A new set of
\npublic procurement laws has been passed by the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament’s
\ndecision-making body, one month later than requested by the European
\nCommission, which has criticised Romania for the delay. The new laws
\nincorporate the EU directives and rules to be applied to all EU member states.
\nThe passing of these laws will simplify the public investment process, leading
\nto a decrease in the number of legal challenges. <\/p>\n
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According to
\neconomic analyst Valentin Ionescu, the new European directives enforced at the
\nbeginning of 2015 preserve something of the previous ones. Valentin Ionescu:<\/p>\n
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Indeed,
\nmechanisms have been introduced that make the whole process more flexible first
\nof all through the fragmentation of big contracts, which will allow several
\ncompanies to have access to contracts of procurement and works. On the other
\nhand, the initial tender price has increased, which is bad, because that cannot
\ncontribute to curtailing corruption. On the contrary, it can fuel corruption,
\nleading to the creation of cronyism networks if procurement contracts can be
\nawarded without a tender.<\/p>\n
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The European
\nCommissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu has hailed the passing of the
\nlaws and has expressed hope that the European fund absorption rate will
\nincrease in Romania. Corina Cretu:<\/p>\n
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It was an
\nemergency and I was very worried because public procurement practically blocked
\nall operational programmes and beneficiaries could not make any acquisitions in
\nthe absence of regulations. We hope other urgent issues will be addressed now
\nso that we can step up the European fund absorption rate and not lose the
\nentire year from the viewpoint of the European fund absorption.<\/p>\n
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According to the
\nEuropean Commissioner, Romania is lagging behind when it comes to the
\nabsorption of European funds, whose rate in the present financial framework is
\nvery low and it must take advantage of all opportunities it gets in the
\n2014-2020 programming period. Corina Cretu has added that the project
\ndevelopment and fund absorption rate must be stepped up and has recalled that
\nin Brussels all conditions have been provided for Romania to absorb as many
\nEuropean funds as possible. According to the European official, the objective
\nof the European Commission and of Romania is that the structural and cohesion
\nfunds should again boost economic growth and the creation of jobs for
\nRomanians. The European Commissioner had warned even before the public
\nprocurement law package was passed that if the absorption of funds did not
\nstart in the coming months, Romania risked blocking its sustainable economic
\nand social development. We recall that, on paper, the European fund absorption
\nrate stands at 75% for the 2007-2013 period.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Romanias Parliament passes new public procurement package.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":68485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[29253],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-68484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-public-procurement"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n