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PM Frowns On Romania’s Low EU Fund Absorption Rate, Fears Country Might Lose The Money

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Tuesday said he is displeased with Romania’s low absorption rate of European Union funds, which, he stressed, might prevent Romania from using all EU grants at its disposal in 2010.
PM Frowns On Romania’s Low EU Fund Absorption Rate, Fears Country Might Lose The Money
13 iul. 2010, 17:04, English

Boc also said Tuesday, during a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee monitoring the absorption of EU funds, that he is not at all satisfied with the amount of payments made so far for the programs financed from EU funds, in ratio with total projects submitted for financing.

Boc stressed that the latest data indicate 18,177 projects worth a total of EUR38.9 billion were submitted for EU funding until July 9, 2010, adding that only 4,421 projects worth EUR9.4 billion, of a total 18,177, were approved.

Boc has recently said the Government would set up a system monitoring EU fund absorption and public investments and stressed that the ministers and prefects who will not „fight to get hold of each penny” granted by the EU will have to „leave”.

Unclear procedures, excessive red tape, petty pre-financing, huge delays in reimbursements and beneficiaries’ complaints, are the main factors leading to a low absorption rate of European Union Funds in Romania, Oana Preda, head of the Resource Center for Public Participation, said late June this year.