Located in the South-East Central Europe, Romania has the 9th largest territory (238.391 km²) and the 7th largest population (with 22.2 million people) among the European Union member states. Its capital is Bucharest, the 6th largest city in EU with 1.9 million people and Sibiu – an old city of Transylvania – was nominated The European Capital of Culture, in 2007. Romania joined the European Union in January 1, 2007. The European Commission recent statistics have shown that the 4th quarter of 2008 was disastrous for the European economy, “the recession was accentuated” (Gunter Verheugen/18 Jan. 2009); thereby, the 2009 prognosis estimates only 0.1% growth in the Euro sector. In spite of these adverse conditions, Romania had a powerful economy growth in the last 4 years: 4.2% - 2005; 7.9 – 2006; 6% - 2007 and 8% the estimated value for the end of 2008 (that was in the context of the 8.9% GDB growth in the first 9 month of 2008). Emil Boc, the Romanian Prime Minister, mentions that estimations are balanced for 2009 and that the government aims at a growth of 2.5%. The Romanian economy’s good results are most due to the growth registered in 2008 in the construction, services and agriculture areas.
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