Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, discussed in Brussel
After more than a year with the health crisis as the main focus, the Government in Bucharest is now working on economic recovery.
Daniela Budu, 12.05.2021, 14:00
“We work hand in hand with Romania to finalize a solid Recovery and Resilience Plan as soon as possible. Good progress on reforms.” The statement was made by the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, after a meeting, in Brussels, with the Romanian PM Florin Citu, which she defined as constructive. Negotiations with the Commission representatives, to get their support for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), are going well. The Romanian plan will generate sustainable economic growth, the PM said. He wants to make sure, in Brussels, that the funds Romania receives under the NRRP will go to the best performing economic sectors.
Florin Citu: ”NRRP has two components. One of them involves reforms and is also part of the governing program, the fiscal-budgetary strategy and the convergence program, also assumed under the NRRP as well as the investment component. As regards the latter, my message is clear. Romania has certain priorities which it wants to include in the NRRP. The funds that Romania will receive will go to the most productive economic sectors.”
Romania must observe the fund allocation criteria, that favor innovation and environment protection, but tries to obtain, through negotiations, funding for other sectors such as infrastructure and agriculture, which are less developed than in other member states. Romania has an ambitious plan for sustainable economic growth following the pandemic, Florin Citu said: ”The National Recovery and Resilience Plan includes all the projects that meet the eligibility criteria. The most important criterion is for a project to be completed by 2026. I will make sure that all projects are included. Projects that cannot be finance under the NRRP, will be funded from European funds or state budget funds. Infrastructure development is a priority in Romania.”
The PM also explained that Romania needs all 29 billion euros offered under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The NRRP budget was revised, at the European Commissions recommendation, from 42 billion euros to around 29 billion euros, after the amounts were reduced at all chapters. As part of the plans adjustment, allocations for education were reduced to 3.7 billion euros from the initial 4 billion. Romanian authorities plan to finalize and submit the National Recovery and Resilience Planto the European Commission at the end of this month, four weeks after the initial deadline. 14 EU members have already submitted their plans to the European Commission. (EE)
