The Bucharest municipality paid EUR 600 million between 2007 and 2014 for setting up and maintaining green spaces, according to a document of the Audit Court.

Compared to 2007, the spending on green areas doubled in 2014, reports local Hotnews.ro. They rose from EUR 44.6 million to EUR 99.3 million.

Despite the significant amounts spent, Bucharest had only 9.86 sqm of green space per capita in 2012, compared to 23.21 sqm per capita, as the City Hall declared, according to the Audit Court.

Because of land restitutions, including in parks, and the mismanagement of public spaces, the area of ​​green spaces in Bucharest fell from 3,200 hectares in 2007 to 2,080 hectares in 2014.

According to the European Union’s regulations, Romania should have had a minimum 26 sqm of green space per capita until the end of 2013.

editor@romania-insider.com