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Romania To Spend Max EUR4M To Advertise Tourism On Foreign TV Channels

Romania's Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism is looking to spend up to EUR4 million, without VAT, to advertise the national tourist brand on foreign TV channels.

IMF Asks Romania To Liberalize Gas, Pwr Production Prices

The International Monetary Fund asked Romania to discard regulated prices for the production of electricity and natural gas and to draw up a new calculation formula in this respect.

Bucharest Apartment Sale Price Falls Up To 20% YY In Jan

The average sale price of apartments in Romania’s capital city Bucharest dropped by 12% to 20% in January compared with the same period of 2010, with the highest fall recorded for 4-room flats, according to a survey of AnunturiParticulari.ro real estate website.

Romanian Insurance Mkt Seen Declining At Least 5% This Year

The Romanian insurance market will decline at least 5% this year, in an optimistic scenario, as the number of civil liability car insurance policies and their prices will drop 20%, said Tuesday Cristian Constantinescu, head of the Romanian union of insurance and reinsurance companies.

Romanian PM Says Investments, Revised Constitution, New Labor Laws Are Govt’s Priorities

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday evening investments, revising the Constitution and improved labor legislation are the Government’s priorities this year, adding austerity measures are expected to yield results in 2011.

Romanian Pharmacies May Issue Algocalmin Without Prescription Until April 1

Romanian pharmacies may issue algocalmin and other drugs containing metamizole without prescription only until April 1, although some producers are authorized to sell these products as prescription-only as of February.

Romanian Gendarmerie To Purchase Riot Control Gear For RON42M

The Romanian Gendarmerie has announced its intention to purchase "riot repression equipment," including protective helmets, pepper spray, submachine guns, rifles, smoke grenades, tear gas grenades and others, for an estimated 42 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2549).

No Flu Epidemic In Romania – Health Ministry

Health Ministry specialists have announced that there is no influenza epidemic in Romania, but they have provided the national healthcare network with a series of recommendations.

Romania Complied With IMF Requirements In ’10 – Fin Min

Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu on Monday said the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission appreciated Romania’s results under the stand by agreement, adding value added tax revenue covered arrears and kept the budget deficit within agreed margins.

Romanian Parliamentary Groups To Meet Monday Before Start Of Parliament Session

Romanian parliamentary groups will convene Monday, a day before the start of the Parliament’s 2011 first ordinary session, for talks on legislative issues and political strategies.

Romanian Govt To Spend RON1.2M On Poll, Interviewees To Receive RON15 Each

Romania's Government will spend around 1.2 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2571), without VAT, to carry out a national survey on around 15,000 people, who will be given RON15 each and asked for their opinion on the Executive's policies, the effects of the crisis and their standard of living.

Only 4.2% Of Romanians With Disabilities Have Job – Study

Only 4.2% of Romanians with disabilities have a job, which places Romania on the last position in the European Union, according to a report presented Friday.

Romanian Leu Up Vs Euro, Exch Rate At 4.2571

Romania’s leu strengthened against the euro in mid trade Friday, fueled by higher volumes, and the central bank’s reference gained over 0.2% on the day at 4.271 units, from 4.2675 units Thursday.

Technical Report On Romania’s Schengen Accession Adopted

The Schengen Area evaluation group (Sch-Eval) on Friday adopted the technical report on Romania’s Schengen accession, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Govt To Approve Emergency Decree On Military Pensions Friday

Romania’s Government will hold a Cabinet meeting Friday evening to approve an emergency decree on the recalculation of military pensions, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Woman Attacked By Stray Dogs In Bucharest Dies

A 49 year-old woman has died Friday in Bucharest from severe bite wounds inflicted by stray dogs.

Romania’s 2010 Budget Deficit Narrows To 6.5% Of GDP

Romania’s consolidated budget posted in 2010 a deficit of 33.3 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2675), or 6.5% of the estimated gross domestic product, lower than the ceiling agreed with the International Monetary Fund, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

Romanian Tourism Ministry To Set Up National Bike Tourism Network

Romania's Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism wants to create a national network of cyclo-tourism routes, on paved or unimproved roads located mainly in areas with picturesque scenery and low car traffic, according to a draft Government decision.

Vegetable Oil Price In Romania Might Hike About 30% In March-April

The price of vegetable oil in Romania might increase by about 30% in April or March, due to a lack of raw materials on the local market, Foodstuff Industry Union Federation president Dragos Frumosu told MEDIAFAX.

Romania Doesn’t Endorse Autonomy On Ethnic Criteria – President

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Thursday at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg that Romania doesn’t agree with autonomy based on ethnic criteria, adding it is not just ethnic minorities need autonomy.

Romanian Opp Social Democrats Call On Govt To Cut VAT Back To 19%

The Romanian opposition Social Democratic Party is calling on the Government to urgently reduce the value added tax back to 19%, social democrat senator Olguta Vasilescu told a news conference Thursday.

