Absorption target of European funds from Romania-Bulgaria Interreg V-A Program has been reached

The absorption target set for this year, but also for 2022 within the Interreg VA Romania-Bulgaria Program, has been reached, as a result of the reimbursement, by the European Commission, of approximately 53.6 million euros, as mentioned at the 13th meeting of the Monitoring Committee held online on Thursday, the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA) announced, agerpres reports.

Also, to date, approximately 127 million euros, representing 58.82% of the allocation for the program, has been paid to the beneficiaries, MDLPA said.

"Moreover, in 2021, the absorption rate of the program reached 58.82%, representing a significant increase compared to 2020, when the absorption rate was 35.10%", reads a press release.

The program also registered important progress in the implementation of the projects, 69.23% of the total of the 169 contracted projects, ie 117, being finalized and generating results that contribute to the development of the cross-border area. The completed projects amount to approximately 34.73% of the total contracted value, according to MDLPA.

"During the meeting, the main communication activities planned and included in the Communication Plan for 2022 were presented, the conclusions of the audit report of the European Court of Auditors - Interreg cooperation: 'The potential of the European Union's cross border regions has not yet been fully unlocked', presented by the representative of the European Commission, as well as the stage of the programming process of the future Interreg program, technical assistance for the period 2014 - 2020 to support the preparation of Policy Objective 5, financed under the Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria Program", the press release also states.