According to a decision adopted by the Government recently, the ministry will return the money in euro by the end of the year, from sums reimbursed by the European Commission.
Of the RON650 million granted by the state, RON150 million will be used for payments in January, RON230 million for payments to be made in February and RON270 million for payments in March.
If the sums reimbursed by the Commission are not enough to cover the loan, due to ineligible expenses, the ministry will cover the difference from its own budget.
On June 11, 2011, the European Commission stopped payments to Romania through POR after it noted some public procurement irregularities.
In July, Romania decided to stop sending bills for EU fund reimbursements to Brussels until the bills were checked and management authorities made financial corrections.
On October 31, the Ministry for European Affairs said it informed the EC that Romania met requirements for resumption of reimbursements for projects financed with structural funds.
On December 15, the European Commission decided to unfreeze EU funds going to Romania through POR.
The Romanian Government wants to attract about EUR6 billion this year, which means a 20% absorption rate. (EUR1=RON4.3452)