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Romanian Finance Ministry To Reduce Paperwork Filed By Small Businesses

Romania's Ministry of Public Finance plans to reduce the paperwork required from small enterprises and allow them more time to file tax statements, state secretary Dan Lazar said Thursday in a seminar hosted by daily paper Ziarul Financiar.

Monitored Romanian Cos’ Budget Debts Up 34% In 2010, At RON6.86B

The debts to the state budget of the Romanian state-run companies monitored by the International Monetary Fund rose 34% in 2010, at 6.86 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2609), with the highest debtor remaining hard coal mining company CNH, followed by railway company CFR.

WB To Lend Romania EUR750M For Healthcare, Social Assistance Reform

The World Bank will grant Romania a EUR750 million loan for two projects aimed to reform the healthcare and social assistance sectors.

Romania Central Bank Keeps Key Rate Unchanged At 6.25%

Romania’s central bank Thursday left its main interest rate at a record low of 6.25% a year for the sixth consecutive time as it continues to battle a high inflation.

Romanian President To Attend European Council Meeting Friday

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Friday will participate in the meeting of the European Council in Brussels, the Presidency said in a press release Thursday.

WB Unlikely To Revise Romania 2011 GDP Forecast After Review Mission

The conclusion of the World Bank’s review mission on Romanian economic and fiscal progress under a EUR20 billion international bailout will not prompt a revision of the country’s growth forecast for 2011, an official of the World Bank said Thursday.

Romania Dec ’10 Retail Sales Fall At Fastest Pace In EU

Romanian retail sales fell 9.4% on the year in December 2010, the largest decline in the European Union, official data showed Thursday.

VAT Cut Not An Option For Romania – Fin Min Off

Reducing the value added tax is not a good solution for Romania, as it will not lower prices, but it will have a negative effect on the predictability of the fiscal framework, Finance Ministry state secretary Dan Lazar said Thursday.

Tourist Arrivals In Romania Fall 0.7% In 2010

The number of tourists entering Romania was 0.7% lower in 2010 compared with a year before, while the number of tourists accommodated was down 7.1%, the National Statistical Institute, or INS, said Thursday.

Romanian Govt Cannot Decide Gas Prices – PM

Romania’s Government can't set prices of natural gas, given that energy regulator ANRE is an independent institution, but it can only interfere in abuse cases by indirect checkups, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday.

Romanian Govt Approves Micro-Business Start-Up Aid Act

Romanians younger than 35 will be eligible for up to EUR10,000 as non-refundable financing to start their own micro-company, as long as they hire at least two employees and reinvest 50% of their profit every year, as per an emergency ordinance approved by the Government on Wednesday.

Romania Ranks 7th In EU By Installed Wind Farm Capacity In 2010

Romania posted the seventh growth in installed wind power capacity among the European Union member states in 2010, namely a 448-megawatt increase to a total of 462 MW, according to a report of the European wind energy association EWEA.

Apartment Prices In Romania’s Main Cities +2.5% MM In Jan – Survey

The sale price of apartments in Romania’s seven largest cities increased by up to 2.5% on the month in January, as owners’ optimism was fueled by the rising interest of potential buyers, according to a survey of property website imobiliare.ro.

Romanian Senate Committees OK Bill To Change The Term ‘Roma’ To ‘Gypsy’

The Romanian Senate’s committees for human rights and equal opportunities endorsed Wednesday a bill initiated by democrat liberal lawmaker Silviu Prigoana proposing to replace the term “Roma” with “gypsy”.

PwC: Romanian New Employments Down 75% YY In ’09

The rate of new employments in Romanian companies dropped by 75% on the year in 2009, because of the economic crisis, while dismissals septupled, according to a survey by consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Romanian Dacia Car Registrations In France Up 2.5% In Jan, To 7,749 Units

Registrations of Romanian Dacia cars in France increased by 2.5% in January 2011 compared to the same month last year, to 7,749 units, and the overall French car market climbed 8.2%.

Over 180 Romanian Healthcare Units To Be Reorganized

Romania’s Health Minister Attila Cseke told a news conference Tuesday that 111 healthcare units of the 435 hospitals administered by the ministry and local authorities will merge and 71 will become nursing homes or permanent assistance units.

Romania Forex Reserves Rise To EUR32.7B In January

Romanian foreign exchange reserves rose to EUR32.69 billion in January, after the International Monetary Fund released a seventh installment of a EUR13 billion stand-by loan, central bank data showed Tuesday.

Romania To Spend Max EUR4M To Advertise Tourism On Foreign TV Channels

Romania's Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism is looking to spend up to EUR4 million, without VAT, to advertise the national tourist brand on foreign TV channels.

IMF Asks Romania To Liberalize Gas, Pwr Production Prices

The International Monetary Fund asked Romania to discard regulated prices for the production of electricity and natural gas and to draw up a new calculation formula in this respect.

