Commissioner Cretu: Under EC proposal, Romania to have its budget increased by 8pct over current one

Under a proposal of the European Commission, Romania will get an 8pct raise in its European budget over the current one, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu said on Monday, emphasising the need for an agreement on the multiannual financial framework before the 2019 elections to the European Parliament. 

Cretu attended a conference called "EuroImpact - Impact and results of cohesion policy in Romania - Experiences with accessing funds and implementing funded projects," organised by the European Institute of Romania (IER) in Bucharest. 

"Fortunately, the Cohesion Policy has remained at the core of the vision for the future of the European Union," she said, speaking about one of the principles of European fund allocation. 

"After all, I have to convince my colleagues in the European Commission that we have to go back to the Berlin formula (...), it is based almost 80pct on the per capita Gross Domestic Product formula. According to this formula, we have managed to get poorer countries - Bulgaria, Romania, Greece - a 10pct surplus each," she pointed out. 

She addressed the Minister-delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu, also in attendance, on this topic. 

"Under our proposal, of the European Commission, Romania will stand to get a budget that is 8pct higher than the current one for 2014-2020. I hope, Mr Negrescu, that the negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament will preserve these already enunciated principles. I am convinced that you will fight in the Council in order to keep these figures for our countries," Cretu told Negrescu. 

At the same time, Cretu talked about the need for an agreement on the multiannual financial framework. 

"While holding the Presidency [of the Council of the EU], we have to join forces together with the European Parliament and we want to agree on the multiannual financial framework. I think it is very important to have an understanding of the multiannual financial framework before the European Parliamentary elections next year," she pointed out. 

Cretu also referenced the consequences of not reaching such an agreement. 

"Otherwise, our studies indicate that from the first day of 2021, January 1, 2021, 100,000 projects risk being unable to be carried through European funds due to delays," Cretu explained.