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Romanian Car Tax Talks Put Auto Mkt In Gridlock

The extended talks on the Romanian pollution tax for cars, used car imports and other factors, such as the worldwide auto crisis, have put the market in gridlock and the buyers on stand-by, car producer and importer association APIA president Ernest Popovici told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Unionists At Bechtel Threaten With Protests If Govt Doesn’t Fund Hwy Works

The leaders of the union within the American company Bechtel said Tuesday they will put “a set of pressures” on the Government to continue the funding of works at the Transylvania Motorway, and also on the company to observe the legal terms regarding massive layoffs.

Romanian PM Invites Japanese Counterpart To Visit Romania

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc invited Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso to visit Romania in 2009, and stressed that Romanian authorities are interested in establishing a strong relation with the Japanese government in the sector of environment protection and local administration.

EC Notified Romania On Dec 22 That New Car Tax Breaches EU Laws – EC Official

European Commission spokesperson for taxation Maria Assimakopoulou told MEDIAFAX Tuesday the Commission wrote a letter to Romanian authorities on Dec 22 saying new car tax regulations seem to be not in line with EU legislation.

Romanian Deputy PM To Coordinate Public Procurement Law Amendments

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc designed deputy prime minister Dan Nica to lead a working group to amend public procurement laws, to reduce terms and simplify procedures, the Government said Tuesday.

Rally At Romanian Carmaker Dacia Ended, Union Says Further Protests Expected

Employees of Romanian carmaker Automobile Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, ended the rally attended by over 6,000 people who urged the Government to keep the pollution tax for cars and protect jobs in the auto industry.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Sets Leu Exch Rate At RON4.2985 Vs Euro, Another Record Low

The Romanian leu touched a fresh historical low versus the euro Tuesday on the inter-bank market, on high demand for foreign currency, and the central bank computed an indicative of RON4.2985 to the euro, a new record low against the euro.

Freedom House Includes Romania Among Free Countries – Report

Romania is among free countries, with election democracy, according to the annual report of Freedom House regarding freedom in the world, which also states that EU accession and closeness to Western Europe are important factors for countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Over 6,000 People Attend Rally Of Romanian Carmaker Dacia Employees

Over 6,000 people joined the rally organized by employees of Romanian carmaker Automobile Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, urging the Government to keep the pollution tax for cars and protect jobs in the auto industry.

About 2,000 Dacia Employees Attend Rally Demanding Job Security In Auto Industry

About 2,000 employees of Romanian carmaker Automobile Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, are protesting in Mioveni, southern Romania, urging the Government to keep the pollution tax for cars and protect jobs in the auto industry.

Employees Of Romanian Lender BCR Call Off Gen Strike

Unionists with Romania’s largest lender, Erste Bank-owned Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, decided to call off the general strike set to start Wednesday after they received a new wage offer from the management.

Romanian Social Democrat, Democrat Liberal Leaders Meet At Govt HQ

The leaders of Romania’s governing coalition parties, social democrats and democrat liberals, meet at the government headquarters Tuesday at GMT 0900 to talks about the 2009 state budget and possibly about the appointment of a new interior minister.

Romanian BCR Makes Final Offer To Employees To Avoid General Strike

The management of Romania’s largest lender, Erste Bank-owned Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, decided late Monday to make a final offer to employees to avoid a general strike planned to start Wednesday.

Romania’s Dec Inflation +0.23% M-M, Annual CPI Slows To 6.3%

Romania’s inflation rose 0.23% on the month in December, due to higher prices for food and services, but the annual consumer price index (CPI) slowed to 6.3%, from 6.7% in November, the National Statistics Institute, or INS, reported Tuesday.

Romanian Social Democrats To Pull Out Of Govt Unless PM Sacks Interior Min

Romanian social democrats will pull out of the center-left coalition government unless the prime minster sacks social democrat interior minister Gabriel Oprea, for whom the party withdrew its political support, the party Bucharest branch head Marian Vanghelie said late Monday in a TV show.

Romanian Culture Min To Launch Seven Financing Programs In ’09

The Romanian Ministry of Culture, Cults and National Patrimony will launch in 2009 seven cultural programs of non-reimbursable financing - Promocult, Dialog Intercultural, Creativitas, Latinitas, Proetnicultura, Rromi împreună pentru Europa and Glissando, according to the institution’s website.

General Manager Of Romanian Insurer Ardaf Quits Executive Seat As Of Feb 1

Daniel Tudor will no longer be general manager of Romanian insurer Ardaf, and the executive management will be ensured by the two deputy general managers, Adina Bacioiu and Dan Bordeanu, the insurer said Monday.

Romanian Liberals Appoint Bogdan Olteanu Party Spokesperson

The new spokesperson of Romania’s Liberal Party is Bogdan Olteanu, party leader Calin Tariceanu said Monday, after the meeting of the party’s Central Politic Office.

Romania To Send EC In 7 Days Proposal To Amend Public Procurement Laws

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday in Brussels after a meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barosso that Romanian will send the Commission in seven days a proposal to amend the public procurement law, in a move to make the use of EU funds more efficient.

