Economy Minister: Romanian contribution to the EU budget is sufficient, we do not plan an increase

The contribution Romania pays for the European Union Budget – 1.1 billion euro in 2007 – is sufficient at the moment, Finance and Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian announced on Thursday, adding that the authorities do not support an increase of this participation, the community budget is about to be revised. On the other hand, the minister said that Romania supports the maintaining of agriculture funds and cohesion funds at their current level.

Romania already received 1.6 billion euro as pre-accession funds (PHARE, ISPA and SAPARD), specialists anticipating an even larger net benefit in 2008. Until now, Romania paid 400 million out of the 1.1 billion euro contribution.

„It was in the negotiation logics to have Romania benefitting, not contributing, in the net balance”, added Leonard Orban, former chief-negotiator for Romania.