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Romanian Actor Nicu Constantin Dies At Age 70

17:50, 15 Sept. 2009
Romanian actor Nicu Constantin died Tuesday, at age 70, following a cardiac arrest after four months of hospitalization due to severe pulmonary illness.

Over One Thousand Romanian Unionists Protest In Front Of Parliament

17:34, 15 Sept. 2009
Over one thousand Romanian unionists protest in front of the Parliament against the decision of the Government to ask the Parliament for a confidence vote today, to enact the law on education, the unitary wage law and a law reorganizing public institutions and government agencies.

Romanian PM Says Parliament’s Confidence Vote Is Necessary For Reform

17:31, 15 Sept. 2009
The laws for which the Romanian Government is asking for the Parliament’s confidence vote are necessary to carry on with reform and a government unwilling to reform doesn’t justify its existence, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday in Parliament.

Romanian Parliament Starts Confidence Vote Meeting 45 Minutes Late

17:18, 15 Sept. 2009
The Romanian Parliament meeting on Tuesday, in which the Government will ask for a confidence vote to pass three laws, started 45 minutes late, with most ministers present but in the absence of liberal lawmakers, who preferred to work on motions and challenges to the laws instead.

French Carmaker Renault Launches First Electric Car In Romania In 2011

16:20, 15 Sept. 2009
French carmaker Renault presented Tuesday at the Auto Showroom in Frankfurt four electric car concepts, and one of the electric cars will be launched in Romania at the end of 2011, Dora Pasare, manager with Renault Romania, said Tuesday.

Moldova To Lift Visas For Romanians This Week, Says Interim President – Press

16:12, 15 Sept. 2009
Romanians will be able to travel freely to the neighboring Republic of Moldova, as all other EU citizens, starting later this week, said the country’s interim President Mihai Ghimpu, cited by RFI Romania online.

Romania Wants To Exploit, Buy Uranium From Kazakhstan

16:09, 15 Sept. 2009
Romania proposed Kazakhstan to exploit, through the National Uranium Company, the Asian state's reserves and to buy through long-term contracts the uranium needed for the operation of the future two nuclear reactors, Economy Ministry state secretary Tudor Serban said Tuesday.

Romania Transport Min Threatens To Fire Rail Co Mgmt – Sources

15:34, 15 Sept. 2009
Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu on Tuesday threatened to fire the general managers of the country's railroad companies along with sub-secretary of state Constantin Axinia unless they come up with financial solutions for the sector, people close to the talks said.

Romanian Tourism Min Says Need For Govt Resources Will Keep Social Democrats At Bay

13:59, 15 Sept. 2009
Romanian tourism minster Elena Udrea said in a press conference Tuesday that the social democrats are interested in remaining in power and they will vote for the law packs for which the government intends to take responsibility later in the day.

Romanian Social Democrats Not Familiar With Law Packs Govt Takes Responsibility For

13:52, 15 Sept. 2009
Romanian social democrat honorary leader Ion Iliescu left a party meeting Tuesday upset that social democrat leaders are still not familiar with the final format of the three packs of laws for which the Government will take responsibility before the Parliament later in the day.

Romania’s Population On Upward Trend In July ’09, First Growth In Last 6 Mos – INS

12:46, 15 Sept. 2009
Romania’s population increased in July 2009, for the first time over the past six months, on the backdrop of a positive growth rate, the National Institute of Statistics, or INS, said Tuesday.

Romanian Auto Mkt Ranks 14th In EU By 8-Mo New Car Registrations

11:54, 15 Sept. 2009
Romania’s auto market went down three spots in the EU in the first eight months of the year and ranks 14th, with a steeper decline in new car registrations that the EU average, the European carmakers’ association ACEA said Tuesday.

Vehicle Carrying Valuables Attacked In N Romania

10:44, 15 Sept. 2009
Several people attacked a vehicle carrying valuables, Tuesday morning, in an isolated area in the Gutai mountain pass, northern Romania, stole the guns of the people securing the transport and managed to make off with reportedly 100,000 lei in cash (EUR1=RON4.2747).

