monetary Fund's prognosis on Romanian economy shows a budget deficit above 4% of the GDP in 2009, as the GDP is expected to shrink by 3%-4% this year, Romanian representative to the IMF Mihai Tanasescu told the top members of the Social Democratic Party PSD, part of the ruling coalition.

Romania Won’t Need To Raise Taxes Following IMF Agreement – IMF Official

Romania’s representative with the International Monetary Fund, Mihai Tanasescu, said Wednesday that Romania won’t need to raise taxes following an agreement with the IMF, according to the Fund’s analysis so far.

Romanian Car Producer Dacia Will Handle The Crisis Better – GM

Romanian automobile producer Dacia will handle the crisis better than others, because customer preferences in rich countries are changing and people are looking for cars which have adapted to the new economic conditions, Dacia general manager Francois Fourmont said.

Romanian Environ Min Says Car Park Renewal Program Is Going “Pretty Badly”

Romanian environment minister Nicolae Nemirschi said Wednesday the country’s car park renewal program is going “pretty badly” because of “officials who don’t know what they’re talking about”, but said he would have a better picture of the program when he gets concrete data on Monday.

Fuel Excise Hike, Not Excluded By Fin Min To Boost Budget Revenues

Romania's Government might hike fuel excises in 2009 to increase the budget revenues, finance minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday.

Three Detained In NW Romania Fraudulent Driving License Inquiry

Three people were detained within the investigation of the manner in which driving licenses were issued in Romania county Cluj, following hearings unfolded Tuesday night.

Romanian PM Deems IMF Agreement Essential For Lending Revival

Romania’s agreement with the IMF is essential for reviving the lending activity, as about two thirds of the external loan value will be directed to the central bank and, from the rest of the sum that will go to the Finance Ministry, a part will be distributed to banks, Prime Minister Emil Boc said.

Romanian President’s Daughter Quits Party To Run For EP Independently

The youngest daughter of Romanian president Traian Basescu, Elena Basescu, said Wednesday in a press conference that she is quitting the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) and will run independently for a seat in the European Parliament and plans to return to the party if she wins the election.

Romania’s Agreement With IMF, EC Deemed Preventive – PM

Romania's loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission is preventive, and will have a major role in reviving the lending, the country's Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday.

Romanian Social Democrats Loyal To Govt As Long As They Get Equal Say – Party Leader

Romanian Social Democrat (PSD) leader Mircea Geoana stated Wednesday in the party’s National Executive Committee meeting that PSD is loyal to the Government it is part of, as long as it serves the interests of its own voters and both parties in the coalition have equal say.

Romania Ups Fees For Release Of Driving Licenses, Vehicle Registration Certificates

Romania’s Department for Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration (DRPCIV) said Wednesday that fees for the release of driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates would be hiked starting Friday, March 20.

Romania’s Main Priorities Should Be Cutting External Gap, Budget Def – Ctrl Bker

Cutting the current account and budget deficit should be the Romanian authorities’ main objectives, as any increase of the deficits would deteriorate foreign investors’ sentiment on the country's economy, central bank chief economist Valentin Lazea said Wednesday.

Patricia Kaas Sings In Bucharest On June 14

French singer Patricia Kaas will be in concert at Sala Palatului in Romanian capital Bucharest on June 14, as part of the tour promoting her latest album, “Kabaret”, released in November 2008.

Romanians Rejecting Thermal Rehabilitation Program In Their Building Won’t Be Sanctioned

Romanians living in poorly insulated buildings who refuse to be part of the national thermal rehabilitation program won’t be sanctioned, Romanian minster of regional development and housing Vasile Blaga said Wednesday.

Passenger Train Engine Catches Fire In Southern Romania

The engine of a train on route from Craiova to Piatra Olt, in southern Romania, caught fire Tuesday night as it came into the Spineni-Olt flag station and passengers on the three cars were evacuated, without any injuries.

Romanian Pres, PM, Ctrl Bk Gov Meet IMF Delegation – Sources

Romanian President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Emil Boc and central bank governor Mugur Isarescu are discussing with the International Monetary Fund delegation at Cotroceni Palace, the president’s office, official sources told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romanian Specific Excise To Reach EUR35.06 / 1,000 Cigarettes Come Apr 1

The Romanian specific excise will grow, starting with April 1, from EUR27.31 to EUR35.06 / 1,000 cigarettes, while the ad valorem excise will drop from 25% to 23% of the maximum sale price, according to a draft government ordinance

Romanian Deputies Annul 75% Pay Hike For Ministry Staff That Manage EU Funds

Romanian lower house on Tuesday adopted with 174 votes a government ordinance to annul a 75% pay hike for ministry staff that manage European funds.

