Abuses and lack of transparency at AFM: FACIAS calls for urgent action!

Dear Mr. Mircea Fechet, Minister of Environment, Water and Forests

Dear Mr. Laurențiu Neculaescu, President of the Environmental Fund Administration

Please take urgent action on the serious malfunctions at the Environmental Fund Administration (AFM), which generate abuses and affect access to public services.

The issues raised pertain to the Casa Verde Fotovoltaice 2024 programme, which is of pivotal importance to Romania's sustainable development. With a budget of over 2 billion lei, the programme represents a significant stride in the transition to a green economy. It has the potential to transform the lives of citizens through access to renewable energy sources and support Romania's energy independence. Despite the imminent launch of the programme, scheduled to take place in less than three days, the requisite documentation, as outlined in the Financing Guide, which concerns the installation of photovoltaic panel systems for the generation of electricity to meet domestic consumption and the delivery of the surplus into the national grid, is still in the project phase and has yet to be approved, as indicated on the Administration's website.

The postponement of the programme's implementation jeopardises its correct application, depriving over 60,000 citizens of the right to access it. This leaves them in a state of uncertainty regarding the documents required for the application file. It should be noted that the majority of these documents are difficult to obtain, with deadlines ranging from four to 30 days. This presents an onerous situation that may prevent some citizens from being able to apply.

Furthermore, FACIAS was informed that the telephone service was unable to provide information regarding the "Casa Verde Fotovoltaica" programme or other programmes managed by AFM.

Mr. Minister, Mr. President of the AFM, is it typical for a citizen to have to wait for over an hour listening to an automated answering system just to get in touch with an AFM representative? FACIAS has received evidence from citizens that it took more than an hour for an operator to take a telephone call.

FACIAS deems this situation to be a flagrant contravention of the principle of transparency, underscoring the AFM's dearth of accountability towards the citizenry. The absence of efficacious and transparent communication erodes the citizenry's trust in public authorities and jeopardizes the viability of initiatives that are pivotal for Romania's sustainable development.

In order to ensure accurate and comprehensive dissemination of information to the public regarding the Casa Verde Fotovoltaice 2024, a project of significant financial value (exceeding 400 million euros) and substantial environmental and sustainable development implications, we kindly request the following information:

1. When will the final documentation for the 2024 Photovoltaic Green House Program be approved and published?
2. Will AFM respect the provisional timetable announced for this program?
3. How many phone calls are received on average per day at AFM and how many were received in the last 30 days?
4. How many of these calls are answered by AFM representatives every day?
5. Are you able to record missed calls from citizens? Is there an internal procedure for the AFM to retrieve these calls?
6. According to the data available to you, what is the average waiting time for a telephone call to be answered by an operator?
7. How many operators are allocated in the AFM's organization chart to take telephone calls from citizens?

Please send your answers at [email protected], as soon as possible for publication.