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Romanian Govt Can’t Afford Not To Assign 6% of GDP To Education – Minister

Romanian education minister Ecaterina Andronescu said Tuesday after a meeting of social democrat ministers that the government cannot afford not to grant the education sector 6% of the gross domestic product.

Romanian Pre-University Teachers To Get 35% Wage Hike This Year – Sources

Romanian teachers in the pre-university system will get wage increases of 35% in 2009, in two stages, and the measure was included in the 2009 state budget draft, official sources told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Debts Of Former Govt Need To Be Paid, Thousands Of Cos Might Go Bankrupt – Romanian Deputy PM

Romanian deputy prime minister Dan Nica said Tuesday the Executive is making efforts to pay the debt of EUR2 billion in January and February, left by the former Government, adding the risk to cause tens of thousands of firms go bankrupt is real.

Romanian President Clears Out Issue On Recent Illegal Phone Tapping Allegations

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday evening on national television that, as far as he knows, Romania has no background of illegal phone tapping whatsoever and rejected the recent statements of his former adviser Claudiu Saftoiu, alleging they talked about the contents of phone conservations between two prominent political leaders.

Romanian Govt’s Grace Period Ends With Presentation Of Budget – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said late Monday on public television that the grace period he grants the center-left coalition government ends with the presentation of the 2009 state budget draft.

Romanian President To Pass Law On Nationalized Houses On Friday

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday evening on the national television station he will pass on Friday the law on nationalized houses, as he no longer has any means of going against the normative act, and added the Government must closely follow the corrections it can make.

Russian PM Agreed On Direct Gas Sale To Romania – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said late Monday on public television that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin agreed on the direct gas sale to Romania, eliminating gas supply intermediaries.

Romanian President’s Second Mandate Depends On Coalition Govt Results

Romanian President Traian Basescu publicly admitted he had told democrat liberal leaders a month ago that unless the Government has results and curb the effects of the economic crisis on Romanians, he will not run for a new term as president.

Bucharest Mayor Eyes Partnership With Skoda For Trams Maintenance

Bucharest Mayor Sorin Oprescu eyes partnership between the Central Repair Workshops of the public transport company RATB and the Skoda car plants, for assemblage and maintenance works to trams in Romania’s capital city.

Romanian Health Min Launches ‘What Hurts?’ Toll-Free Line For Complaints

Romania’s Health Ministry on Monday launched a toll-free telephone line for patience and doctors alike who wish to complain or make suggestions regarding the healthcare system, Minister Ion Bazac said.

Romanian Unionists Unhappy With High No Of Work Permits For Extra-EU Citizens

Romanian trade union officials on Monday criticized the government’s intention to set to 10,000 the number of work permits granted to citizens outside the European community, arguing the money would be better spend on protecting Romanian workers.

Romania To Hike Pension Point In Two Stages – Sources

The pension point might be hiked this year in two stages, in March and September, the preliminary 2009 budget projection shows, governmental sources told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Romania To Hike Daycare Vouchers To RON350 As Of Feb 1

Daycare vouchers in Romania will rise as of February 1 to 350 lei (EUR1=RON42.634) from RON340, following an order of the Labor, Family and Social Protection Minister.

Romanian Preliminary ‘09 Budget Draft Sees Public Def At 2%-2.2% Of GDP

The preliminary 2009 budget projection aims for a budget deficit of 2% to 2.2% of the gross domestic product, or GDP, compared with last year’s 5.2% of GDP, government sources told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

EU Telecoms Commissioner Proposes Infringement Against Romania Over Telcom Regulator

EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding will propose to the European Commission this week the launch of infringement procedures against Romania for state interference into the independence of the national telecom regulator.

Germany Keeps Restrictions For Romanian Workers, Extends Stay Period For Temps

Germany decided to maintain labor restrictions for Romanian workers, while extending the stay period for temporary workers to six months from currently four, the Romanian Labor Ministry said Monday.

Romanian Police Find Nearly 60 Kg Of Heroin In Truck Coming From Turkey

Romanian vice police found nearly 60 kilograms of heroin in capital city Bucharest, hidden in a truck carrying construction materials from Turkey, legal sources said.

Mircea Ursache To Be Nominated As Romanian Privatization Auth Pres – Sources

Mircea Ursache, a former head of Romania’s Privatization Authority AVAS, is proposed to be AVAS’ next president, sources within the Social Democrat Party told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Romanian Leu Exch Rate At RON4.2634 Vs Euro, On Alleged Ctrl Bk Intervention

The Romanian leu appreciated against the euro on Monday, and dealers suspect an intervention of the central bank, which computed an indicative of RON4.2634 to the euro, 0.6% stronger than Friday’s indicative rate.

Romanian Govt To Scrap Some 2,000 Jobs In Ministries, Govt-Run Agencies – Deputy PM

Romanian deputy prime minister Dan Nica said Monday after a meeting between governing coalition partners, social democrats and democrat liberals, that about 2,000 people from the central administration will be fired.

Romania’s 09 Budget Priorities Are Econ Devt, Invest, Low Income People’s Protection – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday that the 2009 budget priorities are economic development, investments and protecting people with low income.

