romania

Romania’s EU Accession Negotiator Snaps At Germans On Nokia Issue

Vasile Puscas, former negotiator for Romania’s accession to the EU, said that Christian democrat leaders in German county North Rhine-Westphalia are smearing the skills of Romanian workers and Romanian market conditions, if the Bochum Nokia factory relocates to Romania.

Commercial Breeding Of Pigs Banned In Romanian Cities

Swine breeding in non-professional system, namely for household use, is allowed exclusively in the rural environment, and prohibited in cities, as well as on meadows and in forests, according to a draft government decision approving the strategy for the eradication of the swine pest in 2008.

Romania, EC Agree On Car Tax Issue

The Romanian government will set the final value of the first registration tax for cars with respect for three new demands from the European Union, which, however, will not fundamentally change the value proposed by the Romanian experts, said Romanian environment minister Korodi Attila.

Freedom House: Romania Retains Its ‘Free’ Status

Romania remains a free country in a world that registered a notable setback for political freedom in 2007, independent Freedom House human rights organization said in its annual report.

Eurostat: Romania 10-Mo ‘07 Trade Deficit EUR17.3B Vs EUR11.2B On Yr

Romania ranks fifth in Europe by trade deficit in the first ten months of 2007, up two places against the corresponding period in 2006, according to the statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat.

Romanian Transport Min To Run For Bucharest City Hall

The Bucharest branch of the Romanian National Liberal Party held talks on the candidates for local elections, the only “certainties” being transport minister Ludovic Orban for City Hall and District mayor Andrei Chiliman for District 1. A decision will be made mid-February, after polls.

EU Says Romanian Gas Should Be 70% More Expensive

The European Commission asked Romania to hike by almost 70% the price for natural gas. This would represent alignment of the prices for locally produced gas with the price on the European market, www.gandul.info reported.

Romanian Pres Sends Dignitary Probe Request To Justice Min

The prosecutors’ office within the Romanian High Court of Justice received, Wednesday evening, the request and literature through which president Traian Basescu demands the initiation of criminal investigations against eight current and former members of the government.

Romanian New Car Registrations Up 26.3% In ‘07

The number of new car registrations in Romania hiked by 26.3% in 2007, to 312,532 units, from 247,518 units in 2006, while the hike was 27.1% in December, to 24,143 de units, according to preliminary data published Wednesday by the European Association of Car Makers.

Ukraine President Declares Serpent Island Independent Economic Area-Paper

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree transforming the Serpent Island into a free economic area, official sources in Kiev said Tuesday, quoted by Russian paper Izvestia.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Maintains Inflation Target – Ctrl Bkr

The Romanian central bank will take any measure, including a new hike in the main rate, to strengthen the monetary policy and reach the inflation target, depending also on the market’s response to the last two hikes in the main rate, central bank Deputy Governor Eugen Dijmarescu stated Tuesday.

Romanian PM Appointed Ex Justice Min As State Adviser – Sources

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu appointed former justice minister Tudor Chiuariu as state adviser, official sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romania Requests Talks With EU Commissioner On Car Tax

Romanian Department for European Affairs chief Adrian Ciocanea, said Tuesday, in a press conference, that he asked Romanian ambassador in the EU Lazar Comanescu to set up a meeting with European commissioner responsible for Taxation and Customs Union Laszlo Kovacs’ team, regarding the car tax.

Moldovan Official Alleges Romanian Servants Offer Moldovans Illegal Citizenship

The Moldovan deputy interior minister Valentin Zubic on Tuesday accused two public servants with the Romanian justice ministry of alleged illegal help offered to Moldovan national in obtaining Romanian citizenship.

Romania, Down One Position In Economic Freedom Classification, Ranks 68th

Romania ranks 68th, down one position from 2007, among the 157 countries included in the classification regarding the degree of economic freedom, which was drawn up by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal.

Romanian PM Studied Justice Min Nominee’s Professional Record – Sources

Romanian prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, studied Norica Nicolai’s professional record, which the head of stated pointed out as grounds for her rejection from the position of justice minister. Tariceanu will decide on notifying the Constitutional Court after consulting the liberal leaders.

UN Forecasts 5.5% Econ Growth For Romania In ‘08

The United Nations (UN) forecast for 2008 a 5.5% economic growth in Romania, some one percentage point below the level estimated by Romanian authorities, according to a report compiled by the institution.

Romanian Econ Fin Min Says Car Tax Talks Near Endgame

Romanian authorities and European Commission officials will complete, this week, the talks on the car registration tax. After the talks, the Romanian authorities will set the level of the tax and will compile the draft normative act, according to Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian.

Romanian Fiscal Watchdog Sets New Rules For Income Statement

Individuals who obtained, in the fiscal year 2007, income from the transfer of ownership rights to bonds, are no longer obligated to state this income in January, according to Romanian fiscal authority ANAF.

Romania’s Fondul Proprietatea Share Transactions Now Regulated

Shareholders of investment fund Fondul Proprietatea may sell their shares before the fund is listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, according to amendments to the fund’s by-laws approved by the government and published in the Romanian Official Gazette.

