EBRD to assist Romania on EU co-funded projects management

Newsroom 21/11/2012 | 14:52

The Romanian government and EBRD signed on Wednesday a framework to help Romania identify the key sectors where EU-funded projects can sustain economic growth.

The EBRD will focus on energy efficiency in public and residential buildings and the support for regional water and wastewater treatment companies. The government should also receive support for the preparation of district heating and urban transport strategies.

“Romanian public authorities will benefit from the EBRD’s expertise in making sure the EU structural funds are used in an effective and efficient way so that they deliver growth,” said Peter Stredder, the EBRD’s acting director for Romania, signing the agreement in Bucharest today.

“The aim is to reinforce Romania’s capacity to absorb structural funds, advance key reforms, maximize results and stimulate growth,” he added.

The assistance covers the projects developed in the 2007-2013 period. The country has signed similar agreements with the EIB and World Bank, which aim to increase Romania’s absorption of structural funds in the 2014-2020 period.

Romania’s absorption on cohesion and structural funds amounted to EUR 1.8 billion by October, according to the Ministry of European Affairs. The absorption rate was 9.72 percent.

Ovidiu Posirca