"We need to adapt the state budget very soon", said Romania president Traian Basescu during the Romanian Employers' Association Conference, on Friday/ The head of state emphasized that "clever, efficient and trustworthy" measures need to be adopted.

The main statements made by the president, in brief:

- The state budget must be adapted quickly;

- While the government sees it can accept a maximum deficit of 2%, the demands made by the ministries may push the deficit towards 9%;

- The markets are contracting, mainly in exports, the second important problem is the financing of the economy. In both areas, the economic crisis is being felt;

- The banking system in Romania is solid, but is no longer fueled with cash by the international banking groups;

- Due to the lack of foreign financing, all the pressure is on the national currency;

- The exchange rate is the third channel in which the crisis has effects;

- The fourth channel is the investors' confidence, which diminished not only for Romania, but for all 12 states that joined the European Union after 2004;

- The current account deficit was 14% in 2007 and 13% in 2008;

- The real economy acted responsibly, the Government acted irresponsibly in 2008; the Government contributed with over 2% to the budget deficit;

- The new Government must take into account the debts, which are - in my opinion - the main priority;

- The economy is blocked by the Government;

- The Government must pay its invoiced debt of over 725 million Euros and not invoiced yet of 300 million Euros;

- The public institutions have unpaid debts - invoiced or not - of over 2 billion Euros;

- The institutions must pay their debts until the middle of March, in order to ensure the cash for companies;

- Public administrations also have to pay their debts;

- Another