Radio România Internațional

Tag: EU funds

  • Milvus Group, 25 years of efforts to protect nature

    Milvus Group, 25 years of efforts to protect nature

    Milvus Group, an environment protection NGO based in Cluj Napoca, has been working for 25 years in the field of conservation. During all these years, its members have conducted a variety of bird research and protection projects, from bird ringing to monitoring the migration routes for the birds of prey in Macin Mountains or Bosporus, which is placed on one of the most important European migration routes. According to the head of Milvus Group, the biologist Tamas Papp, during its 25 years of work the association has also contributed to some regions being granted the status of protected areas:



    “The combined surface of the protected areas in Romania was very small, accounting for only 7% of the countrys total area, but with Romanias EU accession this figure rose to 23%. And I think our association played an important role in this respect. This is our most significant accomplishment of the past 10 years. We drafted proposals concerning a large number of protected areas, based on our surveys focusing on birds, mammals and habitats. A total of over 200 areas, of diverse sizes, have been included on the list of protected areas thanks to our contribution. Furthermore, we are currently managing 12 such protected areas. We have also made a substantial contribution to the management plans of protected areas.



    The founder of the Cluj Napoca-based environment watchdog, Tamas Papp, believes that in Romania nature protection is not yet a priority, and moreover, that Romania is the only EU member state that fails to earmark public funds for its protected areas, except for the Danube Delta Nature Reserve. The country does not yet have a National Agency for Protected Areas in charge with managing the natural eco-systems and habitats. Here are the most important projects implemented by Milvus Group in the field of bird and nature protection:



    “For instance, we have focused extensively on the birds of prey, and we have notable achievements in this respect. Weve had several projects involving the saker falcon, the red-footed falcon, the lesser spotted eagle, some of them financed by the European Commission. Perhaps our most spectacular project was the one concerning the saker falcon, because this bird had disappeared from the Romanian fauna ten years ago and after having implemented the project and thanks to our conservation measures, we may say that we have managed to rescue this species from extinction. Similarly, in the Romanian Western Plain, the red-footed falcon, which was a declining species, recovered following our intervention, consisting in an international project financed by the EU, and the number of individuals in this species has grown. As for the lesser spotted eagle, which is an emblematic species for Transylvania, we hope we will manage to stop the decline of this species as well. Weve also worked a lot with storks. We have initiated the fitting of platforms for the stork nests on electricity poles. We started fitting such platforms in 2000, and in 2014 their number had already reached 2000 across the country. But there is still a lot to be done, not only with respect to storks, but also for other birds that get electrocuted on electricity lines. This is something that kills tens of thousands of birds every year.



    Milvus Group is the only organisation in Romania dealing in caring for and reintroducing wounded birds into the nature. They have also set up a green line aimed to facilitate communication with those who find wounded animals. Tamas Papp:



    “15-20 years ago such an initiative was not part of our plans, but we had to do it, because people, aware of our interest in protecting the birds, whenever they found a bird they would bring it to us. Since there was nobody to take care of such animals, we decided to set up this centre, and today we can definitely talk about a successful activity. We work together with Vets4Wild, a veterinarian association. We already have two locations and we have established a national wild animal rescue network. We have tried to include a veterinarian from every county, because rapid intervention is of utmost importance. Whenever a wild bird is found, we must intervene fast. Now we have a well equipped centre in the village of Sansimion, where we have bird houses for wounded birds.



    We asked Tamas Papp, the director of the Milvus Group about his projects for 2017:



    “We already have a number of ongoing programmes that will continue into 2017. One of our biggest achievements is the publication of an atlas of nesting birds in Romania together with the Romanian Ornithological Society. We have been working on this for a year and it is an older ambition of ours given that there is no such atlas in Romania containing up-to-date information about the distribution of species in this country. We also have two other projects. One is about the European roller, a very beautiful bird with blue plumage that nests in these parts. The population of this species has decreased in the Western Plain, so we began a project to rescue it. In 2017, we will continue our activities concerning the conservation of prey birds and mammals for weve also had many projects for mammals, including large carnivores and lesser-known species.



    Milvus Group is also involved in educational projects in schools, with its members being often invited to talk to children about animals, habitats and their protection. The group also founded the Milvus Scholarship to support young people and students interested in the conservation of nature and help young researchers carry out individual evaluation and research projects.


