2003, the year of functional market economy

Privatisation of the state-run farming companies has to be completed by yearend, as does the sale of the stakes held by the State in the large and very large companies included in the PSAL and RICOP programmes, Romania’s Negotiator for the EU Vasile Puscas said. The Romanian official added the authorities this year would focus on privatising the companies in the portfolio of the Industry and Resources Ministry, which holds more than 45% of the total state capital. Puscas feels the main criteria to obtain the market economy status are completing the privatisation of the state-run companies, deregulation of prices and trade, regulation of the property statute and attracting a larger foreign investment volume. Other goals targeted are attaining a Q1 through Q3 economic growth in line with the full-year 5.2% objective, cutting company-to-budget and company-to-company arrears and enforcing a tighter salary discipline in the public sector. ZF