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Israeli Doctors Needed Romanian Ministry’s Permission To Work In Sabyc Clinic – Health Min

Romanian health minister Ion Bazac on Thursday said the Israeli doctors were not allowed to work in the Sabyc fertility clinic without the approval of the Health Ministry, adding that they didn’t ask for such an authorization from the ministry.

Romanian Prosecutor Gen Requires Parliament Approval To Investigate Ex Youth Min

Romanian prosecutor general Codruta Kovesi required Parliament approval Thursday for the opening of criminal investigations on former youth and sports minister Monica Iacob Ridzi over misappropriation of public money.

Romanian Justice Min Deems Reform Process In Legal Sector A Priority

Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu on Thursday said that finding a solution to continue the reforms and the changes in the legal system in times of deep crisis should be the priority in the upcoming period.

Romanian Govt To Consult With IMF On Unitary Pay Law Before Completing Draft

The Romanian government will consult with the International Monetary Fund starting next week on the structure and application of the unitary pay law in the public sector and will then complete the draft law, government sources told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Hungarian Police Arrests New Suspect In Romanian Handball Player Murder

Hungarian police arrested Wednesday a 26-year old man connected to the murder of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma in February, said Police spokesman Zoltan Csanyi, quoted by Hungarian press agency MTI.

Romanian Tourism Min Says Parliament Should Investigate All Former Liberal Ministers

Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea said she thinks the Parliament should set up inquiry committees for all the liberal ministers of the country’s former government, to check how they spent public money.

Romanian National Integrity Agency To Check Wealth Of Youth Min – Sources

The Romanian National Integrity Agency (ANI) took notice and initiated investigations regarding the wealth of new youth and sports minister Sorina Placinta, agency sources told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romania Halts Tourism Brand Proceedings Over Bid Challenge

Romanian Tourism Ministry has suspended proceedings to select the winner of a EUR2 million contract to create the country’s tourism brand, pending settlement of four challenges to the auction process, minister Elena Udrea said Thursday.

Romania’s Tourism Law Hopefully In Parliament In Fall – Minister

Romania’s new tourism might enter debates in Parliament at the resuming of works in fall, after the summer recess, Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea said Thursday at the seminar Mediafax Talks about Romanian Tourism.

Romania’s Steaua Bucharest Rattled By Bomb Threat In Budapest

The staff and team of Romanian football club Steaua Bucharest was waken up Wednesday night, around 02:00 local time, following a bomb threat at their hotel in Budapest, according to Romanian sports daily ProSport.

Romanian Prosecutors To Probe Fraud Allegations Against Ex-Youth Minister

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Wednesday requested prosecution against former youth minister Monica Iacob Ridzi on corruption charges, the head of National Anticorruption Department (DNA), Daniel Morar, said.

Romania’s Govt OKs „First House” Program’s Changes – Sources

Romania’s Government approved Wednesday the changes brought to the "First House" program and agreed during the bank managers’ Tuesday talks with Prime Minister Emil Boc, official sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Cos Need Optimism To Overcome Crisis – PM

The Romanian Government will support companies that face difficulties, but a note of optimism is also needed to overcome the harmful effects of the economic crisis, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday.

Bucharest Court of Appeals Suspends Hwy Consultancy Contract Attribution

The Bucharest Court of Appeals decided Wednesday to suspend the attribution procedure involving the consultancy contract sold by the National Company for Highways and National Roads (CNADNR) in the construction of the Medgidia-Constanta highway.

Romanian Chamber Speaker: EC Report, Sign Of Confidence In Govt

Romanian Chamber of Deputies speaker Roberta Anastase said Wednesday that the European Commission’s positive report on Romania’s justice system may be considered a sign of confidence on the part of the EU executive in the Romanian government.

Romania May Defer Tax Exemption Of Reinvested Pft For ’10 – SMEs Min

Romania’s Government decision to not tax reinvested profit will be postponed, most likely for next year, as it requires changes in the Tax Code, the minister for small- and medium-sized enterprises Constantin Nita said Wednesday.

Romania, Bulgaria Gained Reform Momentum, Monitoring Continues Under CMV – EC

Romania and Bulgaria, the European Union’s newest members, have gained momentum in making reforms, but the European Commission feels the countries should continue to be monitored, Commission spokesman Johanes Laitenberger said Wednesday at the presentation of the reports on the two countries.

Romania To Finish ROP Contracts Two Yrs Ahead 2013 Deadline – Min

Romania’s Development Ministry plans to finish signing the contracts financed through the Regional Operational Program (ROP) by end 2011, two years ahead the deadline imposed by the EU, to avoid possible application problems, Minister Vasile Blaga said Wednesday.

Romania Gets Code Yellow Warning For Hot Weather, Valid Until Saturday

Romanian meteorologists on Wednesday issued a code yellow warning for hot weather, valid from Thursday afternoon until Saturday for 33 counties, where temperatures could go above 38 degrees Celsius and the thermal discomfort will exceed the critical threshold.

Romanian My Air Passengers Can Use Blue Air Flights, Paying Airport Taxes

Airline company Blue Air informed the passengers of the cancelled My Air flights that they can use the company’s planes on the route Romania-Italy and back, regardless of the departure or landing spots, paying just the airport taxes connected to the flight.

Guano Apes To Perform In Bucharest In September

Guano Apes, one of Europe's best known rock bands, will perform at Tuborg Green Fest in Bucharest in the first week of September, an event which will feature over 15 Romanian and international artists, the organizers said.

