Romania To Restructure Payment Agency To Fix Deficiencies Signaled By EC

 

"The Agriculture Ministry, represented by the Management Authority and APDRP, has already begun the enforcement of this set of measures which includes the main items signaled by EC, to be completed by August 31,” state secretary Cornelia Mihai told a press conference Thursday.

Agriculture minister Dacian Ciolos explained there are two phases to resume the SAPARD program.

Next week, the payment agency will send the revised procedure of payment authorization to be audited and approved by the National Fund within the Economy and Finance Ministry.

Following the approval of the new procedure, payments from the state budget can be resumed.

Payments by the EC to beneficiaries of the SAPARD program could be resumed after an external audit confirming that the entire set of measures was implemented.

"APDRP will officially send the revised procedure of payment to the National Fund, that will have a few days, one week or ten days to analyze it and approve it, allowing payments from the state budget to be resumed,” Ciolos said.

According to the head of the payment agency, Laszlo Klarik, the agency has begun checking the new payment procedure, to resume payments as soon as possible after the approval of the National Fund.

Payment applications on the roll reach EUR62 million.

Ciolos said he would look into the management of APDRP.

“I will make changes in the management of APDRP, which apply to the staff and the structure of the agency, to avoid such situations in the future,” Ciolos told a press conference.

He said his intention is not to sack people, but to improve the activity of the Payment Agency.

Ciolos said a part of the staff of APDRP is to blame for the suspension of the payments within SAPARD program.

"It’s probably the fault of some people in the management of APDRP who did not get involved properly, of a state of routine which made them overlook certain aspects,” Ciolos said.

He added the Antifraud Department within APDRP and the Audit Department should have taken action to solve the problems, and not wait for the European Commission to signal them.

The head of the Antifraud department quit his position with APDRP a week ago, Klarik said, adding that his leave is not connected with the SAPARD situation.

The Commission’s audit in June found several deficiencies in the management and control system of the Romania’s Payment Agency for Rural Development and Fishing, which manages SAPARD funds, and Romanian authorities temporarily halted payments to SAPARD beneficiaries.

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