Regional Operational Programme to be launched in Sibiu, July 13

The Regional Operational Programme (ROP) that provides Romania with 3.72 billion euros within 2007-2913 is to be officially launched in the center town of the country, Sibiu, on July 13.

Following the ratification of the document, the Practical Guides for the six priority intervention axes will be issued in July-September, according to the minister of Development, Public Works and Housing Laszlo Borbely.

30 projects are already completed out of 90 submitted so far says minister Borbely who hopes for a good absorption of the European funds by the end of 2007, of at least 400 million euros, but no more than 2% - the threshold for Romania in the first year.

The first priority intervention axe -supporting urban development - makes up 30% of the ROP, i.e. 1.2 billion euros and poses the greatest challenge for the next 3-4 years because of lack of experience in the field, Borbely says. The practical guides for this component are to be released in September.

The second priority intervention axe - improving regional and local transport infrastructure - makes up 20% of the budget and is the most advanced up to this moment. The practical guides are to be launched the soonest, on July 25.

Improving social infrastructure, the third axe, depends on the projects submitted. The sooner the projects will come, the sooner the axe is to be launched.

The fourth priority intervention axe - supporting the regional and local business environment - which makes up 17% of the ROP budget is to be launched in September, the latest. This year, five projects will be selected and financed and are to be implemented in 2008.

The fifth axe - Sustainable development and promoting tourism- is to be launched gradually in August and September, while the sixth axe - technical assistance for implementing the ROP - which represents 2.65% of the budget is to be launched as soon as possible, Borbely says.

The ROP will soon have its own website providing the necessary info for the interested persons.

HotNews.ro, Euractiv.ro, Jul 5, 2007