“I’m perfectly aware that the EU fund absorption rate is far from satisfactory. (…) The good news is the absorption rate doubled since September, reimbursements are not blocked and we expect refunds of EUR2.5 million/per day in 2012. POSDRU must reach an absorption rate of at least 9.2% by mid-2012,” said the minister.
Barbu said the EU fund absorption rate doubled from 2.96% to 5.49% in the September-December interval.
She also said the program’s management authority sent on December 7 to the Finance Ministry for validation a bill of 134.68 million lei (EUR31.02 million). If the sum is validated and the bill is sent to the EC, the absorption rate might reach about 5.49%, or EUR190 million of the total sum allotted to the program.
The minister said over 1,200 reimbursement requests amounting to about EUR200 million are currently checked by authorities. If 80% of their value is validated and the money is paid then the absorption rate will increase to 9.2% by mid-2012, she added. (EUR1=RON4.3409)