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Romania, IMF Agree On New Deal Letter Of Intent

Romanian authorities and the International Monetary Fund have reached an agreement on the Government's course of action outlined in the follow-up deal's letter of intent, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Saturday.

Romania, IMF Disagree On Privatizations, Social Security Contributions – Sources

The Romanian Government and the IMF delegation have not yet reached an agreement on the state companies to be privatized or restructured, or the right time to reduce social security contribution rates, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Friday.

Romanian Antifraud Authorities May Enter Company Building, Land For Checkups

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Friday passed a law whereby public authorities and institutions, as well as private and state-owned companies and individuals conducting business must allow access and checkups by Antifraud Department officials in their headquarters, vehicles and land.

Nabucco Construction Start Delayed To 2013

The consortium building the Nabucco gas pipeline postponed construction start by one year, until 2013, while the date of first deliveries was pushed back to 2017.

Romanian Annual Inflation Seen Rising To 8.2% In April

Romanian consumer prices are likely to increase by 0.5% on the month in April, while the annual inflation is seen accelerating to 8.2%, according to a median forecast of the country’s association of financial and banking analysts AAFBR.

„William & Kate: A Royal Love Story” To Be Shot At MediaPro Studios In Bucharest

The television film "William & Kate: A Royal Love Story," about Prince William and Kate Middleton, will be filmed in Bucharest, say MediaPro Studios officials.

Romanian Opposition MP Proposes Foreign Films Be Dubbed Into Romanian

Romanian opposition social democrat MP Victor Socaciu has put forward a bill whereby foreign language films will be dubbed into Romanian.

Romania’s March Net Salary Up 5.6% M-M, To RON1,493

Romania’s net average salary in February was at 1,493 lei (EUR363), up 5.6% compared with the previous month, Romania’s statistics institute said Friday.

Romanian Govt Revenue Service To Close 1/3 Of Regional Offices By September

Romanian government revenue service ANAF will close, by September, around 150 local financial administration offices, more than a third of its current network, because they are not efficient.

Tourism Min Launches Auction To Restore Roads In SE, NE Romania

The Romanian Tourism Ministry on Thursday launched an open auction to award contracts to restore several county and local interest roads in southeastern and northeastern Romania in 2011-2013.

Romania Ctrl Bk: Stable Exchange Rate Preferable On Long Run

Romanian central bank targets a stable exchange rate of the leu versus the euro, even if a stronger leu would help the disinflation process on the short term, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

New Car Sales In Romania Lower Than Normal – Ford Romania Head

New car sales in Romania have been three times lower than normal over the past three years due to the economic crisis, Ford Romania president Henrik Nenzen said Thursday.

Romanian NGO Requests Disclosure Of EU-Funded Contracts, Classified By Ex-Labor Min

The Romanian Institute for Public Policy (IPP), a non-government organization, asked Prime Minister Emil Boc to repeal an order by former Labor Minister Ioan Botis, which classified information on the use of non-refundable European financing, or it will challenge it in court.

Romania Ctrl Bk: Fuel Price Freeze Detrimental In Long Run

A price freeze on fuels would be detrimental to Romania in the long run, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Romania’s Construction Market Needs Infrastructure Works To Revive

Recovery for Romania’s nearly-flatlined construction segment depends on investment, project selection and improved legislation, as the market is “running out of companies to go bankrupt”, Thursday said Cristian Erbasu, president of construction employers' association PSC.

Romanian Food Prices Rise At 2nd Fastest Pace In Region – Ctrl Bk Head

Romanian food prices are growing at the second-fastest pace in the region, after Bulgaria, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday, adding that the prices’ weight in the consumption basket remains an unresolved issue.

Romania Ctrl Bk Head: Leu’s Appreciation Helped Mitigate Large Shocks

Romanian leu’s nominal appreciation against the US dollar has dampened import prices and helped mitigate larger shocks, particularly in the fuels market, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Romania Central Bank Ups Inflation Forecast To 5.1% In 2011, 3.6% In 2012

The Romanian central bank revised upwards its forecasts for 2011 and 2012 annual inflation to 5.1% and 3.6%, respectively, governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Ten EU Countries Maintain Labor Restrictions For Romanians, Bulgarians

Ten European Union member states will retain some labor restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian workers, four years after Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU.

Romanian MEP Vadim Tudor Referred To Prosecution Office Over Allegedly False Income Statements

Romania’s integrity agency ANI has referred far-right Greater Romania Party leader and MEP Corneliu Vadim Tudor to the General Prosecutors’ Office for alleged false statements in declaring his income for 2006 - 2008.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Indict 69 Customs Workers

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors Thursday have indicted 69 customs workers and border police officers from three customs points in western Romania, accused of taking bribes of over EUR82,000 to turn a blind eye on cigarette smuggling from neighboring Serbia.

