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Romanian President Calls For Healthcare Bill To Be Withdrawn

Romanian President Traian Basescu has called on the prime minister to withdraw the new healthcare bill, having seen that a large part of the public and of the healthcare system do not want it to change.

Romanian Authorities To Process Refund Requests For EU Farming Aid Within 45 Days

Reimbursement requests for EU farming aid will be processed within 45 days, the same as in the case of structural and cohesion funds, Romania's Government announced.

Vacancies In Romanian Healthcare Might Be Filled, Staying Within Approved Expense Limits

Hiring in the Romanian healthcare system may be unfrozen, where this does not exceed budgeted personnel expenses, says a draft decision put up for public debate on the Health Ministry's website.

Romanian Justice Minister To Discuss CVM With EU Officials In Brussels Next Week

Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu will meet Monday, in Brussels, with European officials to discuss the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), stressing that he will reject the use of the CVM as a pretext to affect Romania's interests in cases like Schengen Area accession.

Romanian Health Ministry Honorific Adviser Dismissed Two Days After Appointment

Tudor Ciuhodaru was released Thursday from the position of honorific adviser with the Romanian Health Ministry, two days after appointment, ministry spokeswoman Oana Grigore told MEDIAFAX.

Andrei Georgescu Appointed Romanian Health Ministry Deputy State Secretary

Andrei Georgescu, head of the emergency room of the University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, told MEDIAFAX Wednesday he accepted his appointment as Health Ministry deputy secretary of state to replace Raed Arafat who resigned Tuesday.

Romanian President Asks Parliament To Reject Law Banning Natural Gas Exports

Romanian President Traian Basescu has asked the Parliament to reject a bill amending the gas law, whereby domestic production of natural gas is used on the internal market exclusively, until import sources are diversified.

EU Members With Low Foreign Debt May Exceed Structural Deficit Limit

Romania's Minister of European Affairs, Leonard Orban, said Tuesday that a suggestion was made in the negotiations on the future inter-government treaty, whereby states with foreign debt below the limit imposed by the EU could be allowed to run a higher structural deficit.

Romania To Ask EC If Prolonging Labor Restrictions For Romanians Is Justified – Minister

Romania will ask the European Commission to explain if the decision of nine EU member states to keep work restrictions for Romanians is justified considering that, under the country’s EU Acession Treaty, such a measure may be taken only in exceptional cases.

Romanian PM Calls For More Controls To Prevent Tax Evasion

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has asked the ministers of Finance and of the Interior to take action against tax evasion, focusing on "high evasion," as well as step up controls using teams made up of representatives of every relevant institution.

About 70% Of Romanians Believe Corruption Increased In Romania Last Year – Poll

About two thirds (67%) of Romanians consider that corruption in the country increased in 2011, 6% believe it decreased and 26% say the level of corruption remained unchanged, according to a survey conducted at the request of the Association Implementing Democracy.

Romanian President Passes Law On Car Pollution Tax

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday passed the law on the car pollution tax, the Presidential Administration said in a press release.

Romania’s New Criminal Code To Take Effect In March-June 2013

Romania's new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code will be implemented in March-June 2013, Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu announced Thursday.

Constanta Casino Restoration To Take Two Years, Cost EUR9M

The restoration of the Constanta Casino will take 24 months and cost 39.2 million lei (EUR9 million), according to the project's technical indicators, approved Wednesday by Romania's Government.

Romanian Development Ministry To Demolish About 100 Illegal Buildings In Tourist Resorts

The Romanian Regional Development Ministry will demolish about 100 illegal buildings in tourist resorts, most of them located on the Black Sea coast, and building owners will cover demolishing costs, ministry spokesman Bogran Oprea told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Italy To Lift Labor Market Restrictions For Romanians, Bulgarians In 2012

Italy has decided to lift all labor market restrictions for Romanians and Bulgarians on December 31, 2011, the Romanian Labor Ministry said Thursday.

Romanian Healthcare Bill: Organ Harvesting Forbidden Without Prior Consent

Organ harvesting is allowed only if people consented to having their organs removed after death for transplantation to another recipient, or if the family of the deceased assents to the procedure, according to Romania’s new healthcare bill.

Romanian Traffic Police To Record Conversations With Pulled-Over Drivers

The conversations of Romanian police and drivers stopped for traffic violations will be recorded and used as evidence in case the fines are challenged in court, through a system currently in place on ten Traffic Police vehicles on roads A1 and DN7.

Orange, Vodafone Romania Have 30 Days To Pay GSM License Extension Fee

The Romanian Government decided mobile operators Orange and Vodafone have a month to transfer EUR6.4 million each to the state budget, or authorities’ decision to extend their GSM licenses, which expired on December 21, will be cancelled.

Romanians Who Fail To Pay Health Insurance Contributions To Receive Only Emergency Care – Bill

Romanians who fail to pay their health insurance contribution will receive medical care only in emergency situations, in infectious disease cases and for illnesses included in the national immunization program, according to Romania’s new healthcare bill.

