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Romanian Social Democrats Nominate Dragnea For Interior Min

The executive committee of Romania’s Social Democratic Party adopted Monday unanimously the party’s standing office proposition to nominate party vice-president Liviu Dragnea for the position of interior minster, after the resignation of Gabriel Oprea last week.

Romanian Econ Min Mulls Replacing GMs Of Cos In Its Portfolio – Sources

Romanian Economy Minister Adrian Videanu might replace most of the general managers of the companies in the ministry's portfolio, sources within the ministry told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

EC Keeps Predictions On Romania’s Inflation At 5.7% In ’09 And 4% In ’10

The European Commission, or EC, kept its prognosis regarding Romania’s harmonized index of consumer prices for 2009 and 2010 at 5.7% and 4% respectively, despite signs that the financial crisis has significantly impacted Romania's economy.

Romanian Textile Mkr Secuiana To Scrap 160 Jobs

Romanian textile factory Secuiana, based in Targu Secuiesc, central Romania, will lay off about 160 employees starting February, citing financial difficulties, the company’s management said in a press release Monday.

Romania’s Former Govt Tries To Justify Its Incompetence – Econ Min

Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu on Monday said it is “outrageous” how the former executive tries to justify its “incompetence” that led to an impossible situation of the country’s private sector.

EC Sees Romania’s ’09 Budget Def Widening At 7.5% Of GDP, From 5.25% In ’08 – 2

The European Commission, or EC, forecasts Romania's budget deficit to reach 7.5% of the gross domestic product in 2009, wider than 5.25% in 2008, due to an unfunded increase in pension benefits and the full impact of the 2008 cuts in the social security contribution rate.

Romanian Leu Sharply Dn Vs Euro, Exch Rate At RON4.2917

Romanian leu fell sharply against the euro in the first half of Monday’s trade, in line with the currencies in the region, and the central bank announced a reference rate of RON4.2917 to the euro, close to its historical low.

EC Sees Romania’s ’09 Curr Acct Gap Narrowing To 11.9% Of GDP

The European Commission, or EC, revised downwards its estimation on Romania's current account deficit in 2009, from 13% of the GDP previously seen, to 11.9% of the GDP, according to EC's winter prognosis published on Monday.

EC Cuts Romania’s 09 GDP Growth Forecast To 1.75%, From Previous 4.75%

The European Commission cut sharply its forecast regarding Romania’s economic growth in 2009 from 4.75% previously estimated at 1.75%, due to a sharp reduction of credit growth, weakening confidence indicators and worsening labor market conditions.

Food Prices To Hike After Leu Depreciates For 1 Mo – Unionist

Food prices in Romania should hike after at least a month of continuous depreciation of the leu, and some producers and traders will hike prices when their profit gets to zero, the head of Romanian Food Industry Union Federation FSIA, Dragos Frumosu, said Monday.

Romanian Govt To Make Decision On ’09 State Budget By End Of The Week – Deputy PM

Romanian deputy prime minster Dan Nica said Monday after a meeting between the social democrats and democrat liberals that the two parties analyzed a plan of measures to stimulate the economy and a decision on the country’s 2009 state budget will be made by the end of the week.

Rents For Retail Spaces In Central Bucharest To Stagnate, Decrease In Semi-Central Areas

Rent levels for retail spaces on streets in the center of Romanian capital city Bucharest will stabilize in the first half of the year, while rents in semi-central areas will decrease as tenants prefer shopping malls, according to real estate consultant DTZ Echinox.

Romanian Social Democrat Head To Nominate Party VP For Interior Min – Sources

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana will propose party vice president Liviu Dragnea for the position of interior minister, party sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s Former PM Rebukes Ruling Coalition Over Empty Electoral Promises

Romania’s former Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu, head of the opposition Liberal Party (PNL), on Sunday said the democrat liberal and social democrat members of the country’s ruling coalition made a series of lofty electoral promises, which they obviously cannot keep.

Romania Health Min Sees Uterine Cancer Vaccination Campaign As Total Fiasco

Romania’s health minister Ion Bazac said Sunday, after he presented the outcome of the audit report regarding the national vaccination campaign against uterine cancer, that a commission of experts must be set up to renegotiate the supply contract of vaccines.

Moldovan Poet Grigore Vieru Dies In Hospital Following Severe Car Crash

Moldovan poet and writer Grigore Vieru, 73, died Sunday morning at the Emergency Hospital in Moldova’s capital city Chisinau despite doctors’ efforts, the local PRO TV station informed Sunday.

Romania’s Econ Ministry Vows To Revive Industry, Ensure Energy Security

Romania’s democrat liberal economy minister Adriean Videanu said Saturday, at the meeting of the party’s legislative groups, that his ministry undertakes to revive the country’s industry sectors and ensure its energy security.

Romania’s Transport Ministry Makes Highways Its Top Priority

Romania’s democrat liberal transport minister Radu Berceanu said Saturday, at the meeting of the party’s legislative groups, that his ministry’s top priority is to build highways.

