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Romania To Increase Russian Gas Imports Tues, Wed

Romania will import an extra 2 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Russia on Tuesday and Wednesday, reaching a total 12 million cubic meters/day, Economy Ministry state secretary Tudor Serban told MEDIAFAX.

IMF, Romania Agree On Pension, Fiscal Responsibility Bills – Official

The International Monetary Fund and the European Commission have reached an agreement with the Romanian authorities on the content of the bills on public pensions and fiscal responsibility, IMF mission head Jeffrey Franks said Tuesday.

Romania’s Pwr Consumption Touches Past Years’ High Due To Cold

Romania’s electricity consumption touched Monday night the highest value of the past years, respectively 9,300 megawatts, due to the cold front sweeping the country and taking temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Romania’s Health Min Regulates Ambulance Transport Services To End Abuse

Romania’s Health Minister Cseke Attila Tuesday signed a decree regulating the way patients who are not critically ill are transported from one hospital to another, following cases when certain ambulance services overcharged healthcare units.

Romania Ctrl Bker: Sustainable Disinflation, More Important Than Inflation Target

Having a sustainable disinflation is more important than being able to meet a short-term inflation target, Romanian central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Tuesday.

Romanian Rompetrol Cuts Fuel Prices By RON0.06/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil group Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunayGaz, cut Tuesday its gasoline and diesel oil prices by 0.06 lei (EUR1=RON4.1319) per liter.

EU Ambassadors Urge Romania To Tackle Abusive Public Auction Proceedings -Sources

Ambassadors to Bucharest of European Union members states told Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc that foreign companies operating in Romania keep complaining about trials pending in court way too long and about abusive auction proceedings, by cancelling auctions based on no solid grounds.

Romanian Govt OKs Pwr Producers To Use Coal, Fuel Oil From State Reserve

The Romanian Government authorized 21 power producers to borrow 1.9 billion tons of coal and 172.9 million tons of fuel oil from the state reserve until October 21.

Romania’s Govt To Eliminate 13th Salary When Current Collective Labor Contracts Expire

Romania’s Labor Minister Mihai Seitan said Monday that employees in the public sector will not be granted a 13th monthly salary after current collective labor contracts expire, as this particular salary right is only stipulated in such contracts.

Romanian Govt To Freeze Vacant Public Sector Positions Only Until End ‘10

The Romanian Government decided that the freezing of vacant positions in the public sector will only be maintained throughout 2010, and not until the end of 2011, as initially established, said Monday evening Labor Minister Mihai Seitan.

Romania Declares Gas Supply State Of Emergency On Bad Weather

Romanian coordination commission for natural gas supply safety declared Monday state of emergency due to low temperatures, the Economy Ministry said in a statement.

Romania President OKs ’10 State Budget, Social Security Budget

Romanian President Traian Basescu signed Monday the decrees promulgating the state budget and the social security budget for 2010, the Presidency informed.

Rod Stewart To Play Bucharest On June 29

British singer-songwriter Rod Stewart will hold a concert on June 29 in Bucharest’s "Iolanda Balas-Soter" Stadium, according to the artist’s official website.

Romanian Woman Hospitalized Over Serious AH1N1 Vaccine Reaction

A 30-year-old woman in the western Romanian city of Arad was admitted to hospital at the end of last week because of a severe reaction to the vaccine against the A/H1N1 flu virus.

Romanian Prime Minister Boc Announced Draft Education Law To Be Approved By End Of March

Romania's draft law on national education will be approved by the Government by the end of March and sent to Parliament for adoption, Prime Minister Emil Boc announced Monday, after a discussion with ambassadors of EU states.

Romanian Transp Min: Railway Sector Subsidies Should Be Hiked By 30-40%

Romania’s Transport Minister Radu Berceanu on Monday said spending cuts and a correct calculation of subsidies would help solve problems in the country’s railway sector, adding financial aid granted to companies in the sector should be hiked by 30-40%.

Romanians’ Pessimism Regarding Internal Economy On The Rise – Eurobarometer

Romanians are among the least content citizens of the European Union, according to a Eurobarometer report published Monday which indicates higher pessimism with regard to the national economy, job situation, household situation and expectations from one’s own life.

Over 150 Unionists Picket Fin Ministry HQ Monday, Call For Extended Furlough

Over 150 unionists affiliated to union federation Cartel Alfa, who represent workers in public services, metallurgy, steel, transport and mining sectors are picketing the Finance Ministry building Monday, urging the government to extend the allowed furlough period to protect the staff to be sacked.

Several Trains Cancelled In Southeastern Romania Due To Snow, Frost

Several trains covering Romania’s southeastern region were cancelled Sunday due to snow and low temperatures, said the passenger division of the state-owned railway company, CFR Calatori.

Romania’s Govt Urges Industrial Consumers To Reduce Natural Gas Consumption

Romania’s Government urged the country’s big industrial consumers to reduce their natural gas consumption at this time of the year, and asked thermal power plants to use crude oil to avoid gas imports.

