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Romania’s Petrom Cuts Gas, Diesel Oil Pump Prices

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) will cut Thursday its unleaded gasoline and euro 5 diesel pump prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON4.2170) and RON0.02 per liter, respectively.

Romanian Government To Guarantee Storage Certificates Granted To Farmers

The Romanian Government decided on Wednesday to guarantee storage certificates granted to farmers, with the new system’s procedures to be explained in detail, through methodological norms, within one week, government sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Cos’ VAT To Be Reimbursed 3 Times/Month, 80% Payments Directed To Old Debts

The sums owed by the Romanian state to companies as value-added tax reimbursements will be paid three times a month, on 4th, 24th and 29th of the month, while 80% of the payments will be made to companies subject to the highest delays, Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Wednesday.

Romanian Justice Minister To Appeal Ruling Cancelling His Order On Magistrates’ Bonuses

Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu said Wednesday he will file an appeal at the High Court of Justice to ruling passed Tuesday by the Bucharest Court of Appeals, which suspended his order scrapping a 50% bonus for magistrates.

Romanian Magistrates Call On Justice Min To Resign Over Unpaid Bonuses

Romanian magistrates on Wednesday requested the resignation of Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu, following an order removing a 50% pay bonus for neuropsychological exhaustion.

Romanian Magistrates To Halt Activity For 3 Hrs Daily As Of Thursday

Court sessions across Romania will be suspended daily for three hours as of Thursday, most likely as of 9 a.m., the vice-president of the Romanian National Union of Judges, Dragos Calin, said Wednesday.

Romanian Agriculture Ministry Cuts Staff Down To Half – Minister

Romania’s Ministry of Agriculture will cut to half the number of staff in its central apparatus, to 300 employees from the more than 600 currently employed, agriculture minister Ilie Sarbu said Wednesday.

Romanian Financial Guard To Probe Youth Day Organizers – Youth Minister

Romanian youth minister Monica Iacob Ridzi said Wednesday before the Parliament inquiry committee that she has asked the Financial Guard to check the two companies which organized the Youth Day festivities.

A Quarter Of Requests In „First Home” Program Are For Newly-Built Homes – Romanian Govt

Current data show that more than 25% of the applications for mortgage loans guaranteed by the state in the "First Home" program target newly-built dwellings, the Romanian government said Wednesday.

Romanian Justice Minister Calls On Magistrates To Cease Illegal Protests

Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu on Wednesday called on magistrates to do their job and stop halting activity in courts, after trials were halted temporarily over the past two days, in protest to the ministry’s decision to cut a 50% wage bonus for justice system staff.

Romanian Environment Min Heard By Parliament Inquiry Committee

Romanian environment minister Nicolae Nemirschi si being heard Wednesday by a parliamentary inquiry committee regarding the ministry’s awarding of an advertising contract worth over 2 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2100) in April.

U.S. Nominated Ambassador To Romania To Focus On Corruption, International Adoptions

The nominated U.S. Ambassador to Romania said the improvement of the economic environment for American companies, especially through the fight against corruption, as well as the resumption of international adoptions will be his priorities throughout the mandate, according to the U.S. Senate website.

Romanian President Greets Belgian Royal Family

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday welcomed the Belgian royal couple at the presidencial Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest.

Frattini: Romania Should Not Be Slammed Over Justice System

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in Bucharest on Tuesday that the EU bloc should not slam Romania and Bulgaria over their slow reform in the justice sector, as the mechanism for cooperation and verification is supposed to “help and encourage.”

Oil Group Rompetrol’s Future Gas Stations In Romania To Be Named Litro

The future gas stations that oil company Rompetrol Group will open in Romania will operate under Litro brand, while the current ones will keep the previous name, the group’s new CEO Saduokhas Meraliev said Tuesday.

Romania Swine Flu Cases Climb To 47

Romania confirmed its 47th swine flu infection on Tuesday, in a 23-year-old man who travelled from the U.K. recently, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Romanian Exchange Offices To Notify Rates In Writing Ahead Of Transactions

Romanian money exchange offices will be compelled to inform their clients in writing on the exchange rate practiced and the actual amount the clients are to receive following the transaction, before the operation is conducted, according to an order of the Consumer’s Protection Authority (ANPC).

Withdrawal From Romanian Supreme Def Council Unrelated To CC Decision – Senate Chairman

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Tuesday he still agrees that the Senate Chairman should also be the vice-president of the Supreme Defense Council, and that his choice to withdraw from the Council was unrelated to the Constitutional Court’s decision on Tuesday.

Romanian Court Suspends Justice Ministry Order Scrapping a 50% Bonus

The Bucharest Court of Appeals on Tuesday suspended the order of the Ministry of Justice that halted the granting of a 50% bonus for mental distress to magistrates and court staff, in a suite filed by judges and auxiliary staff of the Bucharest court and the Bucharest Prosecutors’ Office.

Romanian Energy Watchdog Extends Gas Bills Pay Deadline To 30 Days

Romanian household consumers could pay their gas bills without penalties within 30 days from the current 15-day term, after the Energy Regulatory Authority ANRE's amended gas supply frame contracts.

