English

First Grand Prix One Circuit To Be Built In SE Romania

The inhabitants of Snagov village, in Romania’s southeastern county of Ilfov, voted in favor of building a Grand Prix One racing track on the Snagov commons.

European Commission To Present Interim Report On Romanian Justice

The European Commission will present the report on justice in Romania, which, according to EU sources, will refer to the leadership of he High Council of the Magistrates and will state that the National Anticorruption Department is on the right track as far as investigations go.

Romanians Protest Against Constitutional Court Decision

Over 300 people gathered in Bucharest’s Universitatii Square to protest against the Constitutional Court decision on the unconstitutional functioning of the National Council for the Study of Securitate Archives.

EC Might Demand Changes In The Automobile Craiova Privatization Contract

The European Commission might raise a series of objections regarding the privatization of Romanian car factory Automobile Craiova with American group Ford, according to the president of Romanian privatization authority AVAS, Teodor Atanasiu.

Romanian Liberals Take Arms Against Bureaucracy, Taxation

Romanian National Liberal Party vice president Varujan Vosganian stated that the party enacted a resolution through which it vows to accelerate and complete the program for the reduction of bureaucracy and taxation in 2008.

Romanian Liberals To Tackle CNSAS Issue

Romanian National Liberal Party leader Calin Popescu Tariceanu stated that his party will take responsibility for the solution of the CNSAS situation. He decided the formation of a working group, including Stejarel Olaru and Marius Oprea, to find legal support in this respect.

Romanian PM Vies For Govt’s Uninominal Voting System

The leader of the Romanian liberals, prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, said that the Executive and the liberal members of Parliament will support the introduction of the uninominal voting system, and he called on political parties to offer support for the government’s uninominal vote law.

Romanian Democrat Liberals To Demand Car Tax Cancellation

Romanian Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) president Emil Boc, announced after the party’s National Standing Office meeting, the completion of simple motion that will be submitted at the beginning of next week in the Chamber of Deputies, called "Cancel the first registration tax."

Shape Shift Could Save Romania’s CNSAS – Ex Justice Min

Romanian former justice minister Tudor Chiuariu said that the only solution to save Securitate archive study authority CNSAS is to turn it into an autonomous administrative investigation authority.

Romanian Leu Hits 2-Week High Vs Euro, Dealers Suspect Ctrl Bk Intervention

The Romanian leu strengthened against the euro on Friday to 3.67/6750 to the euro, dealers suspecting the appreciation was due to the central bank’s intervention on the market.

Romanian Constitutional Court Says CNSAS Is Not Disbanded

The Romanian Constitutional Court states that the unconstitutional tag placed on the Law governing the Romanian authority for the study of Securitate archives, CNSAS, does not disband the institution, but if the law is not amended within 45 days, its provisions will no longer be effective.

Romanian Communist Hunters Temporarily Unemployed, CNSAS Sidelined

The president of Romanian communist Securitate archive study authority CNSAS, Ladislau Csendes, said that the Constitutional Court decision on the CNSAS law suspended the institution for 45 days and threw its employees in temporary unemployment, which is an unprecedented situation.

Romanian Railroad Protest Was Illegal – Transport Min

Romanian transport minister Ludovic Orban stated Friday in a press conference that the halt in train traffic was not a spontaneous protest movement, because it kicked off simultaneously throughout the country and traffic was resumed in the same manner, making this form o protest illegal.

German Carmaker Daimler Contacted Romanian PM, Govt Denies

German carmaker Daimler contacted Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu about the company’s plans to open an auto assembly plant in Romania, and the premier requested several ministers to draw a list of possible locations for such a production unit.

Romanian Communist Hunters Threaten Hunger Strike

Most of the employees within Romania’s communist Securitate archive study authority CNSAS want to go on strike, starting Saturday, protesting against the decision of the Constitutional Court, which dubbed the CNSAS law unconstitutional, said CNSAS member Ticu Dumitrescu.

Romania To Introduce OpenID Standard For Online Payment

Clients of mobile telephony operators and of banks will be able to access websites of the public administration for online tax payment or to submit applications without using identification codes and passwords offered by mayoralties.

French Court Clears Tax Evader Sever Muresan From Tax Payments

The Court of Appeals in Lyon, France, cleared Romanian-French citizen Sever Muresan from paying taxes for the years 1994 and 1995 to the French state, repealing the decision of the Dijon Court, and ruled that Muresan is to receive EUR4,000.

Prosecutors Extend Ban To Leave Romania For Ex Agric Min

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Friday extended to March 3 the interdiction for former minister of agriculture Ioan Avram Muresan to leave the country, after the official was charged with committing corruption deeds.

Nokia To Make Phones For Europe, Middle East And Africa In Romanian Unit

Finnish mobile telephone giant Nokia will produce phones for markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in its plant in Jucu, in the central Romanian county of Cluj, Anna Simai, Senior Communication Manager Nokia for Southeast Europe told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romanian Railway Unionists Resume Activity

Railroad traffic was resumed on Friday in Bucharest’s "Gara de Nord" railway station and the first trains to depart for their destinations will be the fast train to Constanta and the intercity towards Galati.

