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Romania’s Fertilizer Plant Nitroporos To Lay Off 500 Staff In ‘09

Romanian-British joint venture InterAgro will lay off some 500 employees at its Nitroporos company, trade union officials said Tuesday, threatening full-scale protests against the decision.

EC: Romania Should Lift Car Tax For Used Cars Registered In EU Until Dec 2009

The European Commission officially responded to the Romanian government’s decision to introduce a one year exemption from the car tax, but noted a “technical problem”, saying the exemption should be granted for used cars registered in EU during the exemption period but brought into Romania later.

Some 4,000 Liters Of Blood Donated In Romanian National Blood Donation Program

Some 4,000 liters of blood were donated in the past five months within the Romanian national blood donation program "A chance for life," which will be extended to another ten counties in Romania.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia To Consider Other Measures If Production Halts Don’t Unfreeze Mkt

Romanian Carmaker Dacia, a unit of France’s Renault, will consider other measures in spring if further production halts set for January and February don’t “unfreeze the market”, general manager Francois Fourmont said late Monday.

Romanian Court Closes Consultancy Fee File On RomTelecom’s Privatization

Romania’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against reopening the file on the privatization of telecom operator RomTelecom, in which several dignitaries were investigated in relation to embezzlement and corruption charges.

Romanian November Jobless Rate Rises To 4.1% – Employment Agency

Romania’s unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in November, 0.1 percentage point higher from 4% in October, the Romanian employment agency, or ANOFM, said Tuesday.

Transparency International: Romanian Anticorruption Measures Are Insufficient

The Romanian unit of Transparency International sent a series of propositions to Romanian Parliament parties, suggesting the improvement of Government agendas by adding more concrete anticorruption measures. The organization now awaits acknowledgement from the politicians.

Ghanese Goalkeeper Dies At 36 Following Severe Car Accident Near Bucharest

Ghanese goalkeeper Ibrahim Dossey died Monday night in Bagdasar Arseni Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, Ionut Dragomir, player for the Romanian team Minerul Lupeni, told MEDIAFAX.

Global Employment Outlook Weaker For 1Q 2009 – Survey

Only 28% of companies worldwide are seeking to hire people in the first quarter of 2009, down four percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2008, and Romania has the most positive hiring outlook in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, according to a survey of human resources company Manpow

Romanian Ambassador To Malaysia Evacuated Following Landslide

Romanian ambassador to Malaysia Petru Petra and his wife Emilia are among the hundreds of people who were evacuated from a neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur due to the landslides brought about by massive rain, Malaysia Star daily reported in its Tuesday electronic edition.

New Romanian PM Could Be Announced On Dec 10

Romanian President Traian Basescu will announce, most likely Wednesday, the name of the appointed Prime Minister, sources close to the talks between the head of state and the political leaders told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian President, Parliament Parties Talk On Forming Govt

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday evening held talks with the leaders of parliamentary parties in view of forming a coalition government.

Romanian Prosecutors Seize RON20M In Fraudulent Privatization Case

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors seized a building and 20 million lei (EUR1 = RON3.8573) from the property of Conservative Party leader Dan Voiculescu, in the case involving the privatization of the Food Research Institute.

The Romanian Liberals Are Not Officially In Opposition – Head

Romanian liberal head Calin Tariceanu, said Monday at the end of the party’s Central Political Office meeting that the liberals are not officially in opposition, and they have the same position as last week. He added the party can choose to make “major concessions” or go to opposition.

Over 35,000 Romanians Lose Jobs In Spain In Oct ’08 – Employment Agency

Nearly 32,000 Romanians lost their jobs in Spain in September this year and over 35,000 in October, which indicates that over 3,000 Romanians were sacked in one month alone, Romania’s employment agency ANOFM informed Monday.

Two Thirds Of Romanian Employees Fear For Their Jobs Over Crisis – Poll

Two out of three Romanian employees fear for their jobs because of the international financial crisis, and the most concerned are people aged 18 to 25 and those working in agriculture, real estate, telecom, finance and administration, according to a poll conducted by online recruiter NetJobjs.

Bucharest Old Apartment Prices Fall By Up To 13% M-M – Colliers

Prices of old apartments in Romania's capital city Bucharest fell on average by up to 13% on the month in November, with the largest price decrease in the third district, according to the most recent report on apartment price index of real estate consultancy company Colliers.

Romanian Car Mkr Dacia Drops 620 Temps, Halts Production Until January 11, ‘09

Romanian car maker Dacia decided not to extend 620 temporary labor contracts that expire late December, confirmed a new cease of activity, between December 11 and January 11, and announced it is switching to a lower output.

Romanian Social Democrats, Liberal Democrats To Start Talks On Coalition Govt

Romania’s leftist Social Democratic Party, together with centrist Democrat Liberal Party will start negotiations in view of forming a coalition government, social democrat head Mircea Geoana said Monday.

Romanian Fondul Proprietatea Listing Is Private Hldrs Decision – Official

Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea will be listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange when the private minority shareholders’ want to, and their decision will be respected by the fund’s main stockholder, the Finance Ministry, Sebastian Vladescu, head of the selection committee, said Monday.

