Romania might lose at least EUR 2.6 bln worth of EU funds, warns commissioner Cretu

Corina Cretu, the European commissioner for regional policy, says Romania runs the risk of losing billions of euros in EU funds for the programming period 2007-2013.

She has also warned that the country hasn’t been able to attract not even a single euro in the current 7-year financial framework that runs through to 2020.

“I think that significant efforts have been made in the last few years, and the absorption rate stands at around 75 percent in 2015. We have prevented any disengagement of funds. So, practically, all the funds that were allotted for 2015 have been spent, but there is this loss risk of EUR 2.6 billion – EUR 3.2 billion for the 2007-2013 period,” said Cretu. She said the final loss will be computed by auditors.

Romania has already paid EUR 420 million for financial corrections under the human resources operational program (POSDRU) that ran between 2007 and 2013. Payments for POSDRU were unlocked on Friday.

The EU commissioner has urged the Romanian authorities to prepare the absorption of EU funds better, especially in the healthcare sector.

Read more about

Bucharest startup scene maintains positive outlook as economy grows

read more

The country plans to build three regional hospitals in Cluj-Napoca, Iasi and Craiova with the EU money.

Cretu is on an official visit in Romania between May 20-23. On Friday, she was due to meet the minister of EU Funds, Cristian Ghinea.

Ovidiu Posirca