Urgency to complete PNRR projects benefiting seniors and social services

The Romanian Government held an emergency videoconference with prefects to salvage approximately 5,300 contracts funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), many of which aim to improve public services used by older adults.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, together with the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Finance, called for urgent mobilisation to complete the projects by the end of August, so that Romania does not forfeit its allocated European funds. The focus was placed on projects in the areas of development, the environment, and education, which can indirectly affect the quality of life of elderly citizens.

Concrete monitoring measures

Local authorities are required to submit detailed information by Tuesday on the actual status of projects: the degree of completion, delivery deadlines, amounts reimbursed, and photographic evidence from the field. This data will subsequently be verified by the European Commission to ensure transparency in the use of funds.

For projects that cannot be completed on time, the government is considering the possibility of transferring them to the loan component of the PNRR — a measure that could preserve significant investments in infrastructure and services.

Legislative reforms under way

In parallel, the executive reviewed the progress of nine draft laws valued at €7.5 billion, which are due to be submitted to Parliament. These legislative measures are necessary for the continued implementation of the reforms undertaken through the PNRR, including those that could improve the healthcare system and social services.

Negotiations with the European Commission are continuing to adjust certain targets to a realistic level of achievement, in the context of the challenges facing the plan's implementation at local level. Expediting the review of payment requests is a priority in order to ensure the timely reimbursement of eligible projects at an advanced stage of completion.