PM Tudose: Gov't will approve 2018 national budget in 2018 built on 5.5-pct economic growth projection

The Government will approve the 2018 national budget on Wednesday that has been built on a projection of a 5.5-percent economic growth, according to Prime Minister Mihai Tudose. 

"It is obvious that the most important item today is the approval of the national budget, one of the most important pieces of legislation issued by the Government. Despite all the criticisms and doomsayers, it is a good project in a good year, based on figures that are not optimistic, but less then pessimistic, I would say, because we are considering an economic growth of only 5.5 percent, given that everyone is predicting an even higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. The budget is projecting government receipts by 30.9 billion lei higher than in 2017; it is the for the first time that Romania's GDP exceeds 200 billion euros," Tudose said at the opening of the meeting. 

He added that the Government remains consistent with its priorities, such as healthcare, education and infrastructure. 

"The rises are 17 percent in healthcare spending; 16 percent percent in education, and 42 percent in investment, all of which adds up to a 42-percent increase over 2017. We have also allocated an additional 23.6 percent for the budget of the Agriculture Ministry, as agriculture is one of the main engines for growth this year; once again, I want to thank you for your efforts," added Tudose. 

The Government's target for the absorption of European funds in 2018, he said, is 28.4 billion lei. 

"With such a realistic goal, I think we will outperform it next year, given everything that has been done this year, everything that has worked on will come to maturity. It will be the Year of the Centennial [of the December 1, 1918 Greater Union] there are budgeted amounts and projects (...)," said Tudose. AGERPRES .