Approximately 1.2 billion eur will be directed to people in need and for an education connected to the labor market, announced the Minister of European Investments and Projects, Marcel Bolos.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday, the Ministry of European Investments and Projects (MIPE) delegation, led by minister Marcel Bolos, had a series of working meetings this week with representatives of the European Commission to discuss the extension of support from European money for vulnerable people and for education, but also the vision for the implementation of the Cohesion Policy in the next program period, which will begin in 2027.

Thus, during the discussions with Roxana Minzatu, executive vice-president of the European Commission, two strategic directions of action were established.

„The meeting with Vice-President Minzatu marks an important moment for Romania. An amount of 1.2 billion EUR, directed towards people in need and an education connected to the labor market, is more than just funding – it is a concrete commitment for the future of our citizens. Through these measures, we are making sure that the support reaches exactly where it is most needed and that our education system is taking important steps towards modernization,” Minister of European Investments and Projects Marcel Bolos was quoted as saying in the release.

According to MEIP, the funds will be secured by reallocating savings from the financial execution of projects.

At the same time, extended support for vulnerable people will be allocated through the Social Inclusion and Dignity Program.

Thus, a financial support of 250 RON will continue to be granted to vulnerable people, distributed in at least two installments per year, as well as the supplementation of this support by food packages worth 125 RON, distributed twice a year.

The program will also provide educational vouchers of 500 RON for about 600,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds and will ensure the exploration of possibilities for the continuation of the energy voucher program.

According to MIPE, the connection to the real economy will be ensured through the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP).

Thus, with an approved allocation of 600 million EUR under the Education and Employment Program (EEP), STEP will include: the relaunch of the Innotech Student program, offering grants of up to 200,000 EUR for start-ups set up by graduates; the modernization of the university curriculum in line with current labor market requirements, with a focus on technological and industrial fields; the establishment of practice laboratories in universities, as well as the development of business incubators in the university environment.

The MEPI representatives also referred to a strategic vision for the Cohesion Policy post-2027.

Also in Brussels, the MIPE delegation had an important meeting with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms. The discussions focused on Romania’s position on the future of the Cohesion Policy post-2027, the source mentioned.

„Romania advocates for a Cohesion Policy that will act as a driving force in promoting EU competitiveness, support the green and digital transition, and strengthen the European social model. The discussions with Vice-President Fitto confirmed that our vision is aligned with the objectives of the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029,” explained Minister Marcel Bolos.

Thus, Romania reaffirmed its commitment to a strong Cohesion Policy, which will remain the main structural investment policy of the European Union.

Our country’s position, developed following a broad consultation process, emphasizes the following key priorities: maintaining economic, social and territorial convergence as a fundamental objective; supporting shared management as an essential governance mechanism; maintaining a territorial approach adapted to the specificities of each region and supporting investments in TEN-T infrastructure to improve strategic connectivity, the press release states.

„At the level of the MIPE, a continuous process is underway to identify the best solutions to ensure the premises for a proper management of non-reimbursable European funds allocated to Romania, with a constant concern in supporting beneficiaries to access and use the available allocations in an easy and transparent way, streamlining, digitalization and increasing the administrative capacity of the entities involved in the management of European funds,” the cited sorce specifies.

AGERPRES