The project to build the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway will continue, and the Romanian authorities will submit all clarifications to the European Commission in due time, Transport Minister Lucian Bode said
The project to build the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway will continue, and the Romanian authorities will submit all clarifications requested by the European Commission in due time, so that the funding request should unfold within normal parameters, Transport Minister Lucian Bode has said. The Romanian Minister said this is the biggest road infrastructure project in Romania funded with EU funds. The total value of the project stands at 1.3 billion euros, of which 85% is due to be disbursed by the European Commission. Representatives of several government institutions on Monday convened for a joint session at the Transport Ministry to draft a response to questions from the European Commission over the impact of the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway on the environment, which is a prerequisite to the non-reimbursable financial assistance from the EU.
The Commission demanded clarifications over the impact the motorway might have on some protected natural areas to be crossed by the motorway. The timetable for the completion of the motorway will also be presented, in addition to the implementation of the management plans at national level and the establishment of goals to preserve wildlife species in the protected areas in question. At least 11 protected natural areas located over the course of the motorway need concrete preservation measures that Romania hasn't adopted yet, the Commission recently warned.
Former Social-Democrat Transport Minister Razvan Cuc recently published a conversation between the Transport Ministry in Bucharest and the European Commission, showing that Romania has not taken concrete preservation measures for several protected natural areas, especially concerning a bug species listed as endangered. Under these circumstances, the Commission could suspend its funds.
In turn, current Minister Lucian Bode accused the previous Government of not submitting an explanation to the European officials in due time, saying the funding cannot be suspended as the sum hasn't been disbursed yet. Minister Bode said an environment permit for the construction of the motorway was released in 2018, adding that 1 in five segments of the motorway, linking Sibiu to Boita, has a signed contract, with construction works due to start in spring. Segments 4 and 5 are in the evaluation or challenge phase, while segments 2 and 3 have a more complex status, considering they are in the mountainous area and are due to be taken up for auction. Lucian Bode pointed out Romania is not the only country the Commission has asked for clarifications over large infrastructure goals, Poland and Bulgaria having received similar requests.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
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