Romania Halts Plans To Build New Hospitals– Health Min Official

Romanian authorities decided to halt the program targeting to build new emergency hospitals and to look into the opportunity of upgrading existent hospitals, Cristian Anton Irimie, secretary of state with the country’s Health Ministry, said Saturday.

Romanian PM Voices Out Govt Priorities

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Saturday said the government’s priorities target the state budget, infrastructure, agriculture and the European Union funds, adding the ruling coalition also aims to get the European Commission to stop monitoring the country’s legal system.

Democrat Liberals Must Scrap MPs’ Pensions, Keep Electoral Promises- Romania PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, head of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), said Saturday, at the meeting of the party’s legislative groups, that his party initiated a draft law aiming to eliminate lawmakers’ pensions, adding they ought to keep their promise regardless of potential setback.

Romanian Govt Postpones Decision On Car Tax Amendments

The Romanian government has not yet made any decision regarding the pollution tax for cars, and has decided to continue analyzing the variants for the taxation of car owners, said Romanian prime minister Emil Boc.

Romanian Govt Eyes Dropping Purchase Price For Compensated Drugs

The Romanian government will unfold a new policy on compensated drugs, which would provide a decrease by at least 10% in the purchase price for medicine, said Romanian prime minister Emil Boc.

Romania’s Petrom To Hike Gas, Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.06/Liter

Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), owned by Austria’s OMV (OMV.VI), will hike Saturday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.06 lei (EUR1= RON4.2655) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Romanian President Accuses Journalists Of Trying To Cause Public Panic

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Friday accused the television channel Realitatea TV of trying to cause panic among population through exaggerate speculations.

Romania Needs Higher Ratings To Access Financing – Econ Min

Romania needs higher ratings to gain access to financing sources and the first step is the state budget which should be “solid,” the country’s Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Friday.

Romanian Writer H.R. Patapievici Confirmed As Head Of Cultural Institute

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Friday signed a decree extending by another four years Horia Roman Patapievici’s mandate as president of the Romanian Cultural Institute.

International Court Of Justice To Rule In Romania vs. Ukraine Serpent Island Dispute Feb 3

The International Court of Justice in The Hague will rule on February 3 in the case of Romania versus Ukraine on maritime delimitation in the Black Sea, the court said on its website Friday.

Romanian Econ Min Replaces Romgaz, Transelectrica’s GMs

Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu replaced the general manager of the country’s state-owned power grid operator Transelectrica (TEL.RO), Stelian Gal, and the one of local gas producer Romgaz Medias, Francisc Toth, Videanu told MEDIAFAX.

Romania Pension-Wage Decree Restricts Right To Labor, Pension- Constitutional Court

Romania’s Constitutional Court said the interdictions and obligations imposed by Government Emergency Ordinance 230/2008 restricts both the right to pension, stipulated at article 47, section (2) of the Constitution of Romania, and the right to labor stipulated at article 41 of the fundamental law.

Around 50,000 Romanians May Lose Jobs In ’09 – Econ Min

Around 50,000 Romanian employees could lose their jobs in 2009 because of the financial crisis, the country's Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Friday

Romanian Fin Min To Present Social Partners First Budget Version Mon

Romania's Finance Ministry will present Monday to trade unionists and employers' association representatives a preliminary version of the 2009 budget draft, the president of “Cartel Alfa” trade union confederation, Emil Hossu, said Friday.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Get RON5,500-9,500 Pay

The head of the Romanian National Anticorruption Department, Daniel Morar, has a salary of approximately 8,000 lei (EUR1 = RON4.2655), while the pay of anticorruption prosecutors ranges between RON5,500 and RON9,500 and there is no 50% nervous strain bonus, said the institution’s press office.

Romanian Pres Voices Out High Expectations From New Govt

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday he assumed responsibility for the setting up of the current center-left ruling structure, but pointed out that the government would soon become a “clientele” majority unless it manages to reform Romania.

Romanian Pres: A Loan From IMF Is “The Last Thing To Do”

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday that “the last thing Romania would do” is take a loan from the International Monetary Fund, or IMF.

Romanian Public Servants Of Retirement Age, Forced To Retire As Of Feb

People working in the Romanian public administration system that have reached retirement age will be forced to retire as of February, Vasile Marica, leader of the Sed Lex union of public servants, told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Over 400 SAPARD Projects In Romania Still Benefit From EU Funds

Over 400 SAPARD projects, estimated at EUR90 million, will still benefit from European Union funds and beneficiaries have until late September 2009 to submit reimbursement applications, Romania’s Payment Agency for Rural Development and Fishing (APDRP), which manages SAPARD funds, said Friday.

Romania’s Rompetrol Hikes Gas, Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.03/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, hiked Friday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON4.2764) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Romanian President Says Ministries’ Budget Requirements Would Push Def To 9% of GDP

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday during a debate that the budget requirements of ministries would push the country’s budget deficit to 9% of gross domestic product.

Romanian Avioane Craiova Privatization Process To Continue – Econ Min

The privatization process of Romania’s airplane maker Avioane Craiova (AVIO.RO) will continue, after it was transferred from Romanian Privatization authority AVAS to the Ministry of Economy, which became its majority shareholder, the ministry’s press office announced Thursday.