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European Elections Central Electoral Bureau Challenged at Constitutional Court

17:56, 07 Mart. 2019
The chairman of Romanian opposition party PMP, Eugen Tomac, announced on Thursday that the country’s Supreme Court forwarded a challenge made by the group against the establishment of the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) for the upcoming European Elections to the Constitutional Court.

Ploiesti Court of Appeal Revokes Protective Custody Warrant for Fugitive Businessman Sebastian Ghita

17:35, 07 Mart. 2019
The Ploiesti Court of Appeal admitted on Tuesday a challenge made by fugitive businessman and former Romanian MP Sebastian Ghita, against a warrant for protective custody issued in a case where he is accused of corruption offences regarding several IT contracts.

Reuters: Romania not Using Huawei Equipment for Essential Communications Infrastructure

16:40, 07 Mart. 2019
Romania is not using any equipment made by Chinese tech giant Huawei in the essential infrastructure managed by its Special Telecommunications Service (STS), the agency announced in a statement sent to Reuters.

ECHR President Meets With Romanian General Prosecutor

15:41, 07 Mart. 2019
The President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Guido Raimondi, attended a work meeting in Bucharest on Thursday with multiple Romanian prosecutors, including General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar.

Central Electoral Bureau Rejects Registration of USR-PLUS Alliance

14:37, 07 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) rejected on Thursday the request register an alliance between current opposition party USR and the group recently formed by former PM Dacian Ciolos, PLUS, for the upcoming elections, according a statement issued by the latter.

European Commission First Vice-President: Concerns about Romania are Growing

19:15, 06 Mart. 2019
The European Commission’s first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, told Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila that concerns throughout the EU are growing in regards to the state of the rule of law in Romania, in a meeting the two had on Wednesday.

Businessmen Rally to March 15 Protest Demanding Highways in the Moldova Region

18:21, 06 Mart. 2019
Several businessmen announced on Wednesday that they will support the protest requested by Suceava entrepreneur Stefan Mandachi, who called for businesses to stop working for 15 minutes on March 15 in order to attract attention on the lack of highways in the Moldova region.

Kazakh–Romanian Energy Fund Invests $230M in Petromidia Cogeneration Plant, Gas Station Chain

17:50, 06 Mart. 2019
The Kazakh–Romanian Energy Investment Fund, 80% owned by KMG Internatioanl and 20% by the Romanian state, plans to invest $230 million in a cogeneration plant at the Petromidia refinery and to expand the Rompetrol gas station network.

UPDATE. Porr Construct a fost desemnat constructorul Lotului 1 din Autostrada Piteşti – Sibiu

17:16, 06 Mart. 2019
(Adaugă detalii în context.)

President Sends 2019 Budget Bill Back to Parliament

17:15, 06 Mart. 2019
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Wednesday that he will resend the 2019 state budget to the Parliament, after the Constitutional Court rejected his challenge on the bill earlier in the day.

German Fashion Retailer Kik Opens First Store in Bucharest in Bucur Retail Park

15:25, 06 Mart. 2019
German fashion discounter Kik has opened its first store in Bucharest in Bucur Retail Park in the western part of the city, following an investment of EUR200,000, and plans to reach 30 stores in Romania this year.

Ruling Party Leader: There is Discontent Regarding the Justice Minister’s Activity

13:56, 06 Mart. 2019
Social Democrat Party (PSD) Chairman Liviu Dragnea said on Wednesday that there is a state of discontent regarding Justice Minister Tudorel Toader within the party, adding that a discussion with coalition partners ALDE and PM Viorica Dancila on the subject will take place within the next week.

Lower Chamber Plenary Session Suspended for Lack of Quorum

13:08, 06 Mart. 2019
The Romanian Lower Chamber’s plenary session on Wednesday, which had a no-confidence vote against Justice Minister Tudorel Toader scheduled, was suspended due to lack of quorum after the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) decided to not attend the vote.

