Romania is implementing nine operational programs during the 2021-2027 period. European Funds Statistics, ranked by country

Romania is implementing nine operational programs during the 2021-2027 period, aiming to access European funds amounting to 31.5 billion euros. Within this partnership agreement with the European Commission, Romania intends to promote the economic, social, and territorial cohesion of its regions while supporting the green and digital transition.

Romania is implementing nine operational programs during the 2021-2027 period, aiming to access European funds amounting to 31.5 billion euros. Among these, the Operational Program for Sustainable Development (PODD) 2021-2027 is essential for aligning with the European Union’s objectives regarding the conservation, protection, and improvement of environmental quality. It complies with Articles 11, 191, and 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), with special attention to rural areas.

In developing PODD (5.25 billion euros), the European Semester, Country Specific Recommendations (CSR), the National Reform Program, the 2019 and 2020 Country Reports, and national development needs were considered. The program addresses the identified challenges by financing the second policy objective of Regulation No. 1060/2021, called “a greener Europe.”

PODD contributes to transforming the European Union into a modern, competitive, and resource-efficient economy. This is achieved in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal (EGD) and the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan, an integral part of the EGD. The foundation of this program is Romania’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNDD) 2030, a document aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the EU Council Conclusions.

General Objectives and Purpose of PODD:

The central objective of PODD is to create the necessary premises for achieving social, economic, and territorial cohesion by supporting a low greenhouse gas emission economy. This aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 while efficiently using natural resources.

The primary goal of PODD is to improve the population’s living standards and environmental standards, respecting the obligations resulting from European directives. The program also aims to achieve national development objectives in energy efficiency, environmental protection, and risk management, thus reducing the gaps between EU Member States and Romania in terms of infrastructure in these areas, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Operational Programs

Regional Operational Programs (11.46 billion euros) are designed based on development priorities identified through extensive partnerships, tailored to the current socio-economic needs of the region.

The strategic vision of these programs focuses on improving living conditions and increasing regional economic competitiveness. The main objective for the 2021-2027 period is to reduce intra-regional disparities and promote sustainable development. This will be achieved by supporting the business environment, modernizing infrastructure and services, efficiently managing resources, leveraging demographic and innovative potential, and adopting technological progress.

Just Transition Operational Program (POTJ), with a budget of 2.53 billion euros, aims to support economic diversification in Romania’s most affected regions. It includes measures for retraining and active inclusion of workers and job seekers, as well as transforming industrial processes necessary for the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, while maintaining or increasing the number of jobs in these sectors.

POTJ focuses exclusively on actions that support regions and citizens in addressing the social, economic, and environmental impact of the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. The program aligns with the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, complementing other initiatives within the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework, focusing on addressing the social and economic consequences of this transition at the regional level.

Education and Employment Operational Program (POEO), worth 4.32 billion euros, aims to optimize education and training systems to meet labor market demands and promote equal access to education, encouraging lifelong learning.

In line with the EU’s Policy Objective 4 for the 2021-2027 period, the national vision in the field of human capital is to create “a more social Romania,” ensuring equal access to sustainable and quality employment, and a relevant education system for the labor market. This aims for a society based on solidarity and improved living conditions for all citizens.

Major Objectives of POEO:
– Optimizing education and training systems: Adapting them to labor market demands and promoting equal access to education.
– Strengthening the efficient functioning of the labor market: Facilitating inclusive and equal access to quality and sustainable employment.

The design of POEO started from the main labor market challenges, including the deficit of relevant skills, and integrated the objectives of the strategic framework “Educated Romania.” This framework aims at forming basic and digital skills, including green and digital transitions, developing higher education, and strengthening international cooperation in education.

POEO aims to harness human potential in equitable conditions by improving the relevance of education and training systems to the labor market. In the employment sector, the program aims to transform Romania’s labor market into a sustainable, resilient, and socially innovative entity.

Health Operational Program (POS), with a budget of 3.88 billion euros, aims to improve the accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency, and resilience of Romania’s health system. POS for the 2021-2027 period aims to address the complex needs of Romania’s health system through well-defined priorities. These include improving the quality of primary, community, and outpatient care services, developing adapted services for rehabilitation, palliative care, and hospitalization for chronic diseases, modernizing medical infrastructure through investments in the construction of regional hospitals, promoting innovation in medical research, and implementing digital solutions in health management, as well as supporting oncology and transplant fields to improve patient diagnosis and treatment. These objectives are fundamental for increasing the efficiency and resilience of the health system in the face of current and future challenges.

Inclusion and Social Dignity Operational Program (POIDS), with a budget of 4.11 billion euros for the 2021-2027 period, proposes a set of integrated measures to support the implementation of national and local strategies in reducing poverty and supporting vulnerable groups in overcoming social exclusion. Its strategic vision aligns with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, focusing on cohesive and effective implementation of actions to address the needs of targeted groups while ensuring optimal use of available financial resources.

Transport Operational Program (POT) for the 2021-2027 period, with a budget of 9.68 billion euros, has the strategic vision of expanding Romania’s transport infrastructure to improve internal and international connectivity by 2030. POT was designed to meet the development needs identified in the 2021-2027 Partnership Agreement, in line with country-specific recommendations and national strategies for closing the transport infrastructure development gaps.

POT’s strategy aligns with European policies, including the TEN-T Policy and the “Europe on the Move” package, also considering national objectives for infrastructure development and road safety. The main challenge addressed by POT 2021-2027 is closing Romania’s infrastructural development gap, adapted to the requirements of reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable and safe mobility, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the global economy.

Smart Growth, Digitalization, and Financial Instruments Operational Program (POCIDIF) with a budget of 2.2 billion euros, has the strategic vision of increasing private spending on research, development, and innovation (RDI), improving public-private collaboration, and reducing fragmentation of the RDI ecosystem. Additionally, POCIDIF aims to enhance performance and knowledge and technology transfer, as well as intensify international scientific cooperation.

In the field of entrepreneurship, the program aims to create a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by operationalizing entrepreneurship HUBs and digitally transforming SMEs to increase productivity and support high-value-added production. Furthermore, it proposes developing Digital Innovation Hubs to stimulate innovation in the private sector.

Regarding digitalization, POCIDIF aims to improve the quality of public services by implementing new and innovative, secure, and fast services that meet the needs of citizens and businesses. Using the information platform based on Open and Big Data is fundamental for supporting the government decision-making process and reducing fragmentation of IT solutions. The program aims to create a framework and interoperability capabilities between various public services.

Technical Assistance Operational Program (POAT), with a budget of 959 million euros from both EU funds and the national budget, has the strategic vision of providing effective and efficient support for implementing European funds in Romania, in line with European Union principles. Its goal is to implement its functions in accordance with the horizontal principles established in the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), including the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

POAT’s strategy focuses on implementing the 2019 country-specific recommendations related to improving the quality and predictability of the decision-making process, simplifying administrative procedures, and public procurement. It also considers the 2020 recommendations for improving the effectiveness and quality of public administration, including the appropriate involvement of social partners. A crucial aspect is developing a plan to increase administrative capacity at the national and regional levels to ensure an efficient strategic framework in response to the implementation needs of the new cohesion policy.

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