Victor Negrescu: We are in steady reform process; Romania, strong supporter of European Semestre

Minister-delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu affirmed on Tuesday that Romania is "in a steady reform project", specifying that our country is " a strong supporter" of the European Semestre. 

"We are in a steady reform process, (...) that Romania acknowledges too and all the Euroepan states are going through these moments. (...) Our country, Romania is a strong supporter of this process, of the European Semestre, especially in the perspective of taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union, next year, and we especially support what the introduction of social criteria implies (...) in what this process represents," Victor Negrescu told the debate "2018 European Semester: country-specific recommendations and national response measures", organised at the seat of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE). 

According to Negrescu, in 1010, when the European Semestre was introduced, the references aimed the components related to the economic, fiscal and budget policies. 

"We should not forget, when we think of the country-specific recommendations that, as a matter of fact, (...) this process and everything the dialogue with the member states means must be carried out along what we established together, these economic components and of late, the social components. (...) We perceive the European Semestre as a collaboration mechanism between the European Commission and the member states and we certainly (...) need to look at realities," Negrescu said. 

He specified that he sometimes noticed "small inconstancies" in recommendation over the last years. 

"We often receive the recommendation regarding poverty reduction. (...) Or, when we increase the minimum wage, we get the recommendation 'Why did we raise the minimum wage?' Moreover, reference is made to the improvement of the public system and to the fact that civil servants need to have a decent income so as not to be affected by corruption and (...) to decently carry out the activities they are involved in at the level of the administrative apparatus. But when we increase the revenues of civil servants or of teachers or doctors, then other recommendations appear," Negrescu showed. 

At the same time he said that Romania "is not bothered" by the recommendations. 

"Romania, from 2013 until now (...) has managed to fulfill, at least partially, the country-specific recommendations. WE stand at a 68 percent rate of fulfillment of these recommendations. (...) Romania is not bothered by these recommendations, Romania is working alongside the European institutions to increase the quality of public services, to improve the economic environment," Negrescu added. 

Moreover, he specified that Romania "is not on the list of countries with serious issues in regard to what the structural deficit means." "There are more developed countries (...) which have serious issues with their budget structure," Negrescu further showed. 

The "2018 European Semester: country-specific recommendations and national response measures" debate was organised by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in partnership with the European Institute in Romania.