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EC approves EUR 270 mln state aid for closure of three coal mines in Romania
The European Commission has approved EUR 270 million in aid for Romania to close three uncompetitive coal mines owned by the National Coal Company JSC Petrosani (CNH SA). One of the mines, Petrila Colliery in Jiului valley, would close by the end of 2015. The other two, Uricani and Paroşeni Collieries, by the end of [...]
Romanian railways company to lay off 1,000 in March
The state-owned passenger railways company CFR Calatori will axe over a 1,000 jobs in March this year. The measure follows the agreement between the Romanian Government and the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the World Bank. Laid off employees will receive six months redundancy pay. The government also agreed to close down railways [...]
Romanian health system lost 10,000 doctors to higher salaries abroad
Romania has lost around 10,000 doctors in the last five years, as better pay has tempted medical professionals to emigrate , according to Vasile Astarastoae, president of the Doctors’ College in Romania. Only 7,000 doctors graduated from the local education system during this period. Romania has a total of 56,000 doctors, out of which 13,000 [...]
Survey: Romanians have worst perception on corruption, one third have been asked a bribe
Most Romanians believe corruption in their country is more widespread than other European Union Countries, and more than half of Romanians think they are well informed about corruption, found a recent Eurobarometer study issues by the European Commission. Romania recorded a 78 percentage of respondents who believe corruption is more widespread than in the EU, [...]
Romanian businessman George Becali goes to snow-bound county to give helping hand
Romanian businessman George Becali, financer of the Steaua Bucharest football team and member of the European Parliament, arrived today ( February 12), in Dumitreşti, Vrancea County, an area very affected by the heavy snow this week. Becali, who brought in large snow removing equipment, says he will stay there until the snow in all the 16 affected villages will be removed. George (Gigi) Becali has brought in trucks to transport the snow and hundreds [...]
Private hospitals compete with state units to give cancer care
Romanian cancer patients who are insured at the National Health Insurance Agency (CNAS) and referred by the family doctor or specialist, can get free treatment in private medical facilities that have a contract with the Agency, according to Focus Medical Center. Usually, the cost of treatment starts from RON 2,000 (around EUR 465) and, depending [...]
EC exceeds hiring targets for Romanian officials
The European Commission ( EC ) has surpassed its own recruitment targets for Romania and Bulgaria. Since 2007 the EC has taken on a total of 428 Bulgarians and 727 Romanians, exceeding the target by 23.3 percent, or 228 employees. Following accession, EC recruitment policy was temporarily suspended to allow the rapid hiring of staff [...]
Poverty percentage in Romania second highest in EU, but some surprises in Eurostat results
Bulgaria and Romania top Eurostat’s recently published poverty figures for the EU 27 in 2010. The survey, which determined the percentage of population at risk of poverty or social exclusion by measuring three indicators, put Romania second highest, with 41.4 percent at risk. The percentage at risk in Bulgaria was almost the same – 41.6 [...]
Norway budgets EUR 1.1 million for trade union cooperation program in Romania
A Norway – funded program for better cooperation between employers, trade unions and Romanian authorities kicked off in the country, with a budget of EUR 1.1 million. The Norwegian Embassy to Romania, the European Affairs Ministry and the Innovation Norway Agency opened submissions for eligible candidates, which can apply until April 22 this year. “There [...]
EC questions integrity of Romania’s judiciary system, asks for conclusive results
The European Commission expressed concern about the integrity of Romania’s judiciary system, while mentioning the need for full support for the national anticorruption strategy in its latest report about the country. More efforts are needed for conclusive results before the summer evaluation of the Commission, which asks for better results in recovering products obtained through [...]
Authorities ask for state of emergency in Romania’s Vrancea County
Local authorities in Vrancea county, one of the counties among the worst hit by the bad weather, have asked for instating a state of emergency in the county, as most major roads were still closed on Wednesday morning and over 30 villages were under power outages. Marisan Oprisan, the president of the Vrancea County Council [...]
Recent census data revealed: Population has shrunk by 2.6 mln in Romania
Romania’s population has shrunk by over 2.6 million since 2001, to some 19 million, according to the 2011 census. The country’s Statistics Institute recently issued the first data from the census, showing that over 600,000 Romanians were reported as temporarily absent. Over 900,000 people were reported as having left the country for a longer period [...]
Two die in snow-bound in Romania, roads still blocked due to bad weather
The snowfall kept national roads closed across Romania on Thursday (January 26), where almost 1,000 of cars have been blocked due to the bad weather. Two man died in Giurgiu and Tulcea county respectively and one woman was sent with hypothermia to the hospital in Giurgiu county, after staying for hours in the snowed in car. A [...]
Mark Mobius: Peaceful protests in Romania – a sign of true democracy
Mark Mobius, the CEO of Franklin Templeton – the administrator of the Romanian Fondul Proprietatea, recently said that if the street demonstrations in Romania are peaceful, “it is a sign of true democracy.” Moreover, “the fact that Romanians can protest peacefully, is also a good sign,” he added. The US Ambassador to Romania, Mark Gitenstein, [...]
