Romanian Minister: EU could OK Large Infrastructure Operational Programme in June

The European Union could approve in June the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme if Romanian authorities take the necessary steps, said Marius Nica, European Funds Minister. Nica met Corina Cretu, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy on May 18. They talked about the stage of the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme, as well as about the projects in the 2007-2013 programming period, which need to be phased over the next financial programme. They also discussed about the working group Corina Cretu created last year within the General Directorate for Regional Policy. The group tries to identify possible solutions to hurry the absorption of European funds in eight member state with an absorption rate below 60%. Romania posted at the end of April an absorption rate of 54.22% for the 2007-2013 programming period, up 1.1% over the end of March. editor@romania-insider.com