romania

IMF Mission Visits Romania End January

A mission of the International Monetary Fund will visit Romania end-January to evaluate the economic situation and discuss the new government’s policies, IMF representative in Romania Juan Fernandez-Ansola told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romanian, Bulgarian Workers Remain Europe’s Personae Non Grata – Paper

Romanians and Bulgarians are still not seen as full-fledged citizens of the European Union, as many member states continue to keep them away from their labor markets, mainly due to the economic turmoil that seriously affected their economies, German daily Der Speigel wrote on its website.

Russia’s Gazprom Says Not Responsible For Gas Cut – Romania’s Econ Min

Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom declined its responsibility for Romania’s gas deliveries cut, saying it continues to supply gas to Imex Oil and Wintershal, the companies that import Russian gas to Romania, economy minister Adriean Videanu stated Wednesday.

Romanian Econ Min Calls State Of Emergency Over Russian Gas Cut

Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu called Wednesday state of emergency in the energy system, following the cut of Russian gas supplies to Romania.

Putin Discussed Gas Problem With Bulgarian PM, Romanian Pres

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin discussed problems involving Russian gas transit via Ukraine with Bulgarian Prime Minister and Romanian President Traian Basescu over the phone on Tuesday, Itar-Tass reported.

Russian Gas Supplies To Romania Halted

All Russian gas supplies to Romania were halted Wednesday morning, after deliveries were also cut at Mediesu Aurit gas import station at around GMT0700.

Meciul amical România – Croaţia se va disputa la 11 februarie

Directorul general al Federaţiei Române de Fotbal, Ionuţ Lupescu, a declarat, marţi, agenţiei MEDIAFAX, că echipa naţională a României va disputa un meci amical cu selecţionata Croaţiei, la 11 februarie, pe Stadionul Steaua din Bucureşti.

Russian Gas Supplies To Romania Via Isaccea Halted, Consumers Unaffected

Russian natural gas supplies to Romania via Isaccea (southeastern Romania) were halted, but Romanian consumers are not affected by the decision, as the existing stocks can cover consumption needs, Ioan Rusu, general manager of Romanian state-owned gas pipeline operator Transgaz, stated Tuesday.

Fitch Revises Dn Romania’s 09 Econ Growth F’cast To 1%

Fitch Ratings revised downwards its forecast on Romania’s 2009 economic growth to 1%, two percentage points less than its previous prediction, made in November.

Romania Ready To Offer Support In Baghdad Talks On Troop Presence

A Romanian delegation formed of two Foreign Ministry officials left for Baghdad end last week to provide technical assistance in view of potential talks to extend Romanian military presence in Iraq after December 31, the ministry said Tuesday.

Immoeast Postpones, Cancels EUR2.4B Proj In Romania

Austrian investment fund Immoeast, one of the largest investors on the Romanian real estate market, will postpone or cancel 54 projects in Romania, with a total market value of EUR2.4 billion, according to the company’s financial report on the quarter between August 1 and October 31.

Nokia Could Pay EUR1.8M For Land At Romanian Plant In Jucu – Official

Finnish telecom giant Nokia is looking to buy a 90-hectare plot of land in Romanian northwestern locality of Jucu, where it opened a plant earlier this year.

Romanian State To Pay Iraqi Debt To 25 Cos In Installments Over 20 Yrs

A total number of 25 Romanian companies with business sin Iraq in the ‘80s, including car maker Dacia, lender BCR and oil company Rompetrol, will receive a total sum of $112.4 million from the state, money owed by the Arab state. The sums will be paid over 20 years.

Romania Not To Discard Its EU Commissioner – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday, before leaving for Brussels to attend the winter works of the European Council, that if the majority of EU states wish to apply the Nice Treaty as of Jan 1, Romania will not discard its European Commissioner.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus Visits Romania Next Week, Meets President Basescu

Czech President Vaclav Klaus will visit Romania next week, on Dec 10 and 11, for a working breakfast with Romanian President Traian Basescu and a lunch with the main Czech investors in Romania and Romania’s central bank governor Mugur Isarescu, the Czech Embassy to Bucharest told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Why did Romanians give a new mandate to people we know bad things about? – Romanian president

Speaking about Sunday’s vote, Romanian President Traian Basescu asked rhetorically in an interview broadcast Monday by the public radio RRA why would Romanians choose to give a new mandate to a party they know is tainted.

Economic Crisis, Main Stake Of Romania’s Election – Press

International news agencies writing about parliamentary elections in Romania Sunday highlight voters’ concerns regarding the international economic crisis and expect low turnout at the polls because of people’s lack of trust in the country’s political class.

Swiss Rightists Oppose Romania’s Inclusion In Free Movement Agreement

The leaders of the Swiss People’s Party, also known as the Democratic Union of the Center, decided Friday to reject the inclusion of Romanians and Bulgarians in the free movement agreement, claiming this would bring higher crime rates and unemployment while only benefitting “the poorest countries.”

Romanian Economic Sentiment Falls To 91.4 Points In Nov

Romania’s economic sentiment fell 12.3 points to 91.4 in November, putting the country third in the EU-27 bloc, a monthly survey of the European Commission showed Thursday.

IMF Cuts Romania’s ’09 Econ Growth Forecast To 3.5%, From 4.8%

The International Monetary Fund forecasts Romania’s economy will grow by 3.5% in 2009, below the 4.8% growth rate seen in October, as the global turmoil affected local banks’ ability to get funds from abroad, which limits investments and consumption, and also due to a severe slowdown in exports.

