The European Commission reimbursed EU funds worth some EUR 565 million this year to Romania, related to payment applications submitted in 2014.

“In February, our country received EU funds of over EUR 460 million, while another EUR 104 million were reimbursed in the first days of March,” said the Romanian Minister of European Funds Eugen Teodorovici in a statement of the Ministry.

The Sectoral Operational Programme Transport got the most money, EUR 299 million, followed by the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development, with some EUR 158 million. The Regional Operational Programme received some EUR 80 million, Technical Assistance Operational Program – some EUR 17 million and the Sectoral Operational Programme Environment – some EUR 12 million.

The current absorption rate stays at 52%, but the Ministry plans to reach 80% by the end of the year. This is the last year when Romania can still draw EU funds from the 2007-2013 financial exercise. The country will lose any undrawn funds.

Romania also starts to draw funds from the 2014-2020 financial exercise.

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