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EC Investigation Puts On Hold New Ford Product On Romanian Mkt

The head of Romania’s’ privatization agency AVAS, Teodor Atanasiu, said that U.S. giant Ford would have to consider other locations to produce cars if the European Commission fails to give an answer by early 2008 regarding the privatization process of Romanian auto-assembly plant Automobile Craiova.

European Union To Grant EUR510M Subsidies To Winemakers

Winemakers in EU countries, including the Romanian wine producers, will receive additional subsides worth a total of EUR510 million for improvements in wine quality to compete with the wine quality standards in the United States, Australia and South Africa.

Romanian Labor Minister Says Owners’ Associations Decided On 2008 Min Salary

The representatives of owners’ associations have reached an agreement, for the first time, on the sum of 480 lei (EUR1-RON3.3671) for the 2008 minimum salary per economy, Romania’s labor minister Paul Pacuraru said.

Moldovan President Accuses Romania Of Contesting Moldova’s National Identity

Vladimir Voronin, President of the Republic of Moldova, said in an interview for the Radio Free Europe that the relations with Romania "are not so good " and accused the Romanian authorities of contesting the national identity of his country.

EU Justice Commissioner Speaks About Tense Situation In Italy

The European Commissioner for Justice Franco Frattini considers that the tense situation in Italy involving Romanian citizens is the "result of too much tolerance, in the past, toward lawbreakers and criminals."

Romanian Former Astronaut Urges For U.N. Resolution On Possible Asteroid Collision

Romanian former astronaut Dumitru Prunariu endorses the necessity of a U.N. resolution regarding preventive measures for a possible collision between asteroids and the earth.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Min Apologizes For Public Statement

Romanian discrimination watchdog CNCD publicly condemns the statement of foreign affairs minister Adrian Cioroianu, feeling that it generates a degrading, humiliating and offensive atmosphere for certain communities.

Romanian Lawmakers Send Far-Right Leader To Make Peace With Italy

Romanian lawmakers mandated far-right leader Corneliu Vadim Tudor to contact Italian authorities to help solve the immigrant crisis, Chamber secretary Ioan Munteanu said Tuesday.

Romanian Pres Sticks To Referendum/EP Elections Combo

Romanian president Traian Basescu sent to Parliament, for reexamination, the Referendum Law enacted with the amendment of social democrat MP Eugen Nicolicea, which mentioned the postponement of elections if a national referendum is called on the same day.

Romania Has Over 5 Million Internet Users

The number of internet users in Romania topped five million in August, and the penetration rate is nearing 25%, about half a percentage point higher than in the first six months of the year. However, the country still has the lower number of users in the European Union.

Steaua Sold Less Than 9,000 Tickets For Match Against Seville

Steaua Bucharest sold by Tuesday 8,864 tickets for the Champions League match against Seville to take place Wednesday in Bucharest.

Romanian Social Democrat Exposed As Former Communist Secret Police Officer

The Romanian authority investigating the archives of the former communist secret police, CNSAS, decided Tuesday that social democrat Doru Giugula was a collaborator of the secret services Securitate.

Saudi Al Arrab Signs EUR120M Deal For Romania’s Electroputere

Saudi Arabian Al Arrab Contracting Co. Ltd signed on Tuesday with the Romania’s privatization authority AVAS, a EUR120 million deal to buy a 62.82% stake in state-owned electrical equipment-producer Electroputere Craiova.

Bill Gates Foundation Aims To Computerize Romanian Libraries

The "Bill and Melinda Gates" foundation will grant a $1.4 million financing within the "Global Libraries" program, to computerize 13 public libraries in five Romanian counties.

Foreign Affairs Min Says Romanians Can Appeal Decision To Be Banished From Italy

Romania’s foreign affairs minister Adrian Cioroianu Monday militated, during talks with Italy’s ambassador in Bucharest, Daniele Mancini, for the right of Romanian citizens to appeal the decision to be banished from Italy.

Romanian Documentary Wins Golden Dove Award At 2007 DOK Leipzig

Romanian film director Adina Pintilie won the Golden Dove at this year’s edition of the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film – DOK Leipzig 2007 with the "Nu te supăra, dar.." (Don’t Get Me Wrong) documentary.

Romanian Senate OKs Draft Law On Compulsory House Insurances

The Romanian Senate approved a draft law compelling owners to insure their dwellings against natural disasters for sums ranging between EUR10,000 and EUR20,000, based on house type.

Romanians Are Mistaken For Roma-Liberal MEP

Graham Watson, leader of the liberal group in the European Parliament, on Monday said the Romanians in Italy should not have to pay for a single person’s mistake, adding the biggest problem is that Romanians are mistaken for Roma people.

Romanian Pensioners Outliving Their Spouses To Benefit From Monthly Aid

The Romanian pensioners outliving their spouses will benefit, as of 2008, from a monthly aid based on Law 225/2007, which will come into effect after the enforcement norms are published, Bucharest’s Pension House said.

