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EC Loan Not Conditioned By Romania’s Justice Reform – EC Official

The European Commission is not conditioning a EUR5 billion loan to Romania to the country’s progress in fighting corruption, Amelia Torres, spokesperson for EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia, told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Only 7,000 Out Of 20,000 Cars Sold In First Stage Of Romania’s Car Park Renewal Program

Only little over 7,000 cars out of 20,000 available within the first stage of Romania’s car park renewal program were sold by the end of April, according to a statistic released Wednesday by the Ministry of Environment.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Injects RON2.9B In Interbank Mkt

Romanian central bank Wednesday boosted liquidity in the interbank market by lending 2.87 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2218) in a repurchase agreement operation (repo) at an annual interest rate of 10%, similar to the monetary policy rate.

Romania’s SME Min Advises Local Cos To Expand Abroad, Raise Exports

Constantin Nita, Romania’s Minister for the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Commerce and Business Environment, advises SMEs to expand abroad, saying that some locally-manufactured products are not known even on the Romanian market.

Romanian Govt Will Solve Teachers’ Financial Problems Eventually – PM

The Romanian Government will solve all of the teachers’ financial problems, cited in their negotiations with the Education Ministry, Prime Minister Emil Boc told MEDIAFAX on Wednesday.

Romanian Security Co Agents Indicted In “Mall Scandal” File

Romanian security company BGS head, Bogdan Oprea, and other 54 security agents were indicted Wednesday on charges of outrage and violent acts following the scandal at the Plaza Romania mall late February this year, judicial sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Fin Guard To Be Able To Confiscate Assets, Participate In Searches – Draft Decree

Romanian Financial Guard inspectors will have the right, during check-ups, to confiscate assets, require people checked to identify themselves and participate actively in searches, according to a draft government emergency decree obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Public Servants’ Statute Unconstitutional – Court

Romania’s Constitutional Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that the law amending the statute of public servants is unconstitutional.

Romania Senate Speaker Concerned About „Hidden” Terms For EC’s EUR5B Loan

Romania’s Senate speaker Mircea Geoana said Wednesday, at the meeting of EU states ambassadors, that it is not at all fair that the European Commission and the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) tie the EUR5 billion loan from the EC to the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

Eight Of The Romanian Sailors Captured Tuesday Are From Constanta

Eight of the eleven Romanian sailors in the crew of Victoria, an Antiguan ship, who were kidnapped Tuesday by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, are from the Romanian city of Constanta, while the rest are from the counties of Prahova, Dambovita and Galati.

Romania’s Tarom Carried 312,300 Passengers In 1Q 2009

Romanian airline Tarom carried 312,300 passengers between January and March this year, 16.3% less than in the same period last year, according to data of the Association of European Airlines (AEA).

Romanian President: A 10% Jobless Rate Will Trigger Major Social Problems

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday evening on the national television that the country is bound to face major social problems if the unemployment rate touches nearly 10%.

Somali Pirates Abduct 11 Romanians In Aden Gulf

All 11 Romanian sailors aboard the ship Victoria, flying an Antiguan flag, were kidnapped Tuesday evening by Somali pirates in the Aden Gulf.

Romanian Pres: Banks Deemed Willing To Partner Up With Govt, But Little Changes So Far

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday he asked local banks to partner up with the Government, to which the lenders responded positively but they came up with almost nothing so far.

IMF Releases First Tranche Of EUR12.95B Loan – Romanian Pres

Romanian President Traian Basescu said the International Monetary Fund released Tuesday the first tranche of the EUR12.95 billion loan, adding that ECOFIN approved the European Commission loan to Romania, worth of EUR5 billion.

Romanian President Urges Investors To Refrain From Mass Layoffs

Romanian President Traian Basescu Tuesday called on company owners and investors to think “ten times” before operating massive layoffs and suggested a partnership with the government to cushion the effects of the economic crisis.

Romanian Tourists Produced 75 Tons Of Waste On May 1 Vacation

Some 75 tons of waste were collected from the Romanian seaside beaches behind the tourists who spent their May 1 vacation there, but the quantity is approximately one third lower than the one collected last year.

Romania May Regain „Investment Grade” Rating By ’10 – BCR

Romania could regain its status of “investment grade” by 2010, in an optimistic scenario, if it meets the conditions of the financial multilateral agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, analysts of Romania’s largest lender BCR said Tuesday.

Romanian Businessman Gigi Becali Investigated For Forgery

Romanian businessman Gigi Becali will be tried by Bucharest sector 1 prosecutors in connection with an alleged forgery in the wealth statement submitted with his candidacy for a seat in the European Parliament, prosecution sources told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romanian Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion To Be Debated Monday

The no-confidence motion "The great PDL-PSD hoax" will be presented Monday in a plenary Parliament meeting and it will be debated and voted Wednesday, according to a decision rendered by the leaders of the two chambers of Parliament.

Economic Crisis Can Evolve Into Social Crisis – Romanian President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday that the current economic crisis can evolve into a social crisis, the way it happened in some EU states.