Bucharest Apartment Sale Price Falls Up To 20% YY In Jan

The average sale price of apartments in Romania’s capital city Bucharest dropped by 12% to 20% in January compared with the same period of 2010, with the highest fall recorded for 4-room flats, according to a survey of AnunturiParticulari.ro real estate website.

Romanian Insurance Mkt Seen Declining At Least 5% This Year

The Romanian insurance market will decline at least 5% this year, in an optimistic scenario, as the number of civil liability car insurance policies and their prices will drop 20%, said Tuesday Cristian Constantinescu, head of the Romanian union of insurance and reinsurance companies.

Romanian PM Says Investments, Revised Constitution, New Labor Laws Are Govt’s Priorities

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday evening investments, revising the Constitution and improved labor legislation are the Government’s priorities this year, adding austerity measures are expected to yield results in 2011.

Romanian Pharmacies May Issue Algocalmin Without Prescription Until April 1

Romanian pharmacies may issue algocalmin and other drugs containing metamizole without prescription only until April 1, although some producers are authorized to sell these products as prescription-only as of February.

Romanian Gendarmerie To Purchase Riot Control Gear For RON42M

The Romanian Gendarmerie has announced its intention to purchase "riot repression equipment," including protective helmets, pepper spray, submachine guns, rifles, smoke grenades, tear gas grenades and others, for an estimated 42 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2549).

No Flu Epidemic In Romania – Health Ministry

Health Ministry specialists have announced that there is no influenza epidemic in Romania, but they have provided the national healthcare network with a series of recommendations.

Romania Complied With IMF Requirements In ’10 – Fin Min

Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu on Monday said the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission appreciated Romania’s results under the stand by agreement, adding value added tax revenue covered arrears and kept the budget deficit within agreed margins.

Romanian Parliamentary Groups To Meet Monday Before Start Of Parliament Session

Romanian parliamentary groups will convene Monday, a day before the start of the Parliament’s 2011 first ordinary session, for talks on legislative issues and political strategies.

Romanian Govt To Spend RON1.2M On Poll, Interviewees To Receive RON15 Each

Romania's Government will spend around 1.2 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2571), without VAT, to carry out a national survey on around 15,000 people, who will be given RON15 each and asked for their opinion on the Executive's policies, the effects of the crisis and their standard of living.

Only 4.2% Of Romanians With Disabilities Have Job – Study

Only 4.2% of Romanians with disabilities have a job, which places Romania on the last position in the European Union, according to a report presented Friday.

Romanian Leu Up Vs Euro, Exch Rate At 4.2571

Romania’s leu strengthened against the euro in mid trade Friday, fueled by higher volumes, and the central bank’s reference gained over 0.2% on the day at 4.271 units, from 4.2675 units Thursday.

Technical Report On Romania’s Schengen Accession Adopted

The Schengen Area evaluation group (Sch-Eval) on Friday adopted the technical report on Romania’s Schengen accession, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Govt To Approve Emergency Decree On Military Pensions Friday

Romania’s Government will hold a Cabinet meeting Friday evening to approve an emergency decree on the recalculation of military pensions, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Woman Attacked By Stray Dogs In Bucharest Dies

A 49 year-old woman has died Friday in Bucharest from severe bite wounds inflicted by stray dogs.

Romania’s 2010 Budget Deficit Narrows To 6.5% Of GDP

Romania’s consolidated budget posted in 2010 a deficit of 33.3 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2675), or 6.5% of the estimated gross domestic product, lower than the ceiling agreed with the International Monetary Fund, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

Romanian Tourism Ministry To Set Up National Bike Tourism Network

Romania's Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism wants to create a national network of cyclo-tourism routes, on paved or unimproved roads located mainly in areas with picturesque scenery and low car traffic, according to a draft Government decision.

Vegetable Oil Price In Romania Might Hike About 30% In March-April

The price of vegetable oil in Romania might increase by about 30% in April or March, due to a lack of raw materials on the local market, Foodstuff Industry Union Federation president Dragos Frumosu told MEDIAFAX.

Romania Doesn’t Endorse Autonomy On Ethnic Criteria – President

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Thursday at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg that Romania doesn’t agree with autonomy based on ethnic criteria, adding it is not just ethnic minorities need autonomy.

Romanian Opp Social Democrats Call On Govt To Cut VAT Back To 19%

The Romanian opposition Social Democratic Party is calling on the Government to urgently reduce the value added tax back to 19%, social democrat senator Olguta Vasilescu told a news conference Thursday.

Romania, IMF In Talks For A 2 Years Follow-Up Agreement – Sources

Romania's Government and the International Monetary Fund are discussing the terms of a two-year follow agreement to a EUR13 billion loan program that expires in May, people familiar with the talks said.