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Romania Senator Sent To Trial On Corruption Charges

Romanian senator Mitron Mitrea was sent to trial by anticorruption prosecutors in the case where he is charged with obtaining benefits for a home owned by his mother.

Romania Might Postpone Enforcement Of Mandatory Home Insurance Law

Romania’s Interior Ministry and the insurance regulator CSA wants to propose a delay in the enforcement of the law forcing people to insure their homes against disasters, planned to become effective as of July 1, the regulator said Thursday.

Romanian President Confident Poland Will Solve Crulic Case

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Thursday in Warsaw, after the meeting with Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski, that he is convinced Polish justice will solve the case involving Romanian citizen Claudiu Crulic’s death.

Romanian Cable Operators Frown At Proposed 12% Copyright Fee

The Romanian Cable Communications Association warned that an increase from 2% to 12% of the remuneration for copyright and other rights, demanded from cable communications operators by authorities, does not comply with European practices and will bring a 10% increase in subscription fees.

Romanian Education Unions Put Off Collective Labor Contract Negotiation

Romanian unions in the education sector postponed again the negotiation of the collective labor contract Thursday until the government removes provisions that affect the rights of students and teachers from its decree lowering bonuses in the public sector.

Romanian Finance, Environment Ministries OKed Car Tax Refund Procedure

The procedure to refund the difference between the tripled car pollution tax, valid between December 15, 2008 and February 19, 2009, and the one enforced between July 1 and December 15, 2008, has been approved through an order of the Romanian Ministers of Finance and of the Environment.

Romania’s Renegotiation Of Infrastructure Contracts Doubles, Triples Initial Costs – World Bank

Romania’s transport infrastructure costs are among the highest in Europe, largely because authorities repeatedly renegotiate contracts awarded to private companies and final costs are double or even triple the initial level, the World Bank said in a report.

Romanian Police Pressured Rape Suspects Into Confessing In Rome – Paper

Italian police officers said Romanian police officers pressured the two suspects arrested for the rape of a teenage girl, who said they are innocent.

Romania Might Further Hike Vice Tax – World Bank

The vice tax, especially the one applied for tobacco products, might be further increased in Romania, given that other European states have higher taxes per cigarettes compared with Romania, the World Bank stated in a report.

Romanian Govt Halts Raises For Public Sector Employees With High Incomes – PM

Romanian public sector employees with high wages could lose out on raises for a while, as that growth will be redirected towards people with low incomes, in order to ensure the balance between the various categories of employees, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday.

Lists Of Romanian EP Candidates Require Min 200,000 Signatures

Romania’s lists of candidates for the European Parliament elections due for June must include the signatures of at least 200,000 supporters and must ensure representation of both sexes, according to a government emergency Ordinance approved Wednesday.

Romania’s Pension Sys Is Vulnerable To Political Pressures – WB

The lack of clear regulations for pension adjustments makes the system very vulnerable to political pressures, rising thus the uncertainty on Romania’s fiscal perspectives, but also the participants’ insecurity, a World Bank report said.

Romanian Govt Should Limit Wages, Freeze Hiring, Scrap Bonuses – World Bank

The World Bank recommended that, in the short run, Romanian authorities should only increase wages to cover inflation, freeze hiring and start a multiannual plan to eliminate bonuses, as the lack of a coherent wage strategy has allowed unions to come up with excessive demands.

Romania Faces Risks That May Trigger Econ Downward Spiral – World Bank

Romania faces risks related to the pro-cyclic fiscal policy, salaries, external financing and foreign demand cut, which might trigger an economic downward spiral and banking sector woes, according to a World Bank report issued for Romanian authorities.

Romanian President To Discuss Econ Crisis, Energy Security In Warsaw

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Thursday before leaving for Warsaw, Poland, that discussion topics with Poland will include the economic crisis, energy security and the common EU agriculture policy.

Romanian Leu Opens Up Vs Euro On Positive Reg Sentiment

The Romanian leu opened higher against the euro Thursday, amid a positive sentiment on emerging markets, after US markets closed significantly higher.

Romania To Eliminate 21 Permits Currently Required In Construction, Transport, Tourism, Energy

The Romanian government decided in a memorandum Wednesday to eliminate 21 authorizations currently required in construction, transport, tourism, winemaking and the energy sector by the end of June.

European Parliament Elections To Be Held On June 7

The Romanian Government decided, Wednesday, to hold elections for the European Parliament on June 7.

Romanian Govt Eliminates Demographic Criteria For New Drugstores

Romanian government on Wednesday replaced the demographic criterion to authorize drugstores in the rural areas with a fee paid to the National Drug Agency, in a move to stimulate new openings and ensure medical services in underprivileged regions.

Romanian Buildings Thermal Upgrade 50% Supported By State Budget

Landlords will pay 20% of buildings’ thermal restoration costs, while the state budget’s contribution will increase to 50%, and the rest of 30% will be covered by the local authorities, Romanian government decided Wednesday.

