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EC Claims Romanian Bridge Toll Is Legal, FORT Complaint Is Pending

A vignette state, such as Romania, can collect road and bridge tolls, according to the EU’s Press Office, adding that the European Commission has not yet received any complaints regarding the toll collected on the Romanian Fetesti-Cernavoda bridge.

Romanian Petrom Considers Shutting Down Doljchim Chemical Plant – CEO

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) might shut down its chemical plant Doljchim, unless it can find a solution to continue operations, Petrom chief executive Mariana Gheorghe said Wednesday.

Romanian Luxury Car Market Plummets In 1H Of ’09

Luxury car sales in Romania decreased in the first half of the year to one third of the sales registered in the same interval of 2008, to less than 60 units, spelling a sharper decline compared to the general car market, which halved in the interval analyzed.

IMF Keeps Initial Calendar For Romania’s Adoption Of Public Sector Pay Law But Is Open To Talks

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintains the calendar for the adoption by Romania of a single and unitary law regulating salaries across the public sector, but is open to talks with government on the matter, said Wednesday, Jeffrey Franks, head of the IMF mission to Romania.

Romanians Think Govt Unable To Fix Economy, Trust Central Bank – Survey

Romanians don’t trust their government to come up with solutions to get the country’s economy back on track but look to the central bank as the only institution that considers their interests, according to a survey by research company GfK.

Romania’s 09 GDP Contraction Seen Above 8% In New Scenario – Sources

Romania’s 2009 economic contraction is forecast at 8%-8.5% in a new scenario to modify the macroeconomic frame on which the country’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund was based, according to people involved in negotiations with the IMF.

Romanian Govt Officials To Meet With IMF Delegation Wednesday

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc and all ministers will meet with the delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the Romanian Government headquarters, around 17:30 local time, after the weekly meeting of the government, government sources told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Petrom: Presidential Elections Might Affect Reforms In Romania

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) considers local market conditions will continue to be difficult in 2009, on volatile oil prices and the leu's depreciation, while the presidential election due in fall might hinder the government from applying required reforms.

Two Romanians Died In Roof Crash In Berlin

Two Romanian citizens died in a labor accident in Berlin, Germany, when the roof of an old building on the construction site of a Romanian Orthodox Church in the German capital collapsed on them, official sources told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian Petrom 1H Net Pft At RON923M, Dn 45% On Yr

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) Wednesday reported a net profit of 923 million lei (EUR1=RON4.1281) in the first half, down 45% compared with RON1.66 billion in the same period a year before.

Romania PM Set To Discuss With IMF Officials Wednesday – Sources

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc wants to meet with the representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday evening, after the weekly meeting of the Romanian Government, for talks on the country’s economic situation and anti-crisis measures, according to official sources.

Mark Gitenstein Sworn In As US Ambassador To Romania

Mark Gitenstein was sworn in as Ambassador of the United States of America to Romania by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden at the Indian Treaty Room at the Eisenhower Executive Building, where the Office of the Vice President is located.

CBRE: Bucharest Shopping Centers Value Dn 46% YY In June, Strongest Fall In CEE

The value of the shopping centers in Romanian capital city Bucharest dropped by over 46% between June 2008 and June 2009, on increasing yields and lower rents, being the strongest decrease in the Central and Eastern Europe, according to real estate services company CB Richard Ellis.

Romania’s Rompetrol Raises Pump Prices By Up To RON0.15/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil group Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunayGaz, will increase Wednesday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.15 lei (EUR1=RON4.2096) and RON0.09 per liter, respectively.

Romanian Revolutionaries Defender On Hunger Strike, Calls For President’s Support

The head of "21 Decembrie 1989” association, Teodor Maries, went on hunger strike Tuesday, in front of presidential Cotroceni palace, urging Romanian President Traian Basescu to intervene so that all files of the anti-communist Revolution in December 1989 and miners’ riots in 1990 are declassified.

Budget Spending Reaches Absurd Levels – Businessmen Assoc Head

Budget spending has reached absurd levels, and state institutions show that it does not work to the benefit of the companies facing bankruptcy in the upcoming period, given an economic contraction of 7%-8% this year, said Tuesday Florin Pogonaru, head of the Romanian Businessmen's Association AOAR.

Parliamentary Inquiry Committee To Hear Media Representatives Next Tuesday

The parliamentary committee investigating Romanian tourism ministry Elena Udrea decided to hear next week the representatives of the dailies that wrote about the alleged illegal public spending made by the Tourism Ministry.

Romania’s Petrom Hikes Pump Prices By Up To RON0.09/Liter

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) Tuesday rose its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.09 lei (EUR1=RON4.2096) and RON0.06 per liter, respectively, due to the evolution of the international quotations of crude oil products.

Romanian Unionists Told IMF They Oppose 20% Staff Cut In Public Sector

Romanian unionists told the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a meeting on Tuesday that they disagree with a 20% staff cut in the public sector and that the issue should be analyzed in order to maintain the quality of services.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Cuts Key Rate By 50 Bps, To 8.5%

The Board of Romania’s central bank decided Tuesday to cut the key monetary policy rate by 50 basis points to 8.5% on the year and to lower the minimum reserve requirements ratio on foreign currency-denominated liabilities to 30%, from 35%.

