NGOs' protest in Iasi

11 nongovernmental organizations from Iaşi have participated at a street protest that took place in front of the city prefecture, on 17^th March 2010, between 8.00 and 10.00. Their purpose was to draw the attention on the problems that the recipients of the structural funds confront with.

The organizers of this protest, the “Alaturi de Voi” Romania Foundation, ProWomen Foundation, the University “Petre Andrei” of Iaşi, the Academic Foundation Petre Andrei and the Iosif Foundation, along with Bethany’s Social Services Foundation, CENTRAS, the Businessmen Association, the Star of Hope Romania Foundation, the COTE Foundation, the Salvation Anchor Foundation are claiming that for several months there is a blocking at the Management Authority in the Labor Department, blocking which has lead the recipients near to bankruptcy. An open letter and a petition were submitted to the Prime Minister.

The protest was a silent one; the protestors faced with their back the building, trying this way to say that they are turning their back to the government just like the government does it to the people.

Following the protest, the Labor minister, Mihai Seitan, declared that the “Voi” firm (the “Alaturi de Voi” organization) and other recipients have began to receive their money.

CeRe and the Coalition NGOs for Structural Funds have expressed their support to the Iasi organizations by a letter of support.