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Romania, Bechtel Negotiating Deadline Past 2012 For Transylvania Hwy – Sources

Romania's Transport Ministry and public road authority CNADNR have begun negotiations with Bechtel on a new calendar for the construction of the Transylvania Highway, with new deadlines past the current December 2012.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Asked For RON42M In State Aid In 2010 To Build New Logan Model

Romanian carmaker Automobile Dacia asked for 42.4 million lei (EUR10.5 million) in state aid last year to develop the X 52 project concerning a new Logan model to be launched in 2012.

Romanian OMV Petrom Asks RON92M Refunds For Eco-Friendly Works

Romania’s leading oil company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) has requested the state issue refund payments of 91.68 million lei (EUR22.5 million) for environment decontamination works at some of its decommissioned wells, the company said in its financial report for 2010.

Four Romanian Troops Injured In Afghanistan

Four Romanian troops from the 26th infantry Battalion Neagoe Basarab have been injured in Afghanistan Sunday morning, as their patrol vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device, Romania’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Businessman Elan Schwartzenberg Confirms Realitatea TV Takeover

Businessman Elan Schwartzenberg on Saturday confirmed he has taken over a 92% stake in TV station Realitatea TV owned by Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, who is currently under arrest on charges of blackmail.

Businessman Elan Schwartzenberg To Take Over Realitatea TV – Paper

Businessman Elan Schwartzenberg will take over Romanian TV station Realitatea TV owned by Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, under arrest on charges of blackmail, newspaper Evenimentul zilei reported Saturday in its online edition, citing unnamed sources.

Romania’s Bucharest Railway Co Manager Sacked

The head of the Bucharest division of state-owned railway company CFR, Gavrila Manaila, has been sacked Saturday for defective management, the company said in a statement.

Romanian State Co Managers Must Show Performance Or Be Fined, Sacked

Romanian autonomous administrations and state companies will be required to inform the Finance Ministry about their financial indicators, monthly or quarterly, while managers will be fined or sacked if their companies fail to meet certain performance criteria.

Romanian Union Leader: At Least 30,000 State Co Employees To Be Laid Off

Romanian National Union Bloc (BNS) president Dumitru Costin said Friday that IMF officials have stated the main topic on the agenda of their talks with the Government will be the restructuring of state-owned companies, which will involve laying off at least 30,000 employees.

Romania Keeps 2015 Deadline For Euro Adoption

The Romanian government Friday decided to keep the year 2015 as the official deadline for euro adoption, participants in the executive’s meeting told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Govt Adopts National Reform Program For 2011-2013

Romania's Government has adopted the National Reform Program for 2011-2013, a document comprising economic recovery and employment measures, and which transposes the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy into national legislation.

Harley-Davidson Romania Wants To Sell 55-60 Motorcycles This Year

Harley-Davidson Romania expects to sell 55-60 motorcycles on the local market this year, 10-15 units more than in 2010, sales manager Marcel Chiva said Friday.

Romanian Media Owner Sorin Ovidiu Vintu Arrested For Blackmail

Romanian businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vintu and his employee, Ion Ilie Cezar, accused of blackmailing the manager of TV station Realitatea Media, Sebastian Ghita, will be placed under 29-day preventive arrest, the Bucharest Court ruled Friday.

Rompetrol Adds RON0.07 To Gasoline Pump Prices, Cuts RON0.03 Off Diesel Prices

Romanian fuel distributor Rompetrol Downstream on Friday increased pump prices for gasoline by 0.07 lei (EUR0.017) per liter, but decreased diesel fuel prices by RON0.03 per liter.

Several Cos Contest Romanian Tenders For Pan-European Corridor IV

Seven consortia and companies have challenged the Romanian government tenders for the construction of the Timisoara-Lugoj and Orastie-Sibiu highways, part of Pan-European Corridor IV.

Romanian Foreign Min Receives Bill For RON1M From Airline Tarom For Evacuation Flight

The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry received a bill for over 1 million lei (about EUR245,000) from state-owned airline Tarom for the flight evacuating Romanian citizens from Japan in March, ministry official Doris Mircea said Thursday.

Businessman Dinel Nutu Held By Romanian Police

Romanian businessman Dinel Nutu, formerly known as Staicu, was brought Thursday to the Bors customs point by Hungarian police officers and handed over to Romanian authorities, said a police press release.

Sterling Resources Deplores Romania’s Opaque Drilling Permission System

Canadian oil and gas company Sterling Resources on Thursday said it cannot operate in its Black Sea perimeters at the present time, since local authorities are unable or unwilling to issue the required permits.

Romanian President Says Country Should Maintain Goal To Join Eurozone In 2015

Romania should maintain its goal to adopt the euro in 2015, President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on national television TVR, adding he had talks on the subject with the prime minister and the central bank governor.

Romanian President Shares IMF Concerns That 2012 Elections Pose Risk To Reforms

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on national television TVR he shares the International Monetary Fund’s concerns that elections in 2012 pose risks to the country’s reforms, adding this is the reason he insisted on a precautionary deal with the IMF and the European Union.

