The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Finance to release information on the use of funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
On 12 April 2024, FACIAS asked the Ministry of Finance to provide information on how much and how the Romanian state has spent the money collected from the NRRP so far. Despite the legal deadline for a reply, the Ministry of Finance did not provide any information. As a result, FACIAS filed an administrative complaint, asking the Ministry to comply with the law and provide information of public interest. FACIAS was forced to take legal action against the Ministry of Finance for failing to respond to the administrative complaint. This action is aimed at ensuring the necessary transparency in the management of public funds, in particular in relation to the use of NRRP funds, which are essential for the recovery and development of Romania.
Transparency and accountability
FACIAS wished to know how the 9 billion euros that have so far entered the Ministry's budget through the NRRP have been spent, what the situation is with regard to the amounts allocated to the reform or investment authorising officers, and for what purposes these amounts have been granted. FACIAS also asked about the situation of ineligible expenditure, such as the use of European funds to reduce the need for borrowing from commercial banks, as stated by the Ministry's representatives in 2022. However, the Ministry has not responded and FACIAS reiterates the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. Any deviation from the set targets or the use of funds for purposes other than those set out in the NPRP must be clarified and corrected immediately.