EU Gen Affairs Council Votes To Spare Romania Of Safeguard Clause

09:32, 15 Sept. 2009
The European Union’s general affairs council CAGRE adopted Monday the European Commission’s recommendation to spare Romania of a safeguard clause under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu told MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s Rompetrol Cuts Fuel Prices By RON0.04/Liter

19:49, 14 Sept. 2009
Romania’s second-largest oil group Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunayGaz, will cut Tuesday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.04 lei (EUR1-RON4.2747) per liter.

Romanians Believe The Government Pays Insufficient Attention To Their Econ Issues – Poll

18:02, 14 Sept. 2009
Romanians believe their government is not paying enough attention to their economic situations, are not convinced their lives are better in a market economy, look favorably on the EU and the energy cooperation with Russia and are eager to pull the military from Afghanistan, according to a GMF poll.

Romanian Liberals To Challenge Govt’s Law Packs In Constitutional Court

17:27, 14 Sept. 2009
Romanian liberal MPs found unconstitutional elements in the three draft laws for which the government intends to take responsibility, and a group coordinated by liberal Teodor Melescanu will formulate the challenge.

Romanian State Agencies To Transfer Collected Fees To State Budget

17:25, 14 Sept. 2009
Several Romanian governmental agencies such as the Privatization Authority, the Energy Regulatory Authority, the Foreign Investments Agency, or the Trade Registry, will have to transfer to the state budget the money collected from dues for various operations and services.

Unitary Wage Law To Include Distinct Chapter For Emergency Health Sector – Romanian Health Min

16:42, 14 Sept. 2009
The final format of the unitary wage law will include a distinct chapter regarding basic wages of specialized and auxiliary personnel in emergency healthcare, Romanian Health Minister Ion Bazac said Monday.

Romania’s National Union Confederation Cartel Alfa To Picket Parliament On Tuesday

16:05, 14 Sept. 2009
About 500 Romanian unionists within National Union Confederation Cartel Alfa along with the State Employees' Alliance union will picket the Parliament Tuesday to urge the renegotiation of the unitary wage law for which the Government will assume responsibility.

Armed Robbery At Jewelry & Pawn Store In S Romania

15:19, 14 Sept. 2009
Four individuals, wearing hoods and carrying guns and swords, broke into a jewelry and pawn store Monday, in Calarasi, southern Romania, and managed to make off with eight kilograms of jewelry while holding an employee at gunpoint.

Romanian Realtor To Offer Home Trial Period For Prospective Buyers

13:35, 14 Sept. 2009
Romanian real estate developer Impact Developer&Contractor (IMP.RO) will let prospective homebuyers live for a while in apartments similar to those they plan to buy and will give back any deposits if clients decide not to buy the home.

Romanian Lawmakers Among Least Active In Monitoring EU Law – Report

13:34, 14 Sept. 2009
The Romanian Parliament is among the European member states that have sent no comments on legislative propositions and draft laws coming out of Brussels, on a par with Malta and Spain, according to a report cited by the EUObserver.

Romania’s Petrom Cuts Fuel Prices By RON0.03/Liter

13:12, 14 Sept. 2009
Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) Monday cut its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON4.2552) per liter.

IMF Board To Discuss First Review Of Romania’s Agreement Sept 21

12:28, 14 Sept. 2009
The Board of the International Monetary Fund will analyze and file for approval on September 21 the first review of the stand-by agreement with Romania, as well as the request to change certain performance criteria, according to IMF data.

Romania’s Minimum Wage Hike To Over RON705 After 2010 Depends On Further Staff Cuts

10:20, 14 Sept. 2009
Romania’s minimum wage stipulated in the unitary law regulating wages in the public sector will be hiked to over 705 lei (EUR1=RON4.2552) after 2010, provided the number of state employees is reduced to a level compliant with the annual targets for staff expenses in the gross domestic product.

Romania Limits Individual Bonuses To 30% Of Basic Wage For Public Sector Staff

20:32, 13 Sept. 2009
The amount of individual bonuses and indemnities will not exceed 30% of the basic salaries for each employee in the public sector, but the Romanian Government can approve potential hikes for certain categories of employees and for temporary work conditions that entail additional payments.

Romanian PM Rejects Amendment Hiking Wages For Public Servants Within Parliament

18:37, 13 Sept. 2009
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Sunday rejected the lawmakers’ amendment to the unitary pay law, which stipulated an increase in wage quotients for several public servants within the Parliament, after the Government accepted it earlier Sunday for further debates, government sources said Sunday.