Romanian Bks Assoc Head Pledges For Loans, Despite Higher Costs

The president of Romanian Banks Association, or ARB, Radu Ghetea, recommended clients to continue to take loans, despite higher costs and stricter requirements, adding that the banking system has the necessary financing sources.

Romanian Killer Gets 14-Year Jail Sentence In Italy

One Romanian citizen was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by an Italian court, for the murder, in December 2006, of a Columbian teacher with whom he was romantically involved, La Nazione informed online.

Romanian Ctrl Bker: External Loans Should Be Paid Back By 2013

The external loans Romania may attract in 2009 have to cover the relatively low EU funds absorption capacity and should be paid back only when a larger part of the EU funds is attracted, by 2013, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Wednesday.

Romanian Govt Plans To Charge Cos Contesting Public Procurement Auctions 10% Of Proj Value

The Romanian government is considering charging companies contesting public procurement auctions 10% of the value of the auctioned project G, to discourage companies that contest auctions to block procedures.

Romanian State Might Act Against Those Who Do Not Pay Their Loans – Pres

Romanian President Traian Basescu warned Wednesday, at the end of the meeting with banks’ representatives, that state might act against those who do not pay their loans deliberately, in order to protect the Romanian banking system.

Romania To Decide On IMF Loan After Analyzing Terms

The International Monetary Fund presented to the Romanian delegation in Washington a series of conditions for a potential agreement, and a decision to inviting IMF experts to Bucharest to negotiate a loan will be made after the Romanian authorities analyze the proposed terms.

Romanian Fin Min: New Lump Sum Tax Not Applied In Construction Sectoror

Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday the Government would not apply the lump sum tax to companies in the construction sector, as the sector needs additional incentives.

Romania’s Fin Min Says Lump Sum Tax Will Improve Tax Payment

The Romanian Government plans to introduce the lump sum tax and give up the profit tax "for the hundreds of thousands of companies that report losses," in order to control tax payments more efficiently, Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday.

NATO Took Note Of Romanian Treason, Espionage Case

NATO doesn’t comment on issues related to intelligence but took note of the fact that Romanian authorities are investigating the case of a noncommissioned officer accused of treason and espionage, a NATO press officer told MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s Rompetrol To Cut Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.09/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, will cut Thursday its diesel oil pump prices by 0.09 lei (EUR1=RON4.2884) per liter, keeping the same price for gasoline, the company said in a statement.

Romanian Lawmakers Allow Prosecution Of Ex PM

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies approved Wednesday with 158 pros and 128 cons the request issued by the Prosecutor General of Romania to start prosecuting lawmaker and former prime minister Adrian Nastase, in the corruption cases "Matusa Tamara" and "Zambaccian 2".

Romania Tests Loan Conditions With IMF, EC – Fin Min

Romania is discussing with both the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund to see the structure, the value and the conditions of an eventual loan, Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday.

Marinov Zikolov Was Military Attache With Bulgarian Embassy

The Bulgarian Ambassador to Bucharest said Wednesday that Marinov Zikolov worked as a military attaché with the embassy from November 1998 until mid-2000, and that he did not finish his term because he returned to Bulgaria where he became a businessman.

New Suspect In Italian Rape Case Is In Romania

A third suspect in the case of the teenager raped in Rome on February 14 has been identified by Romanian authorities, as he is currently in the country, says Italian daily Il Messaggero.

Lukoil Romania Cuts Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.09 Per Liter

Lukoil Romania, a unit of Russian oil company Lukoil Holdings, cut Wednesday its diesel oil pump prices by 0.09 lei (EUR1=RON4.2946) per liter and kept gasoline prices unchanged, the company said in a statement.

Train Locomotive Catches Fire In C Romania, No Victims

The locomotive of an international train on the route Budapest - Bucharest caught fire Wednesday morning between Campina and Floresti in Prahova county, central Romania.

Exchange Office Robbed In NW Romanian City Center

A currency exchange office in the center of Romania’s northwestern city of Cluj-Napoca was broken into Tuesday night. Sources within the local police said no employees were at the office at the time of the robbery.

Romanian 2008 GDP At RON504B, Up 7.1% On Year

Romania’s gross domestic product grew by a lower than expected 7.1% in 2008 to 504 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2946), after an abrupt slowdown in the fourth quarter, the National Statistics Institute reported Wednesday.

Romanian Household Lending Flat In Jan Compared With Dec

Romanian household lending was blocked in January, as it stayed at the previous month’s level, both on the mortgage and consumer loans’, according to the central bank BNR data.

Romanian Ex-FM Appointed Ambassador To Berlin

Romanian lawmakers on Tuesday appointed former foreign minister Lazar Comanescu Ambassador to Germany’s capital Berlin.