Thu, Feb 09 2012
Romanian prime minister Emil Boc.
The EC could extend the deadlines on some Ispa funds to 2011 and even 2012, especially in the case of large-scale projects, EC spokesperson says.
Bulgaria and Romania plan to ask the European Commission to extend the deadline for the utilisation EU funds for the construction of the second bridge over the Danube between the two countries.
Construction of the second bridge linking Bulgaria and Romania over the Danube river is delayed by at least seven months, while construction cost has risen by as much as 30 per cent.
About 60 million euro will be invested directly in the regional economy of Vidin region in northwestern Bulgaria during that Danube Bridge 2 is being built to link the town to Calafat in Romania, weekly Stroitelstvo Gradut reproted. The direct investments will come as building materials, fuels, equipment, machinery, manpower and their kit. The bridge itself and the adjoining its infrastructure, including works on the Romanian side, is 274 million euro, of which 226 million are on the Bulgarian side.
The bridge over Danube River that will link the Bulgarian town of Vidin and Calafat in Romania is still on track to meet its April 2010 deadline, Bulgaria's Transport Minister Petar Moutafchiev said on August 28 2008, as quoted by Focus news agency. The project is currently six months behind the schedule, caused by additional geological and archaeological surveying that Spain's Fomento de Construcciones y
Interirm report praised Romania for continuing to pursue high-profile corruption cases and new legislation, but urged more action on reforming the judicial system and the confiscation of assets acquired through illegal means.
Turkey hardens stance against Syria, its Western allies increasingly looking to Ankara for help to unseat Assad
Weather warnings throughout South Eastern Europe; Romania extends ‘Code Orange’, intense snowfalls in Macedonia, deaths in Greece and heavy snow, frost and icy conditions forecast for Turkey.
Ungureanu was previously head of Romania's foreign intelligence service; he has also served as foreign minister between December 2004 and March 2007.
Warnings on harsh winter weather situations in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and some parts of Montenegro and Croatia.