EBRD Worst Case Scenario Sees Romanian Population At 13M In 2050

Romania’s population might drop to 13.31 million inhabitants before 2050, according to a pessimistic scenario by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or EBRD, which analyzes the demographic evolution in several states.

Dakar-Like Rally Might Include Romania

Romanian race driver Gabriel Nicolae, who was to compete in the Dakar Rally, said Friday organizers are thinking of staging a similar race in April, which would cross Romania.

New President At The Romanian High Council Of Magistrates

Lidia Barbulescu was elected president of the Romanian High Council of the Magistrates (CSM) with 15 pros and one con. She will present the management plan implied by the position.

EP Socialist Group VP Says Official Spats Taint Romania’s Image

The vice president of the socialist group within the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, said, in connection with Romanian president Traian Basescu’s refusal to accept Norica Nicolai as justice minister, that Romania’s image is deteriorating because of these quarrels.

Romanian Pres Rejects PM Proposition For Justice Min

Romanian president Traian Basescu wrote a letter to Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu asking him to stop proposing Norica Nicolai as justice minister, since her negative image in the public eye will not hike the people’s confidence in justice.

Romanian Pres Asks Parliament To Ratify Lisbon Treaty

Romanian President Traian Basescu signed, Tuesday, the Decree submitting to Parliament for ratification, the Lisbon Treaty, on the EU reform.

Romanian Intelligence Service Counters Radioactive Trafficking Theory

The spokesman for the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), Marius Bercaru, told MEDIAFAX that SRI does not hold any information on the possibility for al-Qaida elements or al-Qaida affiliates to be interested in buying radioactive material from Romania.

IAEA Chief Fears Al-Qaeda Might Get Radioactive Materials From Romania-Paper

The head of the UN atomic watchdog IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei on Monday said he fears al-Qaeda terrorist network might be preparing a nuclear or radioactive attack and voiced concern over radioactive material trafficking from Romania, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Romanian Online Payment Sales Tripled In ’07

The electronic commerce market, with online card payment, increased 263% in 2007 compared to 2006, to EUR34.8 million, with a total of some 450,000 transactions, according to data from RomCard, quoted by computer solutions integrator Gecad ePayment.

Romanian Man Confesses To Murdering Two Compatriots In Rome-Paper

A Romanian man confessed to murdering two compatriots in a hotel in Rome, officials close to the matter said on Saturday, cited by Italian media.

E-Manuals For Romanian Pupils In ’08

Romanian pupils will have, in 2008, manuals in electronic format as well, since Romanian president Traian Basescu signed, late 2007, the promulgation of the Law amending article 174 of the Teaching Law.

Romania Files Legal Action Against EC Decision

Romania asked the European Court of Justice to cancel the European Commission decision reducing Romania’s pollutant emission ceiling, claiming that the Commission overstepped its boundaries and discriminates. This is Romania’s first legal action against a Commission decision.

Bad Weather Deters 16 Romanian National Airline Flights

Romanian state-run airline Tarom director Gheorghe Barla, announced in a press conference that 16 flights were cancelled because the kerosene trucks cannot reach the planes to fuel them.

Romanian Trains Greatly Delayed Or Cancelled

The Romanian Ministry of Transport announced that the speed trains between Brasov and Bucharest, Bucharest-Galati and back, Bucharest-Bacau and back, as well as the intercity train between Bucharest and Timisoara were cancelled, while low speed trains registered hundreds of minutes of delay.

National Szeckler Council In Romania Pushes For Autonomy

The National Szeckler Council in Romania (CNS) intends to complete, before February, the internal referendum on the autonomy of the Szeckler County, while some 200,000 people already said they are in favor of autonomy.

Donadoni: Romania Gives Me A Hard Time Sleeping-Paper

Italy is in the cards to win the 2008 European Football Championship, coach Roberto Donadoni said Thursday, mentioning however that he has “trouble sleeping” because of rival romania, Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported.

Snow Caused Ambulance Delays Cause Fatalities In Romania

Two persons with heart conditions died, Tuesday night, in southwestern Romanian county Mehedinti, because snow delayed the ambulances.

Moldovan Authorities Boot Two Romanian Priests

Authorities in the Moldovan capital Chisinau expelled two Romanian priests after learning that they did not have adequate documents to work there, the measure being taken within a control targeting all priests in this structure, said the spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchy, Constantin Stoica.

Romanian Health Minister Talks ’08 Outlook

Romanian health minister Eugen Nicolaescu announced that 2008 will be the first year of quality reform, after two years of quantity changes, when 28 hospitals will be built, the number of medicine will be doubled on the 90% compensation list and performance salaries will be implemented.

Free European Health Cards For Romanians Come Jan 1 ’08

Romanian citizens will receive, free of charge, the European health card, starting with January 1, 2008, its value being paid from the budget of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), according EU advice, CNAS president Vasile Ciurchea told MEDIAFAX.