Bucharest, Nov 17 /Agerpres/ - The Central Election Bureau (BEC) on Monday adopted a decision banning referendums, cultural, artistic and sports activities, as well as the dissemination of advertising materials on the day of parliamentary elections, in the security area of polling stations.

BEC spokesman Marian Muhulet said that the members of the Bureau reached the decision upon the request of the Public Order and Safety Department of the Ministry of the Interior and Administrative Reform.

According to the decision, the aforementioned activities are banned all through the voting process that starts at 7:00 a.m. (local time) and ends at 9:00 p.m.

At the request of the ‘Pro Democratia’ Association, BEC also instructed all polling station presidents to seal the stamps with the ’Cast Vote’ imprint immediately after closing the ballot boxes. AGERPRES

Redactori: /sko/sko | ID: 877260 | Data: 2008-11-17 18:23:26 | Slug: ELECTIONS-POLLS pef/nct Agerpres Declarations of PM

Bucharest, Nov 17 /Agerpres/ - Head of the National Liberal Party (PNL, at rule), PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu believes the Liberals have to have an important role to bar, in the context of the global economic crisis, a return to protectionist systems and to strong guidance, which ’can be seen very well.’

Most countries in Europe and the world are concerned with the manner in which action has to be taken for overcoming the global economic crisis. In this direction, we, as Liberals, have a say now, when there are tendencies to re-introduce protectionist systems and to return to strong guidance, ’ said, on Monday, prime minister Tariceanu, at a meeting of the Liberal leaders in South-Eastern Europe, held in Bucharest, under the heading ’Liberal Leadership in South-Eastern Europe. For a stronger EU.’

The PNL head said the reforms begun by the Liberals, in 2004, have led to the development of Romania and to its EU entry, despite many skeptical opinions.

’Romania, in these past years, has been a good example of how a country can move, when it is led by the fundamental Liberal values and principles. The reforms we have begun in various fields, be they in justice, in the economy, in other key sectors, such as education and healthcare, have allowed Romania, in a relatively short time, of around two years, to meet all its commitments for becoming a EU member country. In end 2004, when the Liberals formed the Government, there were few countries and analysts who gave a chance to Romania to succeed integration, on Jan 1, 2007. We have proven that by a substantial package of reforms, we can do that, ’ said Tariceanu.

The prime minister also spoke about the foreign policy he has promoted in areas in South-Eastern Europe, saying that, the same as he has done so far, he will continue to support the process of EU enlargement with the states in the Western Balkans.

’I am happy that today Croatia is at an advanced stage in its European accession process, that other countries, such as Macedonia and Serbia, have signed the stability and association agreement, which gives them a clear European perspective, ’ said Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.

For her part, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroek, head of the European Liberal Democratic and Reformist Party, spoke about the changes she has noticed in Bucharest, compared with her previous visit.

’ I cannot say how much Bucharest has changed, how much it has improved. Twenty years ago, it was a sad city, there was much sadness, much gray. Now it is a lovely capital of a lovely country, a country looking for more workforce. You need people to come to work, in Romania, because there are not enough people, ’ said Annemie Neyts-Uttebroek. AGERPRES

Redactori: /bra/bra | ID: 876582 | Data: 2008-11-17 13:21:25 | Slug: POLITICS-PNL-MEETING acm/rub/

Bucharest, Nov 18 /Agerpres/ - President of the National Liberal (PNL, at the rule), PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu considers that the main accomplishments during his four-year term as head of the government are Romania’s EU accession, an ’unprecedented’ economic growth, the effects of the introduction of the flat tax and other liberal measures, as well as the doubling of wages and pensions.

’’I meet with Romanians - in Bucharest, Cluj (center-west), Iasi (east), Craiova (south) and other cities - and they tell me they are proud of what we’ve done. I know that Romania is on the right track towards becoming a proud and prosperous country,’’ Tariceanu said in an interview with Agerpres.

The Premier added that he would have liked to offer Romanians a better living at a faster pace.

’’I would have wanted wages and pensions to rise faster because I know the Romanians need and deserve that. But doing in four years what other failed to do in 14 is hard. I am here today because I have the solutions to carry on with what I started. I have solutions to double wages and pensions again by 2012. Me and each Liberal candidate have solutions to offer each Romanian a better living,’ said the PNL leader.

