Romania registered a budget deficit of 6.6% of the GDP in 2010, which is lower than the target of 6.8% demanded by the IMF over a bailout aid package.

According to a letter of the Romanian government sent to the International Monetary Fund, Romania has met all requirements for a new tranche of the IMF-EU bailout that it has been getting since 2008, Mediafax reported.

In addition to meeting the deficit requirement, the Romanian government has managed to reduce the state arrears and the number of public jobs below the rates demanded by the IMF.

"According to the additional letter of intent signed with the IMF, arrears should not be higher than EUR250 million at the end of November. The government achieved this target as arrears were of EUR248 million end-November," Romania's Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu is quoted as saying.

The number of state employees was reduced to 1.27 million at the end of 2010, compared with the 1.29 million figure set by the IMF.

In the spring of 2009, Romania and the IMF signed a EUR 13 B stand-by arrangement, which is part of a EUR 20 B bailout package that also includes funds from the European Commission, the World Bank and other international lenders.

The IMF's Board will discuss on January 7 the releasing of the next tranche to Romania, worth some EUR 870 M, Mediafax says.