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PM Ponta: We concluded 2013 with 2.5% deficit and higher economic growth
Romania concluded 2013 with a budget deficit of 2.5% of GDP and an economic growth higher than foreseen, premier Ponta announced on Monday.“We concluded this year with a deficit of 2.5% of GDP, when there are few countries under 3% at European level. We also have a higher economic growth than the one foreseen,” Ponta declared for Romania TV.The budget deficit grew in November by 2.2 billion lei, from 7.6 billion lei in the previous month to 9.8 billion lei and 1.56% of GDP, under the 2.5% target established with IMF.
After the first 10 months the general consolidated budget deficit represented 1.21% of GDP. The budget execution concluded with excess in October.Romanian authorities negotiated with IMF a new deficit target for this year, on the rise from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP, the difference coming from additional expenses for co-financing projects made with European funds.For last year the government, IMF and European Commission anticipated an economic growth of 2.2% when the initial target was set at 1.6%.
2013 a very good year, I want us to even better govern in 2014
2013 has been a very good year in government, a thing also proved by the figures showing Romania has recorded one of the biggest growths in the European Union, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said in the opening of the Government's meeting on Tuesday, adding 'I want us to even better govern in 2014'.
'I want to thank you all. 2013 has been a very good year. Not even the propaganda succeeds in spoiling these things. We have one of the biggest growths in the EU. It is not necessarily because we wished it, but with the support of (Minister-delegate for Budget Liviu) Voinea we have one of the lowest budget deficits in the EU. It is by the work of you all - I usually congratulate Mr (Eugen) Teodorovici (the European Funds Minister - editor's note), but I am well aware it is also about the ministers of regional development, environment, transport, labour, education and all the others - that we certainly have Europe's biggest increase in the absorption rate of the European funds. We ended in more than 30 percent and I congratulate the ministers, but you must thank the chiefs of the Authorities, of the intermediate bodies and let us keep the pace in 2014 too', Ponta said.
The prime minister underscored Romania recorded the highest growth in agriculture in 2013, not only thanks to the favourable weather, but also to the subsidies that were paid on time.
'It is the first year in at least 20 years when we no longer import more food than we export, which I think was a curse on this rich country', he stressed.
Ponta added 2013 was also the year in which the Government made good on its promises of raising the pensions and wages.
'I want us in 2014 to govern even better than in 2013. You already have more experience, you have all that you need for things to go to the right direction. And we also have the good news that the main adversary of the Government of Romania is packing his things. /.../ The bad news is he will still block enough things, enough important projects', the prime minister said.