Tariceanu assured that PNL and the Liberal candidates who win a seat in Parliament will support the Economic Growth and Jobs Plan launched by the government as a measure to offset the effects of the global economic crisis, so that it be fully implemented and ’Romania’s economic growth continues.’ AGERPRES

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Timisoara, Nov 18 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Tuesday in Timisoara (western Romania) voiced confidence in Romania’s economic growth in the next years though the world financial crisis has affected the country as well.

Tariceanu underscored that those who are losing their jobs are going through a difficult time and support measures need to be taken as soon as possible. Tariceanu said efforts should be deployed to keep the jobs and maintain the economic growth trend that Romania has registered on the European market.

PM Tariceanu voiced hope that all these efforts should not be wasted by ’populist or demagogic promises that are usually made in the election campaign.’

’There are certain things likely to worry us but economic analysis of some experts show that Romania will continue to witness, over the next period, an economic growth way over the European one,’ the PM explained. AGERPRES

Redactori: /ege/ege/ege | ID: 878436 | Data: 2008-11-18 14:32:12 | Slug: GOVT-ECONOMY oti/nct/

Bucharest, Nov 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania’s national dailies of Tuesday give main coverage to the agreement between Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and President Traian Basescu on a possible cancellation of the car tax; the intention of PM Tariceanu to implement an anti-crisis plan as from January 1, 2009; the latest developments in the rescue of Petrila mine blast victims.

Business standard, Gandul and Evenimentul zilei report that President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Monday agreed that the car tax should be temporarily cancelled in an attempt to protect the local automotive industry.

Business standard remarks that an anti-crisis plan will be applied as from January 1, 2009, reporting that Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Monday called on the ministers to come up with normative drafts under which the measures included in the Government anti-crisis plan will be approved, so that the measures may become effective as from January 1, 2009.

The paper notes that despite a wave of negative reactions triggered by the measures unveiled by Tariceanu last week, Tariceanu would like the measures to be enforced as from January 1, 2009.

The measures included in the anti-crisis plan of economic growth and job creation has to be implemented soon, so that they may become effective on January 1, 2009, the paper quotes Tariceanu as telling a working meeting on Monday. Attending the meeting were Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian, Labour Minister Mariana Campeanu, Public Works Minister Laszlo Borbely, Minister for SMEs Ovidiu Silaghi, Chairman of the National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF) Daniel Chitoiu, and Chairman of the National Economic Projection Board (CNP) Ion Ghizdeanu.

Ziua remarks, in relation to the mining accident at Petrila, that the accident could have been avoided, had it not been for the criminal complicity to some and suicidal to others between the mine’s management, trade unions and miners.

For the miners, the paper says, the acceptance to work under conditions in breach with occupational safety regulations had tragic consequences. The mine’s management, trade unions and even the miners that worked there knew well what the place is like, the paper writes, adding that out of the five injured miners who were rushed to the Bucharest Plastic Surgery and Burns Hospital of Bucharest only one is out of the harm’s way, with the other four still connected to the life-saving apparatuses.

Cotidianul and Ziua report that the rescue teams on Monday managed to fish out the bodies of four of the eight miners who died in a methane blast at the Petrila underground mine.

Most of the papers carry the electoral offerings of the political parties running in the November 30 general election.

Ziarul financiar notes that if the opposition Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L) wins the election, it will prolong the repayment of mortgage loans, quoting PD-L First Deputy Chairman Theodor Stolojan as having said on Monday that if PD-L wins, it will start talks with banks to have the repayment of mortgage loans by families that cannot afford to pay back the loans extended. The measure is included in the PD-L governance programme. Stolojan is also quoted as saying this measure is meant to prevent a housing crisis that might emerge as a result of people being unable to repay such loans.

Cotidianul remarks that MP Viorel Hrebenciuc of the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) would be ready to negotiate with President Basescu over a government made up of PSD and the National Liberal Party (PNL), quoting Hrebenciuc as saying there are good prospects for successful talks with the President for the creation of the future government. The paper notes that although Basescu two weeks ago accused Hrebenciuc of concocting a second coup d’etat with Dan Voiculescu of the opposition Conservative Party (PC) and Tariceanu of PNL, Hrebenciuc does not seem to hold Basescu any grudge, and he even praises Basescu for what he says is the President’s political savvy.