EC Says Needs More Data On SAPARD Program In Romania

The European Commission requested additional data on Romania’s course of actions regarding the EU-funded SAPARD program before making a decision on whether to resume payments to Romanian farmers, EC spokesman for agriculture, Michael Mann said Tuesday.

Nokia Romania Plant Halts Ops Dec 22-Jan 5

Nokia Romania decided to temporary stop production at its Romanian plant between December 22, 2008 and January 5, 2009, for employers to rest "and get ready for the challenges in 2009", the company stated Tuesday in a press statement.

Romania Econ Growth Seen Below 4% In ‘09 From 8% In ’08 – Analysts

Romanian economic growth is seen below 4% in 2009, down more than half compared to the 8% growth estimated for 2008, analysts said.

Kraft Foods Appreciates Land Offer, Romanian Plant Still To Close

International giant Kraft Foods on Wednesday said the decision to shut down its chocolate factory in Romania still stands, despite an “appreciated gesture” of local officials to offer the company more land to expand operations.

Bush Administration Backed Romania For Visa Waiver Program But Rejection Rate Is Too High – Official

Romania was backed by the Bush administration for the Visa Waiver Program, but efforts are impaired by the fact that the visa rejection rate of over 10%, Amy Kudwa, spokeswoman for the United States Department of Homeland Security, told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romania Could Target Becoming Seventh Power In EU – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Tuesday in western Romanian city Timisoara that Romania could aim to become the seventh power in the European Union if it makes use of its natural potential.

Holland Might Put On Hold Labor Mkt Opening To Romania, Bulgaria

Dutch minister of social affairs, Piet Hein Donner, decided that Holland put on hold the opening of its labor market for Romanian and Bulgarian workers until July 1, 2009, the Brabants Dagblad daily reported on its website Sunday.

Fitch Expects Romania To Adopt Euro No Sooner Than 2015

Fitch Ratings agency said Friday it does not expect Romania to adopt euro sooner than 2015, citing risks in attaining real and nominal convergence.

Remittances From Romanians Abroad To Reach $9B In ’08 – World Bank

Remittance flows of Romanians working abroad will rise this year to $9 billion, compared with $6.8 billion as estimated for 2007, ranking the country on the 8th position in the top 10 recipient countries worldwide, according to a World Bank study.

Russia Might Not Include Romania In South Stream Proj – Schroeder

Russia might not include Romania in the gas pipeline project South Stream, although there are talks in Romania on the need to involve the country in the project, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Wednesday in Bucharest, during an international conference on energy issues.

Romania’s 9-Mo Trade Def Up 12.5% On Yr To EUR16.93B

Romania’s January-September trade deficit rose 12.5% on the year to EUR16.93 billion, from EUR15.05 billion in the same period a year earlier, but exports grew at a higher pace than imports during the first nine months, the National Statistics Institute reported Monday.

Fitch Downgrades Romania’s Rating By Two Notches To Below Invest Grade

Ratings agency Fitch has lowered on Monday the sovereign ratings on Romania by two notches, citing vulnerabilities in the emerging markets, spurred by the global crisis and the countries’ high current account deficits.

Romanian Ambassador To Israel Responds To Anti-Semitism Accusation Against Romania

The statement of Romanian president Traian Basescu, cited by the November 2 edition of the Israeli daily Haaretz, according to which Syria’s neighbors are Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, is “truncated and taken out of context”, Romania’s ambassador to Israel Edward Iosiper said.

Romanian Fuel Mkt To Mature Over Tens Of Yrs – MOL

Romania's fuel market will mature over a couple of decades although it has the highest growth compared with Slovakia and Hungary, the key-countries of Hungarian oil and gas company MOL, the company's Vice-President for Corporate Communications, Szabolcs Ferencz, said Tuesday.

Romania, USA Sign Visa Waiver Interim Declaration

Romanian ambassador in the USA Adrian Vierita and Michael Chertoff Unites States Secretary of Homeland Security, signed Monday a statement on the Visa Waiver program, said a press release posted on the Homeland Security Department website.

Mahmoud Abbas Asks For Romanian Support In Middle East Peace Talks

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Monday with Romanian Senate vice president Norica Nicolai. Abbas asked for Romania’s support in mediating a stable peace process in the Middle East, Nicolai said at the end of talks.

EC: Romanian Current Acc Def Seen Slowing In ’08, ’09

The European Commission sees Romania’s current account deficit slowing in both 2008 and 2009 to 13.5% and 13% of gross domestic product, respectively, lower compared to the Commission’s previous forecasts.

Swiss Carrier Baboo Launches Flights To Romania

Swiss regional air carrier Baboo on Monday launched its first flights on the Romanian market, from Bucharest’s International Airport Otopeni to Geneva and Nice, respectively, Baboo said in a statement.

S&P Downgrades Romania To FC ‘BB+/B’; Outlook Negative

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long- and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Romania to 'BB+/B' from 'BBB-/A-3', and its local currency long-term rating to 'BBB-' from 'BBB', the rating agency announced on Monday.

Romania, Hungary And Sweden To Build “Fairytale Villages”

Local authorities from three counties in Romania, Hungary and Sweden plan to implement a joint project called “The Fairytale Village” aimed at helping children learn cultural and traditional elements of the three countries.