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Romanian Govt Sets Nearly RON1,700 Threshold For Public Sector Pension-Wage Cumulus

The Romanian government decided in its meeting Wednesday to allow the cumulation of pensions with salaries in the public sector only for people whose pensions amount to nearly 1,700 lei (EUR1=RON4.2329), official sources told Mediafax.

Romanian Govt Pushes Back To Dec 31 Teacher Pay Hikes

The Romanian Government pushed back to December 31 the date for the first round of teaching staff salary increases, worth one third of the 28% hike decided by the former Cabinet.

Romania Civil Code Sub-Committee Regulates Correspondence Rights Of Kids Aged Up To 14

Romania’s legislative sub-committee analyzing the Civil Code decided Wednesday that parents are allowed to interfere with the correspondence and social interactions of children aged up to 14 “only if they present solid reasons” in this respect.

Civil Code Sub-Committee Bans Homosexual Couples From Adopting Kids

The Romanian MPs in the Civil Code sub-committee decided Wednesday that two people of the same sex cannot adopt a child, and adoption can only be performed by a couple formed of a man and a woman.

Romanian Actress Marga Barbu Dies At 80

Romanian actress Marga Barbu, 80, died Tuesday at the Bucharest Emergency Hospital Floreasca after a long battle with a cardiovascular disease.

Romanian Woman Shot In N Italy Dies

The Romanian woman shot in Verona by her employer, because of an alleged conflict between the two of them, died in the hospital, Corriere della Sera informed online.

100 Employees Of Romanian Doljchim Volunteered To Leave

One hundred employees with Doljchim Craiova chemical plant, owned by Romania's largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), will be subject to voluntary layoffs from April 1 until July 1, the plant’s manager Dumitru Ungureanu said Wednesday.

Romanian Senate OKs Decree Regulating Thermal Rehabilitation Program

Works to insulate old apartment buildings will be 50% paid from the state budget, the Romanian senate decided Wednesday, approving a government decree that targets energy efficiency by insulating old buildings.

Sinéad O’Connor To Sing In Bucharest On Jun 11

Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, one of the most controversial stars of the '90s, will come to Bucharest to hold a concert at Arenele Romane, on June 11, concert organizer Events announced.

Romania Drugstore Prices To See Average 10% Decrease As Of April 1

Romanian drugstore prices for imported medicine will see an average 10% decrease as of April 1, of which, infertility treatment medicine saw the most significant price decrease of nearly 700 lei (EUR1=RON4.2329), while prices for medicine made in Romania will see an average RON1 hike per product.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Sales In France Up Nearly 20% In March

Registrations of Dacia cars in France increased 19.4% in March compared to March 2009, to 4,316 units, while total car registrations were down he entire 2.9% to 238,292 cars, according to the Committee of French Carmakers (CCFA).

Romanian Ctrl Bk To Cut By 5% Fees Of ReGIS Payments

The National Bank of Romania BNR will cut by 5% the fees collected from banks for urgent or high value payments in the real-time settlement system ReGIS, as of April 1, the central bank said Wednesday.

Romania Not Affected By Gas Pipeline Explosion In Transdniester

Romania is not currently affected by the halt of gas deliveries from Russia to the Balkans after a gas pipeline explosion in Transdniester, according to the Economy Ministry.

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Is Party’s Best Presidential Candidate

Romanian social democrat Adrian Nastase said Tuesday that party president Mircea Geoana would make the party’s best candidate for the presidential elections, reckoning that if he is to win, he must leave no impression of a “deal” with Traian Basescu.

Romanian Auth ANRM Declassifies Initial Deal On Black Sea Lease

Romania’s Mineral Resources Agency ANRM declassified Tuesday the contract sealed in 1992 with Canada’s Sterling Resources for the crude oil and natural gas reserves in the Black Sea.

Romania Ups Pension Point 3% To RON718.4 As Of April 1

Romanian pensions increase as of April 1 and the pension point will be worth 718.4 lei (EUR1=RON4.2), 3% higher than the previous RON697.5, and will further increase an additional 2%, to RON732.8, as of October 1.

Romanian Senate Legal Committee: Only Courts Allowed To Suspend Driving Licenses

The Romanian Senate's committee for legal matters on Tuesday approved an amendment to Government Emergency Ordinance 9/2009 stipulating that, in fraud cases, driving licenses can be suspended only by courts, not by the issuing authority.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk To Gradually Ease Monetary Policy After Applying IMF-Agreed Measures

The inflation increase and the economic slowdown triggered by lower exports and reduced external financing ask for a prudent view on the monetary policy that will ease gradually together with the implementation of the policy mix agreed with the International Monetary Fund, the central bank said.

FOCUS: Romanian Ctrl Bk’s New Reserve Rule May Have Positive Effects On Lending

The central bank’s decission to cut the reserve ratio on long-term foreign currency liabilities to zero from the current 40% should have a positive effect on the lending activity on medium-term and should ease the pressures upon the leu, the economic analysts said Tuesday.

Romanian, Moldovan Officials Argue Over Border Crossing Ban Legality

Romanian foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu said that the Republic of Moldova launched unfounded accusations against an UE member state, thus showing it has understood nothing of what an European level policy entails.

