The fulfillment of pledges made by the Romanian authorities to the European officials does not automatically trigger the functional market economy status for Romania, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Romania, Jonathan Scheele, said on Monday. He admitted the measures were important, nevertheless outlining that, without them, Romania would never be granted the functional market economy status.
“The status cannot be obtained only by checking boxes. It is impossible to say that there are warranties you actually have a functional market economy, even if all eight measures are checked. However, without the eight measures accomplished, Romania is very unlikely to get the status,” Scheele said.
During his visit to Brussels last week, Prime Minister Adrian Nastase presented to the European officials a plan of measures, mainly in the field of privatisation, which is to be carried out by November 5, when the European Commission is to release the annual report on Romania’s evolution throughout 2003. The authorities in Bucharest hope Romania’s market economy status will also be mentioned.
The Romanian Government is planning to close the sale contract for 25% in Banca Comerciala Romana (Romanian Commercial Bank – BCR) to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation. The plan also stipulates the sale-purchase contract of the main stake in Tractorul Brasov, the privatisation of Roman Brasov and Aro Campulung or “some alternative procedures” for these companies. The plan also targets firm offers for privatising two power distribution units, Electrica Dobrogea and Electrica Banat.
Other measures eye the privatisation process for reorganising the rail roads, the privatisation of SNP (National Oil Company) Petrom, the budget draft for 2004 and final talks with the International Monetary Fund on the current agreement. miruna.lebedencu@zf.ro