RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The European Commission publishes country report on Romania

The European Commissions latest country report on Romania reveals both positive and negative aspects.

The European Commission publishes country report on Romania
The European Commission publishes country report on Romania

, 23.02.2017, 13:00

The routine assessment
of Member States made by the European Commission in the form of semester
country reports looks at the progress or delays in key fields, from the economy
to social policy, education and justice. According to the latest such analysis,
in most EU countries the economic recovery has contributed to a decrease in
unemployment, although this figure is still above pre-crisis levels.




For Romania,
which celebrated a decade of EU membership on January 1, the report highlights
the good state of the economy and social policies, but expresses concern for a
prospective miss of the budget deficit ceiling of 3% of the GDP and for threats
to the progress made so far in curbing corruption. Financial stability improved
in 2016, and so did banks’ capital positions and liquidities. According to the
report of the European Commission, over the past two years Romania has seen
steady economic growth, with the rate peaking at 4.9% in 2016. On the downside,
the substantial tax cuts prompted the widening of the budget deficit last year
to 2.8% of the GDP, with a further deepening, to 3.6% and 3.9% expected in 2017
and 2018 respectively.




The labour
market improved, salaries went up and unemployment rates lowered. The poverty
rate, one of the highest in the Union, decreased, but social inequality remains
a problem, affecting in particular the youth, large families, disabled people,
the Roma and rural population. In healthcare, reforms were initiated in 2016,
but the system is struggling with inefficiency and corruption, and access to
healthcare is limited, particularly in rural communities. In education, the
report mentions insufficient measures to prevent school dropout and low access
to higher education for rural youth. Reforms in public administration were
stepped up in 2016, but according to the European Commission, these are still
not enough.




Corruption
remains an obstacle for business and a problem in all fields. Although Romania
has made efforts to fight it in recent years, the progress in this respect is
now under threat, says the report, mentioning as an example the emergency
decrees issued by the new government, formed by the Social Democratic Party and
the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, in an attempt to amend the Criminal
Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. The measure, seen as an attempt to clean
the slate for influential local and central administration officers and
politicians under criminal investigation or prosecution, was eventually
abandoned, but only as a result of warnings from Romania’s Western partners, of
criticism from the media and the opposition and, more importantly, after
massive protests from hundreds of thousands of people who took to the streets
in Bucharest and other major cities in Romania and abroad.

Signing of the protocol (foto:
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

Transition program towards F-35, launched

The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.   Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter...

Transition program towards F-35, launched
Energy (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

The National Energy Strategy, adopted

Using local resources, reducing imports and making massive investments in production capacity are important elements of the new National Energy...

The National Energy Strategy, adopted
European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company