BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania ran a consolidated budget deficit of 1.71% of gross domestic product in the first six months, compared with a shortfall of 1.57% at the end of May, finance ministry data showed on Monday. In nominal terms, the deficit stood at 23.5 billion lei ($4.88 billion). Revenues amounted to roughly 216.7 billion lei, or 15.8% of GDP, up 22.9% on the year. Spending stood at 240.2 billion lei. Investment spending stood at 21.01 billion lei, with EU funds amounting to just under 60% of it. The European Union state ran a deficit of 2.86% of GDP in the first half of last year. I…