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Romania’s 2011 Clunkers Program To Be Similar To That In 2010 – Environment Minister

Romanian authorities decided the 2011 edition of the country’s clunkers program will be allotted the same number of vouchers as in 2010, set at the same value, Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely told a news conference Thursday.

Romanian President Passes Public Pension Law

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Wednesday signed the bill on the unitary public pension system into law.

Romanian Senate Chairman Challenges Constitutionality Of Education Law

Romanian Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana on Wednesday challenged the education law, arguing that its adoption through a vote of confidence in the Government was unconstitutional, but also contesting its content.

Romanian Opposition Parties Call On Constitutional Court To Analyze Education Law

Romanian deputies of two opposition parties, the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party, have filed a request with the Constitutional Court concerning the education law, for which the Government sought a vote of confidence in Parliament.

France, Netherlands On Diplomatic Offensive Against Romania’s Schengen Accession – President

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on public radio that France and the Netherlands are carrying out a diplomatic offensive to convince more countries that Romania should not be allowed to join the Schengen Area unless it solves problems in the justice sector.

Romanian President Says Law On High Council Of Magistrates Must Be Amended

Romanian President Traian Basescu told Hotnews Wednesday that few Romanians blame the High Council of Magistrates (CSM) for the situation of the country’s justice system and prefer to hold politicians, the Government and the president responsible for problems in the sector.

Romanian President Accuses Opposition Of Pushing Romania Off Track

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on public radio the opposition’s goal is for the country to derail so that businessmen that are behind opposition leader can rebuild their fortunes affected by the crisis.

Romanian Constitutional Court Clears Reexamined Pension Law

Romania’s Constitutional Court Wednesday ruled the pension law reexamined and adopted by the Parliament at the president’s request is constitutional, rejecting opposition liberals’ claims.

Romanian Opposition To Submit Two No-Confidence Motions Over Public Sector Wages

Romanian opposition Social Democratic Party leader Victor Ponta said Wednesday the opposition will submit two motions of no-confidence in Parliament over the wage law for 2011 and the unitary wage law, for which the Government sought MPs' confidence vote Tuesday.

Romanian Auto Market 14th Largest In EU In Nov – ACEA

The Romanian auto market had the fifth biggest growth in the EU in November and climbed a position in the ranking of the biggest car markets in Europe, to 14 from 15 last year, according to data released Wednesday by the European Carmakers Association (ACEA).

Nearly One Third Of Romanians Would Migrate If Given The Chance- Poll

Nearly one third of Romanians, or 31%, would leave their country permanently if they had the opportunity, while Britons are the most eager Europeans to leave their country, with 33%, according to a Gallup survey released Tuesday.

Romanian President Criticizes Country’s Justice System

Romanian President Traian Basescu suggested some of the members of the High Council of Magistrates who think they are above everyone else are responsible for “the harm done to Romania.”

Romanian MPs Reject Prosecution Against Fmr Minister Ridzi

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies Tuesday rejected anticorruption prosecutors’ requests to extend criminal investigations and search the computers used by against former youth and sports minister Monica Iacob Ridzi.

Four Romanian Businessmen Indicted In Corruption Case Involving Fmr Interior Min State Secretary

Romanian prosecutors indicted businessman Catalin Chelu on charges of attempted bribery in a case involving former Interior Ministry state secretary Dan Valentin Fatuloiu, the National Anticorruption Department said in a press release Tuesday.

Romanian President Supports Education Bill Adopted By Govt

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday he supports the education bill in the format adopted by the Government, and added he wants the act to be passed by the end of the year.

Total No. Of Romanian Employees Decreased By 645,000 From Jan 2009

The total number of Romanian employees has decreased by 645,000 since the beginning of 2009, said the National Statistics Institute (INS).

„The Concert” By Romanian-Born Film Director Radu Mihaileanu Nominated For Golden Globe Award

"The Concert" by Romanian-born French film director and screenwriter Radu Mihaileanu is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in the 68th edition of the Golden Globe awards, the organizers of the event told a news conference Tuesday.

More Than Half Of Romanians Saved Money In 2010 – Survey

More than half of the Romanians with incomes of over 500 lei (EUR1=RON4.2892) saved money for unpredictable situations in 2010, and most of them preferred to keep it at home, according to a survey conducted by Daedalus Millward Brown for Raiffeisen Banca pentru Locuinte.

Romanian President Signs Controversial Insurance Bill Into Law

Romanian President Traian Basescu signed into law yesterday a bill exempting people who already have home insurance against natural disasters from getting mandatory insurance, newspaper Ziarul Financiar reported Tuesday.

House, Villa Prices In Romania Dropped 42% Since 2008 – Survey

The asking prices for new houses and villas in Romania were down by more than 42% compared to 2008, with the greatest declines registered in Bucharest and Constanta county, according to website imobiliare.ro.

