The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has named Dutchman Erik Jan de Vrijer (in picture) the chief negotiator for Romania, replacing American Jeffrey Franks, who's been leading Romania's economic program within the IMF for the last three years.

Erick Jan de Vrijer, who was IMF's Europe Department Assistant Director, will start on the new job this summer. The upcoming IMF mission scheduled for end-April will be Franks' last as chief negotiator for Romania.

Political commentators have already pointed out the heated relationship between Romania and the Netherlands due to Romania's pressures to join the Schengen area and the Netherlands' opposition. Analysts say it remains to be seen whether this will have any influence over the future negotiations between Romania and the IMF.

Under Franks' supervision, Romania entered and closed a first stand-by agreement of some EUR 20 billion and signed a new one, for cautionary reasons. The IMF chief negotiator has gained constant public attention and has been frequently quoted in local and international media on various macro economic issues that were part of the deal with the IMF. Franks learned Romanian and made a habit out of reading quarterly conclusions at the end of missions in Romanian.

This change comes in the wake of an end to the mandate Romanian Mihai Tanasescu has as Romania's representative to the IMF.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Greek Reporter)