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Romanian Foreign Min Receives Bill For RON1M From Airline Tarom For Evacuation Flight

The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry received a bill for over 1 million lei (about EUR245,000) from state-owned airline Tarom for the flight evacuating Romanian citizens from Japan in March, ministry official Doris Mircea said Thursday.

Businessman Dinel Nutu Held By Romanian Police

Romanian businessman Dinel Nutu, formerly known as Staicu, was brought Thursday to the Bors customs point by Hungarian police officers and handed over to Romanian authorities, said a police press release.

Sterling Resources Deplores Romania’s Opaque Drilling Permission System

Canadian oil and gas company Sterling Resources on Thursday said it cannot operate in its Black Sea perimeters at the present time, since local authorities are unable or unwilling to issue the required permits.

Romanian President Says Country Should Maintain Goal To Join Eurozone In 2015

Romania should maintain its goal to adopt the euro in 2015, President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on national television TVR, adding he had talks on the subject with the prime minister and the central bank governor.

Romanian President Shares IMF Concerns That 2012 Elections Pose Risk To Reforms

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on national television TVR he shares the International Monetary Fund’s concerns that elections in 2012 pose risks to the country’s reforms, adding this is the reason he insisted on a precautionary deal with the IMF and the European Union.

Romanian President Optimistic On Romania’s Schengen Entry This Year

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on national television TVR he is optimistic about the country’s Schengen entry in 2011, adding accession to the EU’s border-free area is not a failed objective for the country.

EC To Probe New Dutch Rules For Bulgarians, Romanians, Bulgarian Media Reports

The European Commission plans to launch a probe into the initiative of the Dutch government to restrict access for Romanian and Bulgarian workers to the country's labor market, Novinite.com reported Thursday.

IMF: Romanian 2012 Elections Pose Risk To Reforms

The 2012 elections pose the greatest risk to the reforms assumed by Romania before international institutions, as the Government might undo some of them, arguing that the crisis is over and the economy is recovering, said people close to the talks between the IMF and Romanian authorities.

IMF: Romania May Reduce Social Security Taxes If It Guarantees Budget Gap Below 3% In 2012

Romania may reduce the social security taxes paid by employers only if there are guarantees that it can achieve the fiscal targets of 2011 and 2012, when the budget deficit must drop below 3% of the GDP, said people close to the talks between the IMF and Romanian authorities.

Eurostat Team Visits Romania For Talks On 2010 Deficit

A team of European Union’s statistical arm Eurostat will arrive in Bucharest at the end of the month to hold talks on the country’s budget for 2010, a Finance Ministry official said Wednesday.

Romanian Car Repair Shops Might Have To Let Customers Watch

Romanian auto repair shops might be required to allow their customers to watch the work being done to their vehicles, according to a bill to be debated next week by the Parliament, democrat liberal deputy Adrian Badulescu said Wednesday.

CME Q1 Revenue Up 20% To $172.8M

Central European Media Enterprises (CME) reported 20% higher net revenue in the first quarter of 2011, up to $172.8 million, and the group expects its TV advertising markets to grow this year.

Romanian President Summoned To Appear In Court After He Sued Opposition MP

A Bucharest court on Wednesday summoned President Traian Basescu to appear in court on May 18, in a case in which the head of state sued opposition social democrat MP Mugurel Surupaceanu who accused the Government and the Presidency of supporting the use of recreational drugs.

Romania March Private Lending -1.9% On Month To RON204B

Romanian private lending fell 1.9% in real terms to 203.9 billion lei (EUR50.05 billion) in March from a month earlier, and was down 5.3% on the year, central bank data showed Wednesday.

IMF Has ‘No Doubts’ On Romania 2010 Deficit Data – Official

The International Monetary Fund has “no doubts whatsoever” on the quality of the budgetary data sent by Romania for 2010, the country’s representative to the IMF said Wednesday.

Nokia To Close Romanian Research And Development Center, Fire 120 Employees

Finnish mobile giant Nokia could lay off about 120 employees from its Research and Development Center in Cluj, central Romania, and the center will be shut down by the end of the third quarter, part of the group’s strategy to align its global workforce and consolidate site operations.

Romanian PM Assures IMF Delegation Romania Can Emerge From Recession

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc met Wednesday morning with a delegation of the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and the World Bank, whom he assured Romania can emerge from recession.

Romanian Senate Rejects Solidarity Tax Targeting Financial, Lending Institutions

The Romanian Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill introducing a 2.5% solidarity tax on the profit of financial and lending institutions, which was put forward by several ruling democrat liberal lawmakers.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Question Fmr Railway Manager Mihai Necolaiciuc

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Wednesday are questioning former state-owned railway company manager Mihai Necolaiciuc, who is accused of defrauding the company of EUR70 million.

