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Romanians Must Guarantee “First Home” Loan With Current Account

Romanians who will take out loans within the “First Home” program must guarantee their loan with their current account and can file currency swap requests, according to the explanatory note to a Government decision which amends the norms implementing the program.

Romanian IT&C Sector Affected Unevenly By Crisis, Some Areas Posted Growth – Study

The economic crisis has taken its toll on the Romanian IT sector, but not every region has suffered its effects to the same extent, as businesses in some areas have managed to cut their losses or even grow, according to a study by IT solutions provider Institutul pentru Tehnica de Calcul (ITC).

Romanian bam boo Stores Owner Enters Insolvency

Romanian Andromede Decor, the owner of gift and home decor retailer bam boo, entered insolvency procedures in order to reorganize its activity.

Romanian Econ Min Rejects Shutdown Option For Valea Jiului Mines

Romanian economy minister Ion Ariton said Monday he would not agree with the shutdown with all Valea Jiului mines, adding he expects management and unions to come up with a long-term development plan.

Romania Ordered By ECHR To Pay EUR3.6 Million Damages In 2010

The Romanian state was ordered to pay around EUR3.6 million in 2010, through the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), a lower amount than in previous years.

Algocalmin, All Metamizole-Based Drugs Become Prescription-Only

Algocalmin and other drugs containing metamizole will only be available on prescription by August 2011, Romania’s National Medicine Agency said Monday.

Romania Leu Up Vs Euro, Exch Rate At 4.2578

Romania’s leu extended early gains versus the euro in mid trade Monday and the central bank’s reference won 0.2% to 4.2578 units, from 4.2669 units Friday.

Romanian Man Diagnosed With AH1N1 Dies In Hospital

A 60 year-old Romanian man diagnosed with AH1N1 flu and admitted in serious condition at a hospital in Iasi, eastern Romania, has died in the hospital, the local public health department said Monday.

Romanian Military Retirees Threaten Protests In Bucharest Over Recalculated Military Pensions

The Romanian Union of Laid off Military Staff will stage protests in capital Bucharest on January 24 disgruntled that authorities refuse to observe court rulings on recalculated military pensions.

Romanian Proprietatea Fund Core Hldrs Exempt From Capital Gains Tax

Romanians who were compensated for their communism-seized property in Fondul Proprietatea stock will not be taxed on the profit achieved in selling the shares on the stock market, according to Dana Mirela Ionescu, head of brokerage firm Raiffeisen Capital&Investment.

Over Half Of Romanians See Their Financial Situation Worsening In 2011 – Poll

More than half of Romanians expect their financial situation to worsen in the upcoming period and two thirds don’t plan to buy anything important for their home in 2011, according to the Consumer Confidence Barometer GfK conducted in December for the EU.

Over 400 Romanian Military Retirees Protest In SE Romania Over Recalculated Military Pensions

About 400 Romanian military retirees protested Monday morning outside the Constanta Prefecture’s headquarters in southeastern Romania over the Government decision recalculating military pensions.

Romania FM Says EU States Objected To Bulgaria’s Schengen Accession, Romania Got Positive Report

Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi said Sunday evening on Realitatea TV Franc, Germany and Finland had objections on Bulgaria’s Schengen accession evaluation report but Romania’s report was positive all the way through.

Romanian Social Democratic Party Signs Agreement With Italian Democratic Party

Romania’s opposition Social Democratic Party head Victor Ponta signed an agreement Friday in Rome with the Italian Democratic Party, the party said in a press release Sunday.

Romania May Sell Additional Shares In Romgaz After Bucharest Listing

Romania’s Government might sell further shares in natural gas producer Romgaz after the company’s floating on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, but it will keep the majority stake, according to an official document obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Drivers Required To Use Snow Tires In Winter – Draft

Romania's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has drafted a new ordinance requiring drivers to use snow tires during the winter, bringing in an estimated EUR445 million to the state budget, from the VAT collected from tire sales.

Romanian Econ Min Seeks To Privatize Or Close Research-Development Institutes

Romania’s Economy Ministry is planning to sell or shut down several research and development institutes and will consult with local and international bodies on the matter, according to an official document obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Three Nuns Involved In 2005 Exorcism Case In E Romania Released From Prison

Three of the four nuns from the Tanacu Monastery in eastern Romania, convicted for homicide after a young woman died during what they said was an exorcism ritual, have been released from prison.

Romanians Protest Fuel Price Hikes At Gas Stations Countrywide

Hundreds of Romanians have protested recent fuel price hikes by picketing gas stations throughout the country and paying for fuel in coins as pump prices have risen over 15% last year, adding to a 13% growth in 2009.

Romania’s „First Home” Program To Continue In 2011, With EUR200M Guarantee Cap – PM

Romania's "First Home" program, which offers loan incentives to first-time home owners, will continue in 2011 with a guarantee ceiling of at least EUR200 million, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

Romania To Pay Some EUR300M In IMF Loan Interest This Year

Romania will pay the International Monetary Fund interest worth SDR266 million (EUR300 million), for the loan installments transferred this year.

