Romania: President Traian Basescu seeks relaxation of Maastricht criteria application

January 22, 2010

Bucharest, Jan 22 /Agerpres/ - President Traian Basescu wishes to approach, on the occasion of the upcoming European Council, the possibility of relaxation of Maastricht criteria application in this period.

'Criteria we must fulfill from budget standpoint practically block our access to a great part of the European financing sources for the simple reason that Romania has to come up with own contributions in order to draw European financing, or to use the European Investment Bank money. My goal is to also discuss with the European Commission and with the Council to see to what extent a relaxation is likely as for the application of the Maastricht criteria in this difficult period', announced the head of state, present on Thursday evening, in the Palace of Parliament, in the reception given by the Romanian German Chamber of Trade and Industry.

The President also noted that there are other states in the euro zone currently failing to meet these criteria.

'I do not want to offend anybody, I do not intend to point my finger to others, but there are many states in the euro zone currently failing to meet the Maastricht criteria. Therefore, Romania is seeking an equal treatment with the states in the euro zone, when we discuss fulfillment of Maastricht criteria because a relaxation of these criteria would ease our access to the European money', said Traian Basescu.

The head of state added that an analysis of the state budget proves that Romania must make 'a consistent negotiation effort' in relation with the European Union, to have the needed margin, so it can implement investments and use the European money.

'We have extremely harsh budget constraints, generated by Maastricht criteria, but also very high spending with the state and social assistance. We have very harsh constraints from the standpoint of meeting the Maastricht criteria in order to attain the objective to join the euro zone in 2014-2015', emphasized Traian Basescu. AGERPRES

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