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EU Says Romania Should Make 112 Emergency Service More Appealing

Romania, together with other 13 EU member states, received a notice from the Union, because the complete services, included in the implementation of the single "112" emergency number, are not functional.

EU Could Activate Safeguard Clause On Justice In Romania – Official

Romanian EU Commissioner Leonard Orban told a news conference Monday that, in theory, the Union could activate the safeguard clause on Romania in the field of justice, but added he hopes the country registers significant progress in the upcoming months to avoid such measures.

Liberals Propose Defense Min For Justice, Stroe For Defense

The leaders of Romania’s ruling Liberal Party, or PNL, proposed Teodor Melescanu for justice minister and Radu Stroe for defense minister.

Finnish Mobile Giant Nokia Started Production In NW Romania

Finnish mobile telephone giant Nokia started production Monday in its plant in Jucu, in the northwestern Romanian county of Cluj, where it is to assemble its 1200 model for markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Romania 2007 Trade Gap Widens To EUR21.5B

Romania's trade deficit widened roughly 44.4% in 2007 to EUR21.5 billion from EUR14.89 billion in 2006, driven by higher imports from European Union states, the National Institute for Statistics said Monday.

Romanian FM, Moldovan President Discuss EU Integration During Munich Security Conf

Romania’s Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu on Sunday held talks with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin on Moldova’s integration to the European Union during a major security conference in Munich.

Four Families Evacuated Due To Landslides SW Romania

Authorities in Valcea County, southwestern Romania had to evacuate four families in Mateesti locality in the past 48 hours due to landslides at a mining debris site, county prefect Radu Renga said.

Romania Should Import Natural Gas From Russia – Fin Min

Romania will register losses of hundreds of million euros for the period between 2002 and 2012, as the authorities chose to purchase natural gas from intermediaries and not directly from Russia, minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian said Sunday.

Romanian Cos To File Profit Tax Statements By February 15

Romanian companies must file statements regarding the tax on profit due for the fiscal year 2007 by February 15.

Health Min Controls Drugstores To Prove Romania Faces No Crisis

Romania’s Ministry of Public Health will start on Monday a thorough control of drugstores and pharmaceutical suppliers, health minister Eugen Nicolaescu said Saturday.

Romanian Liberals Hang On Nicolai For Jus Min Position

The Romanian liberals consider three or four nominations for justice minister position, including nominating Norica Nicolai again, liberal deputy president Puiu Hasotti said Saturday.

ECHR: Romania To Pay EUR3,000 Damages Over Unlawful Detention

The European Court of Human Rights, or ECHR, on Thursday ruled in favor of a Romanian national who sued the state over unlawful pre-trial detention, and compelled Romania to pay moral damages worth EUR3,000.

Japanese Ambassador Points Out Cluj For Nippon Investors

Japan’s ambassador to Romania, Kanji Tsushima, plans to determine Japanese companies to invest in Romania’s central county of Cluj, which became an attraction point for investors especially after Finnish mobile phone company Nokia decided to open a plant in the area.

Greater Romania Party Mulls No-Confidence Motion Against Govt

Gheorghe Funar, secretary general of Greater Romania Party (PRM), Friday warned Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu that, if he opposes the VAT cut for basic food, PRM will then submit the first no-confidence motion against the current government.

Vodafone Drops Daily Data Roaming Prices By Up To 45%

Vodafone, the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world by turnover, Friday announced a price reduction of up to 45% to its monthly data roaming prices for European business travelers starting June 2008.

Romania Might Back Tony Blair For EU Presidency

Romania’s president Traian Basescu alluded, during an interview with French TV station France 24, stating that if France backs former British Premier Tony Blair for the EU presidency, Romania will support him also.

Romanian Pres Says 25% Of Magistrates Are Ex Securitate Members

The president of the Romanian High Council of the Magistrates, Lidia Barbulescu, said that the statements made by president Traian Basescu, who said that 25% of magistrates are former Securitate members, "brings unusual damage" to the image of judges and prosecutors.

Romanian Justice Min Nominee Takes Fight To ECHR

Romanian liberal Senator Norica Nicolai, nominated for the position of justice minister, stated that if the Constitutional Court "maintained Basescu’s reasons regarding immorality" regarding her, she would turn to the European Court for Human Rights.

Romania Wants TGV Line To Stretch Up To Bucharest

Romanian president Traian Basescu said during an interview with French TV station France 24 that the country is currently discussing the possibility for Europe's newest high-speed train, the TGV East to also reach Bucharest.

Romania’s Possible Involvement In Chad Communicated To The EU

Romania’s intention to send troops to Chad was communicated to the European Union and is to afterwards be approved by the country’s government, said on Thursday the foreign affairs minister to Mediafax reporters.

Dacia Logan Sedan Gets Facelift-Sources

Automobile Dacia SA, the Romanian unit of French carmaker Renault (13190.FR), will launch in the second part of the year the facelift Logan Sedan, sources with the car industry said Thursday.

