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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.

Romanian Bks To Have New Lending Rules In Less Than A Week – Bks Assoc Head

Romanian banks will have new lending rules in less than a week and will ask for a minimum advance paid of 20%-25% at mortgage lending, the president of the Romanian Banks Association, Radu Ghetea, said Thursday.

Romanian Bks May Accept Higher Indebtedness Degree At Mortgage Lending – Ctrl Bk

Romanian households can obtain higher mortgage loans, as the banks may accept a higher indebtedness degree, after the central bank’s Board decided Thursday to discard the stress tests from mortgage lending regulations.

Romania’s Sec Comm OKs Anca Dumitru As Bucharest Stock Exchange GM

Romania’s Securities Commission CNVM approved Thursday the appointment of Anca Dumitru as general manager of Bucharest Stock Exchange, after Stere Farmache resigned last December, sources within capital markets told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Keeps Prices, Makes Offer For Clients Within Car Park Renewal Program

Romanian carmaker Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, keeps vehicle prices unchanged but will present a commercial offer for clients buying Dacia cars within the country’s car park renewal program, once authorities launch it.

Romanian Govt To Issue Draft Law Banning Pension-Wage Cumulus

The Romanian Government will push a draft law banning the cumulation of pension with salary in the public sector, a normative act to be debated with urgency in Parliament, Prime Minister Emil Boc announced.

Romanian PM Declines To Comment Before Constitutional Court Motivates Decision

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc will comment on the Constitutional Court’s decision to declare unconstitutional the government decree banning the cumulation of pensions and wages in the public sector after the Court motivates its decision, the government said.

Romanian Pension-Wage Decree Declared Unconstitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court decided Thursday, with a majority of votes, that the provisions of Government Emergency Ordinance 230/2008, banning cumulated pensions and wages in the public sector, are unconstitutional, thus allowing the exception raised by the ombudsman.

Romanian Pensioners Urge Amendments To Pension-Wage Decree

Romanian pensioners urged the government to enforce Law 250/2007 setting the pension point at 45% of the average gross wage, arguing government decree 230/2008 banning the cumulation of pensions and salaries for state employees, should be applied only for pensions above 3,000 lei (EUR1=RON 4.2772).

Ministries’ Requests May Push Romania’s 09 Budget Def to 12% Of GDP – Sources

Romania’s Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea told social partners from anti-crisis workgroups that, following the ministries’ expenditure requirements, 2009’s budget deficit should reach 12% of the GDP, sources close to discussions told MEDIAFAX on Thursday.

Romanian Leu Exch Rate Slightly Changed, To RON4.2764 Vs Euro

The Romanian leu was very volatile against the euro in Thursday’s trading session and the central bank computed an indicative of RON4.2764 to the euro, close to Wednesday’s exchange rate of RON4.2772.

Romania, Fifth In EU On ’08 Annual Inflation – Eurostat

Romania ranked on the fifth position in the European Union as regards the 2008 annual inflation, with a 6.4% inflationary rate at the end of December, according to EU's statistical office Eurostat.

Romania Interim Interior Min Vies To Crack Down On Violence, Drug Dealing In Schools

Romania’s interim interior minister Dan Nica said Thursday that public safety measures must be taken immediately, since drug dealers offer free drugs to students in many schools, adding many students face blackmail and aggression every day.

Romanian Tourism Min Wants Sector To Contribute To State Budget, Create Jobs

Romania’s tourism minister Elena Udrea said Thursday during the National Tourism Seminar held in Gura Humorului, northeastern Romania, that she wants the tourism sector to become "a contributor to the state budget and a creator of jobs”.

Seven Cos In N Romanian County Scrap 341 Jobs In Jan

Seven companies in Bistrita-Nasaud county, northern Romania, notified the local employment agency they would lay off 341 employees in January, mostly in the construction sector.

Romanian Govt Plans Public Sector Wage Hikes In April Covering Just Inflation

The Romanian government plans to increase public sector wages in April 2009 only in ratio to the estimated rise in inflation, and might up wages again in the fourth quarter of the year in ratio to labor productivity.

