Newsflash 16.07.2013

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Valentin Țigău, 16.07.2013, 12:22

Lagarde visits Romania

On her first visit to Bucharest IMF general director Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday that Romania had excellent human capital and valuable energy resources that are however insufficiently capitalized on. In a speech held at the headquarters of the National Bank of Romania, Lagarde called on Romanian authorities to make efficient use of investments. The head of the IMF underscored that Romania had to carry on structural reforms, to streamline state-owned companies and enhance its absorption of EU funds, making it the engine of medium- and long-term economic growth. Measures pertaining to state-owned companies will be laid out in the next agreement Romania will be concluding with the IMF. Upon meeting with president Traian Basescu Christine Lagarde had said Romania wanted to conclude a new precautionary agreement with the IMF over a period of two years, following the successful completion of a similar agreement last month. A joint mission of the IMF and the European Commission will come to Bucharest on Wednesday with a view to starting talks on signing a new precautionary agreement with Romania.

Romania and the Republic of Moldova

Romania’s president Traian Basescu on Wednesday is paying his fifth official visit to the Republic of Moldova. The president’s last visit was in January 2010, in the wake of the demise of Vladimir Voronin’s communist rule and the investiture of the Alliance for European Integration. Basescu told Radio Free Europe on Tuesday that his main priority was Moldova’s EU accession over the next ten to tweleve years. President Basescu also excluded the possiblity of any integration as long as the Transnistrian conflict remains and as long as Russian military are stationed on Moldovan territory.

The Liberals want Silaghi as Transport Minister

The National Liberal Party in the ruling Social Liberal Union has nominated Liberal MP Ovidiu Silaghi for the position of Transport Minister after Relu Fenechiu resigned after he had received a conviction in a corruption case. Ovidiu Silaghi has previously headed the Transport Ministry in Victor Ponta’s first cabinet. Silaghi expressed hope that president Traian Basescu would consent to his investiture.

All-out strike in Greece

The main trade union organisations in Greece on Tuesday went on a 24-hour all-out strike, protesting against a draft law proposed by the Greek government providing for a slash in the number of public sector employees and the continued reduction of the budget deficit. Introducing this law is a prerequisite to the disbursement of an instalment of the bailout package granted by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Over the next period the Greek Government plans to put 12,500 workers into a so-called “mobility pool” by September. Those affected will be paid 75% of their normal salary.