RFI: France Blocks Technical Report On Romania’s Schengen Accession

France has blocked the adoption of a technical report on Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, asking for more time to examine a report on Romania's implementation of the SIS / SIRENE system's human interface, according to Radio France Internationale.

Romanian MEP Vadim Tudor Invokes Immunity In Criminal Investigation

Romanian MEP Corneliu Vadim Tudor, who is under criminal investigation for assault and disobeying court orders, appeared Friday before the prosecutors of the Supreme Court, but refused to make any statement, invoking his immunity as member of the European Parliament.

Romanian Leu Down 0.25% Vs Euro, Exch Rate At 4.2669 Units

The Romanian leu fell against the euro in mid-trade Friday, on a negative sentiment in the region, and the central bank announced a reference rate of 4.2669 units, 0.25% weaker than 4.2564 units a day before.

Romanian Military, Police Retirees File Criminal Complaints Against Defense, Interior Ministers

Romanian military and police retirees Friday filed criminal complaints at the General Prosecution Office against Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea, Interior Minister Traian Igas and Romanian Intelligence Service chief George Maior, whom they accuse of abuse of office and discarding court rulings.

Romania Is EU’s 16Th Largest Car Market By 2010 New Car Registrations

Romania is the 16th largest auto market in the European Union by new car registrations in 2010, whose number dropped three times more abruptly locally than in the EU, according to data released Friday by the European Carmakers Association ACEA.

Romanian Dacia Logan Sales In Russia Up 17% In 2010

Romanian carmaker Dacia sold 62,826 Logan models in Russia in 2010, up 17% from 2009, ranking sixth among the best-sold brands, on a market which grew 30%, to 1.9 million units.

Analysts See Romania’s GDP +1.2% In 2011, Inflation At 4.3%

Romania will register an economic growth of 1.2%, and the annual inflation rate will fall towards 4.3% in December, the association of financial and banking analysts AAFBR said in a survey Thursday.

Price Fixing Talks Spark Fiscal Probe At Romanian Oil Cos

Romanian fiscal authorities Wednesday started a series of unannounced inspections targeting the pricing algorithms, taxable profits and accounting methods of oil companies, according to Sorin Blejnar, the president of tax authority ANAF.

Romanian Railway Co To Spend RON332.8M To Modernize Ten Train Stations

Romania’s state-owned railway company CFR SA will modernize ten train stations in the country for an estimated 332.8 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2564) net of VAT, the company said Thursday.

EC Taxation Dept Supports Romania’s Request for Reverse Taxation For Cereal

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Taxation and the Customs Union supports Romania's request to apply reverse taxation on cereal and will forward the paperwork to the Council of the European Union for approval, said Sorin Blejnar, head of Romania's tax authority ANAF.

Romania’s New Medical Leave System Nearly Halved No. Of Leaves Granted Last Year

The number of medical leaves granted last year in Romania decreased 45% compared to 2009 following the introduction of a stricter system, the Health Ministry said in a press release Thursday.

Romanian Retired Military Staff To File Criminal Complaints Against PM, Two Ministers

The Romanian Reserve and Retired Military Staff Union on Thursday will file criminal complaints against Prime Minister Emil Boc, Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea, Interior Minister Traian Igas and Romanian Intelligence Service director George Maior for discarding court rulings on military pensions.

WB Puts Romania Among High Restructuring Emerging Economies

The World Bank included Romania, alongside other five countries, in the category of developing economies in Europe and Central Asia undergoing the most serious restructuring, according to the bank's Global Economic Prospects 2011 report released Thursday.

Romania Jan-Nov Current Account Deficit Widens To EUR5.2B

Romania's current account deficit widened 23.5% to EUR5.17 billion in January-November 2010, from a gap of EUR4.19 billion in the year-earlier period, due to the lower current transfers surplus and an increasing deficit of the incomes balance, central bank data showed Thursday.

Romanian Auctions For EU-Funded Projects To Follow Standard Documents

The auctions for projects financed by the European Union in the fields of transports, energy, environment and regional development will take place according to standard documents, which will be drafted by Romanian authorities in cooperation with European Commission experts.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Foreign Sales Up 15% On Yr, To 311,000 Units

Romanian carmaker Automobile Dacia's sales on foreign markets grew by 15% last year compared to 2009, to more than 311,000 units, with France accounting for over a third of total exports.

Romania Should Watch Over Small, Low-Provisioned Banks – IMF

Romanian authorities should “maintain vigilance” over small banks, which are faced with a rapidly deteriorating loan quality and whose provisions are below the system average, the International Monetary Fund said in an analysis.

Food, Energy Prices Pose Risks On Romania’s 2011 Inflation – IMF

The International Monetary Fund sees significant upside risks to Romania's 2011 inflation outlook coming from potentially higher food and energy prices and a weakening of the leu, according to the fund's report after the sixth review of the stand-by arrangement.

No Influenza Outbreak in Romania, Four Cases Of Flu Virus Infections Isolated – Ministry

Romania is not facing a flu epidemic and the four cases of infection with the AH1N1 and AH3N2 viruses registered between January 3 and January 9, 2011 have been isolated, the Health Ministry said Wednesday.