Romania To Set Up Govt-Unions Committee For Further Amendments To Unitary Pay Law

17:38, 13 Sept. 2009
The Romanian government decided Sunday to introduce a distinct article in the draft unitary pay law that stipulates the setting up of an inter-ministry committee, to include ministry experts and a representative of each national union confederation, which will bring further amendments to the law.

Schools In Romania To Be Run By Parents, Teachers, Local Authorities – Official

17:04, 13 Sept. 2009
Romanian democrat liberal lawmaker, Mircea Toader, on Sunday said the country’s ruling coalition decided, it its meeting on Saturday evening, that schools will be run by a managing board, which will equally include parents, teachers and representatives of the local administration.

Romanian Govt Accepts Over 70 Amendments To Unitary Pay, Restructuring Laws

16:25, 13 Sept. 2009
Romania’s Government accepted 34 of the 300 amendments proposed to the law restructuring government agencies and 39, of nearly 780 amendments proposed to the unitary pay law in the public sector, and decided to resume talks on the law pack in education on September 14, official sources said Sunday.

Romanian Govt To Accept Only Law Pack Amendments Compliant With Budget Provisions – PM

14:36, 13 Sept. 2009
Romania’s Government will analyze the amendments to the laws for which it plans to take responsibility in Parliament and it will accept only those compliant with the principles of laws, the established macroeconomic limits, the governing agenda and the budget provisions, Premier Emil Boc said Sunday.

Romania’s Ruling Coalition Reps To Discuss Unitary Pay Law Amendments At Govt HQ – Sources

18:44, 12 Sept. 2009
The representatives of Romania’s ruling coalition will meet Saturday evening, at the Government headquarters, after 6 p.m., in order to discuss all amendments to the draft law regulating wages in the public sector, political sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Lawmakers Submit Unitary Pay Law Amendments To Govt

18:14, 12 Sept. 2009
Several amendments to the unitary pay law, submitted to the Romanian Government on Saturday, target to hike wage quotients for lawmakers and parliamentary advisers, eliminate restrictions on filling vacancies, by cumulating positions, introduce the management indemnity in the basic wage and pay overtime.

Romania PM: Disbanded Govt-Run Agencies Only Perpetuated A Communist Mentality

16:53, 12 Sept. 2009
Romanian Premier Emil Boc said Saturday that several government agencies, recently disbanded, only "perpetuated a system of connections and kinship relations inherited from the communist era," arguing the unitary pay law in the public sector replaces 39 laws that kept alive a communist mentality.

Romanian Police, Customs Officers Set To Protest Through “Excessive Work And Dedication”

15:42, 12 Sept. 2009
Romania’s "Pro Lex" union representing police and customs officers said police officers banned by the law from going on strike will protest, as of Sept 15, through “excessive work and dedication,” while community police officers and customs staff will join the general strike planned for October 5.

Romanian Democrat Liberals Voice Out Support For Christian Democrats

13:52, 12 Sept. 2009
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, head of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), said Saturday, at the congress of the National Christian-Democratic Peasants' Party (PNTCD), that his party will endorse PNTCD in its endeavor to rejoin the Romanian Parliament.

Romanian Social Democrats Oust Party Member For Backing Acting President

16:01, 11 Sept. 2009
The leader of the County Council Iasi, eastern Romania, Constantin Simirad, was ousted from the Social Democratic Party on Friday after saying last week that he would back acting president Traian Basescu in the upcoming presidential election campaign.

Romanian Health Min Wants Police To Verify Medical Leave Claims

15:26, 11 Sept. 2009
Romanian Health Minister Ion Bazac said Friday he wants to introduce next year the “Italian system", to have police check whether people on medical leave are really ill, unless they are not mentioned in hospital records.

Romanian Airline Operator Blue Air Abandons Suceava Airport Routes

15:01, 11 Sept. 2009
The president of the Suceava County Council (NE Romania), Gheorghe Flutur, said he held talks with several companies that would take over the flights already formed on the Suceava Airport, following airline operator Blue Air’s announcement that come September 16 it will stop using this airport.