Brussels, 12/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Romania needs to update, update with the help of the Commission. The problems currently facing the country are mainly a function of its administrative capacity at regional and local levels. That was the broad thrust of the exchange of views between the members of the European Parliament (EP) regional development committee and a representative of the Romanian government. The meeting, which was chaired by Danuta Hübner (EPP, Poland) took place in Brussels on Tuesday 12 April. After the event, Hübner said she had found the discussion “very useful”. MEPs are expecting further progress in the absorption of funds, the rate of which must be increased, and hold the view that regional policy is important for Romania which has some ground to make up.
MEPs believe that, in addition to its weak rate of absorption and its very poor administrative capacity, Romania has a lot of European money in its banks and that the question of what is happening with interest rates is one that has to be asked. Some MEPs noted that it must also be possible to delegate to the local and regional levels.
In reply, the Romanian government representative said: (1) the administrative capacity is very weak because there is reluctance to implement projects, and the reason for this is that work on European funding is not well paid, so people prefer to work in the private sector which is very well paid; (2) VAT comes under local budgets: since 2009, these budgets receive a 15% advance on consultancy work and advisory services; (3) bank interest is used to fund projects; (4) public procurement is a problem which Romania will continue to experience in the future: it is not the ministry which organises public procurement, this is done at the local level; (5) cooperation with the Commission (and aid): there are projects which are verified through the JASPERS programme when the funding is very high; for regional action plans, there is permanent contact with the Commission.
The Hungarian representative, expressing a “purely personal opinion” said: “We are looking for coherence. Currently, the regions do not have the status of legal entities (in the form of a governor, for example). The authorities could receive the money direct from Europe. I believe that that is the way forward. It is a matter of political will”. (G.B./transl.rt)