Romanian, Italian Foreign Affairs Min To Hold Bilateral Summit In Bucharest

Romanian foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu announced Tuesday in a press conference, held with Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, the organization, in fall this year, of a Romanian-Italian intergovernmental summit, as well as a civil society forum.

European Council Urges Romania To Take Deficit Correction Measures By Jan 2010

The European Council on Tuesday opened excessive deficit procedure for Romania, setting January 7, 2010 as a deadline to take corrective action, the Council said in a statement.

Government Emergency Ordinance On CSAT Vice-Presidency Is Unconstitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court (CC) decided Tuesday that Government Emergency Ordinance 224, enabling Senate speaker Mircea Geoana to become vice-president of the High Council for National Defense, is unconstitutional.

Romania 1H Online Card Payments Up 68% YY To EUR43.5M

Romanian online card payments soared 68% on the year to EUR43.5 million in the first half, card processor RomCard said Tuesday, cited by Gecad ePayment.

Half Of Romanian Cos With Over 50 Employees Resorted To Layoffs In ’09 – Survey

More than half of Romanian companies with over 50 employees resorted to layoffs in 2009 to cut costs, due to the economic crisis, according to a survey conducted by market researcher Mercury Research.

Romanian Democrat Liberals Demand Criminal Inquiry Against Ex-PM In Sterling Case

The Romanian democrat liberals will ask the Parliament to approve the commencement of criminal investigations against the country's former prime minister, liberal Calin Popescu Tariceanu, in the Sterling case, democrat liberal MP Sever Voinescu said Tuesday.

Romanian Employers Present Govt With “Anti-Crisis Decalogue”

Romanian employer representatives set the Government a "Decalogue of Anti-Crisis Measures," stating Romania’s economy is ill and needs "investment transfusions", employer representatives said after the meeting at the Government.

Glider Pilot Injured In Forced Landing Near Bucharest

A glider pilot was injured on Monday after he made a forced landing on a sunflower field between localities Mihailesti and Clinceni, near Romania’s capital city Bucharest.

Romania Confirms Two New AH1N1 Flu Cases, No. Of Infections Reaches 46

Romania confirmed Monday two new cases of infection with the AH1N1 influenza virus, taking the number of cases reported in the country to 46.

Italy’s Menatwork May Build Industrial Park Near Bucharest In EUR10M Invest

Italy-owned construction group Menatwork plans to develop a 10-hectare industrial park near Romania's capital city Bucharest, in an investment estimated at EUR10 million, the company’s general manager Monica Grafu told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Romanian Transports Ministry Ups Expropriation Compensation For Cluj-Napoca Beltway By RON12.5M

The Romanian Transports and Infrastructure Ministry will increase the area to be expropriated for the construction of the city of Cluj-Napoca’s beltway by 210,000 square meters and will pay 12.51 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2114) for some 200 plots.

Colliers: „First Home” Program Had No Significant Influence On Residential Prices

The Romanian Government's intention to launch the “First Home” program led to a slight increase in residential prices, especially for two-room apartments, but this trend was not registered by the entire real estate market, according to real estate consultancy company Colliers International.

Romanian Democrat Liberals Keep Stance On Youth Minister’s Case Unchanged – VP

Romania’s Democratic Liberal Party, in the government coalition, did not change its stance on fellow member, youth minister Monica Iacob Ridzi, who is accused of mishandling state funds, democrat liberal vice-president Gheorghe Flutur said Monday.

Romania’s Petrom Cuts Fuel Prices By RON0.06/Liter

Romania’s dominant oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) cut Monday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.06 lei (EUR1=RON4.2114) per liter, due to the evolution of the international crude oil prices.

Romania’s June Jobless Rate At 6% From 5.8% In May

Romania’s unemployment rate was at 6% in May, the highest in three years and three months, and 0.2 percentage points higher than 5.8% in May, the National Employment Agency ANOFM said Monday.

Romania’s May Net Salary Dn 3.7% M-M To RON1,356

Romania's net average salary in May was at 1,356 lei (EUR1=RON4.2036), down 3.7% compared with RON1,408 in the previous month, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Romania To Pay EUR48M Debt To U.S. Constructor Bechtel In July

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday the government will pay a EUR48 million debt to U.S. constructor Bechtel in July, for unpaid expenses for works on Transylvania Highway.

Romania Mulls Widening Budget Def To 5.5% of GDP From 4.6% To Fund Infrastructure

Romania will ask the International Monetary Fund to allow it to widen its budget deficit target to 5.5% of gross domestic product from the 4.6% of GDP set in the country’s stand-by loan agreement, people close to the negotiations told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romanian Govt To Assign Over EUR100M For Infrastructure By Yearend –PM

The Romanian government will assign over EUR100 million until the end of the year to complete infrastructure works underway across the country, Prime minister Emil Boc said Sunday.

Romanian Iproeb Puts 110 Employees On Technical Unemployment In July

Romanian cable producer Iproeb Bistrita (IPRU.RO) put 110 of its 556 employees on technical unemployment in July, citing lack of orders.