In instances involving the return of received funds, twenty municipalities were cited as the source of repayments. The primary reasons identified for this requirement were the failure to conclude contracts for the execution of necessary works within one year of receiving the funds, or the inability to secure proper invoices for works that had been executed. The Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning provided clarification regarding the scope of the required repayment.
They specified that the obligation for the municipalities was limited only to the return of paid advance payments, and not the entire amount received. Furthermore, the Ministry assured that these repayments did not mean the municipalities were permanently deprived of necessary funding, as they would secure resources for their planned projects through established, regular program channels. Previously, one year prior, the relevant ministry had estimated that approximately 15 municipalities across various regions would be required to return a total of around 16 million euros in advance payments.
The underlying basis for these repayments remained the failure of the municipalities to formalize contracts for urgent works within the stipulated one-year timeframe. This structure suggests that the funds were allocated for immediate action, and repayment is triggered by administrative non-compliance rather than a lack of overall budgetary support for the municipalities.
Topics: #municipalities #not #advance
