The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has asked the Court of Auditors to provide us with the reports drawn up following the controls carried out at CNAIR on the preparation of feasibility studies for roads and bridges, who is responsible for wasting public money on feasibility studies that have remained unused and who should recover the damages caused. This action is part of FACIAS's "Turn off the waste tap" campaign, which aims to raise public awareness and combat the gross waste of public money in Romania.
One of the worst forms of waste in Romania is the poor and unaccountable management of the National Road Infrastructure Management Company (CNAIR), according to reports from the Court of Auditors over the last 10 years, obtained by FACIAS. These reports highlight a number of negative aspects that have been perpetuated over time, demonstrating a lack of vision and will at government and ministry level. Funding for highways and other infrastructure projects was found to have been dispersed without effective concentration of resources, leading to inefficiency and unnecessary and unprioritised "inaugurations" of works.
The Court of Auditors notes in its report for 2023 that "neither MTI nor CNADNR (n.r. - the current CNAIR) have assumed and fulfilled, in a real and effective way, their role as main entities, with maximum responsibilities, in the development, implementation and completion of priority highway programmes and projects within the legal deadlines." Such findings underline a structural inability to manage public resources in a responsible and efficient way. Not only is there a lack of proper targeting of funds, but also the responsible entities are not assuming their roles and responsibilities properly.
Disastrous scale of waste and damage identified
In just 5 years, between 2010-2015, the total value of feasibility studies was about 86 million RON, equivalent to more than 19 million euro. Of these, a significant number of projects were not completed, thus generating a substantial financial loss and a disastrous scale of wastage. "10 objectives for which SF, PT and DDE were executed, for a total value of 17,129,370 RON, have not been valorised and completed," the reports reveal.
As a concrete example, in the case of the "Cluj-East Detour Route", the cost of upgrading was twice the original cost. Moreover, 40% of the content of the initial study was modified. Basically, 40% of the money originally given was simply wasted without any one being held accountable. Such inefficient management reflects not only financial waste, but also a blatant lack of accountability and a disconnection from the realities and needs of the affected communities. In addition to these direct costs, the Court of Auditors' reports have also highlighted the failure to respect the rules for estimating the value of contracts, which raises questions about transparency and good governance.
Liability and Recovery of Damages
On the 9th of January 2023, FACIAS asked the court to find that millions of euros had been unnecessarily spent from the state budget. The FACIAS initiative is a step towards shedding light on the situation and holding accountable those involved in this colossal waste of public funds.
By raising these issues, the aim is not only to punish those responsible, but also to send a clear signal that such practices can no longer be tolerated. It is therefore vital that all stakeholders - government, control bodies and citizens - join forces to ensure transparency, efficiency and accountability in the management of public funds.
The Court of Auditors' reports can be viewed below:
Adresa nr. 49871 FACIAS CNAIR DEC 2019 Raport de control Raport 25.04.2013 RAPORT CONTROL 11.12.2015 RAPORT CONTROL 31 ian.2022 RAPORT DE CONTROL_2023 RC CNAIR _2018 RC SC CNADNR SA 2016