Romanian Social Democrat Nastase Reserved On Running For President In 2009

The head of the Social Democratic Party’s national council, Adrian Nastase, said Monday he is currently reserved in plans to run for president later this year, as the party “has a secondary position in a government and ruling alliance coordinated and controlled by [President] Traian Basescu".

Franz Ferdinand To Headline B’estfest On Jul 3

Scottish alternative rock band Franz Ferdinand will play in Bucharest on Jul 3, during the third annual edition of B'estfest festival to take place Jul 1 - 5, organizers Emagic said.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Halts Prod Again For Two Weeks

Romania’s Automobile Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, halted production again for two weeks, as of Monday, Jan 26, until Feb 8, citing steep decrease in auto markets.

Romania Transport Min Eyes Restructuring National Railway Co

Romania’s transport minister Radu Berceanu said Sunday, during his visit at the Craiova railway station, southern Romania, that the country’s railway company SNCFR would soon be subject to a restructuring and layoff plan, citing the large number of employees.

Romania Physicians College Looks Into Health Min Inquiry In Red Tape Case

The Romanian College of Physicians (CMR) said it started an in-depth checkup to get a clear picture of the laws breached by Health Ministry officials during the investigation at the Slatina emergency hospital, southern Romania, where red tape killed a 62-year old man Thursday.

Romania’s Ruling Coalition Leaders To Discuss ’09 Draft Budget On Jan 26

The democrat liberal and social democrat leaders of Romania’s center-left ruling coalition will meet on January 26 in the office of Senate’s speaker Mircea Geoana for talks on the 2009 state budget draft and other social protection measures the government plans to take in 2009.

Romania To Release 10,000 Work Permits For Foreigners In ‘09– Labor Min Official

Romania will release nearly 10,000 work permits for foreign citizens in 2009 and the number could go up in ratio with market requirements, Marius Lazar, secretary of state with Romania’s Labor Ministry, said Sunday in western city of Arad.

Romania ’08 Budget Spending EUR500M Vs. EUR50M In ’07

Romanian public institutions and state-owned companies bought cars, laptops and furniture worth over EUR500 million in 2008, tenfold higher compared with total purchases of EUR50 million in 2007, and most contracts were signed with private suppliers during August-December 2008.

Romanian Lidia Simon Finishes 5th In Osaka Marathon

Romanian athlete Lidia Simon finished fifth in the Osaka International Women's Marathon on Sunday, with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, 14 seconds.

Austrian Retailer Kika Rejects Romanian Mobexpert Accusations Of Disloyal Competition

Austrian retailer Kika on Saturday rejected the accusations of Romanian furniture maker and retailer Mobexpert which said Kika breached industrial property rights by using one of Mobexpert's copyright-protected slogans.

Romanian President Delivers Lofty Speech, Calls For Country’s Modernization

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Saturday in eastern city of Focsani, during the ceremony celebrating 150 since the Union of Romanian Principalities, that Romania will not be affected by the economic crisis the way other countries are affected, adding this is a solid reason for the country to start its modernization process now.

Romanian Tarom Extends Fleet With New Boeing 737-800 Next Generation

Romania’s flag carrier Tarom will include a new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation in its fleet as of January 24, 2009, which was leased for a five-year period.

Romanians Celebrate 150 Years Since Union Of Romanian Principalities

Romania’s northeastern city of Iasi hosted Saturday morning the ceremony celebrating 150 years since the de facto Union of Wallachia and Moldavia into the Principality of Romania on January 24, 1859 under union leader Alexandru Ioan Cuza.

Red Tape Kills Patient In S Romania

A 62 year old Romanian patient moved around for four hours between two hospitals in southern Romanian town Slatina died Thursday without receiving any medical treatment.

Romanian Govt to Begin Talks With Ford On Loan Guarantees

The Romanian government will begin talks with Ford on the conditions to guarantee a loan for the American group, in accordance with the request formulated by the investor late 2008.

Romania’s Govt Anti-Crisis Measures To Be Included In Separate Budget Chapter

The anti-crisis measures will be enacted by an emergency ordinance, in order to be enforced immediately, and will be part of a separate budget chapter, not being included in the ministries’ budgets, Cezar Coraci, head of the Employers’ Confederation of the Romanian Industry UGIR-1903, said Friday.

IMF Says Romania Not Asked For A Program

Romania has not requested an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, and the institution is not pressing Romanian government to request such a program, IMF stated Friday in a press release.

Arabian Airliner Eyes Hiring 2,000 Romanians – Employment Agency

The local employment agency in Romania’s northwestern county of Cluj might organize a job fair in March this year for an Arabian airliner which plans to hire two thousand Romanian nationals as flight attendants.

Romania Telecom Regulator Urges Amendments To Law On Personal Data Storage

Liviu Nistoran, head of Romania’s National Communications Authority (ANC), will propose amendments to article 20 of the law on the storage of data generated or processed by communications suppliers, aiming to ban the recording of the contents of phone conversations, text messages or e-mails.