English

Romanian New Car Registrations Up 26.3% In ‘07

The number of new car registrations in Romania hiked by 26.3% in 2007, to 312,532 units, from 247,518 units in 2006, while the hike was 27.1% in December, to 24,143 de units, according to preliminary data published Wednesday by the European Association of Car Makers.

Ukraine President Declares Serpent Island Independent Economic Area-Paper

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree transforming the Serpent Island into a free economic area, official sources in Kiev said Tuesday, quoted by Russian paper Izvestia.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Maintains Inflation Target – Ctrl Bkr

The Romanian central bank will take any measure, including a new hike in the main rate, to strengthen the monetary policy and reach the inflation target, depending also on the market’s response to the last two hikes in the main rate, central bank Deputy Governor Eugen Dijmarescu stated Tuesday.

Romanian President Appoints Melescanu Interim Justice Minister

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday signed the degree appointing Defense Minister Teodor Melescanu interim justice minister, the presidency said in a statement.

Romanian PM Appointed Ex Justice Min As State Adviser – Sources

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu appointed former justice minister Tudor Chiuariu as state adviser, official sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romania Requests Talks With EU Commissioner On Car Tax

Romanian Department for European Affairs chief Adrian Ciocanea, said Tuesday, in a press conference, that he asked Romanian ambassador in the EU Lazar Comanescu to set up a meeting with European commissioner responsible for Taxation and Customs Union Laszlo Kovacs’ team, regarding the car tax.

Moldovan Official Alleges Romanian Servants Offer Moldovans Illegal Citizenship

The Moldovan deputy interior minister Valentin Zubic on Tuesday accused two public servants with the Romanian justice ministry of alleged illegal help offered to Moldovan national in obtaining Romanian citizenship.

Romania, Down One Position In Economic Freedom Classification, Ranks 68th

Romania ranks 68th, down one position from 2007, among the 157 countries included in the classification regarding the degree of economic freedom, which was drawn up by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal.

Romanian PM Studied Justice Min Nominee’s Professional Record – Sources

Romanian prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, studied Norica Nicolai’s professional record, which the head of stated pointed out as grounds for her rejection from the position of justice minister. Tariceanu will decide on notifying the Constitutional Court after consulting the liberal leaders.

Romanian Fin Min Sees ‘08 Yearend CPI At 5.0%-5.5% YY

Romania’s consumer price index will stand at 5.0% - 5.5% in 2008, exceeding the target of 2.8%-4.8% set by the Romanian central bank, the Romanian Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said at a Euromoney conference in Vienna.

Romania’s Population Continues To Drop-Study

In November 2007, the birthrate on Romania’s territory was still below death rate, according to the National Statistics Institute.

Romanians Might Be Faced With Higher Prices As Of Feb ‘08

Romanians might pay more, as of February 1, 2008, for the basic food products and authorities intend to also increase the price of natural gas, Gandul daily informs.

Professional Portfolio Of Romania’s Ex Justice Min Goes Public

The professional portfolio of Monica Macovei, former prosecutor of the Prosecutors’ Office within the Supreme Court and former justice minister, reveals a series of disorders in her activity.

Thick Fog Seriously Affects Traffic On Romanian Highways, Roads

Road traffic is slow on Romania’s two highways and several national roads countrywide because of the heavy fog that in some areas lowered visibility to less than 50 meters ahead, the Info-traffic Center within the Romanian Police Department informed Monday evening.

Constanta Mayor Wins Trial Against Romanian General Police Department

Radu Mazare, mayor of Romania’s southeastern city of Constanta, said Monday that he won the trial against the Romanian General Police Inspectorate, or IGPR, and is to get moral damages worth RON50.000.

UN Forecasts 5.5% Econ Growth For Romania In ‘08

The United Nations (UN) forecast for 2008 a 5.5% economic growth in Romania, some one percentage point below the level estimated by Romanian authorities, according to a report compiled by the institution.

Romanian Econ Fin Min Says Car Tax Talks Near Endgame

Romanian authorities and European Commission officials will complete, this week, the talks on the car registration tax. After the talks, the Romanian authorities will set the level of the tax and will compile the draft normative act, according to Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian.

Romanian Fiscal Watchdog Sets New Rules For Income Statement

Individuals who obtained, in the fiscal year 2007, income from the transfer of ownership rights to bonds, are no longer obligated to state this income in January, according to Romanian fiscal authority ANAF.

Social Democrats Say Parliament Cannot Be Involved In Just Min Appointment

Cristian Diaconescu, vice-president of the leftist opposition Social Democratic Party, or PSD, Monday said that his party thinks Parliament must not become involved in the appointment of Norica Nicolai in the justice minister position.

Cristian Tudor Popescu Steps Down As Manager Of ‘Gandul’ Daily

Cristian Tudor Popescu on Sunday evening announced his resignation from the position of manager of Romanian daily “Gandul,” citing the discontent of the paper’s majority shareholder with his editing policy.

