Today, Public Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu has dismissed, at the end of Government meeting, information that appeared in the media alleging that the Romanian authorities reported inaccurate statistics and that did not comply with the budget deficit set with the IMF for 2009.

Regarding the respective data reflection in the budget deficit for 2009, Minister Sebastian Vladescu said that this macroeconomic indicator was met in the margin of the target agreed with IMF.

"The letter of intent with IMF stipulated a deficit in nominal terms of 36.5 billion lei, this deficit target has been achieved," Finance Minister has assured, stating that the budget deficit is set in nominal terms, not percent of GDP taking into account that there are always differences between estimates and achievements.

"Romania does not falsify statistical data. Data provided by the Ministry of Finance are those the Minister has with him, when delivering the communication. They are corrected during the year, in accordance with European statistical standards. There is no error, intention or attempt to falsify statistics, “Minister of Finance has stated. Minister Sebastian Vladescu has also outlined that Romania had "no problem" related to statistics communicated to Eurostat and has stated that "the intention to mix up now Romania with Greece is at least malevolent”.

The Finance Minister has given some examples revealing that it is normal to have differences between estimated gross domestic product, half-finalized data made public one year after the initial estimates and final data which are to be published in two years after the first estimates. "A country like Belgium, for instance, has a difference between the estimates of 2008 and what was communicated in 2009 of -1.22%. Poland has a difference of +0.31, Denmark - a difference of 1.9%, Italy - a difference of 2.29. Therefore, such differences are the results of statistical calculations, they have no connection with any intention of the respective state, “Minister of Public Finance has stated.

Regarding Romania, Minister Sebastian Vladescu also added that the assessment for 2009 is not final. "There will further be 2009 related figures during 2010 and 2011 too, when the Eurostat final report appears, with respect to the GDP of 2009", Minister of Finance said.

Minister Sebastian Vladescu has showed that in 2007, the first estimates of GDP were 404.7 billion lei, and final data were 416 million lei, therefore, there was a difference of 11.3 billion. For 2008, the first estimates of GDP stood at 504 billion lei, and "semi-final data" showed that GDP was 514.7 billion, therefore, there was a 10.7 billion difference. Final data for 2008 have not yet been presented.

"Romania is in continuous and consistent contact with Eurostat and we are not nervous regarding the reported statistics," Minister of Public Finance stated.