Journal of Danubian Studies and Research, Vol 9, No 2 (2019)

Abstract

The experience gained by Romania after joining the European Union during the 2007-2013 programming period should have led to a much more efficient absorption of the non-reimbursable funds during the period 2014-2020. For the 2014-2020 programming period, 30.84 billion euro were allocated to Romania. The absorption capacity of European funds, however, did not increase at the expected pace. Thus, in the first 4 years from the beginning of the programming period (2015-2018) the European Union made payments to Romania (pre-financing and intermediate payments) in the amount of 7.89 billion euro (26%)[1]. The pace of payments has increased slightly in 2016 compared to 2015, doubling in 2017, but staying close to the same level in 2018. If between 2019-2022 (n + 2) the same pace is kept, we expect an absorption of up to 20 billion euro, approximately 65% of the allocated amount. Our study on the absorption capacity focused on the program that continues the investments started through the SOP Environment 2007-2013 Program, respectively the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme LIOP 2014-2020.

[1] https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/countries/RO.