Romanian Integrity Agency Asks Anticorruption Dept To Probe Ex-Labor Min

Romania's National Integrity Agency (ANI) has asked the National Anticorruption Department (DNA) to investigate claims of conflict of interest brought against former Labor Minister Ioan Botis.

Romanian Senate Rejects Bill On Internet Pornography

The Romanian Senate on Tuesday rejected a bill preventing and fighting internet pornography, as the draft normative act did not garner sufficient votes for approval.

Romania To Verify State Cos Data After EU Cites Uncertainties On 2010 Figures

Romania's Finance Ministry will verify the accuracy of the financial figures reported by a series of state-run companies, after the European Union expressed reserve on the quality of the budget deficit data sent by the country.

Romanian Acting Labor Min Warns Illegal Work To Be Harshly Punished

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, recently appointed acting labor minister, said Tuesday the country’s new labor legislation sets harsher punishments for illegal work.

Romania To Set New Euro Adoption Target By End-April – PM

Romania’s Government will decide on a new euro-adoption calendar by end-April, after talks with the president and the central bank, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Romania Foregoes 2015 Deadline For Euro Adoption

Romania gave up its self-imposed 2015 deadline for the euro adoption, saying the country will not be able to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-II) before 2013-2014, according to the draft convergence program for 2011-2014.

Amended Romanian Public-Private Law Punishes Tender Contestation Losers

Companies will no longer have to provide a 2% guarantee in order to contest a Romanian tender for a public-private partnership contract, but a guarantee of 1% of the contract's estimated value will be a condition for participation.

Romanian FDI Seen Rising To EUR5.8B In 2014

The Romanian government estimates foreign direct investments will increase to EUR5.8 billion in 2014, from EUR3.6 billion predicted for this year, according to the draft convergence program for 2011-2014.

Tax Increases Could Shadow Romania Private Consumption Recovery

Romanian private consumption is set to pick up in the coming period, following sharp reductions in the previous years, but recovery could lag behind due to possible tax increases and higher global prices for oil and food items, according to the draft convergence program for 2011-2014.

Six People In Romanian Baneasa Airport Management Indicted In Procurement Fraud Case

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Friday indicted six people, including four managers of the Bucharest Baneasa Airport, for causing damages of more than 23 million lei (EUR5.8 million) in an overestimated contract.

ING: Jobless Figures Don’t Reflect Romanian Economic Reality

Romanian declining unemployment rate “is spectacular”, but it doesn’t reflect the economic reality in the country, ING Bank said in a report Friday.

Romanian PM Says New Labor Minister To Be Appointed After Easter

Romania’s Prime Minister will appoint a new labor minister after Easter, following talks within the ruling Democratic Liberal Party, Boc said Friday.

Romanian Media Owner Sorin Ovidiu Vintu To Be Investigated At Large For Blackmail

A Bucharest court ruled late Thursday Romanian businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vintu may be investigated at large for blackmailing the manager of his TV station, Realitatea Media, Sebastian Ghita.

Romanian Medicine Graduates Who Fail Intern Exam Will Have Limited Duties – Draft

Romanian medical school graduates who failed the medical internship exam will be allowed into the system with limited duties, according to a draft order by the Health Ministry.

Romanian Cernavoda-Medgidia Hwy Segment To Cost Up To EUR170M

Completing the Romanian Cernavoda-Medgidia highway segment will cost between 500 and 700 million lei (EUR120-170 million), without VAT, according to public road authority CNADNR's new tender announcement, published after terminating the contract with French constructor Colas.

Romanian Union Leader Marius Petcu Indicted For Corruption

Romanian National Anticorruption Department prosecutors on Thursday indicted union leader Marius Petcu, who was caught rapid taking EUR40,000 in bribes.

Romanians Concerned Over More Price Increases – Survey

Romanian consumers estimate further price increases in the coming period, due to possible higher taxes and charges, a survey from market researcher GfK showed Thursday.

Romanian Businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vintu Detained On Blackmail Charges

Romanian businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vintu was detained Wednesday by the General Prosecutor's Office for blackmailing Realitatea Media manager Sebastian Ghita.

Romania Amends Law On Public-Private Partnership – Sources

The Romanian Government amended the law on public-private partnerships (PPP), after the European Commission warned Romanian authorities that the normative act breaches EU legislation, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian Banks “Warming Up” For Lending Restart – Assoc

Romanian banking system is going through a “warm-up” period, when the lenders provide mostly refinancing services, but the situation must change so that private lending can recover, the head of Romanian Banking Association said Wednesday.

EC Authorizes Romanian RON1.3B Aid Scheme For Farmers

The European Commission on Wednesday has authorized a Romanian state aid scheme with a budget of 1.3 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.0858) which aims to support farmers who face difficulties due to the economic crisis.