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Romanian Liberals Continue To Back Independent Johannis For PM

Romanian liberal head Crin Antonescu said Thursday the liberals continue to back Klaus Johannis for prime minister at least until September 2010, but a PDL-PNL government is out of the question.

Economic Crisis Cuts Down Working Hours In European Union – Study

A full time employee in Romania worked around 20 minutes less in the second quarter of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008, because of the economic crisis, while European Union employees overall work an average 40 minutes less, according to research published Thursday by Eurostat.

Romania Acting Econ Min: Creating Just One Energy Holding Is A Mistake

Establishing just a single national power holding, as sustained by some political leaders, would be "an incredible error," Romania’s acting Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Thursday.

Romania To Have 100,000 More Jobless People In Next Two Mos

The number of unemployed people will rise by about 100,000 in the next two months and their total number will exceed 725,000, the leader of the Romanian industry union - UGIR 1903, Cezar Corici, told a news conference Thursday.

Romanian Interim Health Min Keeps Streinu-Cercel As State Secretary

Romania's interim Health Minister Adriean Videanu told MEDIAFAX Thursday that secretary of state Adrian Streinu-Cercel will remain in his position at the Ministry of Health.

Romanian President Calls Parties For Talks On New Government

Romanian President Traian Basescu invited the political parties for consultations Thursday, at 05.00 p.m., according to ths president's spokesman, Valeriu Turcan.

Romanian Cattle Breeders Only Half Satisfied With Loan Access Procedure – Union Leader

Romanian cattle breeders said that although they are only half satisfied with the state’s handling of their loan purchase problems, they will put off protesting and leave the government with one less issue to worry about.

Romania Should Stop Financing Housing, Start Public-Private Partnerships – Govt Official

Romania should stop allotting funds for building construction and the Development Ministry is working on a draft law regarding a public-private partnership between builders, town halls and banks, said Gheorghe Popescu, a director within the Ministry.

Romanian President Says Will Name Supreme Court Chief To Romanians’ Best Interest

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday on radio Realitatea FM he hasn’t received the file on Lidia Barbulescu, proposed to head of the country’s Supreme Court, but he will make a decision that will serve Romanians’ interests.

Romanian President To Promulgate Public Body Reorganization, Unitary Wage Laws

Romanian President Traian Basescu Wednesday said he would promulgate the unitary wage law and the law on the reorganization of public institutions on Thursday.

Three Romanian Banks Signed Financing Agreements For Animal Breeders – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Wednesday said local lenders CEC, BRD and BCR signed financing agreements with the country’s paying agency in agriculture APIA and the Farm Loan Guarantee Fund to ensure funding for animal breeders.

Romania’s Unirea Urziceni Draws 1-1 With Glasgow Rangers In Champions League

Romania’s champion team Unirea Urziceni held Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers to a 1-1 draw Wednesday evening in Bucharest, in the fourth leg of the Champions League Group G.

Romania Meets IMF’s Loan Terms, With ‘Maybe’ One Exception – Official

Romania has met almost all targets set for September of its EUR13 billion standby arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, with maybe one exception, IMF mission’s head Jeffrey Franks said Wednesday.

Romanian Pres To Appoint New, “Responsible”, Prime Minister

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday in Romanian town Alexandria, at an electoral rally, that he will appoint a responsible prime minister, who would not cover the underhanded privatization dealings attempted by businesspeople and politicians.

Romanian Public Body Reorganization, Unitary Wage Laws Dubbed Constitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court Wednesday ruled that the Law on the reorganizing of certain public authorities and the public sector unitary wage law are constitutional.

Romanian Parliament Allows Caretaker Govt To Submit 2010 State Budget

The Parliament Wednesday voted 259 to 4 and 120 abstentions to adopt a resolution requiring the country’s caretaker Government to submit the draft state budget for 2010.

Romanian Opposition Parties To Ask President To Designate Sibiu Mayor For PM

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Wednesday, after Prime Minister-designate Lucian Croitoru lost a confidence vote in Parliament, President Traian Basescu will be asked to designate Sibiu mayor Klaus Johannis as prime minister.

Romanian Proprietatea Fund Sells 17.36% Stake In Centrofarm For RON6.8M

Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea Wednesday said it sold on the Bucharest Stock Exchange its 17.36% stake in pharmacy chain Centrofarm (CEOF.RO) for 6.83 million lei (EUR1=EUR4.3005).

Romanian PM-Designate Loses Confidence Vote In Parliament

Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Lucian Croitoru lost a confidence vote in Parliament Wednesday as 250 lawmakers voted against his proposed government, leaving the country stuck in a political deadlock.

Romanians Are More Interested In Bank Card Design Than Security – MasterCard

Romania’s bank card market has a high development potential as only half the country’s population has cards, but Romanians are more interested in what their card looks like than how safe it is, said Wednesday Denisa Mateescu, head of MasterCard Europe Romania.

AH1N1 Flu In Romania: 97 New Infections In 24h, 672 Total Cases, No Deaths

In the last 24 hours, Romanian health authorities have confirmed 97 new cases of infection with AH1N1 flu, bringing the total number to 672, with no fatalities, according to official statistics.

