The National Union of Romania's County Councils (UNCJR) has asked the government to consider allocating additional funding at the upcoming budget revision for social assistance services and for local administrations unable to cover basic operating costs, UNCJR president Alfred Simonis said on Wednesday after talks with Prime Minister Luca Niculescu.

Around 20 county council presidents attended the meeting at the Victoria Palace, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacsu and the ministers of Interior, Finance, Labour, Health and Development.

Simonis described the discussions as 'very honest', saying both sides acknowledged Romania's budgetary constraints and the need to meet deficit targets agreed with the European Commission, while also addressing local authorities' financing needs. He pointed to significant co-financing obligations for EU-funded and national investment projects, including the Anghel Saligny programme, projects of the National Investment Company and major stadium developments, where local authorities contribute 20%-25% of costs and cover price adjustments under the NRRP and other EU-funded programmes.

A major topic was the financing of social assistance services and child protection agencies, whose expenses have increased compared with last year.

'These are not just social assistance expenditures. We're talking about people, elderly people, abandoned children,' Simonis said. He noted that Timis County recorded 120 abandoned children in all of last year, compared with more than 150 by September this year, adding that the figure could double by year-end if the trend continues. 'Minimum minimorum, we must ensure a decent standard of living for vulnerable people.'

The UNCJR head said county councils received assurances that the government would examine the possibility of identifying resources during one of the budget revisions planned before the end of the year.

Simonis also raised the issue of local governments facing severe financial difficulties, pointing out that this was the second consecutive year in which the government had not allocated funds from the budget reserve fund to local administrations.

'There are hundreds of localities that do not have sufficient budgets even for basic operation, let alone investments and co-financing,' he said. 'If they are to continue functioning, they must be financed.'

According to Simonis, Timis County recently approved a budget revision worth about RON 7 million, helping more than 30 localities out of a total of 99. However, another 25-30 localities may urgently require support to avoid disruptions in electricity and utility services for schools, hospitals and other institutions.

'There is practically no money left for these utilities, whose prices have also increased significantly, therefore intervention is needed,' Simonis concluded. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)