2012, a crucial year for “the absorption of European money”

Romania has to prove to European Union (EU) that it can use the money available, also stated the commissioner for regional politics, who reminded that Bucharest has serious problems regarding the usage of the money, which would help at developing the various sectors with problems amplified also by the years of crisis.

The Bucharest authorities have proposed as target for this year to attract 6 billions Euros and a rate of absorption of 20 percent, but the rhythm is not even a satisfying one yet.

The actual rate of absorption, of only 7,4 percent, has been appreciated also by the president of the European Committee as being painfully small.

The Prime-minister Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu states that the government is decided to avoid any payment interrupting, and the stake is represented by the 3,5 billions Euros, structural funds and of cohesion, which could decisively support the economic growth.

“As what concerns us, there is also politic will and determination and capacity to continue the measures taken during the second half of last year, 2011, in order to accelerate the rhythm of implementing the operational programs and to improve the deficiencies found by the European Committee. After all, we are the first interested to increase the fund absorption; we engaged at this thing, we know very well that this is cheap money if we have it, and very expensive if we lose them, and, apart from the economic plus that we could register, a route that also be correct and accelerated will be transposed into the consolidation of our credibility in European Union and, why not, among all those states that are looking at us with attention”, also declared the Prime-minister Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu.

According to the executive chef, the Romanian authorities have decided to concentrate during the following period on the simplification of procedures regarding the examination of the reimbursement requests, the terms reducing, the consolidation of the administrative capacity and the following of the major projects, which attract important amounts from the European funds.

The European commissioner Johannes Hahn has outlined that, in his turn, in order to continue the begun projects, Romania needs, for the next budgetary cycle, at least the same amount that it had available until now.

Romania has to prove the other member states that can use the allocated money, specified Johannes Hahn.

“It is important to repeat how crucial is this year regarding the implementation. There were delays, a process significant has existed within the operational programs, but we are far from being reached from behind and to recover the gap. But I have clearly understood the Prime-minister that it is extremely dedicated in doing everything to improve the situation and not to risk to lose money”, declared the European commissioner Johannes Hahn.

Johannes Hahn also announced at Bucharest that were approved by the European Committee the financing of two serious projects of infrastructure, the modernization of the railway Braşov-Simeria and also of the boundary line Curtici, the total allocated amount being of over 770 million Euros.

Translated by

Alexandra-Diana Mircea

MTTLC, Bucharest University