IMF delegation does not ask for tax increases, says minister of finance

   The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation present in Bucharest these days did not ask Romania for drastic measures, tax increases or austerity measures, stated the minister of finance, Tanczos Barna, who met on Thursday with the new head of the IMF mission in Romania, Joong Shik Kang."By gradually restoring the budget balance, we will be able to avoid exactly those painful measures that Romania was forced to take during the 2009 crisis and which, rightly, still generate fear among the people regarding the visits of the International Monetary Fund. The International Monetary Fund delegation is on an informal working visit to Bucharest and, contrary to the alarmist rumors of the last few days, did not ask Romania for drastic measures, tax increases or austerity measures," the minister of finance wrote on his Facebook page.Tanczos Barna stated that, during the discussion with the representative of the international financial institution, he reaffirmed the commitment of the Romanian authorities to reduce the budget deficit and create a more flexible state in the next 7 years, increasing allocations for investments that support the economy."We agreed that Romania must regain the trust of international partners and investors, and this is possible only by respecting the commitments assumed and by bringing stability and predictability to the country's finances. We have already taken the first step, by adopting the budget, and now a consistent implementation is necessary," the same source emphasised.An International Monetary Fund mission is visiting Bucharest, from February 3 to 7, for an analysis of the latest economic developments and an update of the forecasts.Currently, Romania does not have an ongoing financing agreement with the International Monetary Fund, but the financial institution annually assesses the development of the Romanian economy, based on consultations on Article IV.