PRESS RELEASE

Three working teams made of the most important economists in Romania will cooperate with Romania?s Delegation of Negotiations in order to determine the best solutions for the economic chapters under negotiation: Agriculture, Energy and Competition.

This working approach was proposed at the seminar „Perspectives and challenges of the Romanian economy in the context of the negotiation process”, which took place at the European Institute of Romania in the afternoon of 2 February 2004. Mr. Vasile Puscas, Minister Delegate, Chief Negotiator with EU, representatives of many ministries, of the National Bank, experts in economy, representatives of universities, members of research institutes in Romania, banks, international financial institutions, etc. participated in this meeting.

In the meeting, Romania?s positions for the negotiation chapters Agriculture, Energy and Competition were presented and the best solutions as the foundation of the negotiation strategy for the next period were discussed.

Minister Vasile Puscas,Chief Negotiatior with EU, revealed: „I am happy we can work together with such a group of specialists for the economic chapters, because in this way we shall succeed to determine the best solutions in negotiations, to defend national interest and to permit the Romanian economy to integrate into the European economy”.

The working groups made of economic experts will continue their activity analyzing further tender subjects regarding negotiation of Romania?s accession to the EU.