Romania’s BCR President Met With Union Leaders

The president of Romania’s largest lender Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) Dominic Bruynseels met Monday around noon with representatives of the Federation of Independent Union (FSI) within BCR to try and work out differences, the bank said during a press briefing.

Romanian Social Dem Leader Proposes Deputy PM For Interior Min Interim

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Monday he will ask Prime Minister Emil Boc to let deputy prime minister take over as interim interior minister after the party withdrew the political support of current minister Gabriel Oprea.

Romanian Social Democrat Interior Min Ousted From Govt

Romania’s Social Democratic Party will make new propositions for the headship of the Interior Ministry as soon as possible, party leader Mircea Geoana said following the voting in the National Standing Office to withdraw political support for interior minister Gabriel Oprea.

Romania National Retezat Park, Among New 7 Wonders Of The World Contenders

Romania’s National Retezat Park is among the contenders for the New 7 Wonders of the World, a campaign launched by a Canadian foundation.

Romanian Fin Min: Fincl Crisis Needs Cooperation Between Those Involved

The size, symptoms and spread of the global economic turmoil signals a close cooperation is needed between the authorities and all those involved, Romania's Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Monday, at the beginning of a meeting with employers' associations and trade unions.

Romanian Competition Council OKs Raraul Takeover By Albalact

Romanian Competition Council approved the sole takeover of Raraul company by dairy maker Albalact Alba Iulia (ALBZ.RO), saying there are no serious doubts regarding the compatibility with a normal competition environment.

Romanian Social Democrats Withdraw Pol Support Of Interior Min

The headship of Romania’s Social Democratic Party decided by a large majority of votes to withdraw the political support for interior minister Gabriel Oprea and to exclude him from the party, leader Mircea Geoana said after the meeting of the party’s National Standing Office.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Halts Prod Again For Two Weeks As Of Jan 26

Romania’s Automobile Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, said Monday it will halt production again for two weeks, between Jan 26 and Feb 8, following continued dramatic decline in auto markets.

Romanian BCR Employees Go On Gen Strike Wed Over Salaries, Mgmt To Sue

Employees of Romania’s largest lender, Erste Bank-owned Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, will go on general strike as of Wednesday, demanding higher wages, the bank said Monday.

Romanian Leu’s Exch Rate Hits A Fresh Historic Low Vs Euro, At RON4.2684

Romanian leu continued its downward trend on Monday and the central bank computed an indicative of RON4.2684 to the euro, a fresh all-time low against the euro.

Non-Declaration Of Goods Worth Over RON20,000 In Customs To Be Considered Felony

Non-declaration at customs points of goods worth at least 20,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2127) will be considered a felony and is punishable by two to seven years imprisonment, according to a draft emergency decree drawn up by the Romanian National Customs Authority.

Romanian Govt Sent Stance On Pension-Wage Decree To Constitutional Court

The Romanian Government sent the Constitutional Court its reply to the ombudsman’s challenge of the emergency decree banning the cumulation of pensions and salaries for public sector employees, indicating the decree doesn’t go against the Constitution.

Social Democrat Leaders Think Highly Of New State Secretaries- Romania Interior Min

Romania’s interior minister Gabriel Oprea said Monday, before the meeting of the National Standing Office of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), that he would inform his party fellows that the secretaries of state he appointed within the ministry are highly appreciated by the social democrat leaders.

Austria’s Holzindustrie Schweighofer Buys Former Swedwood Plant N Romania

Austrian company Holzindustrie Schweighofer bought the wood processing unit in Siret, northern Romania, previously owned by Swedwood, the production unit of Swedish home-furnishing giant IKEA.

Romania’s Talks With EC To Focus On Econ Crisis, Gas Issue, EU Funds – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday, before leaving for Brussels to meet with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, that talks will mainly focus on the economic crisis, the gas crisis and accessing EU funds.

Romanian Leu Hits All-Time Low In Early Trade

The Romanian currency further depreciated against the euro and hit a historical low at RON4.2620 /RON4.2650 versus the euro in early trade Monday.

EC Indicates Romanian Transport Ministry Was Incapable Of Promoting Any Projects – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday, before leaving for Brussels to meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, that the Commission’s reports indicate that if Romania has a ministry that wasn’t capable of promoting any projects, that was the Ministry of Transport.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Employees Back To Work After 1 Mo Production Halt

Employees of Automobile Dacia, the Romanian unit of French carmaker Renault, went back to work Monday morning after a one month production halt triggered by declining demand.

Romania’s Nov Net Salary Up 2.6% M-M To RON1.361

Romania's net average salary was up 2.6% on the month in November to 1.361lei (EUR1=RON4.2127), the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Romanian Liberal Says Current Govt Was Agreed In August Betw President, Social Democrats

Romanian liberal vice-president Puiu Hasotti told a news conference Sunday that he has known for over a year that democrat liberals (PDL) and social democrats (PSD) were in talks, adding several social democrat leaders often went to see the president at Cotroceni.

Bulgaria Asks Romania To Ensure Gas Transit To Bulgaria – Press

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov asked Romanian President Traian Basescu in a phone call conversation to allow free transit for Ukrainian gas to Bulgaria through Romania’s distribution network, Bulgarian agency Focus News reported.