The most dangerous thing Romania can do in a context of unprecedented global and regional turbulence is to adopt unsustainable measures, delay necessary reforms or send inconsistent signals to markets and international partners, the Concordia Employers' Confederation said.

'We are living through a period of unprecedented turbulence globally and regionally. The energy crisis currently affecting the world is, in terms of scale and complexity, one of the most severe in recent decades. Geopolitical instability, fragmented supply chains, persistent inflationary pressures and the reshaping of the international economic order are creating an extremely difficult environment for all European economies, and Romania is not immune to these shocks. On the contrary, our structural vulnerabilities expose us in particular,' the organisation said in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

According to employers' representatives, Romania's business environment has repeatedly shown it can operate under difficult conditions and needs, above all, stability and predictability.

'We have gone through a difficult year, with significant pressure on costs, legislative and fiscal uncertainty, and an investment climate that demanded predictability and delivered resilience. Concordia member companies have honoured their commitments - to employees, partners and the state. They have paid taxes, maintained jobs and continued to invest where conditions allowed. We expect the same commitment and a responsible approach from the Romanian state,' said Paul Aparaschivei, executive director of the Concordia Employers' Confederation.

The organisation notes that investments, which create jobs, support innovation and generate sustainable growth, are based on risk calculations, planning horizons and credible commitments from authorities. An unpredictable economic environment, inefficient public spending and contradictory signals from the state are clear obstacles to development, the cited source specifies.

'We are at the beginning of a budget year in which the decisions taken now will define the trajectory of the Romanian economy for years to come. The economy is already showing signs of contraction, with industrial production down 3.8% in January compared to last year and retail sales down 6.5%. External indicators are deteriorating, and business sentiment is marked by scepticism. In this context, the most dangerous thing Romania can do is to adopt unsustainable measures, delay necessary reforms or send inconsistent signals to markets and international partners. A potential downgrade of the country rating would not be a technical episode, but a shock with direct effects on public financing and interest rates, which would quickly be passed on to citizens and companies,' the Concordia Employers' Confederation highlights, according to the release.

Romania faces a set of historic opportunities - OECD accession, completion of projects financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), absorption of EU funds and effective use of financing available through the SAFE mechanism - real levers for the structural transformation of the economy, which can finance infrastructure modernisation, attract quality investment and stimulate growth. The business environment is ready to be a partner in this effort, but partnership requires reciprocity.

'The Concordia Employers' Confederation calls for genuine fiscal responsibility, optimisation of public spending and allocation of resources where they generate a multiplier economic effect, as well as respect for commitments made to European institutions. We call for consistency and a stable investment environment. The world is changing rapidly in ways we cannot control. What we can control is how we respond to change. Romania has the capacity to navigate this turning point, but political decision-makers must act responsibly and assume the decisions required by the moment,' reads the press release.

The Concordia Employers' Confederation represents 20 of the most important sectors of the Romanian economy, contributing 30% of GDP and employing nearly half a million people in more than 4,200 companies, both Romanian and foreign-owned. It is the only organisation in Romania that is a member of BusinessEurope, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (BIAC). AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Andreea Marinescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)