Nastase plans every step of governing

Adrian Nastase-led Government has minutely planned its goals by 2004. The Action Plan for PDSR Governing Programme, including all the measures and the projects to be applied by Nastase-led Government in economy, politics, “the revival of national culture” and education, was published in the Official Gazette.

The document is very detailed and even specifies deadlines for organising seminaries on competition legislation (December 2001), promoting a Government decision to settle the way budgetary funds are allotted to pay for artificial insemination of cattle and swine (June 2002) or organising meetings and conferences on finding solutions for SME problems (2001-2004). The document has 80 pages.

The structure of the Government Action Plan bears resemblance to the Medium and Long Term Economic Strategy drafted by the former Isarescu-led Cabinet and aiming at EU accession.

PSDR and the trade unions last year opposed the public utilities privatisation, proposing that this process should be put on hold until they are restructured.

Adopting the practice of drafting White Books, as well as the habit to take over governing, Nastase-led Cabinet pledges to draw a White Book for Utilities Restructuring and Liberalisation by December.

The Government is planning to privatise at least two production companies and two distribution firms operating in the field of thermal and electric power every year, starting this fall.

The strategy for the privatisation of electric and thermal power production and distribution had to be concluded by March this year. The Industry Ministry is still discussing the electric power strategy, but it has not made anything public yet.

On the other hand, the plan stipulates that 10% of the share capital should be privatised by share sale-purchase contracts concluded with the employees’ association by December this year. The state has to float a package of 35% on the international capital market by the end of next year.

Petrom had to be listed on the Stock Exchange by the end of June, but the floatation prospects will only be presented in June, while the further listing procedures will take another few months.

The action plan also stipulates that Sidex, Alro and Alprom should be put up for sale by the end of June this year. The National Salt Company is due to be privatised in 2004.

The Privatisation Authority has already transferred its shares in RomTelecom and other companies in this field to the Communication Ministry, Tourism Ministry, Education Ministry and Industry Ministry.

BCR privatisation programme should be revised by the end of the year in order to make the process more efficient and increase the bank’s share capital.

The plan also stipulates that the insurance market supervision should improve, the activity of Eximbank should be restructured and several normative acts for CEC (Savings Bank) reorganisation should be drawn in order to revise the bank’s statute.