Constitutional Court Rules In Matter Regarding State-Owned Dwellings

The contracts of tenants living in houses owned by the state protocol administration authority, or RA-APPS, and that expire in the following months will be extended only until mid 2008, following a decision of the Constitutional Court.

Coroner Report Shows Giovanna Reggiani Was Not Raped

The coroner report indicates the fact that Giovanna Reggiani, the 47-year-old Italian woman attacked in Rome by a Romanian immigrant was not raped, Thursday said police chief Marian Mandroc, Romania’s attaché in Italy.

Romanian Nuclear Reactor Shut Dn On False Alarm

The second nuclear reactor of Romania sole power station Station was switched off Thursday due to a false alarm, the station’s operator Nuclearelectrica said in a statement.

Burger King Signs Franchise Agreement In Romania

Burger King (BKC), America’s second largest chain of fast food restaurants, signed late last year a franchise agreement to start operations in Romania, the company said in its quarterly financial report Thursday.

Romania’s Constitutional Court Finds CNSAS Law As Unconstitutional

Romania’s Constitutional Court Thursday ruled that the law on the Romanian authority in charge with granting access to the files of the former communist secret police Securitate, or CNSAS, is unconstitutional.

Public Administration Reform, A Priority – World Bank

Restructuring public administration is the most important reform Romania should think about, said Thursday Catalin Pauna, economist with the Romanian office of the World Bank.

EC Plans To Adopt Interim Reports On Justice Reform For Romania, Bulgaria

The spokesman for the European Commission, Mark Gray, said Thursday in a press conference that the commission plans to adopt Monday the reports on justice in Romania and Bulgaria.

EP OKs Simplified Visa Control Regime In Romania, Bulgaria And Cyprus

The European Parliament on Thursday approved an extension of simplified controls of visas at the external frontiers of Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus, EP said in a statement.

EU Jus Commissioner Aware Of Romania’s Resolution To Continue Reform-Min

The EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini is aware of the Romanian government’s resolution to carry on the reform in the legal field, Romania’s interim justice minister Teodor Melescanu said Thursday.

Lawyer Elena Udrea To Return Fees Collected From State Protocol Administration For Legal Assistance

The executive secretary of Romania’s Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), Elena Udrea, said Thursday she decided to give back the money obtained for legal assistance services provided in 2003 and 2004 to the state protocol administration authority RA-APPS.

Fitch Changes Romania Outlook To Negative From Stable -2-

Fitch Ratings has today revised Romania’s outlook to stable to negative, mainly due to the rise of the current account deficit.

Romanian Road Transporters Threaten General Strike

Romanian road transporters threaten to go on general strike as of February 25, unless authorities reply to their memo requesting the amending of laws regulating their activity.

Romania Ctrl Bk Pledges To Keep Inflation Under Control – Governor

Romania’s central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said late Wednesday that the National Bank of Romania would take the necessary measures to keep inflation within this year’s target band of 2.8-4.8%.

Philip Morris International Production Hiked Worldwide, Dropped In Romania

Philip Morris cigarette production climbed by 0.9% in 2007, to 291.3 billion units, but in Romania, Russia, Serbia and Turkey, deliveries were lower compared to the previous year.

Romania Ups Gas Subsidies For Low-Income Population

The Romanian authorities will increase gas subsidies granted to people with low incomes, following the 8.5% growth of the natural gas prices as of February 1, minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian said Wednesday.

Romania To Raise Public Sector Wages By 9.58% In 2008

Romania’s Government will raise public sector wages by an average 9.58% in 2008, with most funds going to top priority fields, such as education and healthcare.

Parliament Legal Committees Postpone Report On Uninominal Vote Law For Next Week

The committees for legal matters in Parliament completed Wednesday discussions on the amendments brought to the uninominal voting system law for which the government assumed responsibility, but postponed the report for next week, due to lack of quorum.

Romania Must Adapt To New Global And Regional Challenges – World Bank

Romania is confronted with an investment calendar meant to sustain economic growth and improve the legal system, but at the same time it needs to adapt to new global and regional challenges, said Orsalia Kalantzopoulos, regional director with the World Bank.

Romanian Household Natural Gas Prices Up 8.5% Feb 1

Romanian household natural gas prices will be hiked by 8.5% February 1, Romania’s Energy Regulatory Authority ANRE said in a statement Wednesday.

Societe Generale Explains The Factors Leading To The EUR4.9B Fraud

The deputy general director of France’s Societe Generale, Jean-Pierre Mustier, stated that three breaches in the risk control system allowed a trader within the bank to perform a risky investment of EUR50 billion on European stock exchanges, triggering EUR4.9 billion worth of losses for the bank.