Romanian Fuel Consumption Seen Slightly Up By YrEnd, After 10% Fall In 1H – MOL

MOL Romania, the local unit of Hungary's oil group MOL, expects a slight increase in fuel consumption by the end of the year, after a fall of over 10% on the segment of corporate clients in the first half of the year.

Five My Air Flights Due To Take Off From Bucharest Cancelled Wednesday

Low-cost airliner My Air on Wednesday cancelled five of the six flights due to take off from Bucharest’s Baneasa airport, according to the airport’s general manager, Gheorghe Mihalcea, who stressed My Air officials failed to offer any information whatsoever in this respect.

Spiru Haret University Degrees Valid Until Situation Resolved – Romanian Education Min

All degrees issued by Spiru Haret University will stay valid until the situation in the institution is resolved, education minister Ecaterina Andronescu said in a press conference.

Ec Draft Report: Romania Should Not Politicize Judicial Reform Process

Romania has regained its reform momentum, but in order to be able to demonstrate sustained progress, the judicial reform process should not be politicized, the European Commission said in its draft justice report, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Dacia’s New SUV To Come With A 7-Seat “Kanjara” Version – Paper

Romanian carmaker Dacia’s new SUV, based on the Duster concept showcased in Geneva this year, is reportedly to come with a 20 centimeters longer seven-seat version, dubbed Kanjara, the French magazine L’Automobile said Tuesday.

EC Report Notes Local Authorities Lack Initiative In Fight Against Corruption

Territorial prosecution offices and local education, healthcare and fiscal authorities show lack of initiative in detecting local corruption, but the initiative of Romania’s General Prosecutor to adopt local anticorruption strategies is appreciated in the EC’s draft report on justice.

ING Bank Romania Withdraws From „First House” Program, Launches Its Own Loan Offer

ING Bank Romania withdrew from the "First House" program, planning to launch a similar mortgage loan product, but without the state guarantee, with a 5.5% interest rate and a maximum ceiling of EUR80,000, the bank’s retail unit manager Albert Roggemans told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

EC Draft Report Criticizes Trial Suspension Over Unconstitutionality Exceptions

The European Commission states in its draft report on Romania’s justice system, obtained by MEDIAFAX, that suspending trials over exceptions of unconstitutionality causes unacceptable delays and the procedure should be mended.

EC Draft Report: Reappointment Of Romania’s Anticorruption Chief Is Important Step For Stability

The reappointment of Daniel Morar as head of Romania’s National Anticorruption Department (DNA) is an important step in ensuring stability and continuity in the fight against high level corruption, the European Commission said in its draft justice report, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romania Seeks To Be Party To Gas Exploration In Turkmenistan – Pres

Romanian President Traian Basescu said ahead of his departure for a two-day visit in Turkmenistan on Tuesday that Romania is looking for an opportunity to participate in natural gas exploration in the country.

EC Draft Report: EC Continues To Monitor Romania Under MCV, Next Assessment Due In Summer 2010

The European Commission notes, in a draft justice report obtained by MEDIAFAX, that Romania does not meet conditions allowing the activation of a safeguard clause and the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, or MCV, must continue.

Romanian Food Indus Owners Claim Store Chain Intervention Against Good Practice Code

Large store chains have “swayed” high dignitaries in the Romanian Executive to delay, by all means necessary, and to block the draft Government Ordinance of the Good Practice Code in food commerce, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, according to owners in the food industry.

EC Draft Justice Report Invites Romania To Strengthen High Court Role In Unifying Jurisprudence

The European Commission’s draft report on Romania’s justice system, obtained by MEDIAFAX, "invites" Romania to strengthen the role of its High Court of Justice in unifying jurisprudence, including through streamlining appeals procedures and setting guidelines on penalties for corruption.

EC Draft Justice Report: Romanian Govt Reacted Effectively, Changes Must Produce Practical Results

The Romanian government reacted effectively to the concerns expressed in the EC’s interim justice report of Feb 12, 2009, but reforms still have to produce practical results for citizens, the European Commission’s said in its draft report on Romania’s justice system, obtained by MEDIAFAX.

EC Draft Justice Report Invites Romania To Publicly Debate Procedure Codes And Adopt Them

The European Commission’s draft report on Romania’s justice system, obtained by MEDIAFAX, "invites" Romania to assess the impact of the four legal codes and carry out a meaningful public debate on the procedure codes, which need to be implemented as soon as possible.

Romania’s „First House” Program To Also Include Mortgaged Newly-Built Flats

Romania's Government will modify Thursday the guarantee contract for the "First House" with a provision to include in the program the newly-built apartments that are financed from loans and already mortgaged by their developers.

Bucharest Parking Spots Cost More Than In Berlin, Lisbon, Warsaw – Colliers

The monthly fee set for a parking spot in Bucharest has grown this year, compared to 2008, by 33%, to $205, thus topping similar fees in Berlin, Lisbon or Warsaw, but remaining below the ones in Sofia and Budapest, according to real estate services company Colliers International.

Romanian Ex Footballer Gheorghe Popescu Never Collaborated With Communist Police – Sources

Romania’s former football star Gheorghe Popescu received Tuesday a certificate attested he never collaborated with the country’s communist-era political police, sources within the institution in charge of communist police archives CNSAS told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Min Deems EC Report Obsolete, Points To Prosecutors’ Silence In Ex-Sport Min Case

Romanian minister for the relation with Parliament, Victor Ponta, said Tuesday that the European Commission report is an obsolete bureaucratic instrument and criticized that the document does not mention the National Anticorruption Department’s silence in the case of former youth and sports minister