CĂLIN POPESCU TĂRICEANU: "The 2009 state budget needs to be revised"

Prime Minister Călin Popescu Tăriceanu stated in Brussels, after the reunion of the European Council, that it"s likely that Romania might exceed its budget deficit mark and the 2009 budget draft must be redone.

Călin Popescu Tăriceanu explained: "There is the possibility of Romania exceeding its budget deficit. Not because of government expenditures which are intended for consumption, but rather because of the government expenses intended for investment projects or for supporting major investment projects which are already planned".

The Prime Minister has thus mentioned Dacia Renault"s projects, (the Titu technological center), or the Craiova project, where, according to Tăriceanu, the state intends to offer guarantees to the European Investment Bank for funding the projects.

Călin Popescu Tăriceanu stated: "We might consider this kind of scheme for Voestalpine"s investment in Constanţa. This is by no means a comprehensive list of the projects that would receive support, as this category might include infrastructure projects as well".

The Prime Minister claimed that all countries, Romania included, should actively support their economy and enterprises in order to preserve economic growth and jobs.

Călin Popescu Tăriceanu further added: "The active steps that states want to take, which we have already discussed in Romania, may lead to exceeding the budget deficit set by the Maastricht criteria. Many have argued that, as we are in a crisis, we should take exceptional measures. Others have said that we should strictly comply with these criteria. The Government considers that in extraordinary circumstances, we should take exceptional steps ".

Tăriceanu underlined that next year"s budget must "clearly" be redone, given the changes on an economic level seen lately.

"Next year"s budget will have to take into account a reasonable deficit - for what is a normal budget - with the revenue and expenses scheduled to cover all the areas of activity to which we could then add these amounts that will take the budget deficit above 3% and which are intended for investments and investment projects ", concluded Tăriceanu, quoted by Newsin.