Romania is still a stable country, a country open to foreign investment and a country where 'serious, very safe business' can be done, interim Minister of Economy Bogdan Ivan said on Thursday.

He was asked, before a government meeting, how serious the political instability in Romania today is for the economy.

'We look at the figures, we look at the way in which all the indicators disfavouring the Romanian economy have increased, including the interest rates. We have four increases, then, in the first days of COVID, when we had the first day of war in February 2022, in November, and now, again. It remains to be seen how these things will turn out. I believe that, May 18 will pass and we will reach stabilisation, having a stable government,' said Ivan.

Regarding the possibility of losing some European funds, he said: 'It's a situation in which we find ourselves.'

'What we need today, in this very big noise, is calm. And, at the moment, I am confident that the way in which, together with all our colleagues, with the caretaker prime minister, we find solutions, we sit at the table, we make sure that the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) will continue. What we cannot pass through the government, we will pass through Parliament, through bills. What is very important, the message I have as minister of the economy, both for the private sector in Romania and for foreign investors, is that Romania is still a stable country, Romania is still a country that is open to foreign investment and a country where serious business can be done, very safely.'

Also, asked if he sees a Social Democratic Party - Alliance for the Union of Romanians (PSD-AUR) governing formula possible, Ivan said: 'I can't say that, because it's not me to decide.' AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)