Romanian Doctors May Not Reject Patients Over Ethnicity, Religion, Sexual Orientation

Romanian medical personnel is obligated to provide consultation only to someone previously accepted as a patient, but may not reject a person on grounds of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or other criteria of discrimination prohibited by law, says the new healthcare bill.

Romanians To Lose Social Benefits For Five Months Over Unpaid Local Taxes

Romanians receiving social aid, such as children's allowance, child-rearing stipends, minimum guaranteed income and family support allowance, will lose these benefits for five months if they fail to pay their local taxes.

Romanian Govt Rejects Local Tax Hike Propositions

The Romanian Government rejected local authorities’ proposition to raise local taxes by up to 50% next year, Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu said Tuesday evening.

Romania To Create Telecom Network In 2015 For Unconnected Areas, With EUR84M From EU

Every area of Romania still without Internet coverage will be provided with such services starting in 2015, upon the completion of a telecom network financed by the European Union with EUR84 million, Communication Minister Valerian Vreme said Tuesday.

Romanian Mothers To Receive Child-Rearing Benefits After Third Birth – Bill

Romanian senators Emilian Francu (liberal) and Elena Mitrea (social democrat) have put forward a bill whereby maternity leave and child-rearing benefits will be provided for all births, not only the first three, starting in 2013.

Romanian Hotels Cut Tariffs By 30% This Year

Tariffs charged by hotels in Romania were reduced by 30% this year, despite tax hikes and higher workforce costs, federation of employers in the tourism sector FPTR said in a press release Friday.

U.S.-Romania Antimissile Shield Agreement Takes Effect Friday

The agreement between the United States and Romania on the deployment of a U.S. ballistic missile defense system in southern Romania has taken effect Friday, December 23, the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a press release.

Romanian Pensioners, War Veterans Have Until End-2012 To Get Travel Smart Cards

The Romanian Government on Thursday decided to extend by one year, until end-2012, the deadline by which pensioners and war veterans will have to obtain travel smart cards, for use in county and inter-county road transport.

Romanian State Cos Might Be Again Forced To Transfer 90% Of Profit To State Budget

The Romanian Government wants to force state companies and autonomous departments again to transfer 90% of their profit to the state budget, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Mircea Geoana’s Dismissal As Senate Chairman Ruled Constitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court on Tuesday rejected the claims regarding the dismissal of Mircea Geoana from the position of Senate chairman and the appointment of Vasile Blaga in the respective position.

Romanian Govt Wants To Allot Redirected EU Funds To Develop High-Power Laser

The Romanian Government’s priorities in allotting redirected EU funds are the development in Magurele, southern Romania, of a high-power laser of over EUR200 million, the projects regarding the thermal rehabilitation of homes and road upgrade projects, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Romanian Railway Operator CFR To Hold Auction To Lease Ten Railway Sections

Romanian railway administrator CFR SA on Thursday will organize an open outcry auction to lease ten sections of the public railroad network in Bucharest, Brasov and Iasi.

Romanian Govt To Cut Workforce Costs At Optimum Time, Keep VAT At 2011 Level – PM

The Romanian Government will analyze the feasibility of reducing workforce costs only after it makes sure the country achieved macroeconomic stability, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Romanian Competition Council Probes Meal Voucher Market For Collusion Among Top Players

Romanian competition authorities performed inspections at three meal voucher issuers--Edenred, Sodexo Pass and Cheque Dejeuner--following suspicions of agreement between the three.

Romania Cut No. Of Family Support Allowance Beneficiaries By Over 450,000 In 2011

The number of family support allowance beneficiaries was reduced by over 450,000 this year and that of beneficiaries of minimum guaranteed income was reduced by 44,241, Romanian Labor Minister Sulfina Barbu said Friday.

Romanian Interior Ministry To Continue Layoffs – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday the Interior Ministry will continue layoffs.

Romanian Parliament Adopts New Bill On Car Pollution Tax

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies on Thursday adopted a bill on the car pollution tax, which amends the first registration tax criticized by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Bucharest Subway Operator Signs EUR66M Consulting Contract For New Mainline

Bucharest subway operator Metrorex signed a EUR66.6 million consulting contract with a Japanese-Romanian-French consortium to build a new mainline which will link the subway network to the Henri Coanda (Otopeni) airport.

Romanian Govt Decides To Raise Gross Minimum Wage To RON700 In 2012 – Sources

The Romanian Government on Wednesday decided to raise the gross minimum wage in 2012 by 30 lei (about EUR7) to RON700 from RON670, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

President Basescu To Reconfirm Romania Wants To Join Fiscal Union Pact

Romania’s President Traian Basescu told the Government Wednesday he will send to the European Council a reconfirmation of the fact that Romania will join the fiscal union pact EU leaders agreed upon last week.