Romanian President Nicușor Dan stated on Thursday, upon arrival at the European Council meeting in Brussels, that he will have a discussion with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in which he will present the internal political situation and the status of Romania’s commitments to the European Commission.
„I will explain to the Government, the majority, what has happened in these weeks and the two subjects we have open with the Commission: the deficit and the PNRR,” said the head of state. The main message he says he will convey is one of trust: „We are serious people who, from the moment we formed the Government, will keep our word.”
Pressure is mounting from Brussels: Romania under EU scrutiny due to the deficit
The president's statements come just a few days after Brussels issued a new firm recommendation regarding Romania's fiscal situation, as the country is under an excessive deficit procedure.
To avoid additional sanctions, the EU Council requires Romania to ensure that "the pace of expenditure growth does not exceed 2.8% in 2025 and 2.6% in 2026," and sets a deadline until October 15, 2025, for our country to adopt "effective actions" and present a clear plan to correct the imbalances.
"Given the deterioration of the fiscal position, the scope of the reforms must be extended," the document published on Monday states. It even calls for a more ambitious tax reform that generates significantly higher additional revenues than 1.7% of GDP, as well as measures to improve tax collection and strict control over public expenditures, especially those related to the public sector payroll.
The danger of a fiscal crisis
The official document comes after last week's ECOFIN meeting found that Romania has not taken effective measures to reduce the deficit. In this context, the Commission may propose additional measures, including freezing European funds or conditioning them on clear reforms, if Bucharest does not act swiftly.
Thus, Nicușor Dan's meeting with Ursula von der Leyen is not a routine one, but one with high stakes, at a time when the credibility of the Romanian government is being tested on the European stage.