The second appeal for recommendations of projects within the non-reimbursable financing plan for small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) was launched by the European Commission Delegation in Romania and the Finance Ministry in July 2003. This new phase, with a budget of Ђ13.8 M, will support directly the creation and development of micro-enterprises and of the small and medium-sized ones. Its objective is to support those who will obtain financing to create over 4,600 jobs.
According to the coordinator of the Programme of Industrial Restructuring and Professional Reconversion (RICOP) programme for Romania, Gerry Brough, some 760 files were submitted within the pilot-phase, out of which 225 projects received the recommendation to be financed. He estimated that the signing of the contracts corresponding to the projects accepted within the pilot-phase would be achieved by mid-September 2003, and the ones corresponding to the second auction - by February 2004.
