Romanian Liberals Might Call For Committee To Check Assigning Of EU Funds In Rural Areas

Dobre stressed that the future committee will check the way EU funds were assigned and the way projects within measure 322, which targets village renewal and development, enhanced basic services for rural economy and rural population, and preservation of the rural heritage, became liable for financing.

He added that the country's ruling Democratic Liberal Party used measure 322 to fund election campaigns. According to Dobre, the measure, which was put into practice based on some very clear criteria, was gradually turned into a measure for infrastructure upgrades.

Dobre underscored that "local authorities have so far submitted 1756 projects targeting measure 322", of which "only 295 projects, or 14.3%, were cleared for financing during the last project processing stage in June". He added that the country's paying agency for rural development and fishing APDRP did not inform any mayor as to why certain projects were demoted.

Moreover, Dobre said he sent a letter to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek in order to notify them of all irregularities regarding the assignment of EU funds on measure 322. In the letter, Dobre told the two high officials that "the problems mentioned in his letter can only be solved with the intervention of EU bodies".

Liberal leader Crin Antonescu on Saturday said he thinks all parliamentary groups want these problems and irregularities to be tackled and clarified.

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