Lack of market economy officially acknowledged

Romania did not get the functioning market economy status “because it had to be found as existing first,” the interim European Integration minister Vasile Puscas on Wednesday said before the European Integration parliamentary committee. The minister presented the country report of the European Commission released on November 5. During his presentation, Puscas said the country report mentioned under the economic criteria chapter that “Romania can be considered as a functioning market economy and is required to continue the reforms and restructuring so that its market could be fully functional.” Puscas was requested to answer a few questions by PD (Democrat Party) deputy Mihai Baciu, who said EC’s phrasing was “solomonic” and meant Romania did not have a functioning market economy but would get this status. He answered by mentioning the Czech Republic, which was described in a similar manner by ’97-’99, and was later acknowledged as a functioning market economy. Next year is the deadline allowed for Romania to address all its functioning market economy status issues, said Onno Simons, deputy director of the European Commission Delegation in Bucharest. ZF