The Governor of the National Bank of Romania (NBR), Mugur Isărescu, believes that joining the OECD is Romania's most important reform program, but said that ”no one presents it”. He said that everyone talks about all the reforms and everyone says something else, but if we enter the OECD it means that we have made a major reform program in the country, according to News.ro.
Mugur Isărescu was asked at a press conference on Wednesday whether there is money in Romania's budget for the economic recovery package, but also for the social package.
”I confess that I have read the recovery program in this way, but not in great depth. I believe that, talking about a recovery, insofar as the reforms continue, and by the way, I no longer know what reform means, joining the OECD is the most important reform program for this country. Nobody is presenting it. We talk about all the reforms, everyone says something else. If we enter the OECD, it means that we have made a major reform program in this country”said the NBR Governor.
He said that attracting European money is also a way to boost the recovery.
”And then, attracting European money as a method of recovery doesn't cost us much in terms of debt, some of it is grant funds, the interest rates are not high, they are low and they provide the financing. We are like walking around the world after money. You know, it doesn't look good. Especially if you walk around and stumble like that when you negotiate. So that would be a very solid recovery program and it must be put into practice. Now political parties are protecting their electorate and that's all I can say. That we don't get into politics from here. Or we try not to”said Mugur Isărescu.
On January 25, 2022, the OECD Council decided to start accession talks with all 6 aspirant countries - (in alphabetical order) Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru and Romania. The candidates were informed of the decision by a letter from the OECD SG, which also requested confirmation of their commitment to the values, principles and standards of the Organization as set out in the relevant OECD documents. At the OECD Council Ministerial meeting in June 2022, the Roadmap for Romania was adopted, together with those for the other four candidate countries - Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru.
During the OECD accession process, Romania is being assessed by 25 sectoral committees and has to internalize more than 270 OECD legal instruments into domestic legislation, policies and practices. So far Romania has obtained 20 of the 25 required opinions.