Romania

A Romanian diplomat suspected of being involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident in Singapore last month has been recalled by his country’s Foreign Ministry. The ministry also handed over its findings regarding the accident to Romanian prosecutors and was to conduct an internal investigation into whether Silviu Ionescu, 52, had …

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said Kosovo’s EU perspective is not at risk despite the fact that five EU countries including Spain, the current holder of EU presidency, have not recognized Kosovo’s independence. Thaci made the remarks after Spain took over the rotating EU presidency on January 1.

Southeastern Europe’s proposed natural gas pipeline moved a step closer to reality after the Romanian president signed a decree allowing parliament to ratify construction. The intergovernmental agreement on the Nabucco project was signed by the prime ministers of Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria in Ankara in July.

Romania’s parliament will begin talks on the centrist coalition government’s austere 2010 budget bill on Jan. 11, key to freeing up a 20 billion euro aid package led by the International Monetary Fund. The IMF has said it would return to Bucharest once a budget has been approved in January …

A mission from the International Monetary Fund will return to Romania on Jan. 21 to resume aid talks, senate speaker and opposition leftist leader Mircea Geoana said on Monday. Last week Romania’s new centrist coalition government approved an austerity budget for 2010, key to unlocking loan tranches from a 20 …

Romanian Parliament on Wednesday approved Emil Boc’s centrist coalition government, with 276 votes in favour and 135 against. “We have started reforms other politicians didn’t dare to start. And we will continue this necessary process”, Emil Boc said in a speech in front of the Parliament. In October, Boc lost …

The opposition Moldovan Communist Party (MCP) has accused the Ministry of Justice of backing and promoting extremist xenophobic organizations. Such a sharp charge was the Communists’ reaction to the recent registration of the National Christian Movement (NCM) by the MoJ. On Tuesday, Communist MP Grigore Petrenco stated at a news …

Romania will cut around 100,000 public sector jobs next year to meet requirements attached to an IMF-led rescue deal, designated Finance. Minister Sebastian Vladescu said on Tuesday. “The budget draft (for 2010) envisages a reduction of a little under 100,000 employees. A large part of it will be done naturally …

Traian Băsescu has officially taken office as President of Romania at the official ceremony on Monday and was sworn in. The ceremony was attended by the Romanian patriarch Daniel, judges from the Constitutional Court, Prime Minister Emil Boc, other members of the government, chairperson of the Supreme Court of Cassation, …

The priorities of the new Romanian government would be next year’s state budget, continuing reforms and ensuring stability, designated Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday. Boc vowed to work together with politicians, parliament and those who would govern the country to offer “stability and prosperity.”