98 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the view of the Government in connection with the recent election of President Lliescu as President of Romania; the implications this result has for Romania's membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1160/01]
Written Answers. - Romanian Presidential Election.
President Ion Lliescu of the Party of Romanian Social Democracy, PDSR, was elected President of Romania in the second round of the presidential election on 10 December 2000, gaining 66.83% of the vote. His opponent, Mr. Corneliu Vadim Tudor of the extreme nationalist Party of Greater Romania, PRM, won 33.17% of the vote. Mr. Lliescu was President of Romania from 1990 to 1996 and Romania's application to become a member of the EU was formally made under his earlier Presidency.
Following his election, President Lliescu said that he would strive to accelerate Romania's dignified integration into the EU. On 29 December 2001 the Romanian Parliament voted confidence in the new Government of Prime Minister Adrian Nastase. The new Government, although a minority one, has a broad range of support among other parties for its policy of actively pursuing Romania's EU candidature. I understand its programme envisages economic growth of 4.5% to 6% in the period 2001 to 2004, cutting the inflation rate, a transparent privatisation process and the need to find a balance between the imperatives of a market economy and those of social protection while taking into consideration suggestions and recommendations of the EU, the IMF and the World Bank. On 27 December a number of opposition parties signed a joint declaration with the Prime Minister-elect pledging support for the Government in its efforts for integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.