Henri Paul,  the French ambassador to Romania (in picture) has criticized the big disparities in regional development in Romania. The differences, he believes, are so great that any visitor can easily notice how some parts of Romania are getting the best out of EU and other development funds, while others are missing out.

Speaking at a a conference on convergence and competitiveness in the EU, he said,“It's enough to visit Romania to find that there are big disparities in the territorial development and to discover that there is also a desire for development in the Romanian territories.”

He suggests ineffective coordination could be to blame and welcomed the appointment of a new Minister on EU funding, but cautions that this will not tackle the immediate problems. “I think this is a good measure, but this measure’s implications are for the future.”

Romania’s new Ministry of European Affairs received the green light from the Romanian Parliament in September 2011, with 254 votes in favor. The new Ministry is led by the Presidential Adviser and former European Commissioner, Leonard Orban.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: French Embassy to Romania)