Romania has been doing some progress when it comes to attracting EU funds in the past year, but is still significantly below the European average.

Romania is currently the only member state with an absorption rate of below 60% for the 2007-2013 period, according to Angela Filote, head of European Commission’s Representation in Romania.

“Romania is now the only Member State with an absorption rate of below 60% and has only this year left to try to use as much of the 2007-2013 funding as possible. Of course, this year, it will do what it can in the months left until December, but what it is important is to not go in the next funding period, 2014-2020, with the same issues,” said Filote, cited by local Agerpres.

According to latest data, Romania has an absorption rate of 56%, 20 percentage points below the European average.

The bureaucratic maze and changing the rules during the game are some of the reasons why Romania’s absorption rate is under 60%, according to Filote.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com