Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said that the Ministry is preparing for Moody's upcoming assessment, Romania's next rating test after last week's favourable dialogue with Fitch, with the goal of regaining a stable outlook.

'Moody's, the next rating test for Romania. After the favourable result obtained last week in the dialogue with Fitch, at the Finance Ministry we are preparing intensively these days for the next important evaluation, that of Moody's. The stake is not just maintaining the rating - not an easy objective in the current context - but regaining the stable outlook. Romania's political trajectory remains decisive. By keeping the investment-grade rating from Fitch we gained a window of time, not a breathing space, but one that must be used through a credible fiscal-budget plan for 2027 and the following years, based on predictability, discipline and continuity,' Nazare wrote on Facebook.

He said that rating agencies watch two elements closely: political stability and budgetary credibility.

'This is not gained through a deficit target announced at the beginning of the year. It is built and defended each month through rigorous budget execution, respecting commitments and measurable results. We must also offer visibility on the medium term, which is why we have already started discussions for preparing the 2027 budget, to be completed this autumn, with realistic assumptions and clear priorities,' Nazare noted.

He pointed to the significant reduction of the deficit in the first six months, achieved 'through the effort and ambition of colleagues in Finance, the Tax Administration Agency, Customs and the Treasury'.

'We continue active 24-hour dialogue with rating agencies and investors. We count on the support of all political leaders to align messages of seriousness and fiscal-budget consistency. The objective is not only avoiding a downgrade, but bringing the outlook from 'negative' back to 'stable', by strengthening Romania's credibility and continuing responsible fiscal-budget measures,' the minister said in his message.

Fitch maintained last week Romania's sovereign rating at 'BBB-', with negative outlook, citing EU membership and governance quality as strengths, yet also underscoring major vulnerabilities - large and persistent deficits, rising debt ratios, high inflation and increasingly fragmented domestic politics.

All three major agencies - S&P Global Ratings, Moody's and Fitch - currently assign Romania a negative outlook. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: George Banciulea; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)