Romania Most Likely To Get Next Tranches Of IMF Loan – PM

„I believe there will be no problems in getting the next tranches of the loan as the country fulfilled its engagements and the program will continue,” Boc said.

The prime minister met Saturday with the representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the World Bank and held talks on the possibility of increasing government guarantees to co-finance local administration European projects.

Boc said that increasing the ceiling of government guarantees would help the absorption of European funds to co-finance local administration projects and projects of other institutions managing European funds.

People close to the matter told MEDIAFAX that the European Commission representatives asked the World Bank to check the organization and functioning of Romania’s public sector.

Discussions also focused on issues regarding Romania’s arrears, after the country has already asked for derogation from the performance criteria set for September.

Talks with the IMF and the EC also touched on the country’s pension law that must be approved by the half of the year and be enforced in 2011.

An IMF mission is in Romania between January 20 and January 27 to assess the country’s economic performance in view of disbursing additional EUR2.3 billion from its loan.

Romania and the IMF signed last spring a EUR12.95 billion two-year arrangement as part of a wider EUR19.95 billion aid package which includes funds from the EU, the World Bank and other international lenders.