According to data on the website of the European Affairs Ministry, national payments to EU fund beneficiaries increased slightly in November from 20.75%, or 19.903 billion lei (EUR4.37 billion) at the end of October to 20.80% (RON20.062 billion).
Romania runs seven programs financed with structural and cohesion funds. At the end of October, the European Union pre-suspended payments for five of them (the programs for human resources, transport, economic competitiveness, environment and regional development) after it found a series of irregularities regarding public procurement. The five programs have been allotted the highest amount of funds in the 2007-2013 financial framework.
On November 28, the European Commission said it would resume payments for the program for environment.
European Affairs Minister Leonard Orban estimated the EC would resume payments for the programs for transport and economic competitiveness in the first half of 2013.
Payments for the program developing human resources are expected to be unblocked soon.
Romania has been allotted EUR20 billion in structural funds for 2007-2013. (EUR1=RON4.5454)