Ziarul financiar reports that Romanian businessman Dinu Patriciu has reached an agreement with Austrian Erts Bank group, the main shareholder in Banca Comercial Romana (BCR) on Patricu taking over the Anglo-Romanian Bank, currently a member of the BCR group. The transaction is valued at nearly 100 million euros and could be completed soon.

Romania libera reports that Chinese group of companies Hoyo SHK Equipment Modern Agricultural wants to invest $20 million in building a tractor factory in the Romanian city of Brasov. The Chinese company, representing China’s Shantuo Agricultural Machinery Equipment of China in Europe, would assemble small-power tractors, hoping to put out 100,000 units in 2009-2012.

Consultant for the Chinese company Ionel Blanculescu is quoted as saying the Chinese have assessed three locations, including the Black Sea city of Constanta, but they prefer Brasov for the local skilled labour. AGERPRES

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Bucharest, Nov 18 /Agerpres/ - President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu met on Wednesday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace to discuss the provisional cancellation of the car tax.

The meeting took place ahead of the Government meeting scheduled to start later in the day, and ended after nearly 45 minutes.

Early this week, Prime Minister Tariceanu voiced agreement with President Basescu’s suggestion that the tax on new motor vehicles be suspended for a definite time, saying that the measure will be approved as soon as possible.

’I have seen President Basescu’s statements after his visit to the Dacia automobile factory and I am glad we have a similar approach of this theme. We discussed the issue on the phone, but we did not agree on this measure on the phone. The most efficient measure would be to discard imports by cancelling the tax on new motor vehicles. This will virtually mean that we are stymieing the imports of used cars for a limited time by keeping taxes only on them. We will see how the market reacts and we may lengthen the measure for three more months, and we see what can be done or we will work out another solution,’ said Tariceanu.

He added that the imports of used cars in Romania will have a negative impact on domestic output, because they ’killed’ the sales of Dacia and even of Ford.

’You have to understand that unbridled imports of used cars is endangering the Romanian industry. The European countries where such imports originate are very happy to see the cars leave and make room for the sales of new ones there. They get rid of all the junk cars that invade Romania, and Romania becomes a dumping yard for used cars, which sooner or later will pack up because they will be unable to run any more,’ said Tariceanu. AGERPRES

Redactori: /cor/cor | ID: 879758 | Data: 2008-11-19 11:44:52 | Slug: PRESIDENCY-GOV’T-MEETING dac/rub

Bucharest, Nov 19 /Agerpres/ - Romania’s national dailies of Wednesday give main coverage to a request by the European Commission to all the EU member states that they lift restrictions on Romanian workers; the November 30 general election and President Traian Basescu’s wish to have a new government after December 12; PSD unveiling its governance programme; mourning day at Petrila and Petrosani.

Evenimentul zilei remarks that the European Commission is lobbying for Romanian workers, carrying the findings of a recent report of the Commission released on Tuesday.

The report indicates that Romanians account for 19 percent of the labour migration force within the European Union, being the second largest group, after Poles - 25 percent and ahead of Germans - 7 percent. Romanians leaving to work elsewhere in the European Union are said to not have troubled the local labour markets seriously, to not have triggered pay decreases and to also not have became recipients of unemployment benefits, the report indicates, carrying the European Commission’s call on the EU member states to lift all the restrictions on Romanian workers.

The paper quotes AFP news agency as indicating the number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals residing in other EU member states increased from 690,000 in 2003 to 1.6 million as of end-2007, one year after the two countries’ accession to the European Union.

Evenimentul zilei notes that President Traian Basescu would like the new government of Romania to be ready soon after December 12, reporting that the President gave political parties two weeks to agree on the composition of the new government starting from his proposal.

According to a presidential schedule released by Basescu on Monday, the new Government should be installed in the December 12-15 interval, in an optimistic scenario, although the outcome of the vote will be known and approved at least one week earlier. The incumbent Tariceanu Cabinet should thus stay in office for at least 12 days after the December 30 general election.

Ziarul financiar quotes Basescu as arguing Romania needs a political Left, as Romania would be balanced if it had Left options to offer as well, and also as saying privatisation, free markets and independent justice are the values of most of Romanian citizens, yet harder to accept by those whom he said were ’dyed-in-the-wool Stalinists.’

Ziarul financiar notes that the National Bank of Romania (BNR) complains about high interest spreads, while the banks are defending themselves. The papers quotes BNR adviser Adrian Vasilescu as arguing the new market conditions would not justify a huge difference between the interest charged by banks on loans and those paid by banks on deposits.

