Romania ranks 12th among top beneficiaries of EU funds, with almost EUR 4 billion absorbed last year, while the main beneficiary was Poland, with EUR 15.7 billion received from the European Commission. Poland was followed by Spain and France, according to EC’s financial report for 2012.

When the amount of EU funding is adjusted to the country's gross national income, Estonia is the main beneficiary, followed by Latvia and Lithuania.

Germany remains the main beneficiary of EU funds in areas such as research and innovation, while Poland has benefited the most of cohesion funding.

France was the most important beneficiary in terms of agricultural funds, followed by Germany, Spain and Italy, while the Netherlands was the main beneficiary in the area of ​​freedom, security and justice. Italy, followed by Belgium, ranks first in terms of funds received from the EU in the ‘citizenship’ area.

European Commission’s financial report for 2012 can be found here.

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