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Court To Rule On Steaua’s Owner Release

19:40, 06 Apr. 2009
A Bucharest courthouse Monday started deliberations on whether to release Steaua football club owner Gigi Becali, who was arrested along four other people on charges of kidnapping.

Romania Ready To Aid Italy After Deadly Quake – PM

18:50, 06 Apr. 2009
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc sent a letter to his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi, conveying the government’s support and sympathy for the tragic losses suffered in the powerful earthquake in central Italy early Monday.

Romania Education Employees Threaten Protests Over Govt’s Planned Budget Revision

18:48, 06 Apr. 2009
Romanian education employees threaten protests and even general strike over the government’s planned budget revision, which could cut back on education staff by 20,000 people or freeze salaries in the sector.

Romanian Finance Min Agrees To Cancel Copyrights In Certain Sectors – Union Leader

17:39, 06 Apr. 2009
Romanian Finance Ministry agreed to eliminate copyrights in certain business sectors and an emergency ordinance on the matter might be drafted in the Government’s meeting on April 8, “Cartel Alfa” Union leader Bogdan Hossu told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Romanian Govt Plans To Reduce Staff Or Freeze Salaries In Education Sector- Union Leader

16:51, 06 Apr. 2009
Romanian education unionists rejected the government’s decision to cut back on education staff by 20,000 people or freeze salaries in the sector, Aurel Cornea, head of the Federation of Free Unions in Education (FSLI), said Monday.

Romanian Cos Posting Losses May Pay Turnover-Based Lump Sum Tax

15:40, 06 Apr. 2009
Romanian companies posting losses over the last two years, regardless of their sector of activity, may pay a turnover-based annual lump-sum tax, according to the president of the general confederation of Romanian industrial employers UGIR 1903, Ioan Coraci.

Romania Foreign Min- No Romanian Casualties In Central Italy Quake So Far

15:09, 06 Apr. 2009
Romania’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alin Serbanescu said Monday that so far, Romanian citizens are not among the casualties of the powerful earthquake that hit the mountainous central Italy Monday morning, at 3:32 a.m. local time (0132 GMT).

Romanian President’s Daughter Submits EP Candidacy To Electoral Office

14:33, 06 Apr. 2009
The youngest daughter of Romanian President Traian Basescu, Elena Basescu, submitted Monday at the Central Electoral Office her candidacy for a seat in the European Parliament.

Lawyers Reject Judges Trying Appeal Of Romanian Football Mogul Gigi Becali

13:58, 06 Apr. 2009
The court session of the appeal against the arrest of Romanian football mogul Gigi Becali and four others, accused of kidnapping, was suspended Monday, half an hour into the trial, as lawyers rejected the judges trying the case.

Romanian Criminal Code To Come Under Parliament Debate

13:46, 06 Apr. 2009
Romanian ruling coalition leaders agreed on Monday to submit the Criminal and Criminal procedure Codes to debate in Parliament, without waiting for the Civil Code to be ready.

Romania’s Consolidated Budget Rev Cut By RON18.8B, Expenses Cut By RON6.2B

11:17, 06 Apr. 2009
Romania's estimated consolidated budget revenues will be cut by 18.83 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.1893) while expenses will be cut by RON6.28 billion, trough the budget revision and the introduction of new financial-budgetary measures, according to a government document.

Romanian 4Q Jobless Rate Dn YY To 5.8% Vs 6.1%

10:09, 06 Apr. 2009
Romania's unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2008 from 6.1% during the same period a year before, the National Institute of Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Romania’s Feb Net Salary Slightly Up M-M To RON1.358

10:02, 06 Apr. 2009
Romania's net average salary in February was at 1,358 (EUR1=RON4.1893), slightly higher compared with RON1,355 in the previous month, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Monday.

Romanian Pres Holds Speech At EU-USA Meet

20:27, 05 Apr. 2009
The Romanian head of state said Sunday in Prague that a new era has begun in EU-USA relations, which proves that the correct approach was the one taken by Romania, namely the creation of a strategic partnership with the USA.

