Phare brings Romania 257m euros

Romania will get 257 million euros from the European Union through the PHARE 2001 programme, in non-reimbursable financial aid, European Integration minister Hildegard Puwak announced on Monday.

The negotiations to schedule the funds granted through this programme are about to be completed.

The national Phare programme will benefit from 243.8 million euros, while the crossborder co-operation programmes (Romania-Hungary and Romania-Bulgaria) will get 13.2 million euros.

Romania submitted the projects for Phare 2001 to the European Commission and 99% of the propositions made by the specialised ministries were accepted, said Puwak.

The Integration minister specified the financing memorandum would be signed between the European Commission Delegation in Romania and the European Integration Ministry some time in September or October.

The priorities of the Phare 2001 programme previously announced by the European Integration Ministry include projects to ensure economic and social consistence (up to 40% of the total budget), meeting political accession criteria (the development of the civil society, child protection, national minorities protection), fulfilling the obligations about assimilating the acquis (technical assistance and investments in telecommunications, customs, transports, agriculture, environment protection, energy, social security, banking system and audio-visual), justice and internal affairs, healthcare.