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European Commissioner for regional policy Corina Cretu stated on Monday that she does not know what Romania's budget situation is and that she has done everything she could for our country not to lose European funds.
'I don't know about Romania's budget situation. This is a field Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, together with European Commissioner Moscovici are in charge with. I have answered with regard to European funds. I have said from the beginning that Romania was in danger of losing 830 million euro at the beginning of the year, precisely one year ago, after the investiture of the current Government. I discussed about this with Romania's Government and I said that by 31 December 2018 Romania must declare payment requests to cover for these 830 million euro through projects. Thus, I practically devised an action plan modifying the regional operational programmes according o the solutions identified by our experts together with the Romanian authorities, and in December 640 million euro were deposited between 15 and 31 December, beside the 300 euro saved throughout the year," Corina Cretu said when asked by journalists about the National Liberal Party (PNL)'s accusations according to which she would have helped the Social Democratic Party (PSD, major at rule, ed.n.) to achieve a deficit below 3 percent.
Corina Cretu mentioned that all the changes were made with the supervision of the legal services of the European Commission, in line with the regulations for the implementation of the structural and investment funds.
"It is my duty, as European Commissioner, to help all member states, including Romania, not to lose money, and that is what I have done. I really do not understand the allegations against me and what the relationship with me is. As regards the budget, I have told you, I do not know if 3 percent was exceeded or not. I know there was the danger of exceeding the 3 percent budget deficit, but as far as the funds are concerned, we did everything that I could for Romania not to lose money and we have succeeded," Corina Cretu affirmed.
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She said that the amount of 830 million euro is covered by projects. It follows that the experts check whether they are eligible or not. The projects are certified by the certification authorities in Romania.
AGERPRES .