Romanian Justice Sys Needs Real Progress To Avoid EU Safeguard Clause-Official

Romania has to make progresses in reforming its justice field and the politicians need to fulfill their commitments toward the European Union to avoid a possible activation of the safeguard clause, the new head of the European Commission office in Bucharest, Nicolae Idu told RFI Romania in an interview.

Romania’s Cinema Center Grants Film Director Radu Mihaileanu RON1.6M Financing

Film director Radu Mihaileanu obtained the highest financing, of RON1.6 million, during the second edition of the 2007 film competition, for the fictional feature film “Concertul” (The concert).

Romania Backs Involvement Of Gaz De France, Kazakhstan In PEOP Proj

Romania backs the implication of Gaz de France (GdF) and Kazakhstan in the construction of the Pan-European Oil Pipeline linking Romania and Italy, said Viorel Palasca, state secretary in the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Citizens Not Paying Fines Could Be Forced Into Community Service

Citizens who fail to pay their fines might be forced into community service and might be denied possession of certain documents until they pay all their dues.

Romanian Household Energy Bills To Remain Unchanged For Now – Econ Min

Electricity prices in Romania will remain unchanged in the upcoming period, while gas prices will only be increased if the government grants financial support to household consumers, economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Saturday.

Romania’s High Council Of Magistrates Checks Tapping In Hayssam Case

Romania’s High Council of Magistrates on Saturday decided to investigate on the media articles regarding the phone tapping of Syrian justice evader Omar Hayssam.

President, PM Talked About Justice Minister Issue

Romanian President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu met Saturday afternoon and discussed for about half an hour, official sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s Fondul Proprietatea Share Transactions Now Regulated

Shareholders of investment fund Fondul Proprietatea may sell their shares before the fund is listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, according to amendments to the fund’s by-laws approved by the government and published in the Romanian Official Gazette.

Romanian Food Producers To Protect Traditional Specialties In EU

Romanian producers in the food sector will be able to protect traditional food products by means of a new procedure, which consists in registering these products as traditional specialties guaranteed in the European Union.

Social Democrats To Back Uninominal Voting Law Assumed By Govt

Romania’s leftist opposition Social Democratic Party, or PSD, has discarded its own draft on the uninominal voting system and will back the draft for which the government took responsibility in parliament, Senate chairman Nicolae Vacaroiu said Friday.

EBRD Worst Case Scenario Sees Romanian Population At 13M In 2050

Romania’s population might drop to 13.31 million inhabitants before 2050, according to a pessimistic scenario by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or EBRD, which analyzes the demographic evolution in several states.

Romanian Hosted NATO Summit, Likely The Largest In NATO History

Romanian president Traian Basescu and NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference Friday the NATO summit hosted by Bucharest in April will most likely be the biggest such event in the history of the organization.

Dakar-Like Rally Might Include Romania

Romanian race driver Gabriel Nicolae, who was to compete in the Dakar Rally, said Friday organizers are thinking of staging a similar race in April, which would cross Romania.

Bucharest Court Evacuated After Bomb Threat Call

The new and the old buildings housing the Bucharest Court were evacuated Friday at noon after a bomb threat from a man calling off a pre-paid mobile card, said commissioner Christian Ciocan, spokesman for the Bucharest Police.

Forensic Report: Transport Min’s Alleged Victim Not Injured In Car Accident

The final forensic report in the case of Simona Todean, the alleged victim of the accident caused by transports minister Ludovic Orban, indicates the girl was not the victim of a car accident.

Romanian Films Featured At Emir Kusturica’s Festival

Romanian films "California Dreamin", directed by Cristian Nemescu, and Mungiu’s “4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days” are to be screened at the first edition of the Kustendorf Film Festival, the brainchild of international award-winning Serbian director Emir Kusturica.

Romanian Director Sergiu Nicolaescu Back In Intensive Care

Romanian director Sergiu Nicolaescu was taken back to the intensive care section over abnormal cardiac rhythm issues, Dan Voinescu, head of the neurosurgery clinic with Bucharest’s Elias hospital, told a news conference Friday.

Romania Receives NATO Secretary General With High Honors

Romania’s Ministry of Defense received, on Friday morning, with military honors NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

Romania’s Nov Net Avg Salary Up 3.4% On Mo To RON1,121

Romania net average wages in November 2007 rose 3.4% on the month to 1,121 lei ($447), the National Institute for Statistics said Friday.

Romania’s ’07 Year-End CPI Exceeds Ctrl Bk Target, Ends At 6.57%

Romania’s consumer price index exceeded the central bank’s target band of 3-5% in 2007, accelerating to 6.57% at the end of December, due to a significant growth in food prices and services, the National Institute for Statistics said Friday.