Vasilescu is quoted as saying irrational exuberance is emerging in Romania amidst the global crisis, as there are banks that pay interest rates of 10 percent on deposits but have increased interest rates charged on extended loans to 35 percent, while claiming that the market conditions have changed.

August statistics released by BNR indicate that the interest spread between interest charged on loans and interest paid on deposits continued to narrow to nearly 3 percent, down from 5.7 percent one year previously, reflecting market competition. Especially from September on, some banks successively raised loan interest first, and then hiked the interest paid on deposits as well in an attempt to draw in cash, with the interest on deposit reaching 13-14 percent per annum, compared with BNR’s monetary policy rate of 10.25 percent per annum.

Ziarul financiar reports that national leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) Mircea Geoana on Tuesday said PSD drew up a governance programme based on the scenario of an economic growth of 4.5 percent in 2009. The document, called ’The Mircea Geoana Government Programme for Romania’ is, according to Geoana, an integrated response to the effects of the economic and financial crisis. Geoana is quoted as saying this is the boldest government programme to date in Romania.

Geoana is further quoted as saying that neither in the 1970s, when there were external loans for the industrialisation of Romania, nor before WWII or after the world crisis of the 1930s did a party come up with such an ambitious programme in terms of public infrastructures as PSD did on Tuesday. He claimed that the measures included in the programme will lead to an overhaul of the ways in which Romania functions.

Evenimentul zilei notes that the Electoral Law is constitutional, reporting that the Constitutional Court on Tuesday decided that the ordinances under which the Government modified the Single-Vote Electoral Law are constitutional.

The court’s judges thus overruled the objections raised by the opposition Greater Romania Party (PRM) for the cancellation of the Government’s decisions under which the electoral colleges were approved. The court’s decision is said to have left the PRM national Leader, Corneliu Vadim Tudor, complaining that the ruling is a ’masquerade.’

Romania libera and Ziua inform that Tuesday was a mourning day in Petrila and Petrosani, with thousands of people walking to the grave the first four miners fished out from the Petrila mine after a devastating blast there on Saturday after-noon.

First investigation into the tragedy at the Petrila Mine has unveiled that the miners entered an area that was completely unsafe, with endogenous fires. A four-prosecutor team, two of whom have expertise in mining cases, officials of the Hunedoara County Labour Inspectorate and forensic officers, coordinated by deputy chief prosecutor of the Prosecution Office with the Alba Iulia Court of Appeal Augustin Lazar are trying to find out about the conditions of the Petrila tragedy.

Ziua reports that an agreement on the establishment of a company to conduct works on units 3 and 4 of the Cernavoda nuclear-power plant is expected to be signed on Thursday by Nuclearelectrica and six investors short-listed for the project. AGERPRES

Redactori: /cor/cor | ID: 879540 | Data: 2008-11-19 10:03:21 | Slug: MEDIA ste/nad

Bucharest, Nov 20 /Agerpres/ - Romania’s national dailies of Thursday give main coverage to the anti-crisis measures approved by the Romanian Government; the cancellation of the pollution tax on cars for the next 13 months; the latest developments in the construction sector, and the privatisation of Oltchim chemicals works.

Jurnalul national carries the findings of a recent CCSB poll indicating that 51 percent of Romanians who will go out to vote on November 30 believe the PSD-PC alliance of the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Conservative Party (PC) will win the general election.

The poll, conducted November 15-17, commissioned by a television channel, also reveals that more than half of Romanians are interested in the election: 65 percent say they are quite interested and very interested, while 34 percent say they are very little, quite little or not at all interested.

As regards the vote turnout the poll indicates that 48 percent of the Romanian voters will show up to vote, 37 will not and 15 percent will be abroad on election day.

Evenimentul zilei remarks that less than two weeks before the election, leaders of the opposition Democratic-Liberal Party (PDL) and the ruling National Liberal Party (PNL) have decided to go beyond merely testing the waters to negotiations over the future government coalition.

The paper says that while there are similarities between the economic and tax policies of PDL and PNL divergences persist between persons. While PNL has repeatedly said they cannot trust Traian Basescu or Theodor Stolojan from the PDL camp, reproaches have been specially levelled against Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and his close allies Dinu Patriciu and Bogdan Olteanu.