Fixed Radars In Romania Suspended Since Apr 24

Romanian authorities decide to suspend fixed radars across the country as of April 24 following an inquiry into allegedly faulty public procurement procedures for the radars.

Romanian Public Sector Single Salary Law Backed Strongly By PM

Romania prime minister Emil Boc said Tuesday at the Ministry of Labor, in talks about the single salary law in the public sector, that those who believe in special laws should not be in the government and secretaries of state should forget such views or resign.

Romanian Liberals To Challenge Senate Head’s CSAT Vice Presidency

The Romanian National Liberal Party will challenge, at the Constitutional Court, Government Emergency Ordinance 224 allowing Senate president Mircea Geoana to become vice president of the High Council for National Defense, said liberal MP George Scutaru.

Half Of Romanian SMEs Seriously Affected By Econ Crisis – Poll

Half of Romanian small and medium-sized firms are seriously and severely affected by the economic and financial crisis, according to a poll conducted in April by the National Council of Private SMEs in Romania.

Steaua’s Golanski Hit In The Head With Rock

Polish defender Pawel Golanski of Steaua Bucharest had to be rushed in to the hospital on Tuesday after an unknown assailant threw a rock at the team’s car and hit him in the head, police said.

EC Experts Say Romanian Govt Should Direct Investments To Workforce

European Commission experts present in Bucharest to carry out an evaluation and prepare July’s country report took part in the ministers’ meeting on the topic of Communitarian funds and suggested the Romanian Government should direct investments to the development of human resources.

Romanian Football Referee Marcel Savaniu Denied Parole

The Arges Court denied Wednesday the request for parole for Romanian football referee Marcel Savaniu, in custody for 29 days on charges of corruption.

IMF Sees Romanian Salaries Up Along With Inflation In ’09-’11

The International Monetary Fund sees Romanian salaries up 5.9% in nominal terms in 2009, up 3.9% in 2010, and up 3.5% in 2011, a growth pace similar with the average consumer price index projected increase.

Romania Health Min Calls For Solid Flu Pandemic Plan

Romania’s health minister Ion Bazac said Tuesday that all institutions within the National Committee for Emergency (CNSU) must draft an inter-sectorial flu pandemic plan within 30 days, which will be presented to the committee for further approval.

IMF Sees Romania’s GDP Growth At +5% In ’11, On Local Demand

The International Monetary Fund sees Romania’s GDP contracting by 4.1% in 2009, stagnating in 2010, before recovering to a 5% growth in 2011, amid increasing domestic demand.

Romanian Public Servants Union On Solidarity Strike With Teachers

Over 70,000 Romanian public servants affiliated with the “Sed Lex” union went on a go-slow strike Tuesday at 8 a.m., as a sign of solidarity with the teachers’ general strike, which was planned for today, but was cancelled Monday.

IMF Loan To Rebuild Investors’ Trust – Romanian Fin Min

Romania’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund was approved by all members of the IMF’s Executive Board and will be sent to the Romanian authorities, and one of the loan effects would be rebuilding the investors’ confidence in the economy, Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said.

Romanian National Exams Postponed To May 7, Teacher Strike Suspended

Romanian education minister Ecaterina Andronescu said Monday at the end of talks with unionists in education that the national exams set for tomorrow have been rescheduled for May 7, while the dates for the other exams are unchanged, and the strike set by teachers for Tuesday has been suspended.

Romania’s Pres Deems State Budget Has Difficulties In Covering Expenses

Romania’s President Traian Basescu said Monday the state budget has difficulties in covering all the expenses and the Finance Ministry frequently borrows money to finance the public spending.

Romanian Tourism Min To Attend Tourism Fair In UAE

Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea will attend, between May 5 and 8 the international tourism fair Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, with the purpose of persuading Arabian businesspeople to invest in Romanian tourism, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Tourism.

Romanian Football Corruption Suspects Marcel Lica, Aurelian Bogaciu Remain Under Arrest

The suspended vice president of the Romanian Central Committee of Referees, Marcel Lica, and referee Aurelian Bogaciu remained under arrest as the Pitesti Court of Appeal allowed the prosecution appeal against the release of Lica under judicial control and rejected Bogaciu’s challenge of his arrest.

Romanian President Admits To ‘Mistakenly’ Raising Teachers’ Pay

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday said it was a mistake to promulgate the law hiking teachers’ salaries by 50% and assumed responsibility over the act, together with the political class.

Official Data Puts 100,000 Tourists At Romanian Seaside May 1

Nearly 100,000 Romanians spent their mini holiday on May 1 at the Black Sea seaside, the Tourism Ministry said in a statement Monday, rubbing out the 20,000 number forwarded by the National Tour Agencies Association.

Romania April Forex Reserves Dn EUR235M To EUR24.9B

Romanian foreign-exchange reserves fell EUR235 million in April to a total of EUR24.886 billion, the central bank said in a statement Monday.