Romania and the euro

President Klaus Iohannis said a "national consensus" was needed in Romania about joining the eurozone, as was "a rigorous calendar of economic, monetary, legislative and institutional measures.

"That's why we should soon start consultations with all political parties to reach a consensus on this issue," he added.

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.

National Bank of Romania Governor Mugur Isarescu restated on Friday his support for the adopting of euro by Romania.

In a message on Saturday on the 10th anniversary of the Accession Treaty between Romania and the European Union, Prime Minister Victor Ponta says EU membership offers Romania many economic and social advantages.

Photo credit (c): LIVIU SOVA / AGERPRES PHOTO

Adopting the euro currency by January 1 2019 means that we need to switch to the exchange rate mechanism (EMR II) first, by January 1, 2016, to be more precise, for which we are still unprepared, the governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), Mugur Isarescu, explained on Monday.

Photo credit: (c) Angelo BREZOIANU / AGERPRES PHOTO

Joining the eurozone could be Romania's next major country project, the aim after this move being for the Romanians' living standards to get in line with those of the eurozone citizens, head of the European Commission's Representation to Romania Angela Filote told a press conference.

Photo credit: (c) Angelo BREZOIANU / AGERPRES PHOTO

Bulgaria's government is starting talks with the governments of the 19 eurozone countries on joining the eurozone, according to Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov.

Goranov visited Vilnius Thursday on the occasion of the Lithuania's eurozone accession and the abolition of the local currency, the Lithuanian litas (LTL).