Government approves draft Partnership Agreement for EU funds for 2014-2020

Romania’s draft Partnership Agreement for EU funds for 2014-2020 will be formally sent to the European Commission (EC) today after it was approved by the government last week, announced the minister of EU funds, Eugen Teodorovici.

An agreement over the way Romania will have access to the EU funds allocated for 2014-2020 could be reached in three months’ time, he added. During this period, the EC can send local authorities any observations regarding the document’s content.

The documentation on the operational programs will be formally sent to the EC in May, but the financial allocation for the programs has been decided, except for the Operational Programme for Fisheries, said the minister. Also, depending on the final EU absorption rate for the funds allocated for the 2007-2013 framework, Romania can access another EUR 1.82 billion.

During a public debate last week, the minister said that this time around Romania’s approach to EU funds would be to focus on projects that will directly impact the economy, especially production and exports. “Otherwise, we will reach a much higher absorption rate that what we have today, but at the end we will see that the impact on the economy was not the desired one,” he said.

There will be clear specifications about what can be financed through EU funds and what cannot, both for the private and public sectors, stressed the minister. Projects such as hair salons, flower shops and parks will no longer be viable for financing. “The more we allocate money to those areas which will truly generate substantial growth, the more we will have the necessary money to finance other areas with needs in Romania. This is an approach for all member states, not just Romania,” said Teodorovici.

The absorption of EU fund available for the 2007-2013 framework presently stands at 34 percent but the target is for it to hike to 80 percent by the end of 2015, “should the same approach be maintained”, said Teodorovici two weeks ago, during a Mediafax event.

He added that the boost in absorption was possible after remedying issues in the EU funds system, the reform of which he wants to complete this year.