In June, the Commission halted payments for Axis 2 of the Regional Operations Program – improving regional and local transport infrastructure – because of certain problems turned up by controls, and asked Romanian authorities to check every contract signed with beneficiaries of funding through this axis.
“Until the European Commission resumes sending disbursements, we will continue to implement projects using European funds,” said Udrea, adding that the money requested by the beneficiaries of EU projects can be refunded from the ministry’s budget.
She also said that every ministry that handles European funds has access to this kind of loan, in order to ensure financing for such projects.
Financial corrections of almost RON180 million were charged for problems found with a third of the 124 contracts for Axis 2 checked by the ministry, said Udrea. The value of corrections is 5.58% of the value of contracts signed through Axis 2 (RON3.2 billion).
“The state will not lose this money, which will be redistributed to other projects. The corrections will be borne by the public authorities, because the value of projects will not be reduced,” said Udrea.
The total budget allotted to the Regional Operations Program is around EUR4.4 billion in the period 2007-2013. EU financing makes up 84% of the Program’s budget; the rest is from national funds, public (14%) and private (2%) co-financing (14%).