The paper also notes that PNL and PD-L thaw their relations in order to govern, saying, according to some converging sources from the two parties, essential to the success of this enterprise are assurances from PDL leaders that President Traian Basescu does not oppose the move, and the signals from PNL that they are interested in negotiations.

Adevarul remarks that a big confusion is in the air for the November 30 election, as voters do not know the electoral college where they may vote, or the names of the candidates of the main parties.

The paper’s editorialist says that judging by how the electioneering campaign looks like, he would not be surprised if less than 35-40 percent of the voters will show up to vote.

Ziarul financiar notes that the electorate does not know the candidates and the campaigning is confusing.

The paper quotes professor Daniel Barbu of the Bucharest University as saying low turnout in this first election under the single-vote system will be the main effect of this situation. Evenimentul zilei remarks that the Government on Wednesday approved more than 80 percent of an anti-crisis master plan. The paper quotes Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu as saying the Government decided to make the anti-crisis plan operational.

Among the measures adopted by the Government to make operational a plan for economic growth an job preservation are the cancellation of the car pollution tax, granting 1,000 euros to the companies for each unemployed they hire, cutting by 2 percent the contributions to the social security fund, granting a 5-percent rebate on taxes to taxpayers servicing their tax duties 10 days or more in advance of the deadline, and exempting interest gains from taxation.

The paper also remarks that the Government decided to cancel for one year the pollution tax levied on Euro 4-compliant motor vehicles, but importers of new motor vehicles have no plans to capitalise on this measure.

Adevarul remarks that the Government has come up with anti-crisis measures worth 10 billion euros, quoting Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian as saying the measures adopted could bring about an economic growth of 2-3 percent in 2009.

Reporting on these measures, Ziua talks about Tariceanu’s legacy, saying the incumbent government will leave the next cabinet to protect employees and the industry, get economic growth, increase pensions and also cut down taxes.

Adevarul remarks that increasingly more Romanian industrial companies that depend on large networks of suppliers are closing gates for various times. It says that what some time ago was just an alarm is turning into immediate reality: factories, large and small, are suspending business, placing many employees on short-time working.

For instance, the production facilities of Dacia automobile factory of Mioveni will be closed November 20- December 7, and its almost 8,000 workers will be placed on short-time working.

Ziarul financiar notes that producers of spare parts and accessories of the southern county of Arges is intending to lay of 800 workers this year and in early 2009 as a result of slumping demand from Dacia and the export companies with which the company has business contracts.

The paper remarks that the economic crisis has started to show the first negative effects on local entrepreneurs as well, which are compelled to reduce costs to a minimum to avoid negative business effects in 2009.

Evenimentul zilei reports that the privatisation of the Oltchim chemicals works has been placed in stand by, pending improvements in the market conditions that will allow jobs there to be preserved, quoting Prime Minister Tariceanu to the point.

Romania libera notes that Romania was the first in Europe in September 2008 in terms of the growth of the construction sector, citing from data with the Eurostat official statistics office of the European Commission indicating the growth was 27 percent year on year, compared with a 3.1 percent y-o-y decline elsewhere in the European Union. AGERPRES

Redactori: /cor/cor | ID: 881277 | Data: 2008-11-20 10:07:53 | Slug: MEDIA dan/nad

Romanian PM: Govt Won’t Increase Flat Tax, VAT The Romanian government is not planning to increase the flat tax or the value added tax to ensure the necessary funds for supporting the economy, but it will focus on improving the budget revenues collection from taxpayers, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Monday.

"I don’t think this is a solution for the time being. The solutions should aim at increasing tax collection, from individuals and companies as well. I didn’t talk with anybody about increasing taxes, and I don’t want to induce fears that taxes might rise," Tariceanu said in a press conference. On Monday, economic analysts said the next Romanian government would need to increase taxes to meet budgetary promises, particularly those regarding wages. "After this electoral campaign, nobody can afford not to increase salaries, as promised, and as such, budget revenues should be increased. In the short term, these would be lifted by raising taxes," Lucian Anghel, the deputy president of Romania’s Financial-Banking Analysts Association, said Monday. Most of the analysts said the current electoral promises exceeds the budget possibilities, and the only viable short-term solution is to raise taxes, and especially value added tax, which currently stands at 19%. "We don’t wish for higher taxes, but it will be necessary. The debate regarding the tax amendments should begin before the electoral campaign ends," Anghel said. However, BRD-Groupe Societe Generale chief economist Florian Libocor said despite salary increases, the government should speed up efforts to improve its revenues collection.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romanian-pm-govt-won-t-increase-flat-tax-vat.html?6966;3511356 11/20/2008

Romania Could Target Becoming Seventh Power In EU – PM Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Tuesday in western Romanian city Timisoara that Romania could aim to become the seventh power in the European Union if it makes use of its natural potential.