Justice Minister on No-Confidence Motion: It Has the Content of a Political Statement

19:30, 05 Mart. 2019
Romania’s Lower Chamber debated on Tuesday a no-confidence motion filed by the opposition Liberal Party against Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, with the minister accusing it of being a “political declaration”.

Romania to Relaunch Tenders for Two Lots of Craiova-Pitesti Expressway

17:56, 05 Mart. 2019
Romania's roads authority CNAIR will organize new tenders for the third and fourth lots of an expressway linking the cities of Craiova and Pitesti in southern Romania and hopes to contract the works by the end of the year, spokesman Alin Serbanescu said Tuesday.

Judge Involved in Ruling Party Leader Appeal Receives Approval to Retire

17:55, 05 Mart. 2019
The Judges’ Section of Romania’s top judicial watchdog CSM approved on Tuesday a retirement request filed by Supreme Court judge Luciana Mera, who is part of the court’s five-judge panel handling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea's appeal against a prison sentence.

Belgium Requests Romania to Introduce Airline Pollution Tax on EU Council Agenda

16:58, 05 Mart. 2019
A Belgian regional minister representing the country at an EU meeting in Brussels requested Romania to file, as EU Council president, an initiative to increase taxes for commercial flights due to pollution on the Council’s agenda.

Dutch Citizens Detained Following Border Heroin Bust

15:56, 05 Mart. 2019
Two Dutch citizens were caught by Romanian authorities on Tuesday trying to cross the border from Ukraine while transporting more than 84kg of heroin, according to the country's top anti-organized crime agency DIICOT.

Top Judicial Watchdog Gives Negative Review for Partial Judicial Decree Repeal

15:29, 05 Mart. 2019
The plenary of Romania’s top judicial watchdog, the Superior Council of the Magistracy (CSM), offered a negative review for a decree partially repealing a controversial judicial bill adopted by the Government on February 19.

Ruling Party Senator Joins Re-Established UNPR Group

15:28, 05 Mart. 2019
Former Romanian Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea announced in a press conference on Tuesday that Senator Iustin Talpos, affiliated with the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), joined his re-established UNPR party and will hold the office of interim national deputy chairman.

Romanian Government Adopts Decree Partially Repealing Controversial Judicial Act

15:27, 05 Mart. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced at the beginning of Tuesday’s cabinet meeting that the Government will pass a partial repeal of its February 19 judicial decree, as previously announced by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader.

Apuseni Mountains Plane Crash Surviovr Appointed National Transplant Agency Director

13:39, 05 Mart. 2019
Romanian Health Minister Sorana Pintea appointed Dr. Radu Zamfir, a survivor of the 2014 medical flight crash in the Apuseni Mountains, as the new executive director of the country’s National Transplant Agency (ANT).

Justice Minister Announces Activity Report Following Two Years in Office

18:59, 04 Mart. 2019
Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader announced on Monday that he compiled a report on his activity during his two years spent in office.

Ruling Party Leader: Government Could Adopt Sovereign Fund Decree This Week

18:28, 04 Mart. 2019
The chairman of Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD), Liviu Dagnea, said on Monday that the Government could adopt a decree establishing a Sovereign Investments Fund during this week’s cabinet meeting or the following one.

Senate Tacitly Adopts “Greed Tax” Decree

17:33, 04 Mart. 2019
The Romanian Senate tacitly adopted on Monday the late 2018 Government decree which instated several new fiscal and economic measures, including a controversial tax on banking assets linked to the ROBOR index dubbed the “greed tax”.

Bucharest Deputy Mayor Excluded From Local Ruling Party Branch

15:43, 01 Mart. 2019
The Social Democrat Party’s (PSD) Bucharest Sector 4 branch decided on Friday to exclude the capital’s deputy mayor, Aurelian Badulescu, from the organization, its executive chairman Cristian Zarescu told MEDIAFAX.

