Absorption of EU funds for the 2007-2013 financial framework remained unchanged in February, data published on fonduri-ue.ro shows.
In January the Romanian authorities increased the absorption rate by reducing the allocation of EU funds by EUR 276 million to EUR 18.87 billion.
This way, the current absorption of EU funds 2007-2013 increased in January, compared to November 2016, when the last data for 2016 were published, by 1.2 percentage point, to 82.93 although the value of cost statements sent to the European Commission stayed at the same level of EUR 15.57 billion.
Affective absorption increased by 1.15 percentage points, staying at EUR 14.8 billion, representing 79,23 percent.
Sectoral Operational Programme ‘Increasing of Economic Competitiveness‘ (POSCCE), the current absorption rate was 105.47 percent, for the Technical Assistance Operational Program (OPTA) – 113.42 percent (including the top-up requested by the European Commission), the Environment Sectoral Operational Program – 78.55 percent, on the Regional Operational Program – 85.04 percent, on the Human Resource Development Operational Program – 73.37 percent, the Transport Sectoral Operational Program – 77.31 percent and the Administrative Capacity Development Operational Program – 98.66 percent.
According to data published, Romania lost most EU funds on the 2007-2013 financial framework with the Transport Sectoral Operational Program, namely over 973.1 EUR million, followed by the Environment Sectoral Operational Program, with a loss of EUR 946.6 million, and the Human Resource Development Operational Program by around EUR 852.1 million. Moreover, there was a loss of EUR 2.7 million with the Administrative Capacity Development Operational Program. In total, Romania lost EUR 3.2 billion from the funds allocated for the 2007-2013 financial framework.
31 March 2017 represents the deadline for sending to the European Commission the payment of the final balance and the final declaration of expenditure.