    (Translated by A.M. Popescu and M. Ignatescu)

  • Romania and the cities of the future

    Romania and the cities of the future

    Over half of Romania’s 20 million inhabitants is living in towns and cities. Urban life comes with a rhythm and quality of its own, generating economic, social and tourist development and encouraging local potential. Urban policies seek to improve living standards by developing and beautifying cities, making them more people-friendly.



    EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu attended a conference called “My City in Our Europe — Current challenges to sustainable urban development and the role of EU funds”, held in Bucharest. On this occasion, the EU official has warned that many cities across Romania, including the capital city, are reporting delays in the process of absorbing EU funds for development. Romania, Corina Cretu argues, needs experts to implement EU-funded projects that should make more jobs available.



    Corina Cretu: “EU Funds for the 2014-2020 period should not be invested chaotically, but according to thematic priorities. Romania lacks quality projects, large-scale projects. A lot has been done, but only at a smaller scale: pipeline repair works or other things that could have been accomplished using national or local resources. I believe we need more large-scope projects with a nationwide impact that should generate more jobs. I think the trend of splitting the money to all the city halls in order to make everyone happy is an ineffective strategy, because with low sums of money we can only carry out small projects”.



    The European Commissioner also said that one of the important projects for Bucharest could be the modernization of the heating network using European funds.



    Corina Cretu: “A 100-million-euro budget has been made available under the Regional Development Fund for modernizing some 500 km of Bucharest’s sewerage system. My colleagues at DG REGIO are this week convening at the European Investment Bank to assess the extent to which the next 500km by be financed by the European Investment Bank, also because they are aware of the poor quality of tap water in Romania and the possibility of shutting down the heat”.



    Some 46 county seats will be able to access 1,2 billion euros worth of developments funds, Corina Cretu also said, urging Romanian authorities to submit projects and feasibility studies to Brussels as soon as possible.


  • European funds and eligible projects

    European funds and eligible projects

    The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, is currently on a visit to Romania for talks with the national and regional authorities on the priorities of the European Commission and the absorption of European funds. In Bucharest and the north-eastern city of Iasi, Corina Cretu has scheduled meetings with members of the Romanian Parliamentary Committees on European Affairs, the health minister, Romanian MEPs and mayors. She will also attend, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Vasile Dancu, the conference My City in our Europe, Current Challenges for Sustainable Urban Development and the Role of EU Funds.



    In an interview on Radio Romania, Commissioner Cretu also said Romanias absorption rate of community funds in the 2007-2013 financing period stood at 88.7%. In exchange, according to Corina Cretu, so far, Romania has not accessed any money of the 22 billion Euro available to it in the 2014-2020 financing period, because the institutions with responsibilities in absorbing community funds have not been finalized and the role played by the National Agency for Public Procurement has not been clarified yet.



    Corina Cretu: “22 billion Euros are earmarked for Romania in the 2014- 2020 budgetary exercise, but we are still at an incipient stage, when certification institutions, the control and management mechanisms of European funds are still being put in place, and it is only afterwards that we can hope to receive bills and invoices at a fast pace. I know that there are beneficiaries who started works on their own and are waiting for these institutions to be finalised in order to be able to officially send to the European Commission bills and invoices of the works that have already been undertaken.



    In Iasi, Commissioner Corina Creţu, accompanied by health minister, Vlad Voiculescu, has talked, among others, about the preparations that are being made to build three regional hospitals with European money. Special attention is paid to Romanias northeastern region, the most poverty-stricken area in the European Union.



    Corina Cretu: “In the 2014-2020 financing period, this region will have a 1.18 billion Euro budget, under the Regional Operational Program, accounting for some 20% of the amount allotted to Romania by the Regional Fund. We hope the newly elected local authorities will learn the lessons of the past and we will be able to start all major programs and design important projects for the ensuing period of time.



    Following Romanias joining the EU in 2007, the accession of European funds has turned out to be more complicated than someone could have ever imagined. A lack of interest, red tape and embezzlement of EU funds have all been recurrent obstacles hindering the development of local and regional projects. And, a higher rate of EU funds absorption will only be beneficial to the Romanians. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • June 27, 2016 UPDATE

    June 27, 2016 UPDATE

    BREXIT – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, is taking part on Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels in a European Council meeting, where he will emphasise the need for EU solidarity and unity, following Great Britains EU referendum. According to the Presidential Administration, the head of state will underline that Romania remains loyal to the European project, but will stand for redefining it. President Iohannis will also reiterate that Romania firmly supports equal rights of all EU citizens, including the Romanians who live and work in the UK.