Romanian Solidarity Contribution Calculated On Public Sector Pensions, Salaries

19:48, 05 Apr. 2009
The solidarity contribution for the support of people with low income will be collected from individuals with state pensions and/or salaries, calculated at 90% of the difference between the total amount and a ceiling of RON6,700, but without considering income from other sources.

Romania’s Gymnasts Reached Their Goals In Milan

19:07, 05 Apr. 2009
The president of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, Adrian Stoica, told MEDIAFAX Sunday that the Romanian athletes have achieved their objectives for the European Championships in Milan, but added this contest came too soon after the Beijing Olympics.

Hundreds Of Students Vote In Bucharest For Moldovan Parliament Elections

15:21, 05 Apr. 2009
Hundreds of Moldovan students left Saturday night for Bucharest in order to vote in the Moldovan Republic Parliament elections held Sunday.

IMF Asks Romanian Ctrl Bk To Apply A Minimal 10% Solvency Limit To Bks

15:11, 05 Apr. 2009
The International Monetary Fund asked the Romanian central bank to determine the necessary additional capital for banks, based on stress tests, so that the solvency rate of each institution is maintained above 10%, a level higher by two percentage points than the current bottom limit, of 8%.

Romanian Privatization Money Could Support Agriculture Projects

14:42, 05 Apr. 2009
Romanian agriculture ministry projects, using foreign non-reimbursable funds, will be temporarily financed through privatizations revenues, if the budget allocations of the institution, whose spending is about to be drastically reduced in the budget correction, are insufficient.

Romanian Govt To Ask EU OK For VAT Deduction Ban

14:29, 05 Apr. 2009
The Romanian Government sent to the European Commission a request for derogation from EU norms and consulting the European VAT Committee, to remove the right to VAT deduction on the purchase of vehicles by companies, and to limit to 30% the VAT deduction for vehicle maintenance.

IMF Imposes Quarterly Performance Criteria For Romanian Budget – Sources

14:11, 05 Apr. 2009
The budget deficit negotiated by Romania with the IMF is set for this year at RON24.36 billion, with quarterly targets, set considering annual budget revenues, without external non-reimbursable sums, of RON166.72 billion and primary spending of RON182.72 billion.

Romanian Pres To Attend EU-USA Meet In Prague

12:54, 05 Apr. 2009
Romanian president Traian Basescu said Sunday, upon leaving for Prague, that the EU has some ambitious but expensive objectives, such as the intention to secure 20% of necessary energy from renewable sources by 2020, and these objectives place the Union at a disadvantage on international markets.

Romanian Public Sector Employees To Receive Holiday Tickets

20:49, 04 Apr. 2009
Romanian authorities and public institutions will be able to give their employees gift certificates and holiday tickets, as long as they fit within the spending budgeted, according to an agreement reached Saturday at the government headquarters, between the government and the unions.

Romania’s Objectives Achieved In NATO Summit

19:51, 04 Apr. 2009
Romanian president Traian Basescu said Saturday that the objectives of the Romanian side in the NATO Summit were “achieved in maximal parameters”, and the efforts made by the Presidency, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were extremely important for Romania.

Romania Could Further Presence In Afghanistan

19:50, 04 Apr. 2009
Romanian president Traian Basescu said Saturday at the end of the NATO Summit that Romania does not rule out continuing its presence in Afghanistan, with increased amounts of units for the training of the Afghan army, police units and medical units.

Romanian Gymnasts Go To Milan European Championship Finals

12:08, 04 Apr. 2009
Romanian gymnasts Flavius Koczi, Marius Berbecar, Daniel Popescu and Cosmin Popescu qualified Friday in three finals and in the individual composed finals of the European Gymnastics Championship in Milan.

Romanian Football Clubs Forced To Hold Women’s Teams Too

16:52, 03 Apr. 2009
The president of the Romanian Football Federation, Mircea Sandu, said Friday in a press conference on the launch of the second phase of the campaign promoting mixed football, that the clubs in the top two leagues will be obligated over the next two years to have a women’s football team as well.