Fincl Crisis To Peak In 3-12Mos, Romanian Govt Should Cut VAT – Rompetrol Head

The global economic crisis might peak in the next three to twelve months, so that thee Romanian government should support the economy and even consider a cut in the value added tax, or VAT, to 15%, the general manager of Romanian oil company Rompetrol, Dinu Patriciu, said Monday.

Kraft Foods Romania Employees, Mgmt Reach No Agreement In Severance Pay Negotiations

Employees of Kraft Food’s chocolate factory in Brasov, central Romania, reached no agreement with management on severance pay and will resume talks Wednesday.

Romania’s Rompetrol To Cut Gas, Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.12, RON0.06/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, will cut Tuesday its gasoline prices by 0.12 lei (EUR1=RON3.8545) per liter and diesel oil prices by RON0.06, the company said in a statement.

Romanian Textile Cos To Lay Off Over 40,000 Employees In ‘09 – Employers Assoc

Over 40,000 employees in the textile industry, or 15-20% of the total jobs in the industry, might be laid off next year, due to a cutback in exports, Maria Grappini, head of Textiles, Fabrics and Leather Employers Federation, or FEPAIUS, said Monday.

Romanian Authorized Individuals Have Until Apr 25 ’09 To Declare Themselves Active

Romanian authorized individuals, individual enterprises and family enterprises can choose, until April 25, 2009, to continue commercial activities, otherwise they will be removed from the registry, said the Romanian National Trade Registry (ONRC).

Romanian Children Attempt To Write Longest Letter To Santa

Over one thousand school children aged 8 to 14 in Brasov county, central Romania, started writing Monday what they hope will be the longest letter to Santa Claus.

Romania’s Petrom Cuts Gasoline, Diesel Oil Prices

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom SA (SNP.RO) will cut Monday gasoline prices by 0.12 lei (EUR1=RON3.8545) per liter and diesel oil prices by RON0.06, the company said in a statement.

Magyar Democratic Union Backs Coalition With Romanian Democrat Liberals

Romanian democrat liberals prefer to have the Magyar Democratic Union in any of their Government structure scenarios, which means that the ethnic party is offering support to a democrat liberal Prime Minister, democrat liberal leader Emil Boc said after talks with the Magyars on Monday morning.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Resumes Prod After Nearly 3 Weeks Of Inactivity

Romanian carmaker Dacia, the local unit of French Renault, resumed production Monday morning after it previously halted operations for nearly three weeks, citing lower demand on the local and export markets.

Romania’s Oct Net Salary Up 2.4% M-M To RON1.327

Romania's net average salary was up 2.4% on the month in October to 1.327 lei (EUR1=RON 3.8545), the National Institute for Statistics said Monday.

Romanian Social Democrats To Form Opposition If Next PM Belongs To Other Party – Former PM

If the prime minister of Romania’s next government is not appointed from within the Social Democratic Party, it is better for the party to enter the opposition, in order to ensure balance on the political scene, said head of the party’s National Counsil, Adrian Nastase.

Social Democrats, Democrat Liberals Have Different Stands On Govt Structure – Party Head

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Sunday, after talks with the Democratic Liberal Party, the two parties have different views on the structure of the next Government, as both parties claim the Prime Minister position.

Romanian Govt To Limit Business Class Air Flights For Dignitaries, Eliminate Wage Bonuses

The Romanian Government will limit business class air flights for dignitaries, will eliminate some wage bonuses, and is taking into account granting bonuses on Christian holidays only to “worthy” public servants in order to cut down budget expenses, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romanian Democrat Liberals, Social Democrats Claim PM Position – Party President

The Romanian democrat liberals and social democrats have different views on forming the next government, as each party wants to “coagulate” the Government and thus claim the Prime Minister position, democrat liberal leader Emil Boc said after talks with the social democrats on Sunday.

Romania’s PM Position To Be Claimed Based On Number Of MP Seats – Social Democrat Head

If liberals and social democrats will cooperate in Romania’s next Government, the party which gained the highest number of lawmaker seats has the right to claim the Prime Minister position, social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said following Sunday’s negotiations with the liberals.

Romanian Liberals, Social Democrats Might Make Agendas Compatible For Next Govt

Romania’s National Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party might make their governing agendas compatible, but the flat tax is not open for debate, liberal head Calin Tariceanu said Sunday, following negotiations with the social democrats after the results of the November 30 elections.

East European States To Get 10% Of Costs For Carbon Emission Permits – Romanian PM

East European states will receive 10% of the value of the carbon emission permits and will benefit from new talks on certain parameters regarding greenhouse gas effects until 2016, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Saturday in Gdansk, Poland.

Romanian Pres Decorates Postmortem Ex Political Detainee Ticu Dumitrescu

Romanian President Traian Basescu Saturday morning signed the decree granting postmortem the decoration “the National Order Star of Romania in the rank of Knight” to ex political detainee Constantin Ticu Dumitrescu.

Romanian Liberals, Democrat Liberals To Choose Parliament Chambers’ Headship – Sources

Romanian democrat liberal leaders told liberals during Saturday's talks they can choose the president seat of one of the two Parliament Chambers and take over the Justice Ministry, if the two parties form the new Government, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Magyar Democratic Union Backs Partnership With Romanian Democrat Liberals In Next Govt

The parliamentary groups of the Magyar Democratic Union in Romania back further negotiations to form a governing coalition, offering their support for a partnership with the Democrat Liberal Party, party head Marko Bela said Saturday.