INSTITUTIONS, PUBLIC POLICY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITIES, pages: 275 - 284, 2021

The Impact of Public Procurement in the Absorption Process of Non-Refundable European Funds Assigned to Romania Between 2014-2020

Doi: https://doi.org/10.58603/QMOP3128

Abstract: Public acquisitions have been a constant challenge in the application process for public funds, especially in the application for European non-reimbursable funds. The low rate of absorption relating to the programming period 2014-2020 is closely linked to the manner of processing public acquisitions in Romania, these engendering most of the delays in the application process of non-reimbursable funds projects. Although Romanian primary legislation relating to public acquisitions is balanced by the community‘s acquis, secondary legislation shows inconsistencies and leaves room for interpretation, with many scantily regulated subjects. Corroborated by the lack of clear descriptions of the roles relating to the National Authority for Public Procurement and to the Managing Authorities in regards to the verification of public acquisitions made by beneficiaries of European funds, this causes not only delays in the application process of the projects, but also financial corrections and a low rate of absorption.