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Romanian Democrat Liberals Select Vasile Blaga As Candidate For Senate Chairman

The Standing Bureau of the Romanian ruling Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), part of the ruling coalition, decided Monday former Interior Minister Vasile Blaga will be the party’s candidate for the position of Senate chairman, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Fiscal Council: Special Pensions Increased By 30% After Recalculation

The average monthly pension paid to the 159,000 Romanian former military staff and police officers increased over 30% after recalculation, to 2,289 lei (EUR525) from RON1,755, although the Labor Ministry expected it will decrease, the Fiscal Council said Friday.

Romania To Determine No. Of State Employees To Be Laid Off In Each Sector In 2012

Romania’s Labor Minister Sulfina Barbu said Friday, referring to the 120,000 public sector employees to be laid off next year, that authorities are analyzing the matter to see how many state employees will be made redundant in each sector.

Romania’s President, Qatar’s Ruling Emir Talk On Means Of Enhancing State Cooperation – QNA

Romania’s President Traian Basescu arrived Tuesday in Qatar’s capital city Doha and held talks with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on bilateral relations and the means of strengthening cooperation between the two states, according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Romanian Military Personnel Must Join Private Pension Fund Within Seven Months

Romanian military personnel, police agents and special employees of the defense and prison administration systems will be required to sign up for a private pension within seven months, with the exception of agents with classified identities.

US Ambassador: 81% Of Romanian Applicants Received Non-Immigrant Visas For USA In 2010

U.S. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein said Tuesday that 29,000 Romanians, about 81% of those who applied, received temporary visas for the U.S. in 2010, an increase of 3,000 over 2009.

Romania’s Parliament Adopts Stray Dog Bill

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday adopted with 168 votes in favor, 111 votes against and 14 abstentions a bill on stray dogs.

Romanian Senate Approves Bill On Medical Practices In Schools

Romania's Senate on Monday adopted a bill concerning medical and dentist practices in public and private schools.

Foreigners Own 8.5% Of Romania’s Total Arable Area – Agric Minister

The area of Romanian farmland owned by foreigners increased by over 10% this year to 709,000 hectares from 635,000 hectares in 2010, and 24.29% of it belongs to Italians, Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara told a news conference Monday.

Romanian Govt Might Unfreeze Hiring In Health, Education, Administration Sectors In 2012

The Romanian Government will unfreeze hiring in the health, education and administration sectors next year, if the need for more staff is high, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday on public radio.

President: Romania Has No Money To Raise Pensions, Wages In 2012 Regardless Of Court Ruling

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on public radio RRA that, regardless of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on authorities’ decision to freeze pensions and wages in 2012, “there is no money”.

Romanian Health Ministry’s 2012 Budget To Be Set For Entire Year, Won’t Be Revised – Minister

The Romanian Health Ministry’s 2012 budget will be set for the entire year and will not be revised, Health Minister Ladislau Ritli said Wednesday.

Romania’s Ruling Coalition Puts Off Approval Of Draft 2012 State Budget Until Next Week – Sources

Romania’s ruling coalition leaders decided Wednesday that the draft 2012 state budget will be approved by the Government next week, most likely in a special meeting, people close to the talks told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian PM: Next Budget Revision To Give More To Health, Culture, Investments

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said the government will revise the state budget next week at the latest, providing more funds to the ministries of Health, Culture and those running investments in infrastructure.

Romanian Govt Cuts Subsidy For Residential Construction Through Mortgage Loans

Romania's Government has decided not to subsidize the construction of homes through mortgage loans, arguing that budget revenues are insufficient to continue support for this program, and will limit the benefit to applications already filed.

Romanian Lower House Ratifies Missile Defense Shield Agreement

Romania's Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday adopted the bill on the ratification of the U.S.-Romanian agreement on the deployment of a U.S. ballistic missile defense system in Romania.

EBRD: Romanian Public Sector Hiring Kept Unemployment Low

Unemployment remained low in Romania in 2008-2010, compared with the levels recorded in Central Europe and the Baltic states, mainly because unemployment was relatively low even before the crisis and the public sector absorbed a lot of personnel, says a report by the EBRD.

Romanian Homeowners May Pay Taxes As Individuals For Up To 5 Rooms Let To Tourists

Romanian homeowners who let between one and five rooms to tourists will be able to declare their income and pay taxes without registering as self-employed persons, according to a draft amendment to the Tax Code, due to enter force on January 1.

Romanian President Says Would Welcome Govt Reshuffle

Romanian President Traian Basescu said late Monday on public television he would quickly accept replacing Cabinet members but the prime minister needs to stay to ensure stability.

Parliament Committees OK Bill Ratifying U.S.-Romanian Antimissile Shield Agreement

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies’ committees for legal matters and defense adopted in a joint meeting Monday a favorable report on the bill ratifying the U.S.-Romanian agreement on the deployment of a U.S. ballistic missile defense system in Romania.

