Romanian Economy minister announced that he will meet Gazprom president in Bucharest to discuss South Stream. Elsewhere in the news, Romania’s incumbent President appeals to coalition governing parties to cease mutual attacks. Last but not least, Romanians working abroad sent home 46% less money during the first 2009 semester.

Romanian Economy minister Adriean Videanu announced on Romanian TV channel Realitatea TV that he will meet Gazprom president Alexander Medvedev in Bucharest on September 21st, Adevarul reads. Discussions will focus on South Stream, Nabucco's direct competitor. Videanu did not forget to add that Nabucco is Romania's "political aim". Romania will make available the data Russia needs for a feasibility study.

But Nabucco is still the project to diversify Romania's sources and supply routes, the Economy minister said. "My opinion is that everybody supports Nabucco. (...) In my opinion, if Russia is invited, Russia will support this project as well, and I believe that any important energetic project in this part of Europe can have Russia as partner. Including Nabucco, if Nabucco's partners believe it to be important to call Russia as partners in this project... why not?", Videanu stated.

According to the publication, the Romanian President previously declared that Romania would not be left aside if South Stream was to become reality. Nabucco was set up to reduce EU's dependency on the Russian gas. South Stream is its main competition, the Russians finding support in the Italian company ENI, which is to link Russia and Bulgaria through the Black Sea.

Basescu appeals to the coalition parties’ responsibilities and wisdom, asking them to put an end to the "spiral of attacks" between them, Gandul reads. According to Romanian press agency Mediafax, President Basescu considers that these attacks could "gravely affect the governing act" by "blocking the communication between the two political parties". Romania's President requested PD-L and PSD to prioritise the needs of the citizens instead of the electoral campaign preparations.

The Presidential Administration report also mentions that the current governing coalition, made up by two parties with different doctrines, was formed with two major objectives in mind - adopting the reform measures that Romania needs and reducing the effects of the economic crisis.

Romanians working abroad sent home less money during the first semester: -46% against the same 2008 period, namely, 1.77 billion euros, Evenimentul Zileireads. The massive sacking all over Europe and in the US seems to be the main cause, the publication reads quoting Capital. A Romanian working in Italy said that the crisis has sent back many immigrants, leaving them unemployed.

The data made available by the Romanian National Bank (BNR) shows that the sums Romanians sent home during the first 2008 semester neared 3.25 billion euros. The biggest drop was recorded in Austria, from where Romanians sent four times less money. Western Union country director for Romania and Bulgaria said that Romanians continued to send money, buy in smaller amounts.

Part of the Romanians working abroad returned: about 850 of them addressed local job agencies. The Romanian National Agency for Employment (ANOFM) data show that there were 68,558 unemployed Romanians in Spain, 154 in Ireland and 1,495 in Austria in May.