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Romanian Democrat Liberals Want Country’s Administrative Reorganization Plan Completed By End-Nov

The Romanian ruling Democratic Liberal Party’s National Standing Office should complete the project regarding the country’s administrative and territorial reorganization by the end of November, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Sunday evening.

Romanian PM Confident Investors To Be Found In Six Months To Replace Nokia

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday he is confident that, in the next six months, the Government will attract companies to continue investments in Cluj after the closing of Nokia's factory at Jucu.

EC Opens Infringement Proceedings Against Romania Over Energy Market Legislation

The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Romania and other member states for failing to transpose two directives, regarding the electricity and natural gas markets, and the Economy Ministry expects the process to be stopped in two months, when the rules are adopted.

IMF Approves EUR480M Disbursement To Romania

The International Monetary Fund Thursday completed the second review of Romania’s economic performance under a EUR3.5 billion precautionary loan agreement, enabling the disbursement of a new EUR480 million tranche.

Romanian Government Calls Special Meeting On Nokia Plant Shutdown

Romania's Government has called a meeting for Thursday evening to discuss mobile phone manufacturer Nokia's decision to close its plant in Jucu, Cluj county, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

EC Continues Infringement On Romania Over Waste Management Legislation

Romania on Thursday received a reasoned opinion from the European Commission, the second stage of an infringement procedure over the country’s failure to transpose EU rules on waste management into national legislation.

Romanians May Drive Cars Registered Abroad Only 90 Days – Draft

Romanian residents may not drive cars registered in other states for periods longer than 90 days, or for more than three months per year, says a draft act amending the law regarding traffic on public roads, up for debate on the Interior Ministry's website.

Romania To Sue Firms Which Contest Auctions Systematically And Hinder Investments – Minister

Romania will sue the companies which systematically block auctions and hinder infrastructure investments, and will recover in court the losses they caused, Transport Minister Anca Boagiu said Thursday.

Nokia Keeps Romanian Plant Open Until Yearend, Pays Employees Until March 2012

Nokia’s plant in Jucu, Romania, will stay open until the end of the year and employees will continue to receive wages until the end of March 2012, employees were told Thursday after the Finnish cell-phone maker announced it was shutting down its Romanian operations.

Romanian Gyms To Require Authorization From Anti-Doping Agency

Romanian gym owners will be required to obtain a certificate from the National Anti-doping Agency, valid for three years, through an application that must be filed within six months, according to a Government decision.

Environment Minister: Romania To Apply Current Car Pollution Tax Until 2013

Romania will apply the car pollution tax currently in effect until 2013, Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely said Wednesday at a conference organized by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Romanian Senate Committee Approves Act Cutting State Heating Aid With Tied Vote

The Romanian Senate's committee for administration on Tuesday adopted a favorable report on the government ordinance eliminating state subsidies for household heating, although the vote was tied.

SW Romania Mine Shut Down Because Of Incident In Closed Shaft

The miners at Uricani, southwestern Romania, were brought to the surface Tuesday after an incident in a closed shaft, without anyone being hurt, mine officials said.

Romanian Unions, Employers Want To Take Over Administration Of Employment Agency

Romanian unions and employers will call on the government to let them handle the administration of the country’s employment agency ANOFM in a bid to improve the institution’s fund management.

Romanian Integrity Agency Uncovers Two More Possible COI Cases

Romania’s National Integrity Agency (ANI) called on prosecutors to investigate a possible conflict on interest in the case of deputies Ioan Cindrea and Karoly Kerekes, who hired their relatives in parliamentary offices, the agency said in a press release Tuesday.

Romanian Clunkers Program Vouchers To Expire After November 23

The vouchers issued by Romania's Environment Fund Administration in 2011 through the clunkers program will expire after November 23, Environment Minister Lazlo Borbely warned Monday.

Romania’s High Defense Council Meets For Talks On Railway Freight Co CFR Marfa Privatization

Romania’s high defense council CSAT will convene Monday for talks on the privatization strategy targeting state-run freight railway company CFR Marfa, the decentralization of the police service and the results of the fight against tax evasion, the Presidential Administration said in a press release.

Iraqi Court Sentences Two Men To Life For Kidnapping Romanian Journalists In 2005

The Central Criminal Court of Iraq has sentenced two men to life in prison for the role in the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in Iraq in 2005, the court said in a press release Saturday.

U.S.-Romanian Antimissile Shield Agreement Goes Public

The U.S.-Romanian agreement on the deployment of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system in Romania has been made public in Romania Friday.

Romanian President Takes Responsibility For Schengen Entry Failure

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday he takes responsibility, as head of state, for the country not joining the border-free Schengen area, as he takes responsibility for unsolved problems in the justice sector, although he does not have any authority over these matters.

