Romania "risks losing millions of Euros in EU funds"
Romania's premier Victor Ponta said that serious irregularities were discovered in the management of European funds with the POSDRU programme in 2010-2011.
Articol de Ionuţ Dragu, 22 Mai 2012, 07:29
Romania could lose the use of the European funds of 100 million Euros this year and 1.1 billion the next year through the Operational Programme of Human Resources Development (POSDRU) due to serious irregularities noticed in the programme development during 2010-2011, says Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
The loss of European funds would result in suspension of all payments relating to this programme.
Victor Ponta stated that he notified the Anti-Fraud Department and the Government will try to implement a programme of action to prevent the loss of European funds.
Romanian Prime Minister also noted that if this program cannot be applied until the end of the year, he will dispose a "radical" measure of total restructuring of POSDRU Management Authority, including the risk of re-accreditation.
Head of Government said that in the computer system for the management of POSDRU funds had access 350 unauthorised persons and salaries paid to activities which have only "four hour archiving” were between 3,500 euro and 10,000 euros monthly.
An example of the irregularities reported by the authorities was that the lifeguards were trained under the programme, not on the beach but also in other areas of the country.
According to European Affairs Minister Leonard Orban, the European Commission is to decide, most likely, the suspension of payments of EU money in the Operational Programme Human Resources Development , as a result of the audit missions.
The Minister stated that he had not seen the audit report, but he argued that the suspension of payments would be decided in a few days and last for several months.
The European Commission has decided on February 21, the interruption of payments by programme POSDRU, the measure may be extended for not more than six months.
Subsequently the European Commission announced in early April to resume payments to POSDRU but Romanian authorities imposed a reduction of 10 per cent of the sum to be settled for some bills.
Translation by
Denisse-Meda Bucura
MTTLC, Bucharest University
