Romania’s SAPARD Payment Halt Isn’t Costing The Country Funds, But Credibility – Minister

"Romania doesn’t risk losing funds, but credibility,” Ciolos told a press conference.

Romanian authorities temporarily suspended payments to beneficiaries of the SAPARD program until the resolution of payment authorization technical deficiencies signaled in the European Commission’s audit report, Finance Ministry state secretary Alice Bitu said Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the European Commission suspended a Romanian payment application for EUR28.3 million.

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.