Romania’s 11-Mo Curr Acct Gap Widens 7.8% YY To EUR16B

Romania’s current account deficit rose 7.8% on the year in the January-November period to EUR 16 billion, from EUR14.83 billion in the same period a year earlier, the central bank said in a statement Thursday.

Romania New Car Registrations Dn 8.7% In 2008, To 285,000 Units – ACEA

Romania’s new car registrations decreased 8.7% last year, to 285,489 units compared to 312,532 units in 2007, a sharper decline than the European Union average, the European Automobiles Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA, said Thursday.

Romanian Constitutional Reform Must Include A Complete Makeover Of Public Privileges – PM

The constitutional reform in Romania should settle several major issues, namely eliminate the current blockages and ensure decisional rights for the public local administration, as well as a complete makeover of privileges in the public sector, Premier Emil Boc said Wednesday.

Annulment Of Romania’s Pwr Holding Setup Is A Bad Decision – Union Leader

Romania’s Economy Ministry decision to annul the national power holding setup "is the worst decision ever made," following which Romania will no longer matter on the European energy market, Dumitru Costin, head of national union BNS, told MEDIAFAX on Wednesday.

Econ Min Official Confirms Annulment Of Romania’s Pwr Holding Setup

Romanian Economy Ministry will draw up an emergency ordinance to annul the national power holding setup, Tudor Serban, state secretary within the ministry, told MEDIAFAX on Wednesday.

Romanian Interior Min Intelligence Chief To Resign

Virgil Ardelean will resign from the headship of the General Intelligence and Internal Protection Division of the Ministry of Administration and Interior.

Romanian Investors May Trade Eurobonds On Intl Stock Exch – Central Depository

Romanian investors will be able to trade eurobonds on the international capital markets after Romania’s Central Securities Depository set up a direct connection between its own clearing and settlement system RoClear and the similar institution in Luxemburg, settlement house Clearstream Banking.

Romanian Ministers Should Not Be MPs Too – Romanian Pres Committee

The Romanian policy and constitution presidential committee recommends the instatement of incompatibility between the position of Government member and that of Parliament member.

Romanian Int Ministry Intelligence Dept Head To Be Removed From Office – Official

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Wednesday that Virgil Ardelean, one of the state secretaries appointed by ousted interior minister Gabriel Oprea, will be dismissed as head of the ministry’s General Department of Intelligence and Protection.

Ukraine Embassy Delegation Meets Romanian Econ Min Off On Gas Crisis Issue

A delegation of the Ukrainian Embassy to Bucharest met Wednesday with representatives of the Romanian Economy Ministry to talk on the gas crisis issue, in which the Ukrainian side said a deal with Russia on gas transit would be inked, sources within the ministry told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian President Pleads For Single Chamber Parliament

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday that he would opt for a single chamber Parliament and would lift immunity for lawmakers whose actions are punishable under the Criminal Code.

Romanian Const Court Upholds Amendments To Nationalized Houses Law

Romania’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled with majority of votes that the amendments to the Law on nationalized houses are constitutional, rejecting a presidential notification in the matter.

Around 450 Employees In Romanian ArcelorMittal Galati On Voluntary Layoffs As Of Jan 16

Approximately 450 employees of Romania's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal Galati, owned by UK-based ArcelorMittal, will leave the company as of January 16, through the voluntary layoffs program, trade unionists said Wednesday.

Romanian New Car Mkt Could Go Dn To Half In 2009, 100,000 Jobs In Jeopardy

New car sales risk dropping to half this year, at around 150,000 units, and nearly 50% of jobs in the Romanian auto industry, namely 100,000, might be scrapped, said Wednesday Brent Valmar, head of the Romanian Association of Carmaker and Importers, or APIA.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Considers Lowering Prices

Romanian carmaker Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, to help clients alongside scrap bonuses they receive from the government for their old cars within the country’s car park renewal program, Dacia vice-president Constantin Stroe said Wednesday.