Study: Lobbying is a mystery for 67 percent of Romanians
Lobbying in Romania is mainly reactive and comes only to correct or improve decisions already taken, while there are several categories of companies involved in lobbying, contrary to the popular belief that only a few companies are lobbying in Romania, found a recent study by Forum for International Communications and GfK. In the survey conducted by GfK Romania, 67.5 percent of respondents could not associate the term “lobby” with anything, showing that there [...]
Redundant Military Union’s protest to cause traffic restrictions in Bucharest today
The Redundant Military Union in Romania will organize a protest and a march in Bucharest today (January 24). Around 10,000 people are expected to participate in the protest. As a result, traffic is restricted in Bucharest until 14:30 on the road that links Paris street and Kiseleff Blvd., on the road connecting Lascar Catargiu Blvd. [...]
Romanians extend anti-president protest abroad, rallying in London, Dublin, Vienna
Romanians in London extended the ongoing protest against Basescu and the Romanian government to the British Capital. Protesting outside the Romanian embassy in London, they chanted last week against Romanian president Basescu, saying he has lost support among Romanians abroad. The votes cast by Romanians abroad made a difference in the 2009 elections, when Basescu [...]
Seventh day of protests in Romania: crowd brings cuffed president, tourism minister dummies
Several thousands Romanians joined the protest downtown Bucharest in the seventh day of street demonstrations in the country. This is the biggest number of protesters so far, mainly fueled by a demonstration organized by opposition union Social Liberal Union. Some of the 7,000 people at the opposition meeting joined those who were already in the [...]
Opposition party protest in Bucharest today. See traffic restrictions
The Social Liberal Union (USL) in Romania, the main opposition party in the country, is organizing a protest in Bucharest today (January 19). About 10,000 people across the country are expected to come to the capital city. As a result, the road traffic in Bucharest will be restricted between 14:00 and 19:00 on Kiseleff Blvd. [...]
Fourth day of protests in Romania: Over 100 arrests in Bucharest
Over 100 people were taken to police stations on Monday evening ( January 16 ) during the street protests in Bucharest, writes the Romanian media. Potential rioters were arrested for carrying knives, telescopic sticks, drugs, chains and stones. Around 40 of them were taken to police stations for attempting to block a road in the [...]
Unrest continues in Romania as crowds gather downtown Bucharest for fourth day of protests
Over 100 people gathered downtown Romanian capital Bucharest on Monday (January 16) at noon, marking the fourth day of protests in a row. Several police cars secured the area, but protesters have so far refrained from violence. They are demanding the dismissal of Romanian president Traian Basescu and of the Government led by Emil Boc. [...]
Romanian gendarmerie: Nearly 250 arrests following Sunday evening riots
Around 8,000 protestors in 41 cities across the country took the streets on Sunday evening ( January 15 ), and a total of 2,000 gendarmes were brought in to secure the public peace, according to a statement of the Romanian gendarmerie. Moreover,10 gendarmes needed medical attention, and 2 of them are still in hospital. “Except [...]
Downtown Bucharest vandalized and dozens injured after Sunday riots
Groups of protesters vandalized the center of Romanian capital Bucharest on Sunday evening ( January 15 ) and clashed with police late into the night. Three bank branches and ATMs were destroyed, bus and tram stops, lamp posts, six traffic lights, and seven traffic signs were knocked down or burned during the conflict, according to [...]
Riot escalates downtown Bucharest after football supporters join protest
Protests continued on Sunday in the Romanian capital Bucharest and in other cities in the country, the third consecutive day of street riots in the country. Demonstrations spread in Bucharest from downtown Universitate square to other areas in the center of the city. The special Police forces increased in number after a group of football [...]
Romanians riot and clash with the Police over unpopular measures
Thousands of Romanians took their anger to the streets over the week-end, with protests ending in clashes with the Police downtown Bucharest. Gendarmes and protesters alike were injured. Over 40 people were taken into the Police custody on Saturday evening, after a heated evening in the Universitate square downtown Bucharest. The Police managed to disperse [...]
Enter a city
Romanian court rules Prince Paul member of Royal House of Romania 
Jamie Oliver strikes gold in new restaurant basement - Top Gear’s James May (just about) presents new Dacia Lodgy during the TV show
Yum! switches to Coca Cola from rival Pepsi for its KFC, Pizza Hut restaurants in Romania - Subway fast food chain enters Romanian market with Iasi restaurant
Two Romanians awarded by Oscars organizers for Phantom high speed camera 
Romanian climber Coco Popescu sets world record for climbing tallest volcano in Antarctica 
Romanian actress Ana Ularu receives ‘Shooting Stars’ award at Berlin Film Festival 
Shakira to shake up Bucharest with May concert 
Lufthansa introduces new flights to Romania after 20% increase in passenger volumes
