Meleșcanu: Conditioning European funds is against EU principles

Romania and Poland are against setting conditions for obtaining European funds, like linking these funds with the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, Romanian and Polish Foreign Ministers said on Thursday after their meeting in Bucharest.

Teodor Meleșcanu and Jacek Czaputowicz thus answered a question regarding messages coming from Brussels, according to which the allocation of community funds to certain EU Member States might be influenced by possible changes in the justice system. European funds are not a favor, and both Romania and Poland contribute to the extent of their capacity to the EU budget, said Minister Meleșcanu.

Teodor Meleșcanu: “In my opinion, this would be an infringement not only of the provisions of the EU Treaties but also of the fundamental principles of the EU, whose main objective is to ensure solidarity and convergence between the economies of Member States. Obviously, the cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy are instruments aimed at boosting convergence between the economies of the more developed countries of the EU and our countries. It is not an act of charity”.

Romania is a net beneficiary of European funds, says European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Crețu.

She explained to Radio Romania News that Romania contributes less to the EU budget than the older Member States, but receives higher amounts, because it has development gaps.

Corina Creţu also announced that it is currently being discussed the possibility that accessing EU funds to be conditioned by the respect of the rule of law, due to slippages in several EU Member States.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei