ROP Overview

This section of the website aims to explain:

• What is the Regional Operational Programme and its position among other Operational Programmes;
• The objectives of ROP and its estimated impact on our lives;
• The kind of projects that could be funded under the ROP;
• How the ROP functions;
• Who can apply for funds under ROP;
• Why you should get involved in the implementation of ROP.

AREAS OF INTERVENTION

What projects does ROP finance?
The ROP funds projects aiming among other to:

• Improve the quality of life and the "appearance" of towns and strengthen their role in the region
• Improve the access to and within a region, by developing its infrastructure such as county roads and ring-roads;
• Modernize social services: schools, clinics, emergency situations units etc;
• Increase business investments, by providing support to micro-enterprises, to the improvement of utility networks and business infrastructure;
• Modernization and rehabilitation of existing tourism facilities.

Who can apply for the ROP funds?

The potential applicants for the ROP funds could be:

• Public administration authorities (Town Halls, Local Councils, County Councils);
• Public institutions, such as social welfare and health institutions, academic institutions, emergency intervention services etc;
• NGOs;
• Private companies, especially SME's and microenterprises.

Expected results of ROP

This subsection presents some of the expected results of ROP by 2015. These indicators are not just a wish-list. They could really happen – provided that public authorities, NGOs, businesses and citizens all get involved in making it happen.

The strategic objective of the ROP is targeted towards:

• The creation of 15,000 new jobs by the end of 2015.
• Stopping the increase of interregional disparities in terms of GDP per inhabitant

Some of the specific indicative results by 2015:

• Over 800 km of county roads – rehabilitated/built/modernized;
• Over 200 km of ring-road – rehabilitated/built/modernized;
• 50 health centres – rehabilitated/modernized;
• 510 mobile units for emergency situations – equipped;
• 3,000 jobs as a result of supporting micro-enterprises;
• 4,000 jobs in supported business structures;
• 500 ha of industrial sites – rehabilitated;
• 50 patrimonial sites – rehabilitated;
• 50 investment projects in developing the tourism potential of nature sites;
• 400 schools rehabilitated or modernized.

EU Structural Funds

The EU Cohesion Policy is applying to all EU member states with a total budget of € 336 Billion for the period 2007 – 2013.
It is aiming at three objectives through the implementation of Operational Programmes, the latter being tailor-made at national level.

Objectives of EU Cohesion Policy for 2007 - 2013

1. Convergence objective : To speed up the economic convergence of the less-developed regions, by investing in human and physical capital.
2. Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective: To strengthen regional economic competitiveness and attractiveness, and to help workers and companies adapt to change and create new jobs.
3. Territorial cooperation objective : To strengthen cooperation at three levels: cross-border, trans-national zones, networks for cooperation.

The Operational Programmes, depending on the eligibility of Regions, are financed by three "financing regulations" known as the Structural Funds.

EU Structural Funds for 2007 – 2013

• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): for infrastructure, job creating investment, local development projects and aid for small firms.
• The European Social Fund (ESF) promotes the return of the unemployed and disadvantaged groups to the workforce, mainly by financing training measures and systems of recruitment assistance.
• The Cohesion Fund (CF): assists the least prosperous countries of the Union, (per capita GNI < 90 % of Community average).

For the period 2007-2013, Romanian Regions are eligible for Operational Programmes under objectives "Convergence" and "Territorial Cooperation".

Read more about the Romanian Operational Programmes

Romanian Operational Programmes 2007-2013

During the period 2007-2013 period, Romania will receive € 19,667 Million from EU Structural Funds. Approximately 98% of this amount will be allocated in seven Operational Programmes with the objective of "Convergence" (i.e. diminishing the economic and social development disparities among EU regions).
The remaining 2% will be allocated in six Operational Programs with the objective of "Territorial cooperation" with neighbouring countries.

Operational ProgramMEs in Romania (total EU contribution of € 19,667 millions for 2007 – 2013)

Obiectivul Cooperare Teritoriala al Programelor Operationale