The government aims to absorb the full EUR 10 billion available this year under the PNRR, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Saturday, calling it Romania's most important investment priority, informs Agerpres.
"For Romania, the most important investment priority this year is to absorb the EUR 10 billion from the PNRR, for which absorption must be completed by August, so as not to lose the grant component, while ensuring that contracts financed through loans are carried through to completion," the prime minister said after a meeting with the mayors of Botosani county.
He added that discussions with local mayors also focused on plans to expand major infrastructure.
"We addressed both large-scale projects related to connecting north-eastern Romania to the motorway network and the fact that the European Commission approved the SAFE programme (Security Action for Europe) for Romania the day before yesterday, which includes EUR 4.3 billion for the two motorway sections that will resolve the region's major connectivity towards Bucharest. This is extremely important. We discussed plans to expand major infrastructure, as well as issues related to public administration, including investment projects under the Anghel Saligny programme and those financed through the PNRR," Bolojan said.
The prime minister also noted that talks with local authorities in Botosani covered issues related to reducing the number of positions in town halls, as well as increases in local taxes and duties.
"We discussed measures taken recently regarding staff reductions in local administration, local taxes and other issues linked to administrative blockages, as well as steps the government can take to support the proper functioning of public administration. The talks also covered a possible project for the next financing period, aimed at supporting, following the model of the south-eastern region, an integrated territorial investment project, so that north-eastern Romania can benefit from additional investments to create development opportunities," the prime minister added.
The discussions were also attended by County Council President Valeriu Iftime, Prefect Raluca Curelariu, and several heads of decentralised public institutions.
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