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In Romania, project money has not been an issue, but the way some ministries "understand" to use money, "whether from the national budget, European money or from other sources of funding," Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici said on Monday at the Parliament Palace.
"European money exists, and it has always existed for Romania. Money has not been a problem when it comes to projects, but the way some ministries understand how to use that money, whether they are from the budget, European money or from other sources of funding," Teodorovici said.
"So, there is no question of funding; Mrs Commissioner may be right in the situation where it is about what we could send to Brussels for approval in applications for funds. However, a distinction must be made and I hope that the central and local administration understand that there is no need to link the two issues, namely the application for funding to Brussels related to projects and the specifications to be issued in the electronic public procurement system and the actual start of works. Because unfortunately, the two moments are linked today, and I have always recommended that any public entity, any contracting entity launch a project for implementation, and reimbursement talks with Brussels is another issue, of course very important, so that the activity will not weigh the budget down," Teodorovici said.
Minister Teodorovici's statement comes in relation with a question about European Commissioner Corina Cretu's recent criticism against the Romanian government for preferring public private partnerships to the detriment of European funds, money that exists but the Government has not submitted projects for accessing them.