Romanian Senate Approves New Car Tax Formula

Romania's Senate on Wednesday approved a bill setting a new formula for the calculation of the car tax, which takes into account the vehicle's value according to brand, type and engine.

Romanian Financial Guard, Customs Authority To Remain Separate Bodies

The Romanian Financial Guard and Customs Authority will not be absorbed by government revenue service ANAF, which will be reorganized through layoffs and the closing of some regional offices, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian PM Says 42,000 Work Contracts Signed Since New Labor Code Took Effect

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday 42,000 work contracts have been signed over the past two days, after authorities started checkups aimed to eliminate illegal jobs.

Switzerland Extends Labor Mkt Restrictions For Romanians, Bulgarians Until At Least 2014

Romanian and Bulgarian workers’ access to the Swiss labor market will continue to be restricted until at least 2014, after the country’s Federal Council confirmed Wednesday the extension of a transitional period imposed on citizens of the two EU countries, Swiss newspaper Le Matin reported online.

Fmr Customs Chief In NE Romania To Be Investigated At Large For Corruption

The High Court of Justice on Tuesday ruled that Aurel Anea, former chief of the Siret crossing point in northeastern Romania, and 44 border police officers indicted for corruption will be investigated at large.

Registrations Of Renault, Dacia Cars In Germany Dn 6% In April, To 12,900 Units

Registrations of Renault and Dacia cars in Germany fell 6% in April, to 12,900 units, while the overall German car market increased by 2.6%, to 266,300 cars, according to data released by Germany's motor vehicle department KBA.

Romania 1Q Tourist Arrivals Up 13.2% On Year

Tourist arrivals in Romania rose 13.2% in the first quarter compared with the year earlier period, while the number of tourists accommodated was up 12% on the year, the statistics institute INS said Wednesday.

Romania 1Q Adjusted Retail Sales -5.6% On Year

Romanian adjusted retail sales declined 5.6% in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the year-earlier period, on falling consumption in all sectors, the statistics institute INS said Wednesday.

Romanian Senate Committees Propose New Amendment To Bill Regulating Adoptions

The Romanian Senate committees for labor and legal matters on Tuesday adopted an amendment to a bill regulating adoptions, whereby couples living abroad can adopt a child two years after procedures are started if two requirements are met.

Moody’s: Romania Needs Structural Reforms, Performing State Cos

Romania's government must pursue structural reforms and improve state enterprise performance while maintaining the fiscal prudence that it embraced after the global crisis to fully-benefit from its economic ties with the European Union, Moody’s Investors Service said in a recent report.

Three Turkish Cos Interested In Building Private Hospitals In Romania

Three Turkish companies are looking to build private hospitals in Romania, including one specialized in cancer treatment, but these investments could be blocked by the lack of mutual recognition of medical licenses.

Romania’s Population Expected To Decrease In Next Four Yrs

The Romanian Government estimates Romania’s population will decrease by over 200,000 people in the next four years, to 21.1 million in 2015 from 21.3 million in 2011.

Romanian Govt Has No Plans To Seek Conf Vote For Social Assistance Law – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday that there are no current plans to adopt the law on social assistance by seeking a confidence vote in Parliament.

Romanian Fmr Youth Minister Indicted For Abuse Of Office

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Tuesday indicted former Youth and Sports Minister Monica Iacob Ridzi in a corruption file where she is charged with abuse of office.

Implementing U.S. Antimissile Shield In S Romania To Cost $400M

Costs to set up U.S. antimissile shield elements at a former airbase at Deveselu, in the southern Romanian Olt county, rise to $400million, plus $20 million to be allotted annually for system operations, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

Romanian Leu Widens Loss Vs Euro, Exchange Rate At 4.1073

Romania’s leu continued to retreat against the euro in mid trade Tuesday and the central bank’s reference weakened 0.5% to 4.1073 units, the lowest level in three weeks.

Romanians Still Can’t Afford New Apartments – JLL

New apartment prices are still too high for Romanians, while developers are getting signals that they can no longer count on government support, real estate consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle, or JLL, said in a report Tuesday.

Romanian Fmr Labor Minister Paul Pacuraru Acquitted In Corruption Trial

Romanian former labor minister, liberal Paul Pacuraru, and former liberal MP Dan Ilie Morega have been acquitted by the criminal section of the High Court of Justice in a corruption trial.

Romania Uses Topoloveni Plum Jam To Promote Tourist Brand

Romania’s tourist brand will be promoted on the label of Topoloveni plum jam ("Magiunul de prune Topoloveni") under a one-year protocol signed Tuesday by the jam’s producer and the country’s Tourism Ministry.