European Commission: Romania can access SAPARD funds until end of 2009

The European Commission approved Romania’s request to extend the access deadline for the SAPARD funds until the end of 2009, Agriculture minister Dacian Ciolos declared on Thursday, quoted by Romanian news agency Mediafax.

Agriculture ministry state secretary Cornelia Mihai declared, a week ago, that the ministry was waiting an official answer from the Commission. She added that the Romanian institution managing the projects only paid 5-10% of the total annual financial allocation in 2006.

Romania should finish paying off the 2006 funds by the end of the year, since all payments after this deadline will be paid by the state not by EU.