Romania will receive more than 19 billion euros in development funds from the European Union during 2007-2013, according to an agreement signed yesterday. The funds are part of the EU’s aid to member countries, and Romania became eligible after joining the EU in January. “This money will be used to reduce social and economic discrepancies between the regions of the country,” Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said after a signing ceremony. “Now we must draft the projects to spend this money and to make sure these funds are spent efficiently and correctly.” EU Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner said the first funds would arrive within days, adding that the Commission would cooperate with the government to prevent irregularities in spending EU funds.
(AP)