Romania is increasingly present where important economic decisions for Europe are made, and we must continue to clearly and firmly articulate our interests and objectives, says interim Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare.

'Romania is increasingly present where important economic decisions for Europe are made. We must continue to clearly and firmly articulate our interests and objectives. Today, at the Ministry of Finance, I held a preparatory meeting for the upcoming ECOFIN meeting with representatives of the National Bank of Romania and the Financial Supervisory Authority. Together, we reviewed the main topics on the European agenda and, above all, the positions Romania needs to support and the interests it needs to protect,' he announced on Wednesday in a Facebook post.

Nazare noted that, in the coming period, important decisions will be made at the European level regarding the competitiveness of the financial sector, access to finance, the functioning of capital markets, the efficiency of public finances, energy, and the economic policy coordination framework.

According to the minister, Romania is not merely a participant in these discussions but is present with clear, well-founded positions that are coordinated among the institutions best acquainted with the implications for the Romanian economy.

''There are files where the interests of the member states do not always align. That is precisely why we need to be very clear about what we support, where Romania's specific interests lie, and the boundaries we must defend. Today's discussion focused exactly on this coordination, ensuring we engage early on, build our arguments and alliances, and avoid letting others define Romania's position. Romania possesses expertise and arguments, and has legitimate economic interests to defend. We need to better integrate these elements and ensure a stronger voice at the table where European decisions are made,' the cited source added. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Andreea Marinescu; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)