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Romanian President Asks Parliament To Reexamine Govt Ordinance On Bonuses

Romanian President Traian Basescu sent the Parliament on Wednesday a request for the re-examination of the Government Ordinance on bonuses for public servants, arguing that they are discriminatory and in violation of the unitary wage system.

Romanian Auto Registry To Monitor Level Of CO2 Emissions Release By New Cars – Draft

The Romanian Auto Registry (RAR) will monitor starting January 1, 2011 the level of carbon dioxide emissions released by new cars, according to a draft Government decision.

Romanian Agricultural Products Too Expensive – Minister

Romanian agricultural products are too expensive, because of the countless middle-men between farm and store shelf, Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara said Wednesday.

Romanians In Italy Set Up Political Organization, Plan To Run In Local Elections

Romanian migrants in Italy have set up a new political organization, called Europeans for Italy, and hope to run, alone on with other parties, in Italy’s local elections, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported Wednesday.

Romanian Senate Rejects President Basescu’s Pension Bill Reexamination Request

Romania’s Senate Wednesday rejected President Traian Basescu’s request to reexamine the country’s unitary pension bill.

Romania, Syria Sign Treaty On Extradition Of People Sentenced To Prison

Romania and Syria signed Wednesday the Treaty on the transfer of people sentenced to prison.

Romanian Senate Tacitly Adopts Bill On Domestic Violence

The Romanian Senate Wednesday tacitly adopted a draft law whereby victims of domestic violence can address the court to obtain a provisional restraining order, and the court can compel abusers to stay away from the home they share with the victim.

Romania October CPI +0.5% On Month, +7.9% On Year

Romanian consumer prices rose 0.55% on the month in October, largely driven by higher food and service prices, while the annual inflation accelerated to a fresh two-year high at 7.88%, the country’s statistics institute INS said Wednesday.

Romanian OMV Petrom Swings To 3Q Loss

Romanian leading oil company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) Wednesday said it switched to a net loss of 116 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2862) in the third quarter, hurt by asset impairment at its Kazakh unit.

Romanian Govt Cuts No Of Jobs In Social Health Insurance System By Over 400

Romania's Government has decided to limit the maximum number of jobs in the social health insurance system to 3,281, over 400 positions less than at the moment, arguing for the need to reduce the risk of a major budgetary imbalance and of being unable to pay salaries.

Romania Must Sack 26,000 Public Servants To Enable 15% Salary Raise – Official

The Romanian public sector must lay off 26,000 employees between September and December, to bring the sector down to 1.29 million employees and allow salaries to be raised by 15%, after the 25% slash implemented in July, Finance Ministry state secretary Gheorghe Gherghina said Tuesday.

Romanian Govt, IMF Agree On Minimum Wage Ceiling Of RON670

Romania's Government agreed with the International Monetary Fund and European Commission not to raise the minimum wage by more than the rate of inflation of the last two years, or more than 670 lei (EUR1=RON4.2862), state secretary Gheorghe Gherghina announced Tuesday.

Romanian Family Doctors Allotted More Money For Services, Less For Patients – Draft

Romanian family doctors will receive less money per registered patient, but more funds for services provided, according to a draft frame-contract on healthcare in 2011.

Romanian President Calls On Parties To Stop Political Battle To Solve National Interest Issues

Romanian President Traian Basescu Tuesday addressed the legislature and proposed parliamentary parties to freeze political disputes in the next period, in order to unblock the activity of the Parliament and solve national interest issues.

Romanian Car Taxes Might Be Hiked In 2011, Euro 5 Engines No Longer Exempt

Romania's Environment Ministry proposes increasing the car pollution tax starting with next year, justified by the requirement to tax Euro 5 cars, which are exempt until 2011, said minister Laszlo Borbely.

Romanians May Redeem Four Vouchers Per New Car In 2011 Clunkers Program – Minister

The 2011 edition of Romania's clunkers program will permit the use of four vouchers worth 3,000 lei each (EUR1=RON4.2862) to purchase a new car, instead of three vouchers worth RON3,800 each, like in 2010, Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely announced Tuesday.

Discovery To Launch TLC Channel In Romania In Jan 2011

Discovery's TLC will be launched in Romania on January 20, 2011, and the channel will be initially distributed both in analog and digital formats by telecom operator UPC Romania, Discovery Networks representatives told a news conference Tuesday.

Romanian Lower House Passes Bill Exempting Union Leaders From Declaring Wealth

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday tacitly adopted a bill that exempts union leaders from having to submit statements of wealth and interest as required by the law governing the National Integrity Agency, a EU-required body that screens the wealth of public officials.

Romanian Opp Lawmakers Protest Against Lower Chamber Speaker, Leave Plenary Meeting

Romanian opposition social democrat and liberal lawmakers left the Chamber of Deputies plenary meeting on Tuesday, saying they decided not to attend plenary meetings as long as they are presided over by democrat liberal Speaker Roberta Anastase.

Fmr CIA Station Chief In Romania Admits To Spying For Russia From Prison

A former CIA station chief in Romania, Harold James Nicholson, convicted in 1997 to 23 years in prison for espionage in Russia’s favor, has pleaded guilty to spying for Russia again, from prison, ABC News reported on its website Tuesday.

