Parliamentary political parties haven’t so far reach to a consensus to amend the Offshore Law and for Black Sea investors to start extracting gas, said Economy, Energy and Business Minister Virgil Popescu.

He reiterated what he had said several times since last autumn’s coming into office, namely that the Government did not intend to amend the Offshore Law, and that this could only be done in Parliament.

“I have always said that. I attended the drafting of the Offshore Law in Parliament. I was and am a deputy. In my opinion, that offshore law was ok, it was accepted by companies. Ordinance 114 came, then, ending virtually any liberalization, any tendency to invest in Romania. We have committed ourselves to unblock investments in the Black Sea, and for that we have said that two things are needed: firstly, the repeal of the Ordinance 114. The Government did this as soon as it came into power. And a second one: to amend the Offshore Law, if this is desired, but this cannot be done by the Government, but only by the Parliament. Because if the Government issues an Emergency Ordinance and amends it, it reaches the Parliament – and see what problems are with the Quarantine and Isolation Law – you realize what (issues) there would be in the Parliament,” said Popescu, quoted by Agerpres.

According to him, a political consensus is needed in Parliament to pass such a law, but at the moment, this agreement between the parties does not exist.