545 mln euros for human resources development

'This new set of measures will allow Romanians to benefit of an easier access to professional training courses, to boost competencies acquired in the countries where they were employed, to cut the unemployment rate, to increase the openings on the labor market for the underprivileged groups', said Minister Marian Sarbu.

The Management authority of the Sectoral Operation Programme for Human Resources Development has launched on Friday six major intervention fields, where applications can be filed for strategic projects financed via the said programme. The total amount earmarked to the six financing lines is of 545 million euros, of which 85 percent, respectively 463.25 million euros, provided by the European Union, through social-European funds and 15 percent, respectively 81.75 million euros, representing the national contribution from the state budget. The deadline for filing the applications and projects is June 19, 2009, and after that the projects evaluation stage will commence.

According to Minister Marian Sarbu, the Labor Ministry estimates that some 120 programmes have the chance to receive financing.

'We hope that 10,000 people will benefit of professional training courses, some 20,000 inactive people from the rural sector who will acquire a skill, 16,000 unemployed to be included in these courses and up to 20,000 people from vulnerable groups, who can have access to better living conditions', underlined Marian Sarbu.

In order to obtain some results with enhanced impact nationwide, regional or local, the European social fund will back up the application of the partnership principle for all the social and economic players, such as the state authorities, employers' unions, trade unions, professional associations.