"Romania needs to make use of its natural potential. I think Romania can aim to become the seventh power in the European Union. There is a strategy with two directions that need to be followed. The first one would be research-education, which needs investments because without funding we cannot become competitive. The second strategic direction that needs to be pursued is infrastructure. We cannot afford, with a budget like Romania’s, to do things from one day to the next, instead we need to make efforts and invest in essential areas," Tariceanu said. He said a great deal of money has been invested in education in the past several years, as between 2005 and 2008 the funds allocated to school infrastructure reached EUR10.3 billion, and there is talk of upgrading another 8,000 kindergartens, schools, high schools and universities. Tariceanu added that even though much funding was allocated, the investments cannot be seen everywhere, because the upgrade plans mostly depend on school management. Tariceanu, who is also the head of the ruling Liberal Party, was on a visit to Timisoara on Tuesday to back liberal candidates in the Parliament elections.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romania-could-target-becoming-seventh-power-in-eu-pm.html?6966;... 11/20/2008

Romanian Govt, Administration Should Buy Romanian Cars– Leftist Opp Head Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Tuesday the temporary cancellation of the registration tax for cars is a “commonsensical” solution in the short run, and added that, in order to encourage Romanian industry, authorities should only purchase Romanian cars.

Geoana said the cancellation of the first registration tax for cars proposed by the President and the Prime Minister is, in the short run, “a commonsensical measure.” He added that, during the crisis, local and central authorities should purchase, within the boundaries of the law, only locally produced cars, including from Ford, if the American company makes cars in Craiova. On Monday, Tariceanu said the Government decided to suspend the car tax for the acquisition of new vehicles for three to six months, to protect the local auto industry.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romanian-govt-administration-should-buy-romanian-cars-leftist-opp-... 11/20/2008

Romanian Social Democrats Drafted Governing Plan In View Of Nov 30 Gen Elections Romanian social democrats completed their governing program in view of general elections on November 30, party leader Mircea Geoana said Tuesday, adding the plan envisages 4.5% economic growth in 2009.

Geoana said the program is “daring” and would “completely change the way things work in Romania”. Geoana said the program is based on an estimated economic growth of 4.5% in 2009 and includes multiannual budget planning. Under the plan, EUR1.665 billion, including EU funds and loans from the European Investment Bank and the European bank for Reconstruction and Development, would be assigned to infrastructure. The social democrats also plan to increase low wages and pensions, lower monthly bills for families with low income and cut back on public spending by reducing the number of government agencies. Geoana said that if the alliance of social democrats and conservatives makes up the future government, the country’s privatization agency AVAS would be disbanded and the government would create a new structure, to handle both state assets and public money. Romania holds parliamentary elections on November 30, and the main contenders in the race are the ruling Liberal Party, the leftist Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Liberal Party.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romanian-social-democrats-drafted-governing-plan-in-view-of-nov-3... 11/20/2008

Romanian Govt OKs Pension Hikes As Of Jan 1 The Romanian government Wednesday decided to increase pension point’s value to 763.7 lei (EUR1-RON3.8421) from RON697.5 as of January 1, 2009, Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu said.

The measure is included in the 2009 draft budget law, Tariceanu said. In October, pensions in Romania increased by 20% basis point to RON697.5 from RON581.3.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romanian-govt-oks-pension-hikes-as-of-jan-1.html?6966;3521704 11/20/2008

Romanian Govt OKs Suspending Pollution Tax Until Dec 31 ‘09 Romania’s Government approved the suspension of the pollution tax for new Euro 4 cars with less than 2,000 cmc engines, until December 31, 2009.

