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Romanian Otopeni International Airport Issues 250 Taxi Authorizations

People flying from the “Henri Coanda” International Airport in Otopeni, Romania, will be able to use, as of February 1, the services of 13 taxi companies and 57 authorized natural persons who won an auction organized by the airport.

Romania’s Supreme Defense Council OKs Energy Sector Reorganization

Romania’s Supreme Defense Council CSAT approved Thursday the reorganization of two companies within the Economy Ministry with joint portfolio of power plants, according to a Presidency press release.

Romania To Deploy Additional 600 Troops To Afghanistan

Romania's High Council for National Defense (CSAT) approved Thursday the deployment of additional 600 troops to Afghanistan, and the maximum number of troops deployed to the area could reach 1,798.

Romanian Transports Ministry To Implement Electronic Toll Sticker As Of August 1

The electronic system for the issue and control of Romanian toll stickers will become active on August 1 and drivers without proof of payment will have to pay compensations between EUR28 and EUR1,210, depending on the type of vehicle, in addition to fines.

Half Of Romanians Have Lower Income, More Than Half To Avoid Risky Investments – Poll

Almost half of Romanians say the economic crisis has had a negative impact on their income and expect things will not change in the future, while two thirds of them say they will avoid risky investments, according to a poll conducted by research company Unlock Market Research.

Romanian Cos May Reschedule State Debts, With Insurance Clauses – Sources

Romania will introduce a rescheduling system for the fiscal debts amassed by companies, to support investors during the financial crisis, but it will also introduce insurance clauses to guarantee the debts payment, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romanian Telecom Regulator Wants Lower Phone Number Portability Fee Cap

Romanian communications regulator ANCOM wants to lower the ceiling on the fees paid by telephony operators for number portability, from EUR13 to EUR7on fixed telephony and from EUR11 to EUR5 on mobile telephony, the regulator said Thursday.

Romanian Electoral Auth Approved Draft Law On Postal Voting Back In 2007

The Romanian Standing Electoral Authority (AEP) gave the green light to a Foreign Ministry draft law proposing postal voting for Romanian citizens living abroad back in 2007, AEP vice-president Marian Muhulet told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romania To Get New Tranches Despite Missed Inflation Target – IMF Official

The International Monetary Fund will most likely continue its financing program with Romania and will release two new tranches of a EUR13 billion loan, despite the eastern European country’s failure to meet its inflation target in 2009, IMF mission head Jeffrey Franks said Thursday.

Draft Law Implementing Postal Voting For Romanians Abroad Outlined In 2006 – Foreign Min

Romania’s Foreign Affairs Ministry told MEDIAFAX Thursday a draft law implementing postal voting for Romanians living abroad was drawn up in December 2006 and forwarded to the Electoral Standing Authority to be amended.

PwC Says Romania’s Proposed Wealth Tax Unjustified Due To High Administration Costs

Romania’s proposed wealth tax, that would charge 0.5% of net asset values exceeding half a million euros, isn’t justified because administration costs would be much higher than the tax’s benefits, Mihaela Mitroi, partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), said Thursday.

Ford To Use EIB Loan To Produce Eco-Friendly Car At Romanian Plant

Ford Romania will use a EUR400 million loan from the European Investment Bank to finance current operations at its Craiova plant and manufacture an environmentally friendly small car, Ford Europe’s vice-president for legal affairs Wolfgang Schneider said Thursday.

WB Raises Romania 2011 Growth Outlook To 4.2% Vs 2.5%

The World Bank raised its forecast on Romanian economic growth to 4.2% in 2011 from a previous 2.5%, leaving this year’s predictions unchanged at 0.5%, according to a report on global economic prospects released Thursday.

Romanian Education Unionists Threaten To Resume Protests

Romanian education federations have started considering the initiation of protests, displeased with the measures considered by the Ministry of Education, namely teacher layoffs and lack of payment for exams, said Wednesday "Spiru Haret" Federation leader Gheorghe Isvoranu.

Romanian Liberals To Push Draft Law On Postal Voting

The Romanian liberals, in opposition, will propose a draft law on the introduction of postal voting for Romanians abroad, and the creation of a committee for the improvement of election legislation, liberal vice-president Ludovic Orban told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Unions, Employers Call On Govt To Allow Extended Furlough

Romania’s union confederation Cartel Alfa and employers’ association UGIR-1903 will send a letter to Prime Minister Emil Boc Thursday calling for a government emergency decree extending the allowed period for furlough from the current three months.

IMF Plans Ambitious Reforms In Romania In ’10 – Official

The International Monetary Fund has an ambitious agenda of reforms and programs in Romania in 2010, whose implementation will prepare the relaunch of the country's economy at the end of financial crisis, the head of IMF mission to Romania Jeffrey Franks said Wednesday in Vienna.

Romania’s Budget Has No Funds For Nuclearelectrica Projs – Fin Min

Romania’s 2010 budget does not include funds for projects of state-run nuclear energy producer Nuclearelectrica, and a solution for the future two reactors at Cernavoda power plant is the public-private partnership, Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said Wednesday.

Romanian Ctrl Bker: Fiscal Consolidation Needed To Resume Lending

Fiscal consolidation is important to allow a restart of the lending activity this year, once financing demand starts to pickup, especially from the corporate sector, Romania's central bank deputy governor Cristian Popa said Wednesday.