Magistrate Investigation Section Chief Accuses Obstructions from General Prosecutor

20:32, 28 Feb. 2019
The chief of the Romania’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ), Gheorghe Stan, accused General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar of obstructing the section’s activity, in a press statement on Wednesday evening.

Romania Will Not Take Part in Negotiations for EPPO Chief Prosecutor

18:58, 28 Feb. 2019
Romania will not have a representative in the team of three ambassadors delegated to represent the EU Council in negotiations with the European Parliament for appointing a chief for the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), a council representative told MEDIAFAX on Thursday.

Anticorruption Chief Requests Government To Repeal Judicial Decree

18:48, 28 Feb. 2019
The interim chief of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Calin Nistor, announced on Thursday that he officially requested PM Viorica Dancila and Justice Minister Tudorel Toader to repeal the recent judicial decree which might result in the agency losing two of its section chiefs.

Prime Minister: Romania Supports North Macedonia’s EU Accession

17:53, 28 Feb. 2019
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Thursday, in a common press conference held with North Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev in Bucharest, that she assured her counterpart of Romania’s support for the Balkan country’s accession to the European Union.

Parliament Leadership Fires Electoral Body Director Supervising Party Spending

15:03, 28 Feb. 2019
The combined standing bureaus of the Romanian Parliament decided on Thursday to fire an electoral body director responsible with supervising campaign and political party spending, in a move the opposition accused of being tied to an investigation the body launched into the ruling party's spending.

Magistrate Investigation Section To Summon Kovesi For New Hearing – Sources

13:25, 28 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi will be interviewed again by the Supreme Court’s Section for Investigating Judicial Offences (SIIJ) in a case regarding the 2011 repatriation of a fugitive businessman, sources close to the investigation told MEDIAFAX.

Bucharest Prosecutor’s Office to Partially Suspend Activity until March 8

19:07, 27 Feb. 2019
The Bucharest Prosecutor’s Office decided in its General Assembly meeting on Wednesday to suspend two hours per day of its activity until March 8 and all of its public related-work, in protest against the recent Government judicial decree.

ALDE Chairman: Norica Nicolai To Head Party European Election Lists

19:03, 27 Feb. 2019
The chairman of Romanian ruling coalition party ALDE, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, announced on Wednesday that his party will run on separate lists from government partners PSD in the upcoming European Parliament elections, and that the group's list will be headed by current MEP Norica Nicolai.

Kovesi: I Do Not Expect Support from the Romanian Government

18:06, 27 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi said on Wednesday that hse does not expect Government support in her bid to lead the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), after she won two votes in European Parliament committees for the role.

Parliament Appoints New Permanent Electoral Authority Chairman

16:20, 27 Feb. 2019
The combined chambers of Romania’s Parliament voted on Tuesday to appoint the secretary-general of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Constantin Mituletu-Buica, as the agency’s new chairman for the next eight years.

Romanian Prosecutor Ranks First In CONT Committee EPPO Vote

12:40, 27 Feb. 2019
Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi received the highest number of votes for the leadership of the upcoming European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) on Tuesday.

Public Finance Employees Stage Protests in Cluj and Iasi

19:51, 26 Feb. 2019
Hundreds of employees of Romania’ Public Finance Administration held protests in Cluj and Iasi on Tuesday over concerns of a bill which would abolish regional finance directorates.

More Courts and Prosecutor’s Offices Join Protests Against Judicial Decree

17:55, 26 Feb. 2019
One court and multiple prosecutor’s offices announced on Tuesday that they will join a growing list of judicial institutions suspending their non-urgent activity, in protest against a recent Government judicial decree which magistrate associations say will negatively impact the justice system.

Top Anticorruption Body Vacates Two Lead Offices Following Government Judicial Decree

17:07, 26 Feb. 2019
Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) will have to fill vacancies for lead offices in its anticorruption and criminal sections, after top judicial watchdog CSM rejected its request to extend the delegations of their chief prosecutors, following the recent Government judicial decree.