The previous EU’s fund absorption rate official target of 80% is very difficult to touch considering the absorption rate increased only 6% in the first six months of 2015.
Thus, Romania’s EU absorption rate stood at only EUR1.1 billion in the first half of 2015 when the country should have attracted between EUR6 to EUR7 billion to touch the 80% absorption target. In total, Romania’s EU absorption rate was below EUR10 billion in eight and a half years since the country’s accession to the European Union.
On the Transportation program, for example, Romania must absorb EUR1.8 billion more EU’s funds from the European Union, in addition to the EUR2.5 billion already absorbed. The additional funds would be enough for the construction of Comarnic-Brasov highway. Also, on the Environment program, the country should absorb EUR2.2 billion more EU’s funds, which would ensure sewerage projects for 22 counties.
The European Commission asked the member states to send by September a list with the projects that will continue to be financed. The projects that will lack such requests will be financed from the state budget.
(English version by Manuela Panescu)