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04 February 2014

Romania: Statement at the conclusion of the IMF and EC staff visit


Teams from the IMF and the Commission visited Bucharest during January 21-February 4 to conduct discussions on the combined first and second reviews under the IMF Stand-By Agreement and on the status of Romania's precautionary balance of payments programme with the EU.

Staff level agreement has been reached. The programme remains broadly on track. Most end-December performance criteria were met and structural benchmarks have either been met or are nearing completion.

In 2013, real GDP growth picked up to an estimated 2.8 per cent, on the back of continued strong exports, while domestic demand remained subdued. Economic activity was driven mostly by robust industrial output and an abundant harvest. In 2014, real GDP is projected to advance by 2.2 per cent with domestic demand firming on the basis of a supportive policy framework, better absorption of EU funds, and an improvement in confidence. Historically low inflation is projected to decline further in the first half of 2014 before returning to the upper part of the central bank’s target band in the second half of 2014. The current account deficit is expected to remain between 1 and 1.5 per cent of GDP, contributing to Romania’s strong external position, which has helped the country weather recent pressures on emerging markets.

The authorities approved a budget consistent with a deficit target of 2.2 per cent of GDP for 2014. A subsequent delay in the implementation of excise taxes on fuel products will be compensated with freezes on the expenditure side. The authorities intend to continue fiscal adjustment in 2015, in order to reach Romania's medium-term budgetary objective of a structural deficit of 1 per cent of GDP, while also accommodating expected further increases in co-financing of projects supported by the EU.

Monetary policy continues to be accommodative, which has translated into a considerable reduction in lending rates. Combined with the government loan guarantee programmes, this should enable lending activity in lei to start a modest recovery. Notwithstanding pressures on asset quality, the banking sector continues to maintain reassuring capital, liquidity and provisioning buffers.

Progress on reducing state-owned enterprise arrears has stalled. However, corrective actions are being launched, including budgetary transfers and restructuring measures. An action plan to sustainably lower arrears over the medium term will be defined. Building on the success of the Romgaz IPO, progress toward completion of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of three other state-owned enterprises remains broadly on schedule. Regulatory reforms in energy and transport sectors are set to continue, as well as deregulation of the gas and electricity prices, in line with the earlier agreed roadmaps.

Press release



© European Commission


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