The new draft bill that would regulate the strategic acquisitions of the state in key sectors such as large infrastructure and defense is close to completion and will be put up for debate in the Parliament in one month, said the head of PSD, Liviu Dragnea.
“We want simplified procedures and to have guarantees that a decision that is made and the financing that is identified become investments. We don’t stay for two, three or five years in appeals and when they want to get to work, they realize that the data from five years ago are not valid anymore and the whole process is restarted,” said Dragnea, who added that the new law is based on similar legislation that exists in Western Europe.
The head of the Social Democratic Party, which is currently controlling the government together with ALDE, explained that the new law would apply for large infrastructure, energy and acquisitions in the defense field.
Dragnea suggested that a new bridge that would cross the Danube in Tulcea county, and the upgrade of the port and airport in this area could be done based on the new draft bill.
The development of public transport infrastructure in Romania has been grappling for years with delays in the construction stage, with some of the companies that lost tenders for public contracts challenging the procedures in court.
Meanwhile, the government is also working to design Romania’s first sovereign wealth fund, which should finance the construction of manufacturing units, roads and hospitals, according to several statements of officials.
The wealth fund should reach EUR 10 billion in value in four years.