EBRD Might Invest In Romania’s CEC

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or EBRD, does not exclude the possibility of investing in Romania’s savings bank Casa de Economii si Consemnatiuni, or CEC, said Thursday during a press conference, the institution’s president Jean Lemierre.

Romania’s ELCEN Price Hikes Likely Below Claim – FinMin

Romania’s energy watchdog might approve an energy price hike below the unacceptable 15% increase asked by the country’s power producer Electrocentrale Bucuresti (ELCEN), part of domestic state-owned power distributor Termoelectrica, Romanian Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Court: Romanian Pres Entitled To Refuse Nicolai’s Nomination For Jus Min

The Romanian Constitutional Court on Thursday decided President Traian Basescu was entitled to refuse the nomination of Norica Nicolai as minister of justice and ordered the government to nominate another person for the position.

Romanian Culture Min Offers Scholarship To Pavarotti Wannabe

Romanian culture and cults minister Adrian Iorgulescu intends to offer Costel Busuioc – the Romanian in Spain who discovered his talents as a tenor – a scholarship for the study of canto and music theory at the Bucharest National University of Music.

Nokia Launches On Feb 11 First Production Unit In Romania

Finnish mobile telephone giant Nokia will launch its first mobile phone production line in its plant in Jucu, in the central Romanian county of Cluj on Monday, February 11, 2008.

Romanian PM Says Troop Detachment Is Not A Govt Matter

The detachment of Romanian troops to Chad was not a Government decision, nor a topic in the talks with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, but it is mentioned in a memorandum sent to the High Council for National Defense (CSAT) for approval, said Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu.

Romanian Govt To Spend EUR7M On Tourism Promotion

The Romanian Government will spend some EUR7 million for programs promoting Romania from a tourism perspective. EUR2 million will be used for the launch of a national tourism brand, meant to bring in more visitors.

Romanian Govt Asks Parliament To Resume Automobile Craiova Privatization Law Debates – Sources

The Romanian Government decided to ask the Senate to continue debates on the draft law privatizing car maker Automobile Craiova, which were suspended in October, when the European Commission launched an investigation searching for potential illegal state aid granted to American group Ford.

Romanian Journalists Not Liable For Footage Disclosure

The Legal Committee of Romanian Senate on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code which absolves journalists from criminal responsibility over disclosed audio and video recordings.

Romania’s Fin Min To Take Corrective Actions If Lawmakers Adopt Lower VAT For Food

Romania’s Ministry of Economy and Finance is to present in parliament a series of corrective measures if deputies adopt a decision cutting by 5% the value added tax for basic food, finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Wednesday.

Romania Grants RON759.8M In Damages To Former Depositors In CEC

Romania will grant total damages of 759.8 million lei (EUR1-RON3.6579) to some 37,460 people who deposited money in bank Casa de Economii si Consemnatiuni, or CEC, in view of purchasing cars during the communist regime, minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian said Wednesday.

Romanian Defense Committee Hears Int, Defense Mins On Troop Detachment

The Romanian Senate defense committee decided, Wednesday, to hear defense minister Teodor Melescanu and interior minister Cristian David on sending troops abroad, as well as several journalists from Romanian weekly "Academia Catavencu" regarding security at Airport Baneasa.

Romania’s Fin Min To Appeal Senate Decision On VAT Cut For Basic Food-PM

Romania’s Ministry of Economy and Finance is to appeal at the Constitutional Court an act adopted by the Senate regarding a 5% cut in the VAT for basic food, as the decision, if adopted, would trigger lower revenues to the budget and would leave food prices unchanged, Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu said.

Romania Senate OKs 5% VAT Cut For Basic Food

Romania’s senate on Wednesday approved a 5% cut of the value added tax for basic food – bread, meat, milk, vegetal oil and sugar.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Probe Former Agriculture Minister

Romania’s former agriculture minister Decebal Traian Remes and his lawyer on Wednesday spent nearly two hours at the National Anticorruption Department (DNA).

Ex Romanian Football Coach Trains To Become Senator

Anghel Iordanescu, former coach of Romania’s football team was unanimously appointed in the Senate's plenary session to take over the mandate of senator of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, for the county of Ilfov.

Romanian Social Democrats To Back Majority Uninominal Voting System

Romania’s leftist opposition Social Democratic Party, or PSD, Tuesday decided to back, during the debates in Parliament, the majority uninominal voting system in a single round of elections, PSD leader Mircea Geoana said.

Romania Life Insurance Mkt Seen Up 25% In 2008

The growth rate of Romania’s life insurance market will reach 25% in 2008, up 5% from 2007, mainly due to people’s growing interest in these financial instruments, following the adhesion campaign to private pension funds.

Constitutional Court To Rule If Probe Requests For MPs Need Parliament Approval

Romania’s Senate asked the Constitutional Court to rule whether Parliament should or should not give its approval regarding the notices on the start of criminal investigation against ministers who are also MPs.