“Cautious attitude” in spending public money

Prime Minister Emil Boc said that the 2012 draft budget must reflect cautiousness and
must exclude “another wave of wages and pensions cuts”.

Criticised by the opposition for the way the draft budget for the next year looks, the
Prime Minister explained that a cautious attitude would be necessary in spending the
public money.

Prime Minister Emil Boc once again gave details on Radio România about the principles
the Government considered when drawing up the draft budget and did not show any
optimism regarding an increase in people’s incomes, pointing out though that some
measures would be taken, if possible.

Even if Romania is in a better economic situation than other countries from the European
Union, and this, according to Prime Minister Emil Boc, due to the measures taken by
the Government and sustained by the population, still it is necessary that the 2012 draft
budget should be a realistic one and exclude from the start having to cut wages and
pensions again.

According to the Prime Minister, there are a series of advantages to be approved,
including one of the smallest public debts in the European Union, one of the lowest
inflation rates from the last 20 years and a deficit under control.

Investments and jobs, the priorities of the Government for 2012

Emil Boc added that in 2012 the priorities of the Government would be creating new
jobs and investments. That is why, through the last budget rectification more money
was given to certain ministers. Even so, the Minister of Education will not receive less
money, Emil Boc sustaining that the funds would be given based on relevance.

“City halls used to cover the maintenance expenses of schools. Now, the Government
will cover these expenses for each student by using a different formula, as a consequence
of the enforcing of the National Education Law, and city halls will no longer pay from its
old budget. So, this is what it is all about, in essence, about enforcing a clear provision of
the National Education: the money has to fallow the student”, the Prime Minister said.

Most of the money will be given to the Minister of Health, Emil Boc stating that the
money was necessary to pay hospitals’ debts and for medicines.

Apart from this money, other measures are necessary, including a new health law and a
minimal services package, but also some special provisions for doctors, according to the Prime Minister.

“In 2012 we will be able to establish in some areas, by Government decision, exceptions
from the rule of seven people occupying the same job. If we notice that there is a bigger
demand of jobs in the health system, or in the education system, or maybe in some
departments of the administration, trough Government decision we will create more jobs,
because, the reorganisation process has been starting to show results and we will be able to correct possible mistakes”, Prime Minister Boc said.

An important factor in obtaining an economic growth of 4.5 percent in the third quarter of
this year was the agriculture and the fact that farmers received their subventions in time.

He also assured farmers of maintaining the same level of subventions in 2012.

Translated by: Violeta Mavrodin

MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University