Fitch: The Business Environment in Romania slowed down its growth"

In the last year, the evolution of the business environment in our country recorded a stagnation, a constituting evidence that the structural and the institutional reforms were low, explains Andrew Colquhoun, analyst of the Financial Rating Agency "Fitch". He expresses his concern regarding the slowing down of the improvement of the business environment quality, as emphasized in the "Doing Business " report of the International Bank. Forty-seven is the place on which the International Bank places us, the same situation as last year, when we moved from the 55th place that we occupied in 2006. The analyst considers that, in theshort term, this situation is not very serious because our country benefits by the effect of the reforms made in order to join the European Union. "Nevertheless, in the long term, Romania runs the risk of remaining behind, at the same time with the progress of other states from the investment field, believes Andrew Colquhoun. The Association of Business People from Romania (AOAR) voices its dissatisfaction regarding the Government"s activity, concerning the publishing of the budget for 2009, according to an official announcement. Cristian Parvu, general secretary of AOAR, claims: " We are dealing with declarations which become more and more ambitious and multiple , regarding the governors" commitments, which would be credible if they materialized in budgets." Moreover, he mentioned that AOAR considers that the exclusive preoccupation of the Government with the third budgetary rectification, that will be surpassed, and namely for the fourth, are also reasons of major concern for the business environment. Varujan Vosganian, the Minister of Economy and Finance declared recently that a third budgetary rectification will be surpassed because of the parliamentary election.

AOAR considers that the public debate on both the State Budget for 2009 and that of the next 5 years, will force the political parties to give their clear opinion regarding the future fiscal system from Romania, the proposals from the political programs following to be judged through their capacity to assure, realistically and with stability, a balance between the income sources and the costs .

At the same time, AOAR expresses its concern with the business environment, preoccupied by the absence of foreseeing the fiscal policy and by the possibility of changing the rules, because of the absence of financial resources. They recall the obligation of our country, as a part of the European Union, to publicly present both the State Budget for at least 3 years but also the measure from the National Reform Plan, analyzed by the European Committee. Cristian Pârvan asserts: " The Budgetary Plan made by the Government in accordance with the Convergence Program for adhering to the European Union, would imply the commitment of the governors regarding the adhering process. However, its absence brings some question marks about adhering to the European union." He added also: " The considerable improvement of the efficiency costs of public revenues, through the elimination of the budgetary rectifications and through the reduction of the bureaucratic structures is mandatory, their good working leading to the necessary increase of the costs with fees, rates and taxes paid by the business environment."