The tax suspension will be enforced as of December 1, 2008. "The tax will be suspended as of December 1, for all new Euro 4 cars, with less than 2,000 cmc engines," the country’s Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said. Tariceanu said earlier Wednesday the decision to suspend the car tax for Euro 4 new cars will be discussed in Wednesday’s Government meeting and the Cabinet will send a notification to the European Commission, in which it will explain the decision mainly by supporting the local jobs. “It is not a problem of protecting the automotive industry. The main problem is to support the jobs. I consider that protecting the employment is a Government responsibility,” Tariceanu said. Eliminating the pollution tax for the acquisition of new cars is a great support for the Romanian auto market, but such a measure might contradict the European Commission regulations, Ernest Popovici, president of the local Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, or APIA, said Monday. The prime minister reminded that he discussed in the Wednesday morning the matter with Romania’s president Traian Basescu. “During the meeting, the two officials shared the same concern regarding the fact that import of secondhand cars affected local car sales,” a statement of the government showed on Wednesday. In Romania, the number of new second-hand cars imported in January-September period rose 104.8% on the year to 205,086 units, while new car registrations fell 2.4% in the same period.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romanian-govt-oks-suspending-pollution-tax-until-dec-31-09.html?6... 11/20/2008

Romanian Govt To Change Fiscal Code, To Include Facilities Of Econ Plan The fiscal facilities from the Romanian Government’s economic support plan will be introduced by modifying the Fiscal Code and the Fiscal Procedure Code, Romania’s Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Wednesday.

The main purpose of the support plan is limiting layoffs, Tariceanu said. “We will not delay the adoption of measures for enforcing the economic support plan. We receive several distressing signals from different industries and there is a great risk of collective layoffs that we want to avoid,” the Prime Minister said in Wednesday’s governmental meeting. He also expressed his intention to reduce the vulnerability of the Romanian economy to the effects of the global financial crisis. Last week, the Romanian government presented a four-year plan having a series of fiscal facilities, such as a “fiscal bonus” granted to the persons who pay their taxes on time. Other fiscal facilities from the support plan include measures such as reducing social insurance contributions by 10 percentage points in the next four years, not taxing the reinvested dividends. The government will also give state aids worth EUR50 million for investments that exceed EUR100 million.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romanian-govt-to-change-fiscal-code-to-include-facilities-of-econ-pl... 11/20/2008

Romanian PM Invites Rivals To Televised Debate The leader of the Romanian liberals, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu send social democrat and democrat liberal Prime Minister contenders Mircea Geoana and Theodor Stolojan a letter inviting them to participate Friday, November 21, in a televised debate on the governing agendas proposed by each party.

The televised debate would focus on the agendas that these parties propose to Romanians, also considering the economic growth and jobs program adopted by the Government, said the Government in a press release. "I expect you to bring your own solutions to Romanians,” said the letter sent to the political leaders.

http://www.mediafax.ro/printare/romanian-pm-invites-rivals-to-televised-debate.html?6966;3527117 11/20/2008

Rador news:

November 20th - President Traian Basescu Visited Major Companies

On Wednesday, President Traian Basescu visited major industrial companies, to see first hand the situation there, in view of the European Council convened for mid-December, to discuss the current economic crisis. At the steel works in Galati and at the shipyards in Galati, Constanta and Mangalia, the Romanian head of State said the country would be less affected than other EU members by this crisis and the authorities should focus on maintaining the existing jobs. Mr. Basescu also said, quoted by RADIO ROMANIA, the main threats for the companies in Romania were the tax system and the market stability and stressed the Government should take all necessary steps to keep the market stable. ( RADOR News Agency ) 20 Noiembrie 2008 17:46

Results of the EU Agriculture Ministers Meeting

After several hours of negotiations, the EU Agriculture ministers reached an agreement on the changes to the common agriculture policy in the next four years, RADIO ROMANIA informs. They succeeded in overcoming their differences and accepted gradual increases in the milk quotas and the transfer of some funds from direct subsidies to rural development. Romanian Agriculture Minister Dacian Ciolos said he obtained 105 million euros, the country would use to increase the subsidies granted to the farmers in the hill and mountain areas. ( RADOR News Agency ) 20 Noiembrie 2008 17:46

Romania’s Budget Deficit Will Stay Within Limits

This year, Romania’s budget deficit will stay within the estimated limits, according to the vice-governor of the Central Bank, Florin Georgescu. He assured this deficit would be of around 2.3% of the GDP, due to the measures adopted by the Government, meant to curb the expenses from the State budget. Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian confirmed this estimate, saying Romania’s budget deficit would be under 3% of the GDP, RADIO ROMANIA reported. ( RADOR News Agency )