Injection of 200m lei for Banca de Economii delayed

The Parliament’s commission on economy, budget and finance decided to postpone the allocation of 200 million lei for remedying the situation at Banca de Economii (BEM). A final decision will be taken after the March 25 meeting of the minority shareholders, Info-Prim Neo reports. On March 13, the commission was to approve amendments to the state budget so that the 200 million lei can be allocated to Banca de Economii. Minister of Finance Veaceslav Negruta said that besides the money provided from the state budget (the state being the majority shareholder of the BEM), the minority shareholders are to contribute 155 million lei. A sum of 355 million lei is needed to remedy the situation at the bank. When the lawmakers inquired if the minority shareholders are ready to provide 155 million lei, the minister said that only a preliminary agreement was reached with representatives of the shareholders. The MPs decided to postpone the approval of the bill with amendments so as to see what the minority shareholders decide on March 25. They are also waiting for the preliminary conclusions of the parliamentary commissions of inquiry into the situation at the BEM. The situation at the only financial institution controlled by the state became tense after reports showed that in 2012 the bank sustained losses of 313 million lei. A number of officials said such a state of affairs was due to the delinquent loans.