PM Ponta: Romania wants to join Eurozone in H2, 2019; political consensus is needed

Prime Minister Victor Ponta says Romania wants to join the Eurozone in the second half of 2019 and for that to happen it takes a political consensus.

'Romania wants to join the Eurozone in the second half of 2019. That is a symbolic moment because at that time Romania will hold the rotating presidency of the EU. But there are some essential steps to be taken in order to achieve the objective. Firstly, we need political consensus that will see us through to 2019. Secondly, we need the involvement in the project of representatives of the business world: employers' associations, SMEs and trade unions. People have to understand what the switchover to the euro currency means, what the advantages and disadvantages of it are,' Ponta wrote in a message posted on Friday on his Facebook account.

President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Victor Ponta and National Bank of Romania (BNR) Governor Mugur Isarescu on Thursday discussed Romania switching over to the European single currency, with Iohannis saying he will also consult with the parliamentary parties.

"Given the special complexity of the process of joining the Eurozone, President Klaus Iohannis launched consultations on this topic, so that Romania is best prepared and the adoption of the euro is beneficial to all citizens," the Presidential Administration explained.

The talks aimed to identify the main steps and responsibilities, in economic and institutional terms, for the single currency adoption in accordance with the commitments taken by the government under the 2015-2018 Convergence Programme.

It was also decided to set up a Coordination Committee for the process, to ensure the planning, coordination and monitoring of the stages and responsibilities necessary for reaching this...