Ponta: Romania's growing economy on EU pathway

BELGRADE - In 2014 and 2015, Romania remains one of the most important growing economies in the region, and economic indicators give hope that the ambition to join the euro zone in 2019 is a goal to achieve, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said in an exclusive opinion piece for Tanjug ahead of the Third Meeting of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European countries in Belgrade, which Tanjug publishes in full.

Last year, Romania had one of the highest growth rates in the EU (3.5 %) in 2013, and this year will remain among the first three countries in terms of economic growth.

The GDP in the third trimester of 2014 was in real terms bigger by 1.9% compared to the second trimester of 2014. I said the day before yesterday that based on our data, and the European Commission's estimates, we were to have an economic growth of around 1%, and I was challenged that it was not true. I am glad that it was not 1%, but 1.9%, therefore, almost double! I want to remark that compared to the same trimester of 2013 - and 2013 was a good economic growth year - GDP in 2014 grew by 3.2%", said Mr. Ponta on November 14, after the National Institute of Statistics published the official data on Romania's economic situation.

That means that compared to a good year - 2013, and to a good trimester - the third trimester of 2013, the growth is important, said Mr. Ponta.

The other news regarding the overall evolution compared to 2013: in the first nine months of 2014, Romania's GDP grew, compared to the same interval of 2013, by 2.8 % per gross series and 3.1 % per seasonally adjusted series. This means that, if in 2013 we had one of the largest economic growth rates in the EU - 3.5 % - this year, we can again reach 3 %,...

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