Romania’s Healthcare System Ready To Cure All Swine Flu Cases – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Wednesday said Romania cannot escape the swine flu pandemic because all European countries are faced with this illness, but stressed Romania’s healthcare system is ready to cure all cases of infection "if people immediately report any flu suspicions."

Romania To Lose Face If IMF Halts Loan – Designated PM

A potential halt of Romania’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund would bear serious consequences for the country’s external credibility, more so than if the deal had never been signed, designated premier Lucian Croitoru said Wednesday.

Romania’s Government To Keep Car Renewal Program In 2010 – President

Romanian acting President Traian Basescu said Wednesday during a visit to Mioveni, southern Romania, the Government will not discard its clunkers program in 2010, adding it might be upgraded by granting vouchers equaling the scrap bonus to companies.

Romanian Parliament Holds Confidence Vote On Croitoru Govt

Romanian lawmakers met Wednesday morning to hold a confidence vote on the Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister-designate Lucian Croitoru.

Romania’s Sept Avg Net Salary Up 0.8% MM To RON1,359

Romania’s net average salary was 1,359 lei (EUR1=RON4.3017) in September, up 0.8% from August, the National Institute for Statistics said Wednesday.

Romania To Supplement Funds For Medical Equipment, Medicines, Vaccines

Romania’s High Council for National Defense (CSAT) decided in its meeting on the evolution of the AH1N1 flu virus to supplement funds for the purchase of medical equipment, medicines and vaccines and said the situation in Romania is under control.

Romanian Parliament Allows Ousted Govt To Draft ’10 Budget

Romanian Social Democratic Party vice-president Dan Nica said Tuesday evening the social democrats, after consulting the liberals and Hungarian minority party UDMR, decided to propose the enactment of a Parliament Decision that would allow the ousted government to propose a draft budget for 2010.

AH1N1 Virus Pandemic Prompts Romanian National Defense Council Meeting

The Romanian High Council for National Defense (CSAT) will reunite Tuesday afternoon, at the presidential palace, to analyze the evolution of the AH1N1 flu and the measures proposed by the government.

Germany’s TUI To Resume Operations In Romania As Of 2010 – Tourism Minister

German Group TUI, one of the world’s leading tour operators, will resume operations on the Romanian market as of 2010 and Romania’s official holiday season will open on May 1 and close on October 1, as part of the conditions imposed by TUI, Romania's acting Tourism Minister Elena Udrea said Tuesday.

EC, WB Premise Loan Tranches To Romania On Wage Law Adoption – Sources

The European Commission and the World Bank are not likely to sanction further loan disbursements to Romania unless the country adopts its pledged structural reforms, particularly in the public wage and pension sectors, people familiar with the matter told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romania Must Be Ready For 3,300-6,000 Flu Fatalities – Former State Secretary

Romania should be prepared for 3,300 to 6,000 fatalities because of the AH1N1 flu, Adrian Streinu Cercel, former state secretary with the Health Ministry, said Tuesday.

Romanian Parliament Raises Heating Aid Ceiling Back To RON615

Romania's Chamber of Deputies decided Tuesday to raise the ceiling for state subsidy for heating bills to an income of 615 lei (EUR1=RON4.3017) per family member after the Senate voted in favor of the raise late October.

IMF Keeps Romania ‘09, ’10 Budget Gap Targets Unchanged

The International Monetary Fund maintains its forecasts on Romania’s budget deficit unchanged at 7.3% of the gross domestic product this year and at 5.9% of the GDP in 2010, IMF mission’s head Jeffrey Franks said Tuesday.

EC: Political Uncertainty May Hinder Romania’s Economic Recovery

The European Commission warned the current political noise could delay the enforcement of proposed public spending cuts and weaken Romania's economic recovery in a fragile external environment.

Romania Ctrl Bk Sets ’11 Inflation Target At 3%, From 3.5% In ‘10

Romania’s central bank has set the annual inflation target at 3% in 2011, with a one percentage point variation band, down from the 3.5% rate targeted in 2010, the bank said in a flash note Tuesday.

Consultancy On SE Romania Harbor Dike Works To Cost Up To EUR2.7M

The maritime harbor administration in Romanian seaside city of Constanta will organize in December an auction for technical assistance in the supervision of works at the offshore dike in the harbor, a contract worth an estimate EUR2.75 million, VAT excluded.

Romanian Central Bank Keeps Key Rate Unchanged At 8%

Romania's central bank on Tuesday decided to keep the key monetary policy rate unchanged at 8% on the year, and to maintain the current levels of minimum requirements on both foreign currency-denominated and leu-denominated liabilities.

Romania Health Ministry State Secretary Quits

Romania’s Health Ministry state secretary Adrian Streinu-Cercel resigned his position Tuesday, less than a month after he was appointed.

Romanian Lawmakers Reject Govt Emergency Decree Changing Referendum Law

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies Tuesday rejected 198 to 83 votes a government emergency decree forcing Parliament to respond to the head of state's call for a national referendum within 20 days.