The Commission is currently evaluating the impact of certain problems revealed by the Romanian Audit Authority and a decision to interrupt, though not suspend, payments through POSDRU is very likely, said Ciolos.
The European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) stated the problems found by the Romanian Audit Authority are associated with project selection and first-level verification procedures. As a result, the Commission will stop sending refunds to Romania for up to six months. The interruption will be lifted as soon as the Audit Authority confirms the problems have been corrected, in accordance with regulations on structural funds, DG EMPL said.
This decision will not affect project implementation, since the management authority can continue to make payments.
Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu asked Labor Minister Claudia Boghicevici to dismiss Carmen Ionel from the position of head of AMPOSDRU, the agency that administers this program, for poor management. Ionel stepped down Thursday.
“The ministry considers AMPOSDRU’s management problems entail rethinking the entire strategy to speed up EU fund absorption through the Sector Operational Program for Human Resource Development. By March, AMPOSDRU must correct every problem indicated by the Audit Authority, so that payments from the European Commission would not be suspended. So far, more than half of the Audit Authority’s recommendations have been implemented,” says a Labor Ministry press release.