Romania’s Population Decreased By 502 People In September

Romania's population decreased by 502 people in September compared to August, driven by a negative natural growth, according to data released Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INS).

Romania Jan-Sept Trade Deficit Narrows To EUR6.9B

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR6.9 billion in January to September, from EUR7.1 billion in the year-earlier period, as exports rose more rapidly than imports, the country’s statistics institute INS said Tuesday.

Romanian Fmr Presidential Candidate Detained For Tax Evasion

Constantin Ninel Potarca, former presidential candidate from the Roma party in Romania, was arrested for 24 hours Monday night on charges of tax evasion, following a police raid in his neighborhood in Targu Jiu, southwestern Romania.

US Intel Opens Software Lab In Bucharest

US Intel Corporation on Monday opened a software development and research center in Romania’s capital city Bucharest, following an investment of a few million euros.

EC Mission To Evaluate Romania’s Progress In Priority Areas Next Week – EC President

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday, in Bucharest, that Romania's main objective should continue to be the implementation of structural and fiscal consolidation reforms, adding that EC experts will visit the country next week to evaluate its progress in seven areas.

Romania’s Schengen Area Accession Tied To Technical Criteria, Not CVM – EC President

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday, after meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu, that the EC sees no legal link between the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, which has technical requirements.

Romanian Pupils Win Gold, Two Silver In Balkan Olympiad In Informatics

Romania's national team won one gold and two silver medals at the 18th edition of the Balkan Olympiad in Informatics, held between October 31 and November 7 in Montenegro, the Education Ministry said on Monday.

No. Of British Tourists In Romania Might Increase By 10% In 2011

The number of British tourists in Romania might increase by 10% next year, once the country’s tourist brand is presented and promoted in the United Kingdom, said Sorin Munteanu, head of the Romanian Tourism Ministry delegation at the World Travel Market fair in London.

Romania, Bulgaria To Hold Joint Govt Meeting On Schengen As Show Of Solidarity

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc and his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov, talked Monday about holding a joint government meeting by March 2011, to send European partners a clear signal of solidarity and cooperation towards Schengen Area accession.

Danube Strategy To Help Riparian States Do Away With Regional Disparities – EC President

Danube riparian states have undergone many economic and political changes over the past 20 years, but they still face numerous disparities, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday at the Danube Summit, which takes place in Romania's capital Bucharest.

Romanian Opposition Liberals Refuse All Negotiations On Lower Chamber Rules Until Speaker Resigns

Romanian opposition liberals decided Monday to halt all negotiations to improve regulations of the Chamber of Deputies until Chamber Speaker Roberta Anastase resigns, said party leader Crin Antonescu.

Romania Overdue Pays On Loans Above RON20,000 Rise To RON14.6B In Sept

Romanian overdue payments on loans of at least 20,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.287) more than doubled to RON14.6 billion in September compared with the year-ago month, central bank data showed Monday.

Romania’s Ruling Coalition Wants Education Reform Effective By Yearend

Romania’s ruling coalition has agreed the issue of the country’s education reform entering force should be fixed by the end of the year, otherwise the Hungarian minority party UDMR could leave the coalition, UDMR vice-president Laszlo Borbely said Monday.

Romania Central Bank Revises Down 2009 FDI To EUR3.5B

Romania’s central bank Monday revised downward foreign direct investment data for 2009 to EUR3.5 billion, from EUR4.9 billion previously, after subtracting the net loss out of equity increases.

Romania Seeks Projects For Danube Strategy, To Be Applied As Of 2011

The Danube Strategy is due to be applied starting with the first half of next year, jointly with the other states in the region and the European Commission, but it requires solid projects, such as a network of highways, high-speed trains and flights, said Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Monday.

Romania, Bulgaria To Ask EP Support For Schengen Area Accession – Bulgarian PM

Romania and Bulgaria will ask the European Parliament for support in joining the Schengen Area, as agreed with Romanian President Traian Basescu in the European People's Party summit, said Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov during a meeting Monday with his Romanian counterpart, Emil Boc.

Court Postpones Trial Of Romanian Media Owner Vintu For Nov 26

The Bucharest Court on Monday postponed for November 26 the trial of Romanian media owner Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, his driver Alexandru Stoian and Moldovan businessman Octavian Turcan, indicted for aiding and abetting a fraud convict.

Romania Sept Adjusted Construction Works Down 15.1% YY

Romania's construction output fell 15.1% in adjusted data in September compared with the same month a year earlier, with decreases in all sectors, the National Institute for Statistics said Monday.

Romanian Poet Adrian Paunescu Buried With Military Honors Sunday

Romanian poet Adrian Paunescu was buried with military honors Sunday, at Bellu cemetery in capital Bucharest.

Romania Sets Cost Standard/Km Of EUR5.05M To EUR6.1M For Highway Construction – Draft

The construction of highways will have a cost standard per kilometer of EUR5.05 million to EUR6.1 million, VAT not included, and capital repair works on a railroad will cost EUR1.19 million/km, VAT not included, according to a draft Government Decision drawn up by the Romanian Transport Ministry.