According to the ministry, the highest fund absorption rate (7.53%) was registered by the regional operational program, while the lowest (1.89%) by the operational program for environment.
The sum allotted as intermediary payments from the European Commission amounted to EUR715.51 million at the end of November, while internal payments to beneficiaries reached over 13 billion lei (about EUR2.98 billion). The sum allotted by the European Union for all operational programs between 2007 and 2013 is RON82.837 billion.
According to the ministry, the regional operational program registered the highest fund absorption rate, of 7.37%. Intermediary payments from the EC stood at EUR274.56 million and internal payments to beneficiaries at about RON4.2 billion. About 7,924 projects were submitted within this program, of which only a third (2,773 projects) was approved. The number of projects signed within the regional program by November 30 hit 2,340.
The lowest fund absorption rate was registered by the operational program for environment. Data show 457 projects were submitted within this program, of which 288 were approved. About 233 contracts were signed. EC payments amounted to EUR85.36 million, which translates into a 1.89% absorption rate.
The operational program for transport also registered a low fund absorption rate. Intermediary payments from the EC amounted to EUR113.69 million at the end of November (a 2.49% absorption rate). By November 30, 115 projects were submitted within this program, of which 62 projects were approved and 53 contracts were signed.
According to the ministry, 10,000 projects were submitted within the operational program for human resources development, but only one third, or 2,990, were approved. The number of contracts signed stood at 2,139. The absorption rate of the funds allotted to this program by the EU was 2.96%. Intermediary payments from the EC amounted to about EUR103 million.
The number of projects submitted through the operational program for competitiveness and economic growth hit 11,051, of which 3,288 were approved and 2,094 contracts were signed. The EU fund absorption rate stood at 4.6%. The sum allotted by the EC as intermediary payments amounted to EUR117.49 million. (EUR1=RON4.3534)