Orban added that he called on ministers to identify by September 15 the EU-funded projects that may be finished by 2015 and those that won’t be finished in the next three years.
“Some of the projects that have already been contracted, signed and approved will not be completed by the end of 2015. The rules state clearly that if a project is not finished, the entire amount of money must be returned,” said Orban.
Romania witnesses a turning point regarding European funds, as the EC is checking four key operational programs, according to the minister.
Romania will stop sending the EC refund requests for the four programs, from July 1 until a date that will be decided later, during which time the Commission will determine whether the authorities have observed the commitments made last year.
Orban said Tuesday the four programs are related to the regional sector, the environment, transport and competitiveness.
Romania has been allotted 19.2 billion in EU cohesion funds for the 2007-2013 interval, of which 73% has been contracted, or about EUR14 billion, said the minister.
The country absorbed some EUR9.9 billion, which translates into a fund absorption rate of 10%, he explained.
Regional operational program POR registered the highest absorption rate, of over 21%, while the operational program for environment the lowest – only 6%, Orban said, adding that Romania must accelerate absorption, or it might lose EUR952 million this year.