W. Balkans Situation Tops Romania’s Agenda At NATO Summit

15:29, 03 Apr. 2009
The situation in the Western Balkans will be Romania’s top priority at the NATO’s 60th anniversary summit over the weekend, Romanian President Traian Basescu said ahead of his departure on Friday.

Romanian Gov To Cut Funds Of All Ministries, Except Labor

15:07, 03 Apr. 2009
The budget revision the Romanian Government plans for the next period will cut expenses from almost all ministries, mostly from the Agriculture, Defense, Interior and Education Ministries, but will increase the funds of the Labor Ministry.

Romanian Interior Min Intelligence Dept Needs New Employees, Not Layoffs – Minister

14:48, 03 Apr. 2009
Romanian interior minister Dan Nica said Friday that there will not be any people fired from the intelligence department within the Ministry of Interior (DGIPI), since there are hundreds of positions vacant and these positions need to be filled.

Romanian Ex-FM Resigns From Liberal Party

14:18, 03 Apr. 2009
Romanian former foreign minister Adrian Cioroianu on Friday resigned from the National Liberal Party, or PNL, citing his discontent with the liberals’ decisions, PNL secretary general Radu Stroe said.

Romanian Unionists Set For ‘Serious Talks’ On Holiday Tickets Issue

13:43, 03 Apr. 2009
Romanian trade unions demand “a serious talk” with Premier Emil Boc on Saturday regarding the government’s intention to suspend holiday tickets, adding they will not give up a right earned by employees in the public sector, union officials said Friday.

Romanian Rock Star Out Of ICU, Hopes To Be Back On Stage In Summer

13:42, 03 Apr. 2009
Cristi Minculescu, the frontman of Romanian rock band Iris, and his wife Rodica, have left the intensive care unit of the University Hospital in Regensburg, Germany, after the lead singer’s successful liver transplant, their son, Florin Minculescu, told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romanian Officer Killed In Afghanistan

13:07, 03 Apr. 2009
A Romanian officer was gunned down in Afghanistan while fighting insurgents, the Romanian Defense Ministry said Friday morning.

Ban On Granting Vacation Vouchers To Affect Romanian Tourism – Union Leader

12:52, 03 Apr. 2009
The ban on granting gift and vacation vouchers to public sector employees would seriously affect the country’s tourism sector, Bogdan Hossu, head of the country’s "Cartel Alfa" union confederation, said Friday in response to the government’s intention to ban these vouchers.

Romanian Tourism, Real Estate Firms To Be Taxed 0.5% Of Income Annually

12:06, 03 Apr. 2009
Romanian hotels, restaurants and real estate firms will pay 0.5% of their income annually to the state, as tax per profit, but will not pay less than 6,500 lei (EUR1=RON4.2198), ministry sources told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romanian Govt Plans To Ban Gift, Vacation Vouchers In Public Sector Until Yearend – Sources

11:50, 03 Apr. 2009
The Romanian government plans to ban the granting of gift and vacation vouchers to public sector employees until the end of 2009, ministry sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Govt To Set Up Social Fund Sponsored By Local Gas Cos

11:36, 03 Apr. 2009
The Romanian government will set up a social fund voluntarily sponsored by local natural gas producers and distributors, with the sums obtained by the gas price hike in 2009, ministerial sources told Mediafax Friday.

Romanian President’s Daughter Collected Over 200,000 For EP Candidacy

11:33, 03 Apr. 2009
Romanian President Traian Basescu’s youngest daughter, Elena Basescu, said Friday she collected over 200,000 signatures, which allow her o run independently for a seat in the European Parliament at the June 7 election.

Romanian Micro-Plants To Pay Min RON1,625 Tax Quarterly As Of April

11:24, 03 Apr. 2009
Romanian micro-plants will have to pay a quarterly tax of minimum 1,625 lei (EUR1= RON4.2198) to the state as of April, if the tax that should be paid to the state is lower than this value, according to an emergency ordinance draft quoted by ministry sources Friday.