The Romanian Ministry of European Funds will be established in October, and will most likely be led by the Presidential Adviser and former European Commissioner Leonard Orban (in picture), according to the Minister of Regional Development and Tourism, Elena Udrea , quoted by Mediafax newswire.

According to Orban, the future minister will coordinate the absorption of funds, and the operational programs will remain within the ministries involved in attracting European funds. The Minister and the Ministry will manage and coordinate the issues that are common to all operational programs. The Minister will be the interface between the authorities in Bucharest and in Brussels, but it will not be strictly involved in the punctual performance of the programs.

Leonard Orban thinks that a better absorption of funds will be seen about a year after the establishment of the new ministry.

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

(photo source: European Commission)