PM Emil Boc

I just want to mention that concerning the Schengen Area, we very much appreciate your support. Romania is interested just to have the same rules applied to it as it was applied to other countries that entered into the Euro Area, and we are aware of the fact that our country is going to be an external border of the European Union, we do not ask for any exceptions concerning the technical criteria, and all the data the Europe needs, we are ready to provide them.
We just want not to attach on the road other criteria in order to enter into the Schengen Area. Secondly, as you already know, we are part of an Agreement with the European Commission and the World Bank, and in 2012, I can tell you that Romania is respecting all the engagements in the agreement with the IMF, European Commission, World Bank. We are in the process of expecting 4. 4 public deficit for 2012, and also to have 1.5 economic growth, according to our agreement with the European Union.
And last but not least, as I am coming from a meeting with Governor and other members of the Euro zone, Romania is keeping the target 2015 as a date to get into the Euro zone. In this aspect, Romania is moving in the right direction concerning the public deficit, the level of debt and inflation are as I have already mentioned, in the criteria in order to have in 2015 the Eurozone there. Again, welcome, and thank you for your support and we will provide any information that you will need.

Mr. Gunther Krichbaum
Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. First of all, we share your opinion; I think that Schengen issue should be once again put on the agenda of the Summit in December, we are looking for a solution. We know we ought to convince our European partners.
Second remark, we know that the reforms, especially the financial and budgetary reforms in Romania have a deep effect on population, they are really tough reforms, but they have no alternative for doing it, because it decides in a way about the future of the country, because we are a competition, not only in Europe, but with globalization, in the world. So, today, you take the decision versus two, five, ten years. So, these decisions which are very hard for the population are without any alternative! We are convinced and I think IMF too that when you solve all these reforms needed, the future of your country will be a very successful and prosperous one!
Third remark, I think after the two summits that we had, we are convinced that the markets will calm down, we will see also success. I think the news that are coming from the market are also very encouraging, so we heard the echo coming from EU and China, and so, we thought that we can finalize a come on of the markets, especially that we must feel aided by a certain situation, atmosphere of trust between the banks in Europe.
Last remark from my side, I think also the last decisions, take only the energy policy in Romania, are very encouraging, to find international investors, huge French company, I will not mention it but I think it is well-known in the area of Suceava, is one good point, may be they invest, I am interested to hear more from your side, and then from Chinese companies, in Cluj, I think it will be one break in the wall, that perhaps one to aid Romania to be able to export energy to other countries, especially in the area, because Romania has also a strategic role in the area.
I think it can also be very encouraging news, because energy is the main tool for companies which want to invest and they need a secured supplied energy on the one hand, and on the other hand…but in this direction, the news we got from Romania is a good one.

PM Emil Boc

We are now in the process to use the public –private partnership which was ratified in the Parliament, and we have agreement with the European Union in this moment to promote big projects like infrastructure or energy, and other projects in Romania to use this possibility of having a public –private partnership as a way to modernize our whole infrastructure in Romania.
It is going to be a key element for next year, in order to develop Romania, because nowhere in the world, in the budget, you do not have all the money in order to support the investment. You have to use this instrument of public – private partnership, and we are going to use it at the national level and also at the local level. I used for example in the field of energy different type of constructions. We are moving in this direction and I hope to see the progress very soon.
You mentioned about the measures Romania took last year, especially in order to be better from economic point of view. I have to recognize that without the support of Romanians, their support to put Romania back on track, from economic point of view, without their support and their effort; this would not have been possible. This was the effort of Romanians and now, they will be the ones to get the results, from the economic point of view in the future to come, in the context of the European Union. This was one of the reasons why we still keep the target of 2015 as a euro area moment. For that, we have to work and to stay with the public deficit, the level of debt, inflation, according to the European rules. And now, we are moving on that direction, step by step. As you may know, the level of debt of Romania is around 31 percent, lower than other countries in the European Union. The inflation is now getting down month by month, and we are getting with the norms of the European Union. Now, we want to consolidate this process, not to take steps back, otherwise we would destroy what we have done so far.