EC unlocks payments in Romania’s Transport Operational Program

The European Commission (EC) has resumed payments under the Sectoral Operational Program Transport 2007-2013, which has a total allocation of EUR 4.5 billion, according to Romania’s Ministry of Transport.

The EC presuspended in October the largest part of the Transport and Regional Operational Program, and of the one concerning the Increase of Economic Competitiveness. The executive arm of the EU found serious flaws in the management and fraud prevention mechanism of these programs that are backed by structural funds.  

Romania seeks disbursements worth EUR 1.2 billion from the EC for expenditure made under the Transport program, which finances key road, rail and naval infrastructure projects.

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Relu Fenechiu, Transport minister, said: “We managed in just five months to implement all the measures imposed by the European Commission through the interruption and presuspention letters, transmitted in June and December 2012.”

The Transport program has 11 beneficiaries, out of which the CNADNR (highways and roads management company) and railway company CFR develop the biggest projects.

In a similar move, the Regional program saw its payments unlocked in April, while the program for Human Resources Development was unblocked in late February.

Romania’s absorption of EU funds reached 15.8 percent by June, against 11.5 percent at end-December.

Ovidiu Posirca