So, while the economy is suffering because of lack of financing, the country took just EUR3.88 million from the UE, which compares with the EUR300 million that it should have attracted per month in order to meet the 20% target for 2012 – promised by European Affairs minister Leonard Orban a year ago, when he started his term in office. Six operational programs did not receive any money from the EU in August, while one – Operational Program for Administrative Capacity Development – received EUR3.88 million, a ridiculous amount considering the 2012 target of EUR3 billion.
The European Commission said on Monday evening that the process of sending refund requests for payments made by the Romanian side to beneficiaries is suspended (because of spending irregularities) since the beginning of July 2012 “as was agreed with the European Commission in December 2011.”
Four programs are targeted: Transport, Environment, Regional Operational Program and the Sectoral Operational Program for Increasing Economic Competitiveness.
In August the Romanian state spent EUR133 million to keep the projects started with EU money going.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)