Romanian Employers Want Bonuses For Private Sector Employees Earning Wages Below RON1,000

Romanian employers on Thursday met with Labor Minister Sulfina Barbu and proposed that employees in the private sector who gain monthly wages below 1,000 lei (about EUR232) should be granted a bonus of up to RON300, for which only social security contributions will be paid.

Romanian Wanted Fugitive Ioan Clamparu Caught In Spain – Sources

Ioan Clamparu, convicted in absentia to 13 years in prison and wanted by Romanian authorities for eight years, has been apprehended in Spain, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Thursday.

Decision On Romania, Bulgaria’s Schengen Entry Postponed- Sources

A decision on Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the border-free Schengen Area has been postponed Thursday, as the matter was not put to the vote at the meeting of the Justice and Home Affair Council (JHA) held in Brussels, European sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romania, Belgium Sign Agreement To Modernize Bucharest’s Main Railway Station

Romanian Transport Minister Anca Boagiu and Belgian state secretary for Mobility Etienne Schouppe on Thursday signed a memorandum for cooperation in transport, concerning, among others, the modernization of Bucharest's Gara de Nord train station.

Dutch Govt Confirms Opposition To Romania’s Schengen Accession

The Netherlands on Thursday confirmed its opposition to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area, according to AFP.

Romanian Life Insurers To Provide Prospective Clients With Extra Information

Romanian insurance companies and brokers will provide their prospective clients with additional information before signing them up for a life insurance policy, as of Wednesday, according to new rules issued by regulator CSA.

Romanian Govt OKs Program Providing Pensioners With Cheap Food Products

Romania’s Government on Wednesday approved, through a decision, the “solidarity basket” program aimed to sell food products at a discount to pensioners, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Court-Won Wage Rights To Be Paid In Tranches Until End-2016 – Draft

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies committee for the budget decided Wednesday to extend the payment period for wage rights won in court by public sector employees until December 31, 2016, from December 31, 2012, and also to change the value of their yearly tranches.

France, Germany To Vote For Bulgaria, Romania’s Two-Stage Schengen Entry – Sources

The latest discussions held in Brussels before the meeting of the Justice and Home Affair Council (JHA) on Thursday confirmed that France and Germany will vote to allow Romania and Bulgaria to join the border-free Schengen area in two stages, people close to the talks told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian Petromservice Fmr Managers Indicted For Embezzlement

Two former managers of Romanian oil company Petromservice have been indicted for embezzlement, along with three other people charged with money laundering, the five having caused damage to the company worth more than EUR8.5 million, according to prosecutors.

Romania Is Net Beneficiary Of EU Funds – Minister

Romania's Minister of European Affairs, Leonard Orban, said the difference between the funds Romania received from the EU between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2011, and its contribution to the EU's budget is more than EUR4.9 billion.

Romanian Development Minister Wants At Least EUR1B In Redirected EU Funds

Romania’s Tourism and Regional Development Minister Elena Udrea said Wednesday she asked authorities to direct to the ministry at least EUR1 billion in EU funds other ministries failed to absorb.

Romanian Parliament Adopts Declaration On Country’s Schengen Accession

Romania’s two chambers of Parliament on Wednesday adopted a declaration on the country’s accession to the border-free Schengen area, which is still being denied by several EU states.

Romanian Unionists Protest Over Delayed Negotiations On Activity Sectors

Over 150 unionists affiliated to the "Carte Alfa" union federation and the National Union Bloc (BNS) on Wednesday protested at the headquarters of the Labor Ministry displeased that authorities have not yet regulated activity sectors.

Dutch Flower Transports Without Papers To Be Destroyed – Romanian Agric Min

Checks on the flower transports from the Netherlands stopped in Romanian customs have turned up one or two shipments without plant health passports, which will be destroyed, said Romanian Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara on Tuesday, adding that there are also suspicions of tax evasion.

Romania To Set 2012 GDP Growth Target In October, In Talks With IMF – PM

Romania's economic growth forecast, used in drafting the state budget for next year, will be determined by the Government in October, through consultations with the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and World Bank, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Ministry Of European Affairs Can Prevent Romania From Losing EU Funds – PM

The Ministry of European Affairs will give a boost to EU fund absorption and prevent Romania from losing these funds, therefore the Parliament's vote to create the new ministry is in the country's interest, said Prime Minister Emil Boc.

Romanian Parliament Committees Endorse Minister Nominee Leonard Orban

The Romanian Parliament’s committees for administration and European affairs on Monday endorsed Minister for European Affairs nominee Leonard Orban with a majority of votes.

Romanian Authorities Seized 12 Trucks Carrying Flowers From Netherlands

Romanian authorities checked 15 trucks carrying seeds and flowers from the Netherlands in the last four days, seizing 12 transports and returning three to the supplier, fiscal regulator ANAF announced Monday.

Google Romania Becomes Full Member Of IAB Romania

Google Romania is a full member of Internet advertising association IAB Romania, as of Monday, according to a press release.