The European Commission has re-started payments for Romania on the Sectoral Operational Program Human Resources Development (POSDRU) line, with a first tranche of EUR 141.5 million already sent to Romania's accounts. “Re-starting payments from the European Commission provides the needed resources for the daily reimbursement of bills to beneficiaries, so that the program re-enters normality,” said Eugen Teodorovici, the European Funds Minister.

Three other funding lines are blocked for Romania, the Regional Operational Program, the Sectoral Transport Program and the Economic Competitiveness Increase Program.

The POSDRU was suspended in August 2012 as deficiencies were found in the use of funds between 2009 and 2011. The line was unblocked after Romania's Government implemented measures to improve the program.

The POSDRU line had over 2,400 financing contracts underway at end-January 2013. The EU allotted Romania EUR 3.4 billion on this line for the current financial period.

editor@romania-insider.com