The ministry contracted EUR1.7 billion between 2007 and 2010 and EUR1.8 billion in 2011. Reimbursements stood at EUR330 million and the target for next year is an absorption rate of 40%, Transport Minister Anca Boagiu told a news conference Tuesday.
The ministry has been allotted 4.6 billion in EU funds for 2007-2013. The money can be accessed through the operational program for transport. National co-financing for the program stands at EUR1.1 billion.
Since 2007, 115 financing requests have been submitted at the European Commission; 62 of them have been approved and 35 are currently being evaluated. Of the 62 approved financing requests 54 have been signed.
Regarding highway construction, Boagiu said 58 kilometers of highway have been opened to traffic in 2011, namely sections Timisoara-Arad (32 km) and Medgidia-Constanta (about 25 km).
Romanian has about 370 kilometers of highway and 434 kilometers are currently under construction (EUR4.09 billion). Contracts worth EUR134 million to construct 25.6 kilometers of highway are to be signed and auctions to award contracts of EUR1.1 billion to build 111 km of highway are underway.
Regarding railway infrastructure, works on 230 kilometers of railroad on the 363-km Predeal-Campina-Bucharest-Fetesti-Constanta route have been completed this year.