PM Ciolacu: Discussions with Ursula von der Leyen focused on Romania's key priorities

Romania's Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that his discussions on Friday in Brussels with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen focused on Romania's key priorities, mentioning among them the acceleration of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), budget deficit reduction without raising VAT, and election security."Important discussions today with President von der Leyen on Romania's key priorities: PNRR acceleration - ensuring efficient fund absorption and requesting an extension for major projects. Budget deficit reduction without raising VAT - focus on digitalization and tax collection. Election security - combating disinformation and cyber threats," Ciolacu wrote on Friday in a social media post.He added that ned that also discussed was Europe's role in peace talks, insisting that "Romania must be at the table!"."A strong European Union means a stronger Romania! Stronger together, the EU and Romania," Ciolacu concluded.   Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also said that Romania will request the modification of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and that this will most likely be done in March."We are in the middle of an economic dynamic. We thought that certain projects would mature in a certain time, we have certain legislation in place on public procurements, tenders, challenges and it is normal that the NRRP should be discussed after a given period against the backdrop of these developments. Greece and Italy have finished this discussion and Romania is going to have it too. It's just normal. I think this will happen in March," specified Ciolacu.The prime minister mentioned that on Friday he had a discussion with EC President Ursula von der Leyen, and the priority topic was the payment request No. 3 and the renegotiation of the NRRP."We also talked about target 119, which provides for the closure of certain coal-fired capacities at the end of the year. There were several negotiations, given that we pledged a deficit of 7% this year, to try to transfer the projects that have very high co-financing share from the national budget to cohesion, and make investments with lower co-financing a priority this year. We initiated this approach, the next step is for me together with the finance minister and the European investments minister to hold meetings with each minister who has NRRP projects underway," said the head of the government.Marcel Ciolacu also specified that the tax reform was also a subject of discussion with the EC president, and assured again that neither the VAT will be raised, nor "will the flat tax rate be touched."  (Photo:https://gov.ro/)