I am optimistic that we will exceed the threshold of 95% absorption rate of European funds

In the last week, the Management Authorities of the operational programs related to the period 2014 – 2020 sent to the Certification and Payment Authority of the Ministry of Finance, for certification and reimbursement, statements of expenses in the total amount of 387.68 million euros.

More precisely, the Management Authority of the Large Infrastructure Operational Program submitted expenditure declarations in the amount of 124.49 million euros, the Management Authority of the Regional Operational Program – 133.06 million euros and the Management Authority of the Human Capital Operational Program – 130 ,13 million euros.

“The total amounts received by Romania from the European Commission, representing pre-financing and reimbursements, are approximately 27 billion euros, which represents over 76% of the EU allocation related to operational programs. A year ago, when I took over the mandate at the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, Romania still had approximately 12 billion euros to absorb from the allocations for the 2014-2020 period, of which we now have 5.3 billion euros. From the beginning of 2023 until now, the value of the contracts signed with the beneficiaries by the management authorities of the operational programs amounts to 1.4 billion euros, and these developments make us optimistic that we will exceed the threshold of 95% rate of absorption at the end of 2023”, declared Minister Marcel Boloş.

Regarding the execution of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, up to this date, the total amounts received from the European Commission, representing pre-financing and reimbursements, related to the programs financed from FESI (PO Large Infrastructure, OP Competitiveness, OP Regional, OP Administrative Capacity, OP Technical Assistance, OP Human Capital, PN Rural Development, OP Fisheries and Maritime Affairs) and from FEAD (POAD) stands at approximately 27 billion euros, which represents approximately 76% of the EU allocation related to these programs. The amount repaid from the beginning of 2022 until now is 7.1 billion euros, of which 1 billion euros in 2023.

In addition, approximately EUR 12.55 billion in direct payments in agriculture have been reimbursed by the European Commission (EUR 1.86 billion from the beginning of 2022 to date).

The management authorities signed 16,616 financing contracts with the beneficiaries, with a total value of approx. 48.5 billion euros: Large Infrastructure OP – 2,143 contracts (22.4 billion euros); OP Competitiveness – 2,862 contracts (4.4 billion euros); OP Technical Assistance – 143 contracts (403 million euros); OP Human Capital – 2,870 contracts (6.3 billion euros); Regional OP – 7,671 contracts (13.5 billion euros); OP Administrative Capacity – 895 contracts (854 million euros); POAD – 32 contracts (688 million euros).

From the beginning of 2022 until now, 4,226 financing contracts have been signed, with a total value of approximately 4.6 billion euros. Of these, in 2023, 1,862 financing contracts worth approximately 1.4 billion euros were signed.

Total payments to beneficiaries under the signed contracts amount to approximately 21.3 billion euros. The progress recorded from the beginning of 2022 until now in terms of total payments made to beneficiaries is approximately 7.2 billion euros, of which approximately 1.3 billion euros in 2023.

The amounts requested by the European Commission are approx. 17.6 billion euros, representing a current absorption rate of approximately 71.6% of the related EU allocation (5.7 billion euros from the beginning of 2022 until now, of which 646 million euros in 2023). In addition, monthly statements of expenses in the amount of approx. 260 million euros are being processed at the ACP, with a view to transmission to the EC.

Of these, the EC made reimbursements of approximately 15.5 billion euros (5 billion euros from the beginning of 2022, of which 786 million euros in 2023).

Until now, in the 2014-2020 financial year, no amounts related to the operational programs have been released, as the value of the payment applications sent to the EC covered the necessary expenses.