Of the 4.57 billion euros that the European Union allocated to Romania between 2007 and 2013 for infrastructure, the Transportation Ministry had attracted as little as 47 million euros until December 2010 - i.e. 1% of the amount. This is the lowest percentage of EU funds attracted out of all the chapters, although this was the sector that needed investments the most. So, an activity that is expected to drive Romania out of recession, such as infrastructure works (which would not only create jobs, but also a new dynamic for connected businesses - cement, asphalt, concrete), and, once the infrastructure was modernised, it would help goods transport companies and tourism, is all but frozen.Who is to blame and who will pay for this?
The situation could see allocations change because the EU is preparing to reallocate amounts for the 2007-2013 period, with some of the unspent money potentially to be redistributed to other countries. The same people have been at the helm of the Transportation Ministry for years - Radu Berceanu (PDL, transportation minister twice in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010), Gheorghe Dobre (PDL, transportation minister between 2004 and 2006, currently secretary general of the Transport Ministry), Ludovic Orban (PNL, minister between 2007 and 2008), Anca Boagiu (PDL, currently transport minister, who also held this position in 2000, when she succeeded Traian Băsescu), and the results are showing today: the infrastructure is extremely poor, and the "free" money for building roads and motorways is stuck because of the Ministry's inaction. ( Z.F.)
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I'm in Tahrir Square and there must be 7,000 people already, a festive mood inside the square, families, a few with children and many women, veiled and unveiled. That shows people feel safe. People are chanting enthusiastically, "Get out!", aimed at Mubarak.
Someone strung up a large banner between two lamp-posts with their demands: that Mubarak should resign, Mubarak should be held to account for the destruction of Egypt, the Interior Minister should be prosecuted and a temporary government should be created to restore the nation and dissolve parliament.
People are holding up signs all over the square, some hand-made, some printed, all saying more or less the same thing - Down with Mubarak, the people and the Army against the enemy, stop police vandalism or police are terrorizing people. These last refer to widespread reports that some looting was carried out by police. They haven't been seen on the streets of Cairo since 6pm on Friday.
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