Romania is in the same position as Poland, with 2.2 percent, while the absorption of structural funds in the Czech Republic exceeded 3.6 percent at the end of August. The low degree of absorption is caused by the fact that countries benefitting from these funds had first to go through a series of bureaucratic procedures. Moreover, the European Parliament delayed approving the budget for 2007-2013. Regarding the situation of the smaller Baltic countries, allocated funds are lower, and the projects are easier to apply, Marian Stoian, Managing Partner of the Initial Advisory consultancy company, said.
According to data provided by the Authority for Coordinating Structural Instruments (ACIS), the highest absorption degree is registered by programs for increasing economic competitiveness (16.51 percent), while the least funds were absorbed by transport programs (0 percent).