Romania Foreign Min Eyes Setting Up Additional Consulates In Italy

Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu on Monday said the ministry’s short-term agenda includes setting up three new consulates in Italian cities Trieste, Bologna and Cosenza.

S&P Revises Romania’s Outlook To Negative From Stable

Standard & Poor's Rating Services revised Romania’s outlook to negative from stable, on rapidly growing external imbalances, S&P announced Monday.

Anticorruption Prosecutors Indict SIF Oltenia Head For Alleged Fraud

The head of regional investment fund SIF Oltenia, Dinel Staicu, was indicted by anticorruption prosecutors Monday, alongside other eight persons, in a file regarding a EUR11 million fraud on Romania's state-owned gas pipeline operator Transgaz Medias.

Romania’s Steaua Gets EUR30,000 Bonus To Beat Seville in Champions League

The financer of Romania’s football team Steaua, Gigi Becali, told MEDIAFAX Monday he will give a EUR30,000 bonus to each player if the team wins the match against Seville in the fourth leg of group H of Champions League.

Romania Writes To EU Justice Commissioner On Italian Law Issue

Romanian authorities sent a letter to European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini Monday evaluating the decree on public safety issued by Italy, Romania’s foreign affairs minister Adrian Cioroianu said.

Romania’s Econ Fin Min Says Min Salary Might Range From RON450 To RON540

The minimum salary might vary between the limit set through the draft law on the 2008 state budget and the value requested by the unions, Romania’s economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Monday.

Romania’s Education Ministry Determined To Crack Down Drug Consumption

An anti-drug project aimed at informing teenagers aged 14 to 16 and their parents on the effects of narcotics will be unfolded during counseling and guidance classes in schools, Romania’s Ministry of Education, Research and Youth said Monday.

Romanian Govt To Deploy More Police Officers To Italy, Encourage Voluntary Repatriation

The Romanian government will hike by up to 30 the number of police officers deployed in Italy and will ask for Romania’s attaches to be informed at least 24 hours before of any decision to expel Romanian citizens.

Most Of Bulgaria’s 2007 Tourists Were Romanian Neighbors

The largest number of tourists, 1.3 million people, to visit Bulgaria between January and September 2007 were Romanians. The percentage is 40% up compared to the similar period a year ago.

Court Orders Becali To Pay Privatization Agency EUR88,000 In Poultry Prod Case

A Bucharest court ruled Monday that controversial businessman Gigi Becali should pay penalties of EUR88,000 to the privatization agency AVAS, after he failed to make environment investments in poultry producer Avicola Iasi.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Sees Yr-End CPI At 5.7%

(ADDS governor comments on external debt)

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Sees Yr-End CPI At 5.7%

Romania’s central bank sees the year-end consumer price index deteriorating to 5.7% at the end of the year, 1.8 percentage points higher against the previous projection, due to the severe drop of the agricultural output, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said in a press conference Monday.

Romania’s Rompetrol Hikes Gas, Diesel Oil Price By RON0.03/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil company, Rompetrol Group NV will hike this week the gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.03 lei/liter (EUR1-RON 3.3408), which will be valid between November 5 and November 11, the company said Monday in a statement.

Romanian Sea Ports Closed Over Strong Wind

Romanian sea ports Constanta Nord and Constanta Sud, southeastern Romania, were closed Monday morning due to very strong wind.

Romania’s Sep Net Avg Salary Up 1% On Mo To RON1040

Romania’s net monthly average wage rose 1% in September to 1040 lei (EUR1-RON3.3408) from RON1030 the month before, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Romanian Pres Demands Fairness In Italian Policy On Immigrants

Romanian president Traian Basescu said that the Italian and Romanian Governments have great responsibilities in the situation created regarding Romanians in Italy and he asked the Bucharest Executive to guarantee good cooperation with its Italian counterpart.

Romanian Pres Declares Stance On Romanian Immigrant Issue

Romanian president Traian Basescu publicly condemned law violations and violent acts by Romanian citizens abroad, as well as acts of violence directed towards them.

Romanian PM Asks Italian Authorities To Protect Romanians

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said he would ask the Italian Prime Minister and the Mayor of Rome to take action against xenophobe attitudes toward Romanians in Italy, adding he also discussed the matter with President Traian Basescu.

Wage Hikes Sustainable, Ctrl Bk Opinions Out Of Context – PM

Romania’s planned public sector wage increases are based on the economic growth in the past few years and not populist criteria, and the central banker’s statements on the matter were taken out of context, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Saturday.

Romania PM Urges Measures To Clear Country’s Image

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said he asked ministers of interior, labor and justice to come up with proposals by Monday to “balance” the deportation of Romanians from Italy, adding the government needs to react to improve Romania’s’ image

Romanian Health Min Says Is Watched By Anticorruption Authorities, Secret Services

Romania’s health minister, liberal Eugen Nicolaescu, told journalists Saturday he thinks he is being followed by anticorruption prosecutors and secret services, by order of President Traian Basescu.