English

FOCUS: Bucharest Subway Strike – Political Games At People’s Expense

12:58, 17 Nov. 2009
People in Romania’s capital city Bucharest found subway entrances closed Tuesday morning because subway employees started a general strike demanding bigger wages, while the country has no legitimate government, holds presidential elections this weekend and is mired in recession.

Romania Has Oil&Gas Reserves For 15 Years – Agency Head

12:51, 17 Nov. 2009
Romania still has oil and natural gas reserves for about 15 years, while its coal reserves may ensure domestic consumption for 30 years, the National Mineral Resources Agency ANRM head said Tuesday.

EU Sends Romania Positive Signals On New Danube Power Plants

12:49, 17 Nov. 2009
Romania received encouraging signals from the European Union authorities and the Danube riverside countries about the country's plans to build new hydro-power plants on the Danube river in joint venture with Bulgaria, hydropower producer Hidroelectrica officials said Tuesday.

Bucharest Court Expected To Rule On Subway Strike Legitimacy Tuesday

10:29, 17 Nov. 2009
Romanian state-owned company Metrorex manager Gheorghe Udriste told MEDIAFAX the Bucharest Court has received a request to rule on the legitimacy of the subway strike started Tuesday.

Romanian Press Not Focused On Election Candidates’ Programs – OSCE Report

20:36, 16 Nov. 2009
An interim report on Romania’s presidential elections, developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, said that the Romanian press provides too little coverage to the candidates’ programs.

Romanian Referendum To Downsize Parliament Dominant Issue Of Elections Campaign – OSCE Report

20:35, 16 Nov. 2009
An interim report on Romania’s presidential elections, developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, noted that the referendum to downsize the Parliament is the main issue of the election campaign.

Romania Doubles Fines On Black Labor Mkt To RON4,000

17:36, 16 Nov. 2009
Romania’s Labor Inspectorate on Monday said fines on the black labor market have doubled, ranging from 3,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2962) to RON4,000, according to a normative act effective as of November 16, 2009.

Bucharest Public Transport Co Supplements Transport Vehicles Due To Subway Strike

17:21, 16 Nov. 2009
Public road transport in Romania's capital Bucharest will be supplemented with 12% additional vehicles because of a general strike of subway employees Tuesday, November 17, public transport company RATB general manager Gheorghe Aron said Monday.

Romania Ctrl Bk Cuts Forex Reserve Requirements To 25%

17:15, 16 Nov. 2009
Romania’s central bank on Monday lowered the minimum reserve requirements on foreign currency-denominated liabilities to 25% from 30%, in a move to counter the imbalances following delayed loan tranches from the International Monetary Fund and other lenders.

Launch Of First Romanian Space Rocket Rescheduled For 2010

16:13, 16 Nov. 2009
The launch of the first Romanian rocket into space was rescheduled for the beginning of 2010 after a series of problems caused by weather conditions, people close to the matter said.

Romania Petrom Makes It To Platts 250 Global Energy Companies Top

15:55, 16 Nov. 2009
Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), owned by Austrian OMV AG, has entered the Platts 2009 global energy companies ranking on the 169th place, being the only Romanian company that made the top.

Most Romanians Would Seek Doctors, Avoid Vaccine, In Case Of AH1N1 Virus Infection

14:21, 16 Nov. 2009
Most Romanians are prepared to go to the doctor at the first symptoms of flu, but less than half of them want to get vaccines against the AH1N1 virus, saying they do not trust the new vaccine because it is insufficiently tested or they don’t see the flu as a real threat.

Romanian Subway Employees Go On Gen Strike Indefinitely Tuesday Over Wages

12:04, 16 Nov. 2009
Romanian subway company Metrorex employees will go on a general strike as of Tuesday, November 17, protesting rejected wage raise claims, and the subway will be closed for eleven hours, between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m., but will function normally from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m..

