EditRomania completed just 22 of 100+ EU biodiversity projects in six years
The delays and lack of progress raise concerns about the effective use of European funds
Of the hundreds of European-funded projects aimed at biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, Romanian authorities completed only 22 in six years, EUalive’s partner PressOne informs.
PressOne examined how European funds for biodiversity conservation and the restoration of degraded ecosystems were allocated, particularly for management plans of protected areas within the Natura 2000 network. To gain insight, the media requested data from the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) on the status of these initiatives.
The 2014-2020 funding period and project outcomes
According to the response received from the Ministry, during the 2014-2020 funding period under the Large Infrastructure Operational Program (POIM), specifically within Priority Axis 4 (which focused on environmental protection through biodiversity conservation measures, air quality monitoring, and the decontamination of historically polluted sites), a total of 131 projects were submitted.
Out of these, only 22 projects were fully completed, meaning they were implemented in their entirety, and payments had been made. The primary source of financing for these projects was POIM, accounting for just 16.8% of the total.
Unfinished projects and phasing
A much higher percentage – 50.4%, remains unfinished. As of December 2023, 66 projects had not been completed, even as the operational closure of the 2014-2020 programs was underway.
The institution with the most unfinished projects is the National Agency for Protected Natural Areas (ANANP), which submitted 27 projects. Most of these contracts were signed in 2021, primarily aimed at developing management plans for protected areas. Two years after signing, the implementation status of most projects was reported as 0.00%.
Of the 27 projects, 22 are “phased” into the 2021-2027 programming period – a process described by Romanian authorities as “phasing,” which involves transferring ongoing or incomplete projects to the next funding cycle under certain conditions. This means that some funds will be used to close projects already receiving financing but that, for various reasons, did not reach completion.
The remaining five projects submitted by ANANP are still unfinished, with deadlines extended until December 2026. These works are expected to be completed using the agency’s own budget; otherwise, the funds received will need to be returned.
More than half of the projects financed under Priority Axis 4 -specifically, 43 project stages across 22 sections, have been phased into the Sustainable Development Program, primarily involving ANANP. This decision resulted from initial analyses and directives from the Ministry of Investments and European Projects.
The Romanian Forestry Administration (ROMSILVA) submitted 17 projects under the same axis, but only managed to complete one, valued at over 19 million lei (3.8 million euros; 1 euro equals 5.07 lei). Ten projects remain unfinished, totaling over 98 million lei, and six have been phased into the 2021-2027 period.
Similarly, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (ARBDD) submitted 10 projects, completing only one. Two projects remain unfinished, and seven have been phased for future completion, with a total phased value exceeding 223 million lei.
No post-2021 projects fully completed
In 2021, 24 new contracts were signed under Axis 4 of the Large Infrastructure Operational Program. However, by December 2023, when all projects should have been completed, none were finalized. Three projects remained unfinished, and the remaining 21 were phased into the 2021-2027 program. The total value of unfinished projects amounts to 22 million lei, while phased projects collectively reach over 600 million lei.
Some funds have already been used – especially for projects with high implementation progress – yet many were phased with little to no physical progress (some at 0%), indicating significant delays or stagnation.
The situation persisted in 2022, with 14 new contracts signed, of which seven remained unfinished, and another seven were phased into the new program.
Despite the 2014-2020 operational programs closing in December 2023, contracts continued to be signed as late as July 2023. This left only six months for full project execution.
The project titled “Implementation of active conservation measures on the territory of the site of community importance ROSCI0240 Tăşad” was signed in July 2023 with over 11 million lei. With 0% physical progress recorded by the end of the period, it remains unfinished.
Another project from January 2023, managed by the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, received over 47 million lei. With only 0.28% progress in December 2023, it was phased into the new program, requiring an additional approximately 45 million lei for completion—only about 2 million lei of the initial funding was used.
Postponement of fund reimbursements
In May 2023, the government, led by Nicolae Ciucă, issued emergency ordinance, establishing the framework for closing operational programs from 2014-2020.
Under this ordinance, unfinished projects, those not fully implemented by December 2023, were given an additional year, until December 2024, to be completed at their own expense. If not completed by then, the beneficiaries (often state institutions) risked having to return the funds, along with any co-financing, plus interest and penalties.
In July 2024, the government issued a new emergency ordinance extending this deadline to December 2025.
According to data from the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, the 66 unfinished projects under POIM 2014-2020, collectively amount to over 620 million lei.
The data reveals a troubling trend: despite significant investments, only a small fraction of biodiversity projects have been successfully completed, with many remaining unfinished or phased into future periods.
The delays and lack of progress raise concerns about the effective use of European funds and the implementation of conservation initiatives.
The photo is illustrative. Explore Transylvania
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