Romania’s Ruling Coalition Agrees To Merge Local, Parliamentary Elections, Cut MP Numbers

Romania’s ruling coalition decided in a meeting Monday parliamentary and local elections will be merged in November 2012 and the number of lawmakers will be lowered to 388, Hunor Kelemen, leader of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, told MEDIAFAX.

EC Report: Free Movement Of Romanian, Bulgarian Workers Increased EU GDP By 0.3%

The free movement of Romanian and Bulgarian workers has increased the EU's GDP by 0.3%, says the EC's report on the Functioning of the Transitional Arrangements on Free Movement of Workers, which points out that restricting this right is not the answer to the EU's labor market problems.

Government To Cut Early Education Coupons, Limit Travel Discounts For Pensioners

Romania's Government will not provide next year the new social coupons only just introduced through the new education law, destined for low-income households with preschool children, will cut indemnities for veterans of the 1989 revolution and will restrict travel discounts.

Refunds For Romanian Scheme Scrappage Vouchers Disbursed Until December 23

Romanian Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely said Friday that the last refunds for vouchers through the car scrappage program will be disbursed on December 23, instead of December 12, following requests from voucher holders.

Women Hold Over 50% Of Decision-Making Positions In Romanian Central Public Admin – Survey

Women hold over half of decision-making positions in the Romanian central public administration and most leader positions within ministries, according to a survey conducted by the Labor Ministry at the request of the European Commission.

Romanian President Woos German Investors With “Large Privatization” Outlook

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday said, after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, that Romania will start a large privatization process, involving thermal power producers Turceni, Rovinari and Craiova, as well as railroad freight transporter CFR Marfa.

Romania Has Confirmed Its Intention To Join Euro Area By 2015 – Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said in a joint news conference with Romanian President Traian Basescu that Romania has confirmed its intention to join the euro area in 2015, adding she respects this intention and she knows the efforts required by the people during tough reforms.

Romania’s Justice Minister May Start Disciplinary Action Against Judges, Prosecutors – Bill

Romania’s minister of Justice will be allowed to start disciplinary proceedings against judges and prosecutors in grounded cases, according to a bill drafted by the Government.

Romanian Fmr State Secretary Silviu Bian Indicted On Charges Of Corruption

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Wednesday indicted Silviu Bian, former state secretary and head of the National Employment Agency (ANOFM), on charges of corruption.

Dozens Of Romanian Teachers Protest Over Decision To Keep Wages Frozen In 2012

Dozens of Romanian teachers on Wednesday staged a spontaneous protest at the headquarters of the Education Ministry over authorities’ decision to keep wages frozen in 2012.

Romanian President To Meet With German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday – MP

Romanian President Traian Basescu will meet with Germany’s President Christian Wulff and Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, Ovidiu Gant, deputy of the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania, said in a press release Wednesday.

Romanian Lower House Adopts Act Freezing Pensions, Salaries In 2012

Romania's Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday adopted Government Emergency Ordinance 80/2010, which includes amendments by the Committee for budget, that stipulate public sector salaries and state pensions will be frozen next year.

Nicole Kidman May Promote Romania In New Documentary

Australian actress Nicole Kidman might promote Romania's tourist attractions in a documentary developed by the Travel Channel, said Paul Lister, the producer of "Wild Carpathia," a film that featured Prince Charles.

Romanian Parliament Committee To Draft Report On Welfare Bill By Nov 14

MPs with the Romania Chamber of Deputies’ committee for labor have until November 14 to draw up a report on the social welfare bill, that will then be put to the vote in plenary, House secretary Niculae Mircovici said Tuesday.

Romanian President Passes Law On Remembrance Day For Victims Of Fascism And Communism

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday passed the Law making August 23 the Remembrance Day for Victims of Fascism and Communism, and December 21 the Remembrance Day for Victims of Communism in Romania.

Romanian Social Democratic Party Moves To Replace Senate President

Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD, in opposition) on Monday requested that Senate President Mircea Geoana be replaced with Titus Corlatean.

Romania Needs Privatization, Private Management To Foil “Wise Guys” – IMF

The government needs to hurry privatizations and the appointment of private management at state-owned companies, to decisively change the system where a privileged few enjoy undeserved profit, says Jeffrey Franks, head of the International Monetary Fund’s delegation to Romania.

IMF: Romania May Raise Salaries, Pensions Slightly In 2012, If Things Go Well

Romania's Government has agreed with the IMF and EC to freeze public sector salaries and pensions, but to increase them slightly halfway through next year, if budget revenue allows, said IMF mission chief Jeffrey Franks.

Bucharest-Ploiesti Highway To Open For Traffic Next Spring – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Saturday the 62-kilometer highway linking capital Bucharest to Ploiesti will be open for traffic next spring at the latest.

UK Advisory Committee Recommends Maintaining Employment Restrictions For Romanians, Bulgarians

The United Kingdom's Migration Advisory Committee recommends maintaining restrictions on the access of Bulgarian and Romanian nationals to employment, as lifting them would have a negative impact on the British labor market.