President Nicusor Dan, EC President Ursula von der Leyen discuss PNRR, measures to reduce deficit

President Nicusor Dan told a press conference in Brussels on Friday that he had discussed with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen about the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the reduction of Romania's budget deficit.The two officials met on the sidelines of the European Council meeting.'We had a discussion in principle on the two topics that concern us: the deficit and the measures to reduce it, the PNRR and how to optimise the use of the funds available to us until August next year. That was the discussion,' the head of state said.The plan, along with the package of measures, will be presented to the European Commission.'We will have a set of measures, some of which are included in the governing programme. These need to be translated into legislative acts, and the Government has committed to having a first set of such acts passed by Parliament in an extraordinary session by the end of July. Some of them will be implemented starting 1 August, and others from 1 January next year,' announced President Nicusor Dan.   Romania is "in a state of economic decline", President Nicusor Dan said.The head of state said in a press conference held on Thursday night, after attending the European Council meeting, that "Romania needs economic recovery"."We have been in a state of economic stagnation for several years and it is necessary to balance state spending that should infuse oxygen, give the private sector the possibility to develo," he said.Nicusor Dan compared the economic situation to a "disease". "You take a pill, you don't like it, but you get well", the president exemplified.He pointed out that some austerity measures will bring social justice, "they will repair many injustices"."When people see this type of measures, the feeling of dissatisfaction will be alleviated," the head of state emphasized.    He said that there are 'around 200 specific bonuses' in the public sector, 'some justified, others not,' but due to the authorities being under time pressure to reduce the deficit, 'some rather rough measures will be taken.'The head of state mentioned during a press conference in Brussels, after the European Council meeting, that approximately 200 bonuses in the public sector had been analysed.'There is a list of around 200 specific bonuses which, in different branches, various state employees have obtained through legislative amendments, because we have a Salary Law that has been amended sector by sector, specifically, around 200 times. Unfortunately, we are under time pressure for deficit reduction measures, and an analysis of 200 bonuses - some of which may be justified, others not - cannot be done in just a few weeks, and that is why some rather rough measures will be taken,' the president explained.According to him, over the course of one or two years, 'all components' of the public sector will be analysed.'I have lost out on my salary by changing roles,' said Nicusor Dan. (Photo:https://www.presidency.ro/)