Reporter: Are you concerned about the prospects of Romania"s economy for 2009? What do you think are the weak points of the Romanian economy?

Romania can"t afford to have a low rate of absorption of European funds, Benoit Nadler, an official of the Environmental Sectorial Operating Program (ESOP) with the European Commission, stated yesterday.

The relationship between farmers and the chemical fertilizer industry remains tense despite yesterday"s trilateral talks among representatives of the industry"s shareholders and unions and those of the farmers who all convened for the...

"Gerocossen" is a major player on the cosmetic products market, especially in the hair dye products segment.

The shareholders of Transgaz Mediaş approved on Tuesday, the budget statement for 2009, which estimates a net profit of 309,545 million lei, according to a communiqué issued by the company, sent to the Bucharest Stock Exchange, quoted by Agerpress.

Four locations out of the 102 that the authorities are currently considering for the placement of a nuclear plant are located in the county of Braşov.

2009 will be an important year for the implementation of the Sectoral Operational Programme (POS) - Environment as 89 major projects are in a preparatory phase.

The deluxe residential complex "Adnana Residence", located on the shore of lake Buftea, which uses alternative energy sources, announced discounts of over 50% off the regular sale price.

Nine months through the year, Petrom, a subsidiary of the Austrian-based oil group OMV, paid the Romanian State royalties in the amount of 547.7 million RON for the oil fields conceded from the National Mineral Resources Agency (ANRM), ANRM...

The objectives announced before within the Partnership for Romania remain in place.

Services and the construction industry generated over half of the 8.9% economic growth logged for the first nine months of the year, according to Romania"s National Statistics Institute (INS).

There is some progress in all this circus. We"re not going back to 1991, as some were saying when they saw Stolojan being nominated prime minister, but to 1996... when we see that the prime minister is Mayor Boc.

Some 1,200 cattle farmers have been notified by major dairy companies that their milk production was no longer acceptable and would be replaced by imported milk.

Starting in December, 4 For Style, a distributor of high class living, dining, kids" and youth furniture, is set to officially enter the Romanian market.

The payment balance deficit for January - October 2008 deepened by 10.9% compared to the corresponding period of 2007, but at a slower pace than in September (14.8%), according to data released by the National Bank of Romania (BNR).

The company "Electromontaj" will reach a 250 million lei turnover for 2008, up 50 million lei from last year. Mihai Valeriu, the company"s president, stated on Friday, in Arad, that the gross estimated profit for 2008, is...

The company "Transelectrica" S.A. has three ongoing interconnection line projects which will increase Transelectrica"s transit to the neighboring countries. Stelian Gal, general manager of "Transelectrica", stated, Friday, in...

The Agency for Agricultural Payments and Intervention (APIA) will make this week the first payments in the financial year 2008 - 2009 for the reconversion and restructuring of vineyards.

The administration of the Muntele Mic Winter Resort in Caras Severin County has announced the beginning of the construction of a cable car system to help sustain the ongoing development of the resort.

A number of 45 mines will be closed in 2009, for ecological rehabilitation of their respective areas, mines whose activity has already ceased, stated the General Manager of Mineral Resources Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance...

The prosecutors of the National Anticorruption Office (DNA) have ruled the arraignment of several discharged generals formerly of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) for acts of corruption.

The Government will offer state aid schemes to companies that invest over 30 million EUR and create at least 300 jobs.

Carrefour, one of the leading retailers in Europe, will not cancel a planned rapid expansion in Bulgaria, despite the global economic crisis, sources close to the company told Dnevnik. Carrefour recently announced the conclusion of a new contract...

Mineral water bottler Biborteni has started an investment project estimated at more than 7 million EUR in a bid to increase production capacity and diversify the product portfolio.

"Alcatel-Lucent" SA, the world"s largest supplier of fixed telephony equipment, will cut 1.000 manager positions and will trim the company"s costs by 1 billion euros (1,3 billion dollars) a year, starting in 2009. CEO Ben...

The Traian Vuia Airport in Timisoara, the main airport in the western part of Romania, has announced the successful implementation and commissioning of a major upgrade on their security system following investments of 2.1 million EUR to ensure...

Vodafone, the mobile telephony operator launched Thursday the roaming service which allows its customers to use their mobile phones while flying, the company announced.

Prime Minister Călin Popescu Tăriceanu stated in Brussels, after the reunion of the European Council, that it"s likely that Romania might exceed its budget deficit mark and the 2009 budget draft must be redone.

The member organizations of the Initiative for a Clean Justice System (IJC) - The National Union of Romanian Judges and the Cluj branch of the Association of Romanian Magistrates - the Cluj branch - have asked the parties involved in the creation...

With a vitreous look, Traian Basescu announced that he had nominated Theodor Stolojan as Prime Minister.

Effective as of 15 December 2008, motor vehicles below 2,000 cubic centimetres that are about to be registered for the first time in Romania or other EU Member States are exempted from the one-time pollution tax until 31 December 2009, according...

The flawed procedure by which the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) decided the winners of the elections for Parliament was applied, without exception, in all constituencies.

Negotiations between the management and the union of the Kraft Foods factory in Brasov, Romania, were resumed yesterday.

China"s exports dropped last month, for the first time in the last seven years, which shows that the recession in the US, Europe and Japan affect the output of the world"s fourth largest economy.

"Rio Tinto Group", the world"s third largest company, will cut 14.000 jobs and will cut its expenses by 5 billion dollars, in 2009, as the world recession has reduced demand for metals.

Veterinarians recommend that the population of the counties of Ilfov, Buzău and Olt refrain from eating pork meat until the final outcome of the investigation initiated by the ANSVSA concerning the dioxin-contaminated meat imported from Ireland...

The National Confederation of Romanian Business Associations (CNPR) is urging the still incumbent Government to take a vital measure in order to ensure the minimum prerequisites for saving some industrial jobs, reads a press release from CNPR.

The hottest sector of Romania"s economy - construction - has been hit hard by the economic crisis. Braşov"s construction sites haven"t been spared by the recession either.

EU Members and the European Parliament have agreed on a legal initiative forcing EU Members to secure 20% of their energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, which is one of the essential components of the EU energy - climate package.

Romanian furniture manufacturers are confronting major difficulties as a result of the global economic and financial crisis and are asking authorities to step in and save the industry.

The Government is about to leave education system employees empty-pocketed before the holidays, according to a press release from the National Education Federation (FEN).

The Polish company Wawel, one of the most renowned chocolate producers, will enter the Romanian market with a wide range of premium products, including the widest range of sugar-free products.

The collateral posted by customers was allegedly confiscated by the Romanian Commodities Exchange (BRM), according to a copy of a BRM internal document in BURSA"s possession.