Romania’s Draft Law On Energy Sector Reorganization Was Finished, Can Be Approved By Govt Monday

Romania’s draft normative act regarding the setting up of two national energy companies was finished and can be approved in a government meeting on Monday, people closed to the matter told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romanian Meteorologists Issue Code Orange Warning For Frosty Weather In Seven Counties

Romanian meteorologists issued a code orange weather advisory valid between Sunday and Wednesday morning, forecasting temperatures that could go down to minus 26 degrees Celsius during night, in seven counties.

Romania Most Likely To Get Next Tranches Of IMF Loan – PM

Romania will encounter no problems in getting the next tranches of a EUR13 billion loan, as the country fulfilled its engagements, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday.

Romania’s Pension Law To Be Approved By Govt In February – PM

Romania’s Government will approve the draft pension law at the beginning of February, so that it can be sent to Parliament for debates, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday.

Romania’s PM Wants Govt Guarantee Increase To Co-Finance EU Projects

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc met Saturday with the representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the World Bank and held talks on the possibility of increasing government guarantees to co-finance local administration European projects.

Several Romanian Cars Stuck In Snow In Bulgaria

Several vehicles transporting Romanian citizens are stuck in snow on Bulgaria’s territory, Romania’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Romanian Magistrates’ Association Challenges High Council Of Magistrates Head’s Appointment

The Association of Romanian Magistrates (AMR) challenged with the High Court of Justice the appointment of judge Florica Bejinaru as president of the High Council of Magistrates and that of prosecutor Gratiana Isac as vice-president of the Council.

Romania Must Reduce Budget Deficit To Keep Public Debt Under Control – IMF Official

Romania’s public debt will not represent a threat if the country consolidates its tax system to reduce the budget deficit to 5.9% of the GDP in 2010 and then take it under the 3% target set by the Maastricht Treaty, the head of the IMF mission to Romania, Jeffrey Franks, said Friday.

USA Embassy Thanks Romania For Sending More Troops To Afghanistan

The USA Embassy in Bucharest expressed its “appreciation” of Romania’s decision to increase its participation in Afghanistan operations by 600 troops, adding that it is “very grateful” to the Romanian people.

Romanian Public Administration Unionists Plan Full-Blown Strike As Of Feb 12

Romanian public administration employees will start protest actions as of February 2 and go on full-blown strike as of February 12, disgruntled with the government’s plan to slash jobs in the public sector, freeze wages and eliminate bonuses.

Moldova Accepts Newly Appointed Romanian Ambassador

The Republic Of Moldova’s interim President Mihai Ghimpu accepted Romania’s proposed ambassador to Moldova, Marius Lazurca, PRO TV Chisinau reported.

Romania To Use Half Of IMF Loan Tranches For Budget – FinMin

Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu on Friday said half of the EUR2.3 billion to be released by the International Monetary Fund will be directed to the state budget, but expressed hope that such a measure won’t be necessary in the future.

Bucharest Research Institute Builds Electric Engine For French-Made Hybrid Scooter

The Bucharest Institute for Electronic Research (ICPE) is working on an electric engine for future designs of hybrid scooters which will be manufactured by a French automotive company.

Romanian Film „Concertul” By Radu Mihaileanu Gets Six Nominations At César Awards

The film "Concertul" by Romanian Radu Mihaileanu received six nominations, including the "best film" category, at the French César Awards, according to the list of nominees posted on the event’s official website.

Romanian Govt To Adopt Ordinance On Co-Financing EU Projects Through State Guarantees

The Romanian Government will adopt in February an emergency ordinance which will enable local authorities to co-finance European projects by using Government guarantees, Prime Minister Emil Boc announced Friday.

Romania Appoints New Ambassador To Moldova

Romania’s Foreign Minister Theodor Baconschi said Friday the Romanian authorities proposed diplomat Marius Lazurca for Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, adding the country is waiting for Moldova’s agreement on the proposition.

Romania Gets Advisory For Frosty Weather, Blizzards Until Mid-Next Week

Romanian meteorologists issued an advisory Friday forecasting temperatures that could go down to minus 25 degrees Celsius at night throughout the country, except the western region.

Romania Will Ease Tax System Not Lower Taxes – President

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Thursday evening during a meeting with German investors that taxes will neither be reduced nor increased, adding the country’s tax system simplification does not entail tax cuts.

Romania Wants Maastricht Criteria Relaxed To Ease Access To EU Money

Romania wants to be treated equally as eurozone countries to have easier access to EU funds and will ask EU authorities to relax Maastricht criteria, President Traian Basescu said late Thursday.

Romania’s Additional Letter To IMF Deal Won’t Bring Radical Changes – Official

The additional letter to Romania’s EUR13 billion standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund will include certain modifications to the program, though nothing “radical”, IMF mission chief Jeffrey Franks said Thursday.