The Agency for Payments for Rural Development (APDRP) paid over EUR2.3 billion to beneficiaries of EU funds for rural development.
“On July 26, 2011, APDRP ensured the check-up, authorization and payment of over 4.3 million payment applications amounting to EUR2.3 billion,” the agency said in a press release.
Besides the EUR2.3 billion, Romania also absorbed EUR561 million in the form of the downpayment granted by the European Commission for the start of the National Rural Development Program.
Romania can access EUR7 billion through the program between 2007 and 2013, to invest in agriculture and rural development. The program also includes EUR2.72 billion in direct payments to farmers, bring the total EU funds available for rural development to about EUR10 billion.