Romanian PM Accepts Resignation of Deputy Fin Min Alice Bitu

Bitu submitted her resignation on Tuesday, the press office said in a statement. It did not elaborate but Bitu told local privately-held news agency Mediafax she has resigned over personal reasons.

Alice Cezarina Bitu was appointed to the post in early 2006 as one of the two deputy ministers in charge of managing EU funds within the Finance and Economy Ministry. Romania, which joined the bloc last year, has no separate ministry of European integration which exists in other EU member states.

In August, the European Commission suspended 28.3 million euro ($40.9 million) in payments to Romania under the EU's pre-accession SAPARD programme due to deficiencies in the implementation of the programme in the country.

Romania faces parliamentary elections on November 30.

($ = 0.7058 euro)