New Car Registrations In Romania Plummeted In Oct ’09, On Upward Trend In EU States

11:08, 16 Nov. 2009
Romania’s auto market continues to decline although new car registrations in European Union member states have been increasing since June and have been on upward trend since October, according to data of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA.

Romania’s Population Sees Growth In September ’09

11:03, 16 Nov. 2009
Romania's population increased in September 2009, when there was a natural positive evolution, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) said Monday.

AH1N1 Flu In Romania: 82 New Infections, 1,335 Total Cases

14:32, 15 Nov. 2009
Romania’s Health Ministry Sunday confirmed other 82 infections with the AH1N1 virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 1,335.

Romania’s President Regrets Having Promulgated Law On 50% Wage Increase For Teachers

23:22, 14 Nov. 2009
Romania's President Traian Basescu said Saturday during a debate held in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, he regrets having upheld the law on a 50% wage increase for teachers, adding he promulgated the law without having knowledge of the real state of the budget.

Train Evacuated Due To Bomb Threat At Bucharest’s Northern Railway Station

22:16, 14 Nov. 2009
A bomb threat Saturday evening triggered the evacuation of an international train at Bucharest’s Northern Railway Station, the spokesperson of the passenger division of Romania’s railroad company CFR Calatori, Oana Branzan, told MEDIAFAX Saturday.

Romania’s President Welcomes Decision To Forbid School Principals’ Membership In Political Parties

20:28, 14 Nov. 2009
Romanian liberal leader Crin Antonescu said Saturday during a debate in Cluj, northwestern Romania, only ministers and secretary of state should be designated on political criteria, and President Traian Basescu said he agrees with the decision school principals should not be members in political parties.

Flat Tax Might Be Reduced In 2011 If Romania Resumes Economic Growth – President

19:00, 14 Nov. 2009
Romanian President Traian Basescu said Saturday, during a debate held in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, the flat tax might be reduced from 16% to 14% in 2011 if Romania resumes economic growth.

Romanian President, Liberal Leader Accuse Each Other Of Being Politically Manipulated

17:37, 14 Nov. 2009
Romanian President Traian Basescu and liberal presidential candidate Crin Antonescu accused each other, during a debate held Saturday in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, of being politically manipulated.

Romanian Senate Chairman Proposes Moldova Republic Common Govt Meetings

16:30, 14 Nov. 2009
Romanian Senate Chairman social democrat Mircea Geoana Saturday proposed Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat Romania and Moldova Republic should establish a system of common Government meetings, adding a first meeting might take place in Iasi, eastern Romania, after presidential elections.

Romanian Green Party Presidential Candidate To Participate In Public Debate In Cluj

14:34, 14 Nov. 2009
Romanian Green Party presidential candidate Remus Cernea told MEDIAFAX Saturday he will participate alongside President Traian Basescu and liberal presidential candidate Crin Antonescu in a public debate in Cluj, northwestern Romania, adding he has doubts the meeting will take place today.

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Proposes Presidential Candidates To Meet Wednesday

13:38, 14 Nov. 2009
Romanian social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana said he will participate Saturday in election campaign events in Braila and Tulcea, southeastern Romania, and proposed presidential candidates to meet Wednesday at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest.

Family Of Romanian Deceased In Austria Disclaims Death Caused By AH1N1 Virus

11:50, 14 Nov. 2009
The family of the Romanian national who recently died in Austria said the information released by the media according to which the man died due to complications caused by the AH1N1 virus is not true as the medical file of the deceased does not mention such a diagnosis.

Romanian Democrat Liberal, Liberal Presidential Candidates To Participate In Public Debate In Cluj

10:42, 14 Nov. 2009
Romanian presidential candidates democrat liberal Traian Basescu and liberal Crin Antonescu will participate Saturday in a public debate in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania, at 3 p.m., at the invitation of social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana.

Romania Govt Decides Elections-Referendum Combo Needs Separate Voter Lists

20:05, 13 Nov. 2009
The Romanian Government decided that in the presdiential elections and the referendum there will be two electoral tables, not a single one, and people voting in special polling stations will file two self statements, changes that will generate additional costs of RON4 million.

