Increasing EU funds absorption is one of the Government’s priorities this year, according to deputy prime minister and regional development minister Sevil Shhaideh.

Romania should absorb EUR 5.2 billion worth of EU funds this year, Shhaideh said, reports local Agerpres.

The new Government, which was installed in January this year, unified the regional development and EU funds ministries under Shhaideh’s management. The aim was to correlate “all sources of funding for the local infrastructure,” said the deputy PM.

She explained that the central authorities will support the local officials in the preparation and submission of grant projects, including by sending expert teams to help the local authorities. Romania has had poor results in drawing EU funds in recent years.

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