PM Tudose on joining eurozone: we are on that path, work needed on convergence

According to Romanian PM Mihai Tudose, Romania is committed to join the eurozone but still has a long way to go when it comes to convergence. Between July 10-11, Tudose visited Brussels where he presented the governing program of the new executive during meetings with high EU officials.

Romania’s joining the eurozone is a commitment the country took on once it became an EU member state, Tudose said in Brussels. “It is a commitment we took on when we joined the EU (…) We are on that path, but have work to do on convergence, a lot of work to do,” Tudose said during a press conference.

According to the Romanian PM, there is no deadline for Romania’s joining the EU. “We did not set a deadline. As soon as possible, but we do not want to burn some stages, so that then we do more harm than good,” Tudose said.

The head of the Government also spoke of the upcoming Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU, a common topic of the meetings he had in Brussels. “Minister Victor Negrescu (minister delegate for European Affairs) is very involved, has experience in the European Parliament and will collaborate very well, as far as I could tell, both with president Tusk, as well as with first vice-president Timmermans to ensure the continuity in what concerns the major European projects, starting from that of social cohesion,” Tudose explained.