Romanian Travel Agencies Tour Operators Won’t Be Levied Lump Sum Tax

Romania’s Finance Ministry has told the National Association of Tour Operators (ANAT) travel agencies and tour operators will not be levied a lump sum tax, ANAT head Corina Martin told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Coface Sees No Of Bankruptcies In Romania Up 20% YY In 2010

The number of Romanian bankruptcies might increase by 15%-20% in 2010, from 19,000-19,500 cases last year, with a sharper growth in the first half, risk management company Coface officials said Wednesday.

CME Buys Czech Unit Of Mediafax News Agency

Central European Media Enterprises-owned CET 21 will buy news agency Mediafax Czech Republic to enhance news coverage by CME’s TV Nova channel in the Czech Republic.

Romanian President Basescu Calls On Russia To Respect Romanian Interests

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday during a meeting with ambassadors that the Russian Federation can find a partner in Romania, as long as Romania’s interests are respected.

Romanian President Pledges Strong Support For Moldova To Come Closer To EU

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday, at a meeting with ambassadors accredited to Bucharest, that endorsing the efforts of the Republic of Moldova to come closer to the European Union is a “valuable project” for Romania.

Romanian President Basescu Wants To Implement Postal Voting During Second Term

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday that one of the greatest successes of his previous term was fulfilling his promises to Romanians abroad, adding that he will push towards implementing postal voting and setting up a call center for the diaspora.

Romania’s President Wants To Enhance Partnership With U.S. Based On Unfailing Friendship

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Wednesday, the country’s partnership with the U.S.A will be characterized by “continuity”, adding “a worthy friendship is when partners know how to share” and Romania proved it is “a reliable friend”.

Coface Sees Romania’s 2010 GDP Growth Above 0.5%

Risk management company Coface estimates Romania's economy will grow by more than 0.5% in 2010, fueled by the economic recovery in the European Union and the United States.

Romania Wants To Speed Up Deal For White Stream 2

Romania plans to speed up the signing of a trilateral agreement with Azerbaijan and Georgia for the participation in White Stream 2 pipeline project, targeting the transport of liquefied gas from Georgia to Europe via Constanta harbor, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Tuesday.

FOCUS: One Third Of 6,000 Bucharest Apartments Finished In ‘09 Still For Sale

Real estate developers still have almost 2,000 apartments left of the 6,000 completed in 2009 in 14 residential compounds in Bucharest and Ilfov county, according to data centralized by MEDIAFAX.

Nuclearelectrica, GE Ink Maintenance Deal Worth Up To $146M

Romanian state-run energy company Nuclearelectrica and General Electric Co. (GE) on Tuesday sealed a deal estimated at up to $146 million under which the US company will provide maintenance services for the power plant’s active nuclear reactors over the next eight years.

IMF Deal Could End Early If Romania Secures Enough Financing – Moody’s

Romania’s EUR20 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union could end earlier than scheduled, provided the authorities in Bucharest are able to secure sufficient market financing, Moody’s Investors Service said in an analysis Tuesday.

Moody’s Ups Romania 2010 GDP Forecast To 2.3% Vs 1.2%

Moody’s Investors Service revised upward its forecast on Romania's economic growth to 2.3% in 2010 from 1.2% previously, anticipating the economy will see a positive evolution starting with the second quarter.

Romanian Construction Workers Number Seen Further Dn In ’10

The number of employees in the constructions sector fell by 70,000 last year, at 350,000 employees, and is further seen decreasing in 2010, according to the Romanian Constructions Entrepreneurs Association ARACO.

Romania Lays Off Employees, Keeps Budgeted Vacant Positions – Union Leader

Cartel Alfa union leader Bogdan Hossu said Tuesday, after talks held at the Romanian Labor Ministry, that, although in 2009 there were over 100,000 vacant positions budgeted, layoffs in 2010 will also touch occupied positions.

Romania Registers 108 Deaths, 6,733 AH1N1 Infections

Romania registers 108 fatalities and 6,733 infections with the AH1N1 flu virus the AH1N1 flu virus, as one more death and 123 new infections have been reported over the past 24 hours, Romania’s Health Ministry said Tuesday.

Romania Nov Constr Output Sees 3rd Biggest Monthly Rise In EU

Romanian construction output rose 2.9% on the month in November last year, the third-highest increase in the European Union, official data showed Tuesday.

EU Study Finds 76% Of Romanians Could Not Afford Holiday Away From Home In 2008

A European Union study on living conditions in the year 2008 shows that 76% of Romanians could not afford a week’s vacation away from home, 49% could not afford a personal car, and 19% could not afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every other day.

Romanian Tourism Min Rejects Lump Sum Tax For Tourism Agencies

Romanian Regional Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea told MEDIAFAX Monday she does not agree with applying the lump sum tax to tourism agencies, as their activity is not characterized by wide instances of tax evasion.

Romanian Transport Min Signs Concession Contract To Build Comarnic-Brasov Highway

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu, French construction group Vinci and Greek construction company Aktor signed Monday a 30-year concession contract to build the Comarnic-Brasov highway.

Romanian Romgaz To Resume Talks On Gas Cooperation With Gazprom

Romania’s largest gas producer Romgaz Medias and Russia’s Gazprom will resume last year’s talks on the cooperation within natural gas storage in Romania, Romgaz’s deputy general manager Lucian Stancu told MEDIAFAX Monday.