Romania To Keep Flat Tax, VAT Unchanged In 2010 – Caretaker PM

18:05, 13 Nov. 2009
Romania will keep in 2010 its flat rate tax and value added tax unchanged at their current levels of 16% and 19%, respectively, caretaker Premier Emil Boc said Friday.

Romanian Bank Loans Lose Ground With Cos Nearing Flatline, Skeptical People – Bkr

17:55, 13 Nov. 2009
Banks cannot grant loans as companies that need money are “almost dead" and people do not trust the bank system, Credit Europe Bank regional manager Dorothea Nicolae said Friday.

Romanian AH1N1 Vaccines To Be Used On Children Starting Jan – Acting PM

16:43, 13 Nov. 2009
Romanian children will be immunized against the AH1N1 virus using the vaccines which the Cantacuzino institute will produce early January, in a procedure in accordance with certified national standards, acting Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

Romanian Actor Gheorghe Dinica Buried Friday With Military Honors

15:40, 13 Nov. 2009
Romanian actor Gheorghe Dinica was buried with military honors Friday at the Bellu cemetery in Bucharest.

Romanian Senate Chairman To Ask Parliament For Ad-Hoc Budget Meeting In Jan ’10

15:23, 13 Nov. 2009
Romanian social democrat presidential candidate and Senate’s chairman Mircea Geoana said Friday, during a meeting with representatives of the business environment held in Brasov, he will ask the Parliament to call for an ad-hoc meeting in January 2010 to debate and adopt the budget.

Bechtel Replaces Transylvania Highway’s Project Manager

15:11, 13 Nov. 2009
US company Becthel appointed Mike Swinford as project manager of Transylvania highway, replacing former head Mike Mix, the company said Friday.

EU Clears Romanian State Guarantee To Ford Loan

14:29, 13 Nov. 2009
The European Commission on Friday approved Romania's plan to guarantee 80% of a loan taken by US carmaker Ford from the European Investment Bank for investments in its plant in Craiova, southern Romania.

Most Romanians Believe They Are Worse Off Since 2008 – Study

14:14, 13 Nov. 2009
The number of Romanians who believe their financial status has gotten worse since October 2008 has doubled, up to 63% of those who answered a survey conducted by GfK Romania, compared with Poland, where 33% believe they are worse off than last year.

Romania 3Q GDP Sees 4th Largest Decline In EU

13:55, 13 Nov. 2009
Romania posted the fourth biggest quarterly economic fall in the European Union in July to September, while the EU's gross domestic product inched up 0.2% on the quarter, official data showed Friday.

Romanian Clunkers Program Expansion To Cos Could Boost Mkt By 15-20%

13:46, 13 Nov. 2009
The widening of the Romanian car park renewal program to include companies could lead to a 15%-20% growth in the new car market in 2010, while sales this year will not go beyond 130,000 units, ACAROM president Constantin Stroe told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Education Unions Frown On Govt’s Budget Savings Plan, Threaten Protests

12:42, 13 Nov. 2009
The Romanian National Education Federation called on the Government Friday to seek ways for state budget savings without affecting the education sector, especially since prior measures to scrap over 19,000 jobs in the sector were deemed excessive.

Bucharest Blood Transfusion Center Staff Protested Friday Over 30% Wage Cut

12:16, 13 Nov. 2009
The employees with the Bucharest Blood Transfusion Center protested Friday morning for nearly two hours, saying that the scrapping of salary bonuses for prevention, risk and difficult work conditions lowered their salaries by 30%.

Romania 3Q GDP -0.7% On Quarter, -7.1% On Year

10:34, 13 Nov. 2009
Romania’s third quarter gross domestic product shrank by a seasonally-adjusted 0.7% compared with the earlier quarter, a flash estimate of the National Statistics Institute, or INS, showed Friday.