EU slowdown, no excuse for Romanian exports to follow suit

Romania has no reason why it should not maintain the two-digit target for the annual growth of its exports, though its main trade partner, the European Union, is confronted with a weak economic period, stated Pascal Lamy, the EU Trade Commissioner, in an interview with Ziarul Financiar.
“Romanian exports continue to have growth opportunities, through diversification, by gaining some market segments that have been little or not at all approached, despite the slow dynamics of the EU economy,” the trade commissioner explained.
He says that, however, Romania needs to improve its exports structure, to increase the weight of high added value products. This process should be a “natural” one, though. “Once modern functional market economy conditions become operative, investments are naturally directed toward sectors having competitive edges, without the authorities needing to handle this operation any longer. Authorities only need to secure the general functioning of market mechanisms,” states Lamy.
Year 2007 as the year of Romania’s integration in the European Union must be regarded as a target, and not as a guarantee, the commissioner also said.
“Romania’s target is clear with regard to its integration in the European Union, the course is clearly set and all Romania has to do is follow it without any change of direction or speed. This course, however, entails full action in the domain of reform,” says Lamy.
Pascal Lamy has been a European Commission member in charge of the Union’s common trade policy since 1999.