27. 11. 09. - 13:00

• more General News news...
• RSS Feed General News

27. 11. 09. - 13:00

Ciolos announced as EU agriculture commissioner

Romanian Times

Former Agriculture minister Dacian Ciolos has been announced as the next EU agriculture commissioner.

European Commission President Manuel Barroso confirmed the appointment today (Fri).

Ciolos is the head of a presidential committee for agriculture and director of Department I for rural development programs with the European Commission General Department for Agriculture and Rural Development.

He will officially take up his post in February 2010, after approval by the European Parliament.

Romanian officials had previously said they hoped its next EU commissioner would have a "more significant" portfolio than current Multilingualism Commissioner Leonard Orban who has been in his post since 2007.

Ireland and Austria had also been hoping to be given the agriculture portfolio.

Protesters throw snowballs at prime minister
Unionists booed and threw snow balls at Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc today (Fri) in protest against the unitary pay law and the future pension law.

Romania still has problems, according to the US Human Rights report
Discrimination against the Roma and gays, Lesbians and transgender people is still happening in Romania, according to the Human Rights Report for 2009 issued by the US State Departament today (Fri).

Depeche Mode-inspired dance show in Bucharest
A dance show inspired by the lyrics and music of British rock band Depeche Mode is premiering today (Fri) at the Odeon Theatre in Bucharest.

Ikea buys its franchise in Bucharest
Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has bought its franchise in Romania, according to a statement by the company today (Fri).

MP proposes a ban on human cloning
A Romanian MP wants to ban human cloning by law.

Romanians bought fewer used German cars last year
Romanians bought 65.3 per cent fewer second hand cars from Germany last year, according to data released today (Fri) by the German Federal Statistics Office.

Bucharest-Bacelona flight interrupted by depressurisation
A plane owned by state-owned airline Tarom had to return to Henri Coanda airport today (Fri) due to technical problems.

Cigarettes factory found at farm
An illicit cigarette factory has been discovered by police at a farm in Mihail Kogalniceanu in Constanta county in southern Romania.

Traditional food fair in Bucharest this weekend
A traditional food fair is going to take place on Saturday and Sunday at the Romanian Peasant Museum in Bucharest.

Parents used their son to sell heroin
Two parents who used their teenager son to transport and sell heroin have been arrested by police in Bucharest.