The Ministry of European Investments and Projects has taken steps to cut personnel expenses by 5 percent, Minister Marcel Bolos told AGERPRES in an interview, stating that a potential restructuring is under analysis, but a decision in this regard must be made without jeopardizing the absorption of European money.
"For a start, there has already been a horizontal measure to cut personnel expenses by 5 percent, which was implemented with all the ministries. As far as the Ministry of European Investments and Projects in particular is concerned, we have committed to the European Commission that the administration structures, the organizational charts responsible for the administration of a particular operational program be sized in such a manner that the basic functions of such a structure are not jeopardized - from project assessment, conclusion of the funding contracts, monitoring implementation, the entire life cycle of a project must be in accordance with these management and control systems, that is, in accordance with the organizational charts we have committed to. That is why, for the Ministry of European Investments and Projects we must bear in mind that jeopardizing a certain position, a management authority, entails the risk of funding suspension," explained Bolos.
"There are areas in which saving in expenditure may not be equivalent, may not counterbalance the risk of loss that you can generate, because Romania's goal is to bring its money home, for 75 billion euros to enter Romania's coffers. If we save, say to the tune of 5 million euros in expenditures, but lose 75 million euros, this will be very difficult to explain to public opinion, and that is why we are analyzing this restructuring move. But I would like us not to do it just for the sake of doing an analysis, that it isn't made hastily and that - if we make it - the decision does not put the absorption of European money at jeopardy," said Marcel Bolos.