EU allocates some 30bn euros to Romania

The administration in Bucharest is pleased with the compromise reached by the EU on the financial prospects for 2007-2013 and believes that the new version of the budget, that made a consensus possible, allows Romania to benefit from substantial funds to narrow the gaps that separate it from Western European countries. Romania will receive about 30bn euros in non-repayable funds from the EU between 2007-2013. Besides the substantial funds secured, another important element revealed by President Traian Basescu on Sunday was that the EU budget has funding earmarked for Romania as of 2007, which in the head of state”s opinion, eliminates the option for Romania”s accession to be delayed by one year, a prospect mentioned in the Accession Treaty signed in April 2004. The satisfaction of the administration in Bucharest stems from the fact that the British presidency improved the initial proposition, that is to save money mainly by cutting structural funds and cohesion funds aimed at the development of countries, which would primarily affect Romania, Bulgaria and the new member states. ZF