Dacian Cioloş Cabinet was sworn by the two joint Chambers of Parliament, after the hearing of proposed ministers and debating the government’s program. The new government has kept the structure of ministries from the tenure of Victor Ponta and aims to find short-term solutions to Romania’s problems, but also to “lay the foundations of structural developments in the future.” In the government program is clear that this government is taking responsibility to introduce “a set of concrete measures, limited in number, but with systemic impact and relevance.”
The first task is to organize local and parliamentary elections scheduled during the year of 2016. Then Cioloş office “will seek to create optimal mechanisms for informing the political environment about executive or legislative measures that will be adopted. The same logic will be applied to all social partners, to which this government will show transparency and openness by providing innovative systems for consultation and exchange of ideas.”
Finally, the Government aims to test and apply “new working methods regarding the internal operation of the central apparatus (government and ministries), trying to create until the end of the mandate a number of viable alternatives for proper functioning of administration.”
As regards the economic policies and priority areas, the major goal announced by Government is “strengthening the macro-economic parameters, the prospects for sustainable development of the country”, with separate entries for absorption of European funds and infrastructure investments.
Here is the list of ministers:
- Dacian Cioloş, Prime Minister
- Victor Grigorescu – Minister of Energy, SMEs and Business Community
- Costin Borc – Minister of Economy, Trade and Tourism
- Cristina Paşca Palmer – Minister of Environment, Water and Forest
- Anca Dragu Paliu – Minister of Public Finances
- Vasile Dâncu – Minister of Regional Development and Public Administration
- Lazăr Comănescu – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Petre Tobă – Minister of Interior
- Mihnea Motoc – National Defense Minister
- Achim Irimescu – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Adrian Curaj – Minister of Education and Scientific Research
- Vlad Alexandrescu – Minister of Culture
- Aura Răducu – Minister of EU funds
- Raluca Prună – Minister of Justice
- Claudia Ana Costea – Minister of Labor, Family, Social Protection and Senior Citizens
- Marius-Raul Bostan – Minister of Information Society
- Patriciu Achimaş-Cadariu – Minister of Health
- Elisabeta Lipă – Minister of Sports
- Marian Dan Costescu – Minister of Transportation
- Victoria-Violeta Alexandru – Delegated Minister for Social Dialog
- Dan Stoenescu – Delegated Minister for Romanians Abroad
- Ciprian Bucur – Delegated Minister for Parliamentary Relations
- Ioan Dragoş Tudorache – Prime Minister Chief of Staff
Victor Grigorescu: “We consider strengthening the existing tools to ensure competitiveness, with an appropriate price for the consumer.” “The performance criteria are extremely important; I am a supporter of them. We must start from the general manager, to department heads.” “In our energy mix [coal] is the last resort if nothing else works (…) the current energy mix grants Romania energy independence.”
Costin Borc: “We export too much raw resources and too little processed material (…) we have competent people, I am sorry to see them leaving and I would like to see the come back.”
Aura Răducu: “I’ll do everything I can to use the experience I have to improve and promote the work of this ministry, and to implement fast and well the European programs that lead to economic and social development”.
Cristiana Paşca Palmer: “We will have to set some clear priorities, to set a number, to have a good action plan and, if we can, a long-term vision, but we will not be able in just a single year to solve all environmental problems and all the things that have remained unresolved or blocked.”
Anca Dragu Paliu: “My wide experience made me aware of many aspects of Romanian economy; we tried for a long time to find solutions together with you. When I was offered the chance to come across this side of the table, I agreed straight away.”