The government has decided to allocate over 67.7 million lei, the equivalent of 3.2 million euros, to increase the equity of the limited liability company “National Arena”.

Public Property Agency director Eugeniu Cozonac recalled that the National Arena is public-private partnership (PPP) project started in August 2018 between the Ministry of Education and the private developer “Sam Investment Company”.

“Under the contract, of the total number of 24 installments, two installments of 5 million euros each were paid during the construction period, and another 22 installments are to be paid within 11 years, starting with the date of issuance of the completion certificate which took place exactly two years ago. The money to be allocated under today’s decision represents the payment for the first and second installment related to the second year, in the amount of 3.169 million euros”, said Eugeniu Cozonac.

Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița justified the payments as necessary. “The government has already invested in this venue and we need to make sure that it is completed and put in the service of the citizens. It’s been long awaited by sports federations and artists. At the same time, we need to make sure that there are concrete plans for the completion and commissioning of the National Arena and that it will be used to the maximum benefit of the citizens. How decisions were handled before is a matter that requires further discussion, but now we have to move forward,” said the prime minister.

In August, the Government postponed the allocation of funds for the National Arena on the request of Prime Minister Gavrilița, as she wanted updates from prosecutors on the investigation into the controversial project.