Romania Jan-Oct Current Account Gap Widens To EUR4.94B

Romania's current account deficit widened 30.3% to EUR4.94 billion in the first ten months, from a gap of EUR3.79 billion a year earlier, largely due to the lower current transfers surplus, central bank data showed Tuesday.

Romania’s Education Law Adopted As Opposition Mps Pull Support For No-Confidence Motion

The education law for which the Romanian Government sought a confidence vote in Parliament late October is considered adopted after opposition liberal lawmakers said in plenary they are pulling their signatures from the motion of no-confidence submitted over the bill, Chamber Speaker Roberta Anastase said Tuesday.

New IMF Agreement Will Protect Romania From Populism – President

Romania needs a precautionary agreement with the IMF and the European Union to protect itself against its own politicians, against populism, which can grow at any moment, said President Traian Basescu in an interview with the Financial Times.

Romania’s Parliament To Continue Conf Vote Procedure For Education Bill

Romania’s Parliament voted to continue procures for the adoption of the education bill Tuesday, despite protests from opposition lawmakers.

President Says Romania Isn’t Prepared To Accept Schengen Accession Delays

Romania is not prepared to accept postponement of the date of accession in the Schengen area, President Traian Basescu told the Financial Times in an interview, which also touched on Romania’s role in the EU, its relations with Russia and the Republic of Moldova and the anti-missile shield.

Romania PM Calls On Opposition To Observe Constitution When Submitting No-Conf Motion

Romanian Prime Minster Emil Boc on Tuesday called on the opposition to observe the Constitutional rules on the procedure entailed by a no-confidence motion after the opposition said Parliament would debate and vote on an upcoming motion after New Year’s.

Romanian President Denounces Roma Bill – Financial Times

Romanian President Traian Basescu said he will refuse to sign into law a bill renaming the country’s Roma minority internally as “gypsies”, the Financial Times reported online Monday.

Romanian Opp Parties To Submit No-Confidence Motion Over Wage Bill, Debate It After Dec 31

Romanian opposition Social Democratic Party president Victor Ponta said, after a meeting with liberal and conservative leaders, that they agreed to submit a no-confidence motion over the IMF-required unitary wage bill and debate it at the beginning of next year.

Romanian Govt Allows Parliament Employees To Fill Private Sector Positions

Employees of Romania's Parliament with special status will be allowed to work in the private sector, including in autonomous bodies and commercial companies, according to an amendment approved by the Government Monday.

Romanian Senate Chairman Suspended From Social Democratic Party

Romanian Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana has been suspended for six months from the Social Democratic Party, through a decision by the party's Standing National Bureau, party leader Victor Ponta said Monday.

Romanian Draft 2011 State, Social Security Budgets Debated In Parliament Committees This Weekend

The Romanian Parliament budget and finance committees will debate the draft 2011 state budget law and the draft social security budget for next year on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the two acts will be up for plenary debates in Parliament staring next week.

Half The Buildings In Bucharest’s Historic Center Could Collapse In Strong Earthquake

More than half the buildings in Bucharest's historic center might collapse in an earthquake more powerful than seven degrees on the Richter scale, said Stefan Dumitrascu, chief architect of the city's 3rd sector, where 90% of the buildings are located.

Romanian President Basescu Extends New Invitation To Talks For Opp Parties

Romanian President Traian Basescu invited opposition party leaders again to attend consultations with parliamentary parties at the presidential palace on Monday afternoon.

No. Of Romanians Who Went Abroad To Work Tripled In 2010

The number of Romanians who went abroad with labor contracts tripled in 2010 compared to last year, according to recruiting company Thera Group.

Romanian Govt Approves 6/24 Amendments To Unitary Wage Law

Romania’s Government has approved six out of 24 amendments submitted by lawmakers to the unitary wage bill for the public sector, for which the Government plans to seek a confidence vote in Parliament Tuesday.

Romanian Miners Threaten Full-Blown Strike Starting Jan 10, 2011

Over 30,000 Romanian employees in the mining and energy sectors threatened to go on full-blown strike starting January 10 if power company Electra is not set up and negotiations to create new jobs and prevent collective layoffs in the two sectors are not initiated.

Bucharest Mayor Wants Romania To Host 2020 Olympic Games

The general mayor of Romania’s capital Bucharest, Sorin Oprescu, said Monday hosting the 2020 Olympic Games in Bucharest would attract many investors and the move is backed by citizens.

Romanian Govt Meets Monday To Discuss MPs’ Amendments To Wage Law

Romania’s Government holds a Cabinet meeting Monday to discuss amendments brought by lawmakers to the unitary wage law, for which the Executive plans to seek a confidence vote Tuesday.

Romanian Govt Approved Norms On The Application Of Public-Private Partnership Law – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday on ProTV that the Government has approved the norms for the application of the public-private partnership law, which he said creates the framework for the attraction of domestic and foreign investments.

Romanian Public Sector To Shrink Below 1.29 Million Employees By Year-End – PM

Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday on ProTV that Romania's public sector will employ fewer than 1.29 million people by the end of the year, with layoffs to continue through next year.