    LAW – The Government of Romania once again notified the Constitutional Court regarding the law on special pensions for local elected officials, PM Dacian Ciolos announced on Monday. The law, he argued, will affect the State Budget, which fuels much of the local budgets. Ciolos explained that the budget impact would amount to some 90 million euro per year. The Government also challenged the fact that the law is to apply retroactively. Last week the Senate endorsed a bill giving special pensions to mayors, deputy mayors, presidents and vice-presidents of county councils. Under the law, which is set to take effect in January 2017, the money will be taken from local budgets and officials sentenced for corruption-related offences will not receive such pensions.



    JUDICIAL – The Romanian Justice Minister, Raluca Prună, and her Georgian counterpart, Thea Tsulukiani, Monday signed in Tbilisi, a new agreement in the judicial field. The Romanian Justice Ministry said the parties would promote, among others, judicial cooperation in European affairs and the exchange of information. The open-ended agreement will replace the one signed in 2004. Signing the deal was the main goal of Minister Prunas visit to Georgia until Tuesday.



    EU FUNDS – The Committee on European Affairs in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Monday heard the Minister for European Funds, Cristian Ghinea, to clarify why Romanias EU fund absorption rate in 2016 is zero. Aspects related to the current stage in spending European funds and the ministry reorganisation strategy have also been discussed, as well as the measures designed to improve the performance of relevant institutions and to speed up the absorption of European money. Participants also discussed the measures Minister Ghinea has in mind with respect to the so-called Juncker Plan for investments.



    SPAIN ELECTIONS – The interim PM of Spain, the Conservative Mariano Rajoy, said on Monday that he would try to form a coalition government within a month. Rajoys Popular Party came first in the election with 33% of the votes, followed by the Socialists with 22.6% and by the left-of-centre anti-system Podemos party, with 21.1%. The new Parliament will also include the Ciudadanos Liberal party. The elections were held only six months after the latest ballot, which produced a fragmented legislative body, with the four political forces unable to make up a governmental majority.



    MOLDOVA – A former PM of the Republic of Moldova, Vlad Filat, was sentenced on Monday to nine years in prison, in a ruling that can still be appealed. He was charged with passive corruption and influence peddling, after a businessman said he had given Filat 250 million USD in money and goods. Vlad Filat denies the accusations and claims to be the victim of political revenge. He was the PM of Moldova between September 2009 and March 2013.



    RUSSIA-TURKEY – The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sent a letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, expressing regret for downing the Russian military aircraft in November 2015, near the Turkish-Syrian border. According to a spokesman for Kremlin, quoted by Reuters, the Turkish President says that he will do his best to restore bilateral relations and that Ankara is ready to work with Moscow to fight terrorism. After the aircraft was shot down, Russia imposed tough trade restrictions on Turkey, and Putin said at the time that those measures would not be lifted until Erdogan apologised for the incident, Reuters mentions.

  • March 2, 2016

    March 2, 2016

    IMF – An IMF mission is in Bucharest as of today, for an annual assessment of the Romanian economy. Until March 15, the mission, headed by the new IMF chief for Romania, Reza Baqir, will have meetings with central authorities, political parties, trade unions, the business community, the academia and the banking system. The so-called “Article IV consultation is a compulsory surveillance procedure for all member states. After looking at each national economy, the IMF experts make general recommendations with respect to the monetary, financial and economic policies to be implemented in order to ensure stability and positive economic trends. At present Romania does not have an on-going loan agreement with the IMF.



    Corruption probe – Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors Wednesday ordered the prosecution of the former deputy PM Gabriel Oprea for abuse of office. According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, in July 2015, then Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea and two former chiefs of the directorate for intelligence and domestic protection, also indicted in this case, caused the public budget to lose nearly 92,000 euros. They approved the purchase of a luxury automobile for the protection of high-ranking public officials from the budget of the Interior Ministry, although under the law the Ministry may only purchase vehicles used in the investigation of corruption-related crimes. Gabriel Oprea has also been prosecuted for two other abuse of office offences, in a case file concerning his use of a motorcade. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate initiated the investigation in October 2015, after the death of a police officer in the motorcade that accompanied Oprea.