Romania, IMF In Talks For A 2 Years Follow-Up Agreement – Sources

Romania's Government and the International Monetary Fund are discussing the terms of a two-year follow agreement to a EUR13 billion loan program that expires in May, people familiar with the talks said.

Romania To Launch New Roma Integration Strategy – President

Romania will launch this spring a new strategy for the integration of the Roma minority to be applied until 2015, Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday in Strasbourg.

Romanian Senator, Theater Manager Mircea Diaconu Incompatible With Public Office – Integrity Agency

Romania’s National Integrity Agency (ANI) said Thursday liberal senator Mircea Diaconu is incompatible with this position, as he is also a theater manager.

Romanian Petrom Pins Fuel Price Hikes Only On Tax, US Dollar, Intl Oil Prices

Romanian oil company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) Wednesday said the fuel price changes were only due to tax raises, mainly the sales tax, to international oil prices and to the US dollar's exchange rate, rejecting local tax authorities' claims of unjustified increases.

Romanian Rompetrol Views Gas Price Hikes’ Report As “Unclear”

Romanian oil company Rompetrol Wednesday said the authorities’ claims of unjustified gas price hikes are based on an “unclear” report, which disregards various elements factored into the pricing algorithm.

Romanian Govt To Pass Emergency Decree On Military Pensions By Feb 1

Romania’s Government will draft an emergency decree on the recalculation of military pensions by February 1, when the Parliament resumes works, Government spokeswoman Ioana Muntean told MEDIAFAX Wednesday evening.

Romanian Pensioners To Use Travel Smart Cards – Govt Decision

Romanian pensioners and war veterans will be issued travel smart cards, for use in county and inter-county road transport, and transport firms will be required to outfit their vehicles with card readers, as per a Government Decision issued Wednesday.

Romanian PM Calls For Fiscal, Competition Scrutiny On Oil Cos

Fuel resellers cannot blame pump price hikes on the local taxation, Wednesday said Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, who called for additional inspections by the tax and competition authorities targeting the oil companies.

Romanian Unauthorized Buildings Might Be Demolished – Draft

Romanian authorities are forbidden to approve urban planning documents legalizing constructions built without authorization, according to a draft Government decree drawn up by the Regional Development and Tourism Ministry.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Tax Auth To Verify Oil Cos Financial Reports

Romanian tax authorities will verify whether the financial reports of local oil companies include unjustified expenses aiming to reduce their real profit and if their declared fiscal losses are grounded.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Gas Price Increases Dubbed Groundless – Govt Report

The hike in 2010 of pump prices in Romania was groundless and did not reflect the evolution of international quotes for crude oil, exchange rates and duties and fees, while most of the local oil firms reported significant losses, and their real profits were not reflected accordingly.

Romanian Labor Minister Confident IMF Will Accept New Labor Code

Romanian Labor Minister Ioan Botis said Wednesday after a meeting with International Monetary Fund officials he is confident the IMF and International Labor Organization will accept the ministry’s propositions for the country’s new labor code.

Romanian State-Owned Airline Tarom Expects To Break Even In 2011

Romanian state-owned airline Tarom wants to break even in 2011, after its 2010 budget provided for a 19.8 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2621) profit, according to a draft government decision by the Ministry of Transport.

Romania Ctrl Bk Gov: New IMF Deal To Ensure Reform Continuity

Romania’s planned follow-up agreement with the International Monetary Fund represents a keystone for the country’s structural reforms and its main objective will be ensuring the continuity of the process, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Monday.

Romania To Increase Foreign Mission Participation By 183 Troops In 2011

Romania will increase its participation to foreign military operations by 183 troops in 2011, bringing its maximum foreign force to 3,427 troops, as per a Tuesday decision of the Supreme Defense Council.

Romanian State-Owned Railway Companies’ 2011 Budgets Entail Sacking 5,588 Employees

The 2011 budgets of Romanian state-owned railway companies CFR Marfa, CFR Calatori and CFR SA say 5,588 employees will be sacked and staff expenses will be cut by 21.8%, 6.5% and 11.6% respectively, according to three draft Government decisions drawn up by the Transport Ministry.

Romania May Not Block Pork Imports From Germany – Agric Min

Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara said Tuesday that Romania may not stop importing pork from Germany, which Romanian producers suspect may be exporting meat contaminated with dioxin, a carcinogen.

Romanian Car Park Up 1.8% On Year, To 5.42M Vehicles

Romania's car park grew last year by 1.8%, to more than 5.42 million vehicles, including 4.3 million passenger cars, 6.4% higher than in 2009, according to the data of the Interior Ministry's Driving License and Vehicle Registration Department (DRPCIV).

Franklin Templeton Says More Energy Cos Should Be Listed In Bucharest

Franklin Templeton, manager of Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea (FP.RO), Tuesday said it will try to convince the government to list on the stock market several key energy companies to improve their efficiency and boost budget revenues at the same time.