Romanian President Optimistic On Romania’s Schengen Entry This Year

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday on national television TVR he is optimistic about the country’s Schengen entry in 2011, adding accession to the EU’s border-free area is not a failed objective for the country.

EC To Probe New Dutch Rules For Bulgarians, Romanians, Bulgarian Media Reports

The European Commission plans to launch a probe into the initiative of the Dutch government to restrict access for Romanian and Bulgarian workers to the country's labor market, Novinite.com reported Thursday.

IMF: Romanian 2012 Elections Pose Risk To Reforms

The 2012 elections pose the greatest risk to the reforms assumed by Romania before international institutions, as the Government might undo some of them, arguing that the crisis is over and the economy is recovering, said people close to the talks between the IMF and Romanian authorities.

IMF: Romania May Reduce Social Security Taxes If It Guarantees Budget Gap Below 3% In 2012

Romania may reduce the social security taxes paid by employers only if there are guarantees that it can achieve the fiscal targets of 2011 and 2012, when the budget deficit must drop below 3% of the GDP, said people close to the talks between the IMF and Romanian authorities.

Eurostat Team Visits Romania For Talks On 2010 Deficit

A team of European Union’s statistical arm Eurostat will arrive in Bucharest at the end of the month to hold talks on the country’s budget for 2010, a Finance Ministry official said Wednesday.

Romanian Car Repair Shops Might Have To Let Customers Watch

Romanian auto repair shops might be required to allow their customers to watch the work being done to their vehicles, according to a bill to be debated next week by the Parliament, democrat liberal deputy Adrian Badulescu said Wednesday.

CME Q1 Revenue Up 20% To $172.8M

Central European Media Enterprises (CME) reported 20% higher net revenue in the first quarter of 2011, up to $172.8 million, and the group expects its TV advertising markets to grow this year.

Romanian President Summoned To Appear In Court After He Sued Opposition MP

A Bucharest court on Wednesday summoned President Traian Basescu to appear in court on May 18, in a case in which the head of state sued opposition social democrat MP Mugurel Surupaceanu who accused the Government and the Presidency of supporting the use of recreational drugs.

Romania March Private Lending -1.9% On Month To RON204B

Romanian private lending fell 1.9% in real terms to 203.9 billion lei (EUR50.05 billion) in March from a month earlier, and was down 5.3% on the year, central bank data showed Wednesday.

IMF Has ‘No Doubts’ On Romania 2010 Deficit Data – Official

The International Monetary Fund has “no doubts whatsoever” on the quality of the budgetary data sent by Romania for 2010, the country’s representative to the IMF said Wednesday.

Nokia To Close Romanian Research And Development Center, Fire 120 Employees

Finnish mobile giant Nokia could lay off about 120 employees from its Research and Development Center in Cluj, central Romania, and the center will be shut down by the end of the third quarter, part of the group’s strategy to align its global workforce and consolidate site operations.

Romanian PM Assures IMF Delegation Romania Can Emerge From Recession

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc met Wednesday morning with a delegation of the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and the World Bank, whom he assured Romania can emerge from recession.

Romanian Senate Rejects Solidarity Tax Targeting Financial, Lending Institutions

The Romanian Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill introducing a 2.5% solidarity tax on the profit of financial and lending institutions, which was put forward by several ruling democrat liberal lawmakers.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Question Fmr Railway Manager Mihai Necolaiciuc

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Wednesday are questioning former state-owned railway company manager Mihai Necolaiciuc, who is accused of defrauding the company of EUR70 million.

Romanian Integrity Agency Asks Anticorruption Dept To Probe Ex-Labor Min

Romania's National Integrity Agency (ANI) has asked the National Anticorruption Department (DNA) to investigate claims of conflict of interest brought against former Labor Minister Ioan Botis.

Romanian Senate Rejects Bill On Internet Pornography

The Romanian Senate on Tuesday rejected a bill preventing and fighting internet pornography, as the draft normative act did not garner sufficient votes for approval.

Romania To Verify State Cos Data After EU Cites Uncertainties On 2010 Figures

Romania's Finance Ministry will verify the accuracy of the financial figures reported by a series of state-run companies, after the European Union expressed reserve on the quality of the budget deficit data sent by the country.

Romanian Acting Labor Min Warns Illegal Work To Be Harshly Punished

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, recently appointed acting labor minister, said Tuesday the country’s new labor legislation sets harsher punishments for illegal work.

Romania To Set New Euro Adoption Target By End-April – PM

Romania’s Government will decide on a new euro-adoption calendar by end-April, after talks with the president and the central bank, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Romania Foregoes 2015 Deadline For Euro Adoption

Romania gave up its self-imposed 2015 deadline for the euro adoption, saying the country will not be able to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-II) before 2013-2014, according to the draft convergence program for 2011-2014.