    EU Funds – European Commissioner Corina Creţu is presenting in Bucharest today a project focusing on under-developed regions, which is related to the management of European funds. According to Eurostat, several regions in Romania are among the poorest in the EU. The poorest in the country is the North-East region, with a GDP per capita reaching only 34% of the EU average and which is the fifth poorest in the EU, says the European statistics office. The main factors generating poverty are the absence of jobs and low investment. Other poor regions in Romania are the South-West region (Oltenia), South-Muntenia and North-West. Although affected by poverty, Romania risks losing European funds, because it failed to meet the conditions agreed on with the European Commission. According to data made public by the Ministry for European Funds, Romania is the last in Europe in terms of spending EU funds.



    Bacterial Infection – Romanian authorities temporarily closed down a unit of the dairy plant in Arges, southern Romania, which produced the cheese with E. Coli bacteria that some of the babies taken to hospital for digestive infection had eaten. Factory managers say all their products are made in compliance with health and hygiene regulations and do not understand how the bacteria was found in the cheese. Meanwhile, inspectors carry on the investigations, given that another 11 children were admitted to hospitals in the county over the past few hours. Several babies are still under treatment at the Marie Curie hospital in Bucharest. According to the latest data, 45 children are currently receiving in-hospital care for digestive disorders. Three babies diagnosed with haemolytic-uremic syndrome died last month.



    Refugee Crisis – The EU is to announce today a financial support plan for the member states facing massive migrant inflows. According to AFP, some of the money is to go to Greece, which has requested 500 million euros to prevent a possible humanitarian disaster caused by the large number of migrants. On the other hand, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, called for solidarity with Greece. The true test of the European community, Tusk said, is, on the one hand, the rebuilding of the passport-free Schengen area, and on the other hand the promptness with which we help Greece at this very difficult time.



    US Primaries – The Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton strengthened their position in their respective parties after the primaries held on Tuesday in 12 American states. On the so-called Super Tuesday, Trump won seven states, whereas his main challenger, Ted Cruz, won a major state, Texas, where he is also a senator, and Oklahoma. On the other hand, Clinton won seven states, too, and her opponent Bernie Sanders came out first in Oklahoma and also in his home state of Vermont. According to France Presse, after “Super Tuesday, Trump and Clinton are closer to winning their parties nomination for the presidential election due later this year.

  • Economic Regulations Passed in Romania

    Economic Regulations Passed in Romania

    In an Emergency Order on Tuesday the Government has added several amendments to the Fiscal Code, which will take effect starting January 1, 2016. These include a slash in the VAT for drinking water and water used in irrigations. Prime Minister Victor Ponta also announced that the revenues of micro enterprises will be taxed depending on the number of their employees.



    Victor Ponta: “The turnover ceiling of micro-enterprises will go up from 65 to 100 thousand euros. The tax on revenue will stand at 3% if a micro business employs zero employees, at 2% if it employs only one employee and at 1% if it employs two or several employees. This way we support micro enterprises and encourage them to contribute to social insurance.



    The leader of the Liberal floor group in the Chamber of Deputies Eugen Nicolaescu claims the amendments suggested by the Government are unacceptable and are simply an election ruse. Eugen Nicolaescu has warned against the negative effects of this law:



    Eugen Nicolaescu: “This is the first blow the Social-Democrat Government has dealt to the business sector, in the sense that the law lacks predictability, sustainability and stability.



    The Government also announced that tenders for procurement using public money or European funds will take less time and will also reflect quality criteria, not just the lowest price. These regulations are aimed at preventing certain contracts for major infrastructure projects from getting stuck. The opposition also claims that some provisions are missing or can be improved. The Liberal MP Gheorghe Ialomitianu, a former Finance Minister, says that while the legislation has always been in place, the problem was observing procedural regulations and the set deadlines. Ialomitianu says Romania risks not being able to access EU funds next year:



    Gheorghe Ialomitianu: “Romania has a problem in this respect, and the strategy drafted by the Government makes no mention of procedures. Of course there are a number of good measures, such as cutting the deadlines for holding public tenders. The idea to come up with a strategy was good, but overdue, and may lead to delays in the absorption of EU funds.



    The Government wants the new public procurement regulations to come into effect next year and will submit the modified draft law to Parliament for approval. According to a recent study of the German NGO Bertelsmann Stiftung on social rights policies, Romania is lagging behind at EU level in terms of eradicating poverty and eliminating social exclusion. In early 2013, an alarming 40% of Romanias total population was at risk of poverty or social exclusion.