Romanian PM Says EU-Funded Projects Stalled Because Of Poorly Drafted Papers

Boc, who held a videoconference with the county prefects Sunday, asked prefects to stop „blaming” project delays on courts trying and solving contestations to public auctions and pointed out that poorly drafted papers are the cause of problems in most cases.

Boc gave as example the contracts targeting road infrastructure upgrades and waste management in several counties, and stressed these contracts amount to over EUR20 million each, but, their implementation, he went on, is stalled for six up to 12 months.

Early July, Boc said prefects will have to draw up analysis reports on the development stages of projects that use EU funds. He added at the time that ministers will also have to present reports regarding public investments and their objectives for 2010 and 2011.

The Internationally Monetary Fund is concerned about the weak absorption rate of European funds in Romania and will work with the authorities to identify new ways to step up the process, IMF mission chief Jeffrey Franks said earlier this week.