International ratings agency Standard and Poor's has raised Romania's credit outlook to positive from stable, the Rompres news agency reported Tuesday

International ratings agency Standard and Poor's has raised Romania's credit outlook to positive from stable, the Rompres news agency reported Tuesday. Standard and Poor's said the upgrade was due to increased confidence in the willingness and ability of the new center-right government to combat corruption and to institute reforms required for European Union membership in 2007. The ratings agency also affirmed Romania's A-3 short term and BBB- long term local currency rating. Its long and short term foreign currency ratings stand at BB+ and B, in that order. Romania hopes to gain an upgrade in its long term foreign currency rating to investment grade within the year. Analysts say Romania is likely to be admitted to the European Union on schedule, but say the government will have to work hard to reduce corruption in the judiciary and the public administration system.