IMF Proposed Later Adoption Of Romania’s Public Sector Unitary Pay Law – Unions

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday proposed, in a meeting with Romanian unions, that the government should push back the adoption of the single unitary pay law for the public sector to allow for a through assessment of the future pay system.

Czech Tourist Attacked By Bear In C Romanian Mountains

A Czech tourist was admitted to the hospital in Romania’s mountain resort of Sinaia, after he was attacked by a bear Monday night while descending onto the Caraiman Valley.

Wizz Air To Launch Flights From Bucharest And Cluj-Napoca To Grenoble

Low-cost airliner Wizz Air will introduce once-a-week flights from the Romanian cities Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca to Grenoble in France in the interval December 12- March 27, the airline said Tuesday.

U.S. Bechtel Finished Building The Biggest Viaduct On Transylvania Highway

U.S. constructor Bechtel said it has finished building the biggest viaduct on the Romanian 2B Campia Turzii – Gilau segment of the Transylvania Highway, whose construction began in 2007.

Number Of Tourists Entering Romania Dn 12.9% On Yr In June

The number of tourists entering Romania was 12.9% lower in June compared with the same month a year before, while the number of tourists accommodated was down 11.1% on the year, the National Statistical Institute, or INS, said Tuesday.

Romania’s June Net Salary Up 1.7% M-M To RON1,379

Romania's net average salary in June was at 1,379 (EUR1=RON4.2116), up 1.7% compared with RON1,356 in the previous month, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Tuesday.

Romanian Meteorologists Issue Code Yellow Warning For Rain, Storm

Romanian authorities issued a yellow code warning for rain and storm valid from Tuesday at 6pm until Friday at 9am local time, according to the meteorologists’ website.

Romanian Singer Elena Carstea To Undergo Brain Surgery On Aug 12

Romanian singer Elena Carstea, who has been living in the United States over the past three years, is suffering from an aneurysm and will undergo brain surgery on August 12 at the JFK hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, Pro TV reported.

EC, Ukraine Agreement On Gas Sector Reform, Also Beneficial To Romania

The agreement signed between European Commission and Ukraine on the reform of the Ukrainian gas sector can also be beneficial to Romanian consumers, as Ukraine is a key element of Europe’s energy safety, Monday said Vasile Puscas, head of Romania's European Affairs Department.

E Romania Police Officer Arrested On Manslaughter Charges

A Romanian police officer in Oancea, Galati county, eastern Romania, was taken into custody for a month on manslaughter charges Monday, after the 28 year-old man he shot Sunday died at the hospital.

Romania AH1N1 Flu Cases Reach 172

Romania confirmed 65 new cases of infection with the AH1N1 influenza virus last week (July 27-August 2), taking the total number of people that contracted the virus to 172.

Romanian Econ Min To Merge 14 Institutes Into 2 Units In Energy, Industry Sectors

Romanian Economy Ministry plans to merge 14 research institutes into two structures, operating in the industry and energy sectors, economy minister Adriean Videanu said Monday.

Romanian Transporters, Roads Auth Disagree On Toll For Bridge Over Danube

Romanian transporters claim that the toll introduced by the public roads authority CNADNR on the crossing of the Fetesti bridge, in southeastern Romania, breaches the country's treaty with the European Union, the Federation of Romanian Transport Operators (FORT) said in a statement Monday.

Romania’s Forex Reserves Hit Record High At EUR27.33B In July

Romania's foreign-exchange reserves rose EUR860 million on the month in July to a record high of EUR27.326 billion, following loans taken by the Finance Ministry, the central bank said in a statement Monday.

Romanian Social Democrats Say Country’s Ruling Coalition Must Not Be Replaced- Official

Romania’s social democrat leader Mircea Geoana on Monday said his party strongly believes the country’s ruling coalition formed of democrat liberals and social democrats must not be replaced.

Most Public Offices In Romania Continue To Be Filled By Men – Equal Chances Agency

Most leading public office positions in Romania are filled by men, and only 19% of ministers and 9.76% of lawmakers are women, according to a survey presented Monday by the Romanian Agency for Equal Chances (ANES).

Romanian Democrat Liberals Ask Coalition Partners To Give Up Investigation On Tourism Min

The Romanian Democrat Liberal Party asked the Social Democratic Party in a “quite firm” manner to give up the parliamentary committee investigating tourism minister Elena Udrea and to “leave her alone”, sources attending the meeting of the coalition told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Romanian Oil Co Petrom Discovers Oil, Gas In Russia

Romanian oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) discovered gas and oil at its exploration well Lugovaya-1 in the Kamenski license in Saratov, Russia, the company said in a statement sent to the Bucharest Stock Exchange Monday.

Man Caught Stealing In S Romania, Killed By Villagers

A 35 year-old man died Monday morning after he was beaten by villagers in Cetate commune, in the southern Romanian county of Dolj, when he was caught stealing wire from vines Sunday night.

Romanian Democrat Liberals, Social Democrats Say Ruling Coalition Won’t Split

Romanian social democrats and democrat liberals in the country’s ruling coalition on Monday stressed they would not break up their partnership, arguing this idea is a mere "political game."