Romanian Pres Assumes IMF Agreement, Alongside Govt, Ctrl Bk

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday he assumes, together with the government and the central bank, the agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

Royal House Of Romania, Agrostar Union Fed Pledge To Back Farmers

The Royal House of Romania and the country’s "Agrostar" Union Federation will sign a protocol aiming to back farmers, promote traditional food products and also represent farmers in the European Commission and Parliament to have financial aid granted to Romania extended by 2013.

Romanian Ex Econ Min Seres To Run For MEP Despite Indictment

Romanian Conservative Party secretary general Codrus Seres said Tuesday he is still running for a seat in the European Parliament and doesn’t plan to leave the party despite having been indicted Monday.

Romanian Police Checks Seven Universities, Seizes Suspicious Graduation Files

Cops seized Tuesday, from seven Romanian universities, including the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" police academy, graduation files suspected of being forged, sourses within the Bucharest District 4 Court told MEDIAFAX.

Merril Lynch Sees Romanian Economy Contracting 3.4% In ’09, 3.1% In 2010

Merrill Lynch revised downwards its forecast on Romania’s GDP contraction in 2009 to 3.4% from the previous 1.5%, but changed upwards the predictions for 2010 to a 3.1% economic contraction from the 5% previously estimated, due to the possible fiscal-adjustment driven by the IMF agreement.

Romania’s Cos See Manager Salaries Flat Or Slightly Higher In ’09 – Ernst & Young

Representatives of Romanian companies forecast a moderate growth of managers’ salaries, and some estimate the salaries will remain unchanged, because of economic turmoil, according to a February Ernst&Young survey.

Political Parties That Governed Romania After 1990 Share The Credit For NATO Accession

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday during the ceremony celebrating five year’s since Romania’s accession to the North Atlantic Organization that political parties that governed Romania after 1990 can equally take credit for the country’s NATO accession.

Consequences Of Molotov-Ribbentrop Act Still Felt – Romanian Pres

Romanian President Traian Basescu stated Tuesday in a speech marking five years since Romania’s accession to NATO that, although history has condemned the Molotov-Ribbentrop treaty long ago, the consequences of the act can still be felt.

Romania Mulls Reducing Parental Leave To One Year And A Half From Two Years

Romanian Labor Ministry state secretary Mariana Nedelcu said at a meeting organized by the national child protection authority with county departments that the ministry is working on a draft law to reduce parental leave to one year and a half from the current two years.

Clothing Retailer C&A Opens First Store In Romania

The clothing company C&A, part of Swiss-based group Cofra, will open Thursday its first unit in Romania, in Militari Shopping Center from the capital city Bucharest, the company stated Tuesday.

Orange Romania CEO Richard Moat Resigns

Richard Moat has decided to resign from his position as CEO of mobile operator Orange Romania, citing personal reasons, and current commercial director Thierry Millet will take up the office interim, the company announced Tuesday.

Only 11% Of Romanians Favor Same-Sex Marriage – Survey

Only 11% of Romanians are in favor of same-sex marriage, according to a survey which stresses that the social situation for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and transgendered (LGBT) people throughout the European Union remains a problem, EUObserver reported.

Romania Family Doctors Sign Protocol With Health Min, Continue Activity As Of April 1

Romanian family doctors will continue their activity as of April 1, following a protocol signed Tuesday between the representatives of family doctors and Health Ministry officials.

Romanian National, First Foreigner To Be Convicted For Phishing In The USA

A 23 year old Romanian national has become the first foreigner to be convicted by a US court for his part in an international phishing operation, the online edition of the Industry Standard reported.

Romanian Econ Min Replaces Transelectrica Board Member

Romanian economy minister Adriean Videanu appointed Monday Florin Marza as member of Romania’s state-owned power grid operator Transelectrica (TEL.RO) board, replacing Carmen Boagiu, named Monday as well, during the company's shareholders meeting.

Govt Guarantees Freedom Of Press – Romanian PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc assured the Romanian Press Club (CRP), who had asked for the public debate of the new legal codes, that the Government will take their suggestions into consideration, noting that it will support the media in order to limit the effects of the economic crisis.

Romanian PM To Have Consul Tiberiu Dinu Recalled Amid Interior Ministry Corruption Scandal

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday he decided to ask the foreign minister to recall Tiberiu Dinu, Romania’s consul to Milan, Italy, for overstepping his attributions.

Romania’s Short-Term Measures Should Not Affect Euro Adoption In 2014 – Fin Min

The short-term measures taken by the Government should not affect Romania’s medium and long-term objectives, namely entering the European exchange-rate mechanism ERM2 in 2012 and euro adoption set for 2014, finance minister Gheorghe Pogea said Tuesday.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Adviser Sees Curr Acct Gap At 7% Of GDP

Romania’s current account deficit will narrow to 7% of the gross domestic product in 2009, from 12.5% of the GDP at the end of 2008, said Tuesday Lucian Croitoru, an adviser of the central bank governor.

Romanian Amonil Halts Prod, Lays Off 80% Of Employees

Romanian fertilizers maker Amonil (AMO.RO) ceased Monday its ammonia and urea production amid low international and local demand for nitrogen-based fertilizers, and will lay off 80% of its employees, the company announced Tuesday.