Romanian Govt Ups Sparkling Alcohol Excise By EUR11

The Romanian government will increase, starting with April 1, the excises for fermented sparkling beverages to EUR34.05 / hl to EUR45 / hl, as well as for intermediary alcoholic products from EUR51.08 / hl to EUR65 / hl, in view of increasing revenues to the state budget, according to a draft emerge

Cos In E Romanian County Vaslui To Lay Off 1,100 Employees In Mar, Apr

Over 1,000 employees in Romanian Vaslui county will be collectively laid off in the near future because of restructuring in the activities of companies, due to the economic crisis, representatives of the Vaslui County Employment Agency announced Tuesday.

Romania Does Not Restrict Private Visits Of Hungarian Officials – FM

Romania does not intend to restrict the private visits of Hungarian officials, but while they are on Romanian soil in a private function they must respect the Constitution, says a message sent by Romanian Foreign Ministry state secretary Bogdan Mazuru to the Hungarian ambassador.

Romanian Liberal VP Criticizes New Civil Code Provisions On Press

Romanian Liberal vice-president Norica Nicolai stated in a Tuesday conference that the provisions of the new Civil Code, which is currently debated by Parliament, echo the “Communist philosophy on the press” and asked Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu to remove the chapter concerning the press.

Bucharest’s ’08 Avg Land Prices, At 2007’s Level – Colliers

The average land price in Romania's capital city Bucharest was at the end of 2008 at EUR633 per square meter, close to the previous year's, as the lands in northern area Pipera reported the largest price decreases, according to real estate consultancy company Colliers.

Approx 8,000 Workers With Romanian SNLO Put On Extended Easter Leave

Approximately 8,000 of the total 9,000 employees with Romania's state-owned brown coal mining company SNLO will be sent on holiday between April 21 and 30, after the Easter holidays, on lower coal demand, trade union leader Viorel Temelescu said Tuesday.

Romanian Transport Ministry Will Take Over 6 Ha Of Forest For Highway

The Romanian Ministry for Transportation will take over six hectares of forest from the National Forest Administration Romsilva, through the Snagov Forestry Department, necessary for the construction of the Bucharest-Ploiesti highway.

Romanian Real Estate Mkt Blocked Anyway – Colliers

Romanian real estate market would have unavoidably entered a deadlock due to the lack of correlation between offer and demand, even if there was no financial crunch, real estate consultancy firm Colliers International said Tuesday.

Romania Telecom Watchdog, Operators Set Up Cell Phone Unlocking Rules

Romanian Communications Authority, or ANC, and mobile telephony operators will set up a Code of good practices to regulate cell phone unlocking to any service provider, the telecom regulator said Tuesday.

Sale Prices Of Romanian Hotels Seen Dn 30% In ’09 – Consultant

The sale prices of Romania’s hotels will drop by at least 30% in 2009, due to the financial turmoil, while the number of hotel transactions is seen down 70% compared with 2008, Sorin Ionescu, managing partner in hotel consultancy company Fivestar Hospitality, said Tuesday.

Romanian Liberals File Motion On Education

Romanian liberal MPs on Tuesday submitted a motion on education in the Chamber of Deputies, demanding the annulment of a series of measures introduced by Education Minister Ecaterina Andronescu.

Most Of Romanian SMEs, Affected By Fin Crisis – SME Council Head

More than 90% of Romanian small and medium sized enterprises SMEs are affected by the financial crisis, mostly because of lower demand and harsher lending conditions, the president of the National Council of Small and Medium Sized Private Enterprises CNIPMMR Ovidiu Nicolescu said Tuesday.

Anticorruption Prosecutors Raid Driving Licenses Dpt In NW Romanian City

Romanian anticorruption officers and prosecutors carried out raids Tuesday morning on 13 locations in the northwestern city of Cluj Napoca, including the Department for Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration, and took three people, including an employee of